By Reagan Stultz
Scheduling and school counseling are both important aspects of a student’s academic life. School counselors guide students, enabling them to reach both their academic and personal potential. To help students know where to go and when for scheduling and counseling, Milestone has compiled a detailed manual to achieve it all.
At McNicholas, students are assigned to one of three of the school counselors by students’ last names. Ms. Amanda Duffy has all students whose last names fall under the A-F category, Mrs. Erica Stablum has all students whose last names begin with letters G-O, and Mrs. Margaret Vonderhaar has all the students listed under P-Z. Mental health specialist Ms. Missy Gomez is also available for anyone needing further assistance with their mental health or who are generally feeling anxious or stressed over anything.
There are two separate ways for students to schedule an appointment with their guidance counselor or with Gomez — sending an email to request a meeting or walking into the counseling office to schedule a meeting. “The things that we do as school counselors is help students with academics. That can have something to do with adding or dropping classes, schedule changes, or even level changes in general,” Vonderhaar said. Scheduling involves choosing between classes that meet the requirement for graduation as well as how those classes fit into a student’s interests and future aspirations. School counselors help students develop a plan that is well-oriented with the academic and extracurricular activities of their students. With a well-structured schedule, students can manage time appropriately, reducing stress levels and increasing productivity.
“The most common concern that students have is an increase in anxiety and stress,” Gomez said. Although school counselors are great options for academic purposes, they can also always help with anything that has to do with mental health. The Counseling Department helps students with navigating complexities around the school, which can involve course selection each year, college and career choices, or other personal matters the students are facing. They help provide a safe place where students can share their concerns and work their way towards solutions. In making full use of the Counseling Department, students should meet with their counselors yearly, set clear goals for these sessions, and be open about their struggles and future. Counselors can then provide personalized advice, resources, and strategies that help students succeed.
Effective scheduling and the utilization of school counseling services can go a long way in making the student experience more rewarding. It is all about planning, seeking guidance, and informed decision-making to pave the way for success in school.
The McNicholas Milestone 