Guidance

Guidance Services assist the students to know and to understand themselves and their environment and to use this understanding in making plans and decisions in both the present and the future. Guidance Services also aid the students in attaining better mental health and self-reliance and a fuller use of their capacities through insight and a clearer understanding of their interaction with the people and circumstances in which they find themselves.

Marist’s guidance program spans four years.  Students in each year level are assigned a counselor so that each student will receive personalized attention.  The guidance and counseling program is one of the ways in which this personalized attention is provided.

Guidance Programs

Anger Management Group

Anger is a God given emotion.  How we deal with our anger can be a problem.  Students meet with a moderator on a regular basis to review how they handled their anger, better ways of dealing with anger, and what socially inappropriate behaviors need to be changed.

Bereavement Group

The death of a loved one or a friend is often difficult to accept.  This group meets with a moderator on a regular basis to work on feelings surrounding death.  Students are a great support to each other.

Career Counseling

At Marist, conversations concerning careers take place on an informal basis throughout all four years between students, their teachers and counselors. When a student reaches Junior year, a more structured program takes place as Marist encourages students to consider possible future careers as well as the programs that will assist them in reaching their goals.

During the first semester of any given year, a Career Day is held for both Seniors and Juniors at which approximately twenty presenters discuss their careers with the students and answer questions for them. Students choose the career presentations that interest them.

Further conversations take place with our College Counselor as they prepare to apply to colleges and other programs that offer excellent programs in the career of their interest. Moreover, some field trips and meetings are offered to students who show and interest in careers such as the military, veterinary science, manual skills, dentistry, etc.

College Representative Visits

Many college admission representatives who are eager to recruit students of Marist caliber visit Marist High School and meet with the students during the two lunch periods.  Students are given literature and admission applications.  Seniors and juniors are made award of admission requirements, costs, availability of financial aid and other important considerations.  College representatives also come to Marist throughout the year to provide important information to the seniors.

Conferences

A conference is an intensive study of an individual student.  The purposes are:

1. to organize and appraise data about an individual for all sources, and
2. to develop a global picture of an individual which will contribute to effectiveness in working with him/her

The Guidance Department requests a conference when the situation requires, or when initiated by the faculty or administration.  When appropriate, the counselors process any necessary referrals to the Bayonne Child Study Team, with the parents’ permission.

Conflict Resolution

A Conflict Resolution program was incorporated in the Marist High School Guidance Department in September 2000.  The main goal is to provide our students with skills needed to deal with everyday issues and problems that they face in all facets of life.  Peer mediation sessions are conducted by both peer mediators and a counselor who are trained in the 6 steps to conflict resolution.  Every student is made aware of the program and how a referral CAN BE MADE.  Students involved in a conflict have the opportunity to confront and settle the issue with all parties involved, and are assisted in doing so by two peer mediators and supervised by the program facilitator.  Students are encouraged to not only express their feelings, but to express them appropriately.  We attempt to enlighten students to the fact that they are in control of their actions, and can therefore respond accordingly.  As a result, students experience effective ways to resolving their conflicts and can apply this to situations outside of Marist High School as well.

Course Placement

Assistance is provided to the student in the choice of an appropriate and desirable academic program.  Information sessions are held at critical times (when course choices are to be made) and each student is given the opportunity for an individual interview for curriculum planning.  Seniors are provided opportunities for as many individual interviews as necessary for post-high school planning.

Individual Counseling

Counseling is a way of helping with the broad range of questions and concerns that students face as part of growing up.  It is regarded as a vital part of the guidance program.

Individual counseling is the process in which a student, in face to face contact with a counselor, further develops self-understanding and becomes increasingly self-directive in making his/her own decisions, choices and plans.  It is in this highly personal contact that the counselee is assisted in (1) identifying concerns; (2) getting insight into areas of concern; (3) considering alternatives; (4) setting goals, especially for college.

In an emergency, the student may see a counselor by coming to the Counseling Center.

1. Counseling is available to students at all times during the school day on an appointment basis.
2. Each counselor is responsible for a proportional number of students. In this way, the counselor gets to know the characteristics, personality, goals and values of each of his/her counselees.  This facilitates effective counseling.
3. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact their son’s or daughter’s counselor if they feel the counselor can be of service in any way. This may be done during school hours (8:00 AM – 2:30 PM).

Individual counseling gives students the opportunity to identify issues which they feel are “self-defeating”, that is, those behaviors which are preventing them from leading a happier, more effective life.  Such behaviors as shyness, guilt, constant approval-seeking, depression, fear of failure, worry, procrastinating, poor communication with parents, might be some of the areas explored.  The counselor attempts to help the student understand why he/she behaves in certain ways.  Alternative behaviors are considered and encouraged.  The emphasis of the counseling session is on CHANGE, learning of new, effective behaviors and the discarding of ineffective ones; the development of self-maturity, self-direction and independence.  During the first marking period of senior year, a select group of seniors, peer counselors, meet with a group of freshmen once a week.  These peer counselors also meet with their moderators once a week.

Peer Counseling

Seniors who express an interest in working with freshmen apply to this program.  Students are chosen by a group of administrators, teachers and counselors.  We believe that all who wish to be leaders can be if they have demonstrated the willingness to serve.  Once accepted, the seniors agree to participate in a training program over the summer.

The five objectives are:

1. Support: how to give it and own it
2. Awareness: of self, others, circumstances
3. Self-confidence: how to keep it, develop it and give it to others
4. Positive thinking: about self, others and life
5. Values: self, others, potential

These objectives are taught with and by tasks in:

1. Group process – to teach support
2. Communication – to teach awareness
3. Motivation – to teach self-confidence
4. Change – to teach positive thinking
5. Leadership – to teach values