HS School Counselor
Helping our students in
Academics Career Development Personal/Social Growth
Mrs. Emily Swanseen
School Counselor - Grades 9-12
(2023-2024 School Year)
eswanseen@nbcsd.org
814-766-4754
Guidance Office Hours are 7:45 AM to 3:30 PM
Northern Bedford High School CEEB Code: 391830
School Counseling Services
Confidentiality Statement: An obligation of school counselors is to maintain the confidentiality of their relationships with students. Information that a student shares within the context of a counseling relationship will not be disclosed without the permission of the client or where necessitated. However, disclosures will be necessary in the instances where (1) a student is a harm to self, (2) a student is being harmed, (3) a student is a harm to others. These reasons for disclosure also follow the guidelines and requirements of mandated reporting.
Personal/Social: An important function of the school counseling program is to help students achieve positive personal growth by promoting the development of effective interpersonal skills, fostering self-understanding and demonstrating respect for others and self. Often, the focus is on problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and goal setting. Individual counseling, group counseling and classroom guidance activities are used to help students. Students can make direct referrals for themselves by contacting Mrs. Swanseen or Miss Patton during the school day at the Counseling Office or by emailing them directly. –
The Personal/Social Development goals relate directly to those standards established by the American Association of School Counselors (ASCA):
Standard A |
Students will acquire the knowledge, attributes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect others. |
Standard B |
Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals. |
Standard C |
Students will understand safety and survival skills. |
Academics: A primary focus for the counseling office is the Academic Planning of each student. This refers to the development of a graduation plan, selecting a curriculum (grades 10-12), the scheduling of courses each school year and monitoring graduation requirements.
The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) has listed the following three standards as key to the academic achievement of our students:
Standard A |
Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in schools across the life span. |
Standard B |
Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range od substantial post-secondary options, including college. |
Standard C |
Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community. |
Career Development: The Career Development of each student is an integral component and function of the school counseling department. Students are guided in making educational and occupational choices to develop and achieve their career goals. Individual and classroom career guidance activities are scheduled for students throughout grades 6 to 12.
The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) has defined the following three Career Development Standards for students:
Standard A |
Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career choices. |
Standard B |
Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction. |
Standard C |
Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work. |
The Career Education and Work Standards (Chapter 4 of Title 22), which is part of the State Board of Education’s regulations of required education for all students in Pennsylvania, has developed the fowling four areas of career standards:
- Career Awareness and Preparation
- Career Acquisition (Getting a Job)
- Career Retention and Advancement
- Entrepreneurship
All NBC students are required to complete a Career Portfolio documenting each ones’s career development activities in grades 6 through 12.
The school counselors are also in the classroom teaching. Three courses taught daily by the counseling office are Grade 7 – Career Education and Work Skills, Grade 9 – Career Education and Work Skill, Grade 10-12 Development/Teacher Assistant Program. More information about these courses can be accessed upon request.