Guidance Office
Role of Guidance
The Guidance Department at Paul VI Catholic High School is staffed with professional counselors and administrative secretaries. Counselors are available to assist students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators.
In keeping with the philosophy of our school, counselors provide comprehensive services to facilitate the spiritual, academic career and personal-social growth, development and adjustment of students.
The counselors work in collaboration with the faculty advisor program and teachers to meet the individual needs of each student.
The fundamental goal of counseling is to help each student understand and accept his/her self, to better become more aware of alternatives, and to learn effective problem solving and decision-making skills leading to increased maturity, greater self-direction and assumption of responsibility.
The counselors provide professional assistance to help the student attain academic success, learn to cope with personal problems, improve relationships and focus on career/college and life choices.
Guidance is available and accessible upon request from students, parents, and teachers throughout the year. In addition, a routine visit is initiated by the counselor with each student. In the first semester, counselors attempt to meet each senior and freshman; during the second semester, juniors and sohomores are invited in. Each counselor has a caseload of approximately 320 students, while the director's caseload is approximately 200.
In addition to making resources available for college and career planning, counselors teach post-high-school planning classes to sophomores and juniors, host a college night for parents, and provide a biannual newsletter. Guidance implements standardized testing programs and assists students, parents and teachers in interpreting test results.
Guidance offers information on referral sources in the community for more extensive testing, tutoring and counseling as needed.
College Financial Aid (Top of page)
Families applying for any type of college financial aid need to complete the appropriate financial aid forms.
Most colleges require the FAFSA. The FAFSA is required for any type of federal aid and most other types of need-based aid. The FAFSA arrives in Guidance approximately mid-December. Applications can also be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. These forms should be completed and sent in as soon as possible after January 1st, as processing takes time and the aid colleges can offer goes quickly.
Some colleges require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. The Profile is available in Guidance or it can be completed on-line at www.collegeboard.com. Typically applications are accepted beginning mid-September. Once the student completes and mails in this form, CSS will mail a customized Profile Application directly to the student.
Guidance receives information concerning a wide variety of scholarships. Morning announcements are made regarding scholarships. Seniors should regularly check the scholarship files for information and forms. For a school-nominated scholarship, the student submits his or her name for consideration to Guidance. Since the Guidance counselor is an important part of the nomination process, students should let their counselor know of financial need and their own strengths, talents, and interests as they relate to the scholarships.
Career & College Search Sites (External Links) (Top of page)
- FedWorld
- Keirsey Temperment Site
- Military Careers
- Monster Career Center
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*Net Center
- Virginia Employment Commission
- Virginia View