When are high school counselors back to work?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when HS counselors are back?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

If you are at Westfield good luck. We just received an email today that my DS who is a senior will be getting a new guidance counselor(senior year!) He is on counselor number three at Westfield and all three years there have been issues with scheduling. The excuse is always the school is too big....my two older sons did not experience the lack of care we now see when they were at Westfield- seems to be an admin issue. Stay on top of them.

Westfield parent too, who has other children since graduate. Also on counselor #3.

The old admin and Director of Student Services were so much better and responsive.

We had to change a class last year. Westfield process to change was ridiculous. Teachers needed to sign off on form (which is not required as part of FCPS regulations) and “committee” only met 1x week to discuss the transfer, but oh - they weren’t meeting that week because too busy with tracking down immunization records. Meanwhile child still flailing in old class and grade was transferring with her. It was a nightmare. Having been at other FCPS HS, I can tell you the process is not as hard elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

If you are at Westfield good luck. We just received an email today that my DS who is a senior will be getting a new guidance counselor(senior year!) He is on counselor number three at Westfield and all three years there have been issues with scheduling. The excuse is always the school is too big....my two older sons did not experience the lack of care we now see when they were at Westfield- seems to be an admin issue. Stay on top of them.

+1 from a parent of a rising junior there. We are annoyed. His counselor from 9th and 10th grade was great. I wish they could've figured out some kind of grandfathering system for at least the 11th and 12th graders.

The counselor left or is still there?

I never liked when my students got a new counselor year after year but if the counselor done left what do you want them to drive back to Westfield for your precious

Different Westfield parent.

Both prior counselors are still at Westfield, so no need to drive back. They reorganized caseloads each time. Surprisingly, when prior kids were at Westfield, caseload was not adjusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

If you are at Westfield good luck. We just received an email today that my DS who is a senior will be getting a new guidance counselor(senior year!) He is on counselor number three at Westfield and all three years there have been issues with scheduling. The excuse is always the school is too big....my two older sons did not experience the lack of care we now see when they were at Westfield- seems to be an admin issue. Stay on top of them.

Westfield parent too, who has other children since graduate. Also on counselor #3.

The old admin and Director of Student Services were so much better and responsive.

We had to change a class last year. Westfield process to change was ridiculous. Teachers needed to sign off on form (which is not required as part of FCPS regulations) and “committee” only met 1x week to discuss the transfer, but oh - they weren’t meeting that week because too busy with tracking down immunization records. Meanwhile child still flailing in old class and grade was transferring with her. It was a nightmare. Having been at other FCPS HS, I can tell you the process is not as hard elsewhere.

Scheduling is a mess at Westfield and no one seems to be there for the kids.

[Anonymous]

You are likely going to have issues switching classes this year.

My school sent home letters to anyone who signed up for a course that differed from their recommendation (whether above or below) and told them there would not be space to switch in August. Classes are packed thanks to the new staffing ratio. Normally at this point I have wiggle room in classes to absorb those who want to change levels. This year they are already all at 30. The school won’t put me over 150 kids or they have to pay a stipend based on state law. The only reason anyone will be added to my classes at this point is if someone moves to the school.

In June there were a whole 3 seats open across all of one of my preps. Apparently enough new kids came over the summer that now there are zero. No one will be able to drop the honors version of the course unless someone from regular moves away.

New parents, PLEASE seriously consider what you are signing your child up for when registration forms come home in February/March to be viewed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

If you are at Westfield good luck. We just received an email today that my DS who is a senior will be getting a new guidance counselor(senior year!) He is on counselor number three at Westfield and all three years there have been issues with scheduling. The excuse is always the school is too big....my two older sons did not experience the lack of care we now see when they were at Westfield- seems to be an admin issue. Stay on top of them.

Westfield parent too, who has other children since graduate. Also on counselor #3.

The old admin and Director of Student Services were so much better and responsive.

We had to change a class last year. Westfield process to change was ridiculous. Teachers needed to sign off on form (which is not required as part of FCPS regulations) and “committee” only met 1x week to discuss the transfer, but oh - they weren’t meeting that week because too busy with tracking down immunization records. Meanwhile child still flailing in old class and grade was transferring with her. It was a nightmare. Having been at other FCPS HS, I can tell you the process is not as hard elsewhere.

Scheduling is a mess at Westfield and no one seems to be there for the kids.

This is what happens when schools get to mega-size unless you have either a great administration and or a very involved parent group or both if you're lucky. Westfield's administration is so so and a sizable portion of the parents are checked out. The focus is on crowd control and dealing with a small number of students who cause a lot of problems. There are some very good teachers and programs there and some high performing students though. PVI moving right up the street caused a lot of UMC families to flee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

If you are at Westfield good luck. We just received an email today that my DS who is a senior will be getting a new guidance counselor(senior year!) He is on counselor number three at Westfield and all three years there have been issues with scheduling. The excuse is always the school is too big....my two older sons did not experience the lack of care we now see when they were at Westfield- seems to be an admin issue. Stay on top of them.

Westfield parent too, who has other children since graduate. Also on counselor #3.

The old admin and Director of Student Services were so much better and responsive.

We had to change a class last year. Westfield process to change was ridiculous. Teachers needed to sign off on form (which is not required as part of FCPS regulations) and “committee” only met 1x week to discuss the transfer, but oh - they weren’t meeting that week because too busy with tracking down immunization records. Meanwhile child still flailing in old class and grade was transferring with her. It was a nightmare. Having been at other FCPS HS, I can tell you the process is not as hard elsewhere.

Scheduling is a mess at Westfield and no one seems to be there for the kids.

This is what happens when schools get to mega-size unless you have either a great administration and or a very involved parent group or both if you're lucky. Westfield's administration is so so and a sizable portion of the parents are checked out. The focus is on crowd control and dealing with a small number of students who cause a lot of problems. There are some very good teachers and programs there and some high performing students though. PVI moving right up the street caused a lot of UMC families to flee.

Even if you are a checked in parent you are dealing with an admin who does nothing. I am not surprised that families are fleeing to private. FCPS needs to make this school student centered again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are likely going to have issues switching classes this year.

My school sent home letters to anyone who signed up for a course that differed from their recommendation (whether above or below) and told them there would not be space to switch in August. Classes are packed thanks to the new staffing ratio. Normally at this point I have wiggle room in classes to absorb those who want to change levels. This year they are already all at 30. The school won’t put me over 150 kids or they have to pay a stipend based on state law. The only reason anyone will be added to my classes at this point is if someone moves to the school.

In June there were a whole 3 seats open across all of one of my preps. Apparently enough new kids came over the summer that now there are zero. No one will be able to drop the honors version of the course unless someone from regular moves away.

New parents, PLEASE seriously consider what you are signing your child up for when registration forms come home in February/March to be viewed.

I understand what you are saying....but let's stop making everything the parents fault. FCPS is an oversized mess-FCPS is paying an absorbent amount of money to keep and create unnecessary positions at Gatehouse and cutting necessary positions for schools. This is not ok and it is not student focused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

Our school has very specific lists for when they make those changes.

Dropping down levels occur the 2nd week of school. The first week is fixing things for seniors who need classes to graduate, kids who were placed in entirely the wrong class (such as a french 1 student placed in Spanish 3 or a kid placed in chamber orchestra instead of computer programming) and a few other high priority conflicts.

[Anonymous]

How many kids does each Westfield counselor have? They always seem soooo put out and I only reach out once or twice a year, always about classes/schedules which is their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are likely going to have issues switching classes this year.

My school sent home letters to anyone who signed up for a course that differed from their recommendation (whether above or below) and told them there would not be space to switch in August. Classes are packed thanks to the new staffing ratio. Normally at this point I have wiggle room in classes to absorb those who want to change levels. This year they are already all at 30. The school won’t put me over 150 kids or they have to pay a stipend based on state law. The only reason anyone will be added to my classes at this point is if someone moves to the school.

In June there were a whole 3 seats open across all of one of my preps. Apparently enough new kids came over the summer that now there are zero. No one will be able to drop the honors version of the course unless someone from regular moves away.

New parents, PLEASE seriously consider what you are signing your child up for when registration forms come home in February/March to be viewed.

Fcps really needs to start chdcking residency of all high school students.

Our high school has many kids zoned for other schools attending, even though it is closed to transfers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid registered for a honors level class and I want to drop her down to regular. I emailed earlier in July but counselor was not in for the year yet. Will that be a problem?

Our school has very specific lists for when they make those changes.

Dropping down levels occur the 2nd week of school. The first week is fixing things for seniors who need classes to graduate, kids who were placed in entirely the wrong class (such as a french 1 student placed in Spanish 3 or a kid placed in chamber orchestra instead of computer programming) and a few other high priority conflicts.

Why can't they make all the requested changes before school starts? Its disruptive to change classes once school has begun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are likely going to have issues switching classes this year.

My school sent home letters to anyone who signed up for a course that differed from their recommendation (whether above or below) and told them there would not be space to switch in August. Classes are packed thanks to the new staffing ratio. Normally at this point I have wiggle room in classes to absorb those who want to change levels. This year they are already all at 30. The school won’t put me over 150 kids or they have to pay a stipend based on state law. The only reason anyone will be added to my classes at this point is if someone moves to the school.

In June there were a whole 3 seats open across all of one of my preps. Apparently enough new kids came over the summer that now there are zero. No one will be able to drop the honors version of the course unless someone from regular moves away.

New parents, PLEASE seriously consider what you are signing your child up for when registration forms come home in February/March to be viewed.

Westfield parent-we did not receive any notice like this-that it would be impossible to change levels.

[Anonymous]

Its impossible for all kids to know the correct level for next year in February. For instance a kid could be doing OK in Algebra at that point, and choose Geometry. But then struggle the second half, choose to expunge after consideration after the final grade in June, and need to be moved to Algebra in 9th instead of Geometry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many kids does each Westfield counselor have? They always seem soooo put out and I only reach out once or twice a year, always about classes/schedules which is their job.

This and it's the attitude right up to the top. Sad for students.