School Counseling

One of the primary goals of freshman year group guidance is to assist students with their transition to high school. Transitional challenges often include managing a more rigorous curriculum, making new friends, playing on competitive athletic teams and engaging in a new school community. Fortunately, freshman will meet in the same, small group once every six days with his school counselor who will help them obtain the critical understanding, knowledge and skills they need to be successful at Fordham Prep. 

School Counselors work to cultivate a welcoming and warm environment and cohesive group experience in which students become comfortable interacting with their classmates, contributing to discussions and sharing their strengths and struggles.  

The format of Group Counseling classes are often a combination of engaging discussions on pertinent topics; practical lessons addressing students’ academic, personal/social/emotional needs; and peer-to-peer activities using multiple forms of media.  Group Counseling quickly becomes an anticipated time in the students’ schedules in which they get the support they need to help them feel grounded, confident and connected.

Topics covered in freshman year include:

• Study Skills, Habits & Goal-Setting:  Time management; organization; homework/project/exam planning; review and reflection; the science of motivation; task initiation/completion; setting SMART goals; assessing personal strengths and weaknesses; fixed vs. growth mindset; crafting a personal mission statement
• Mental Health & Well-Being:  Suicide prevention education; stress and stress management; substance use; mindful awareness activities
• Connection & Community Building:  Small talk vs. big talk; effective verbal and non-verbal communication; the art of listening; postural feedback; bullying and upstanding; unity in diversity; engaging in the FP community; community rules/norms and culture
• College/Career Readiness:  Overview of standardized testing; review of PSAT 8/9 results; course planning and selection

Sophomore year is a time of deeper self-exploration and immersion into the Fordham Prep community. In sophomore Group Counseling, the counselors utilize two vocational questions for the students’ consideration and reflection; “What do you want to do?” and “Who do you want to become?”  From these questions flow a myriad of interactive lessons, lively group discussions and media-enhanced activities in which the students reflect upon the traits that contribute to human flourishing and define a true “man for others.”  

For sophomores, college and career exploration is taken to the next level with the MaiaLearning platform.  An extensive series of interactive and personalized classes are devoted to college and career preparation in the second semester.  

The culminating event of sophomore guidance is the long-standing, full-day program in May called Sophomore Dream Day. This inspiring day brings together the various themes of the year and gives the students an opportunity to hear first-hand, personal accounts from those who have pursued big dreams and the valuable lessons they learned along the way.  The day also includes time for reflection, connection and celebration as they prepare to move into their junior year.

Topics covered in sophomore year include:

• Positive Psychology & Character Development:  The connection between gratitude and health, happiness and connection; optimism, attitude and grit and their impact on character, performance and goal-attainment
• Academics:  Time management; organization and planning; exam preparation; review and reflection; goal setting; course planning and selection 
• Mental Health & Well-Being:  Adolescent depression: signs, symptoms and how to help; substance use and addiction; review of various on-line resources (e.g. mental illness, suicide prevention, substance use, LGBTQ-supportive); mindful awareness activities
• College & Career Readiness:  On-line personality, strengths, interests and values assessments and their connection to college and the world of work; overview of standardized testing; review of PSAT 10 and Pre-ACT results; guest speaker on the college admissions process

School counselors meet with students six times during the first semester.  All of the classes are centered on the concept of mindful awareness and the science supporting the many benefits to one’s health, well-being, focus, performance and relationships.  Cultivating a mindful awareness practice has been shown to be an effective means to lower stress, anxiety and depression, boost resiliency and improve emotional and behavioral regulation.  

Every class offers both education and an introduction to a variety of mindful awareness activities that are practiced in class.  In addition, school counselors post a large variety of on-line resources and links to activities on Schoology, the Prep’s learning management system, allowing students to easily engage with mindful awareness practices outside of class and as-needed.      

Mindful Awareness Skills Practiced

• Breath Awareness
• Mindful Movement
• Mindful Meditation
• Noting
• Body Scanning
• Loving Kindness
• Yoga
• Therapeutic Art
• Guided Visualization
• Grounding 
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Connecting to Nature

In the second semester of junior year, students are transferred to the College Counselor to begin the college process.  Click here for more about the College Counseling program.

Senior year focuses on the college process and, in the spring, the transition from high school to college.  Click here for more about the College Counseling program.