Chicago Military Academy- Bronzeville’s Counseling Department

1. Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville’s Counseling Department Ashley Kronwall Sarah Safron Carlee Sabbath

2. Our Mission: To provide comprehensive academic, postsecondary, and developmental support and enrichment opportunities designed to meet the unique needs of each cadet, ensuring character development and the potential for postsecondary success. In partnership with the JROTC program, the counseling department focuses on a holistic approach to student development, to provide every cadet with the skills and motivation to pursue their goals.

3. Duties, Roles, and Responsibilities Non-Counseling Duties: Covering classes, Discipline, Clerical work

4. Counseling Department GoalsSY 13-14 • 70% of Freshman will achieve a GPA of 2.5 or higher. • 85% of students will be on-pace to graduate. • 90% of Freshman and Sophomores will be on-track. • 100% of Seniors will apply to 3 or more colleges. • 80% of Graduates will enroll in a post-secondary institution. • 100% of Students presenting mental health issues will receive referrals to school or outside services.

5. Priorities • Increase Student Motivation & Achievement (Better grades!) • Increase Parental Involvement & Communication • Encourage systematic collaboration through Response to Intervention • Provide more social/emotional support and mentoring • Create a college-going culture

6. Goal #1: 70% of Freshman will achieve a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Current Data: 57% of last year’s Freshman achieved a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Strategies • Mail bi-annual progress reports to parents including their child’s GPA, test scores, class rank, credits, and on-track status. • GPA 101 for parents during Freshman Parent Night (Sept. 18th). • Implement Understanding your GPA guidance lesson with Freshman after 1st Report Card. • Implement Reading your Transcript guidance lesson with Freshman after 1st Semester. • Identify and target struggling students through Response to Intervention program. Parental Involvement Student Motivation College Going Culture

9. Goal #2: 85% of students will be on-pace to graduate. Current Data: 76.4% of students are currently on-pace to graduate. Strategies • As well as bi-annual progress report letters, parents of off-track students will receive a letter outlining their child’s deficiencies and instructions for credit recovery. • Off-pace students will receive individual counseling during the credit recovery registration period to set up a credit recovery plan. Parents will be consulted. Parental Involvement RtI Student Motivation

10. Goal #3: 100% of Freshman and Sophomores will be on-track to graduate. Current Data: 98% of Freshman and Sophomores were on-track at the end of SY12-13. Strategies • The Failure Report will be provided to all teachers weekly. • Students progress will be monitored and struggling students will be identified for intervention as part of the RtI Program. • Parents of students identified for Tier 2 or 3 intervention will receive a letter explaining the RtI process at CMA-B, and an explanation outlining why their student was referred. RtI Parental Involvement Student Achievement Social/Emotional Support

11. Goal #4: Increase post-secondary enrollment to 80%. Current Data: Class of 2011, 57.7% enrolled in College (Still waiting for data for Class of 2012, Class of 2013.) Strategies • Using WNI/CMAB Postsecondary portfolio, Juniors & Seniors will participate in college match workshops and will identify 3 match, 2 reach, 2 safety schools to apply to. • Using CMAB College Handbook, Juniors & Seniors will receive classroom guidance teaching them how to apply to colleges, and forms/documents needed. • Using WNI, Counseling Dept. & JROTC will engage students at all grade levels in timely postsecondary self-exploration & instruction. Parental Involvement Student Achievement College Going Culture

12. SENIOR COLLEGE TIMELINE (Please post!) August • Continue college visits!! • Remember to engage in volunteer work, enrichment activities, & other activities that will look good on your college resume’. September • Start completing college applications! • Complete Senior Brag Sheets by Sept. 7th. • Secure 3 recommenders by Sept. 11th, 1st letter of recommendation due Sept. 28th. Allow all teachers/coaches/counselors, etc. at least 2 weeks to complete your letter! • College Match Worksheets due Sept. 14th. • Initial Draft of Personal Statements due Sept. 25th, finalized version due on the 28th. October • Maintain your grades! Remember that many colleges will require a mid-year report. • Continue Weekend college visits. • College Resume’ is due Oct. 5th. • 2nd Letter of Recommendation is due Oct. 5th, 3rd letter due Oct. 19th. • Must have at least 1 college application submitted by Oct. 8th, 2nd college application by Oct. 19th, 3rd application by Oct. 26th. • Note: Nov. 1 or Dec. 1 is the deadline to submit applications for early decision, early action, or priority. College Going Culture Parental Involvement Student Achievement

13. Goal #5: 100% of students presenting mental health issues will receive referrals to school or outside services. Data Source: Referrals from teachers, parents, students who self-refer Strategies • Continued referrals to local agencies, area hospitals, etc. Track placement and response for all students on Excel. • Continued Peace Circle Group as part of anti-bullying campaign for students who are victims, bullies, or problematic bystanders. • Managing depressive symptoms group will be instituted this year for referred students who meet the group criteria. RtI Parental Involvement Student Achievement Social/Emotional Support

14. Counseling DepartmentProtocols

15. Program Changes • Students requesting a program change must complete a “Program Change Request.” • It is the discretion of the teacher as to whether a student can add/drop your class. • Program changes will only be made within the first 2 weeks of school. • After the first two weeks, program changes will only be made in collaboration with both classroom teachers.

17. Please be Considerate! • Please screen students for honors or AP demotion/promotion within the first two weeks to avoid disrupting other classes. • Once a program change is made, please do not request the student’s program be changed back. Program changes are time consuming and can be very complicated. • Avoidance of “difficult students” is an inappropriate reason for requesting a program change. Program changes should be student-centered.

18. Student Visits to the Counselors • Students must always report to class before visiting the counselors. • Students requesting to see a counselor must receive a pass from their classroom teacher and they will receive a pass upon return. (Feel free to call!) • We will ALWAYS call if we specifically request to see a student. (kids lie sometimes) • If we see a student, we will ALWAYS send them back to class with a pass. • No pass = we didn’t see them (kids lie sometimes) Remember: Student + Pass = 

19. CONFIDENTIALITY • Minimal Disclosure of student’s personal issues. • Refrain from gossip about students. • Do not share student information with other students. • If sensitive student information was shared with you in confidence, do not share with other teachers. • Do not discuss student issues within earshot of other students (i.e. in the hallways). • Examples of sensitive issues: hospitalization, medication/disabilities, homelessness

20. RtI @ CMAB

21. Visit Our Website! www.cmabcounseling.org – Page for teachers with relevant links and information.