The Fayetteville-Manlius School District Comprehensive School Counseling Plan has been designed to meet the academic, career/college and social/emotional demands of all students in order to better serve the Fayetteville-Manlius school community.
The counseling program is comprehensive, developmentally-appropriate, and designed to reach every student. When developing and implementing such a program, school counselors need to be well-versed in the holistic education of the student, demonstrating knowledge and understanding beyond the traditional role of the “guidance counselor.”
In order to provide a program that supports student success and achievement, school counselors must lead, advocate, collaborate, analyze and be ready and willing to learn. To support their continued education, the Fayetteville-Manlius school counselors participate in conferences and workshops offered by BOCES, New York State School Counselors Association (NYSSCA), New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), College Board, Higher Education Scholarship Corporation (HESC), State University of New York (SUNY) and other in-house, local, regional, and national professional development opportunities.
The Fayetteville-Manlius school counselors are divided among six buildings: three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Our counselors are seen as leaders, advocates and important educators not only in their assigned building, but within the entire Fayetteville-Manlius school community. They are active as club advisors, athletic coaches, representatives on local/regional/state/national committees, and are frequently called upon to provide mental health and other training for teachers and staff.
F-M school counselors are integral participants in guiding and supporting student achievement, behavior, future goals and plans, and emotional wellness. We collaborate with teachers, administrators, community members, and families to gather information that can help direct the counseling program.
The National Standards for School Counseling Programs (1997) and the National Model for School Counseling Programs, developed by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), have shifted the focus of school counseling from a student-by-student system to a comprehensive and developmental program that focuses on academic, career, and social/emotional development for every student.
ASCA recommends a student to counselor ratio of 250:1, and that counselors spend 80% or more of their time in direct or indirect services to students. The Fayetteville-Manlius School District strives to meet these recommendations and to provide services that serve our students and our community.
Fayetteville-Manlius school counselors help meet the demands of students within all six buildings. Counselors provide services intended to improve student learning, behavior, attendance, and social-emotional wellness, while helping them discover appropriate career paths. We believe our school counseling program can greatly impact our school community and assure that F-M remains as one of the best educational systems in our state and country.
The comprehensive school counseling program consists of four components, defined by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA): Foundation, Management, Delivery and Accountability.