The Guidance Department at both Garden City Middle School and High School have stepped up their efforts to facilitate more effective transitions for all students, enhance student interactions and help prepare students for college, announced Ronit (Kitty) Klein, guidance department coordinator for grades 6 through 12.

“I can see where there has been tremendous growth over the last few years, so I have to commend you,” School Board President Colleen Foley said at the Feb. 9th Garden City Board of Education work session. The department gave their first program review at a school board work session on June 13, 2005, and returned on Tuesday evening to give the board and residents an update.

One of the biggest improvements noted is the greater emphasis on helping students in all grades deal with transitions, most notably between eighth and ninth grades when students move up from the middle to high school. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen admitted that when he began his position in the district in the summer of 2005 there was an abrupt transition for parents and students at that level and it was a significant issue for the two school principals at the time.

Dr. Feirsen said there was a perception that there was an actual separate Middle School and High School district. “Those issues and those perceptions, at least from my point of view, have dropped off,” he said. “It’s really not a big issue for us anymore.”

The district’s appointment of curriculum coordinators in 2006, which included Klein, helped erase the perception. “We have developed a closeness since we became six through twelve,” said one of the counselors. “Instead of two units, we became one, and I think that shows to everybody.”

Middle and high school counselors meet with curriculum coordinators and building administrators to share programming, curriculum and scheduling updates. Ongoing communication occurs with curriculum coordinators and teaching staff to ensure student placement is appropriate and rigorous.

High School Principal Nanine Cuttitta said the change was most noticeable when it came to scheduling. “Everyone has angst about scheduling, but the group that has the most angst are eighth graders and their parents. I think over the past year and a half we have done so many things to really close that gap.”

The guidance department continues to collaborate with the special education department to ensure effective student transitions. Joint department and staff development meetings with guidance and special education are held three to four times a year. Counselors have also participated in several staff development workshops in collaboration with the Pupil Personnel Services Dept.

Counselors meet with all students individually, as well as in small grade-specific groups. Eighth-grade parents are invited to participate in one of 15 small group meetings. High school parents are invited twice a year to meet with their child’s counselor.

In eleventh grade, counselors help students with their college search using Guidance Direct and another Web-based program called Naviance. Seniors meet with counselors individually and in groups to navigate the college application process.

The department has been trying to encourage students to look at colleges beyond the traditional favorites. Klein said she has seen a shift in the way parents are thinking when it comes to college selection, which she attributes to the economy. More students are applying to state schools or staying local for one to two years before transferring to more expensive schools. More students are not making their decision until parents receive financial aid packages. Students are also limiting the number of applications submitted to schools due to the high application fees.

The guidance department is also working to enhance student interactions, especially at the high school. Summer curriculum programs were completed to increase student interactions in the classroom setting. These programs include Freshmen Feud, Sophomore Savvy, Junior Journey and Senior Senioritis. There have also been a number of character education programs given at various grade levels. Counselors visit the primary and elementary schools to offer respect, anti-bullying and cooperation programs.

Counselors, as well as parents and coaches, attended an “Athletic Recruiting and Scholarship” seminar to better understand the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility rules and core requirements for each division. Currently there are 331 Division I schools, 291 Division II schools and 429 Division III schools.

Future goals of the department include: revising the district’s guidance plan and developing a DVD; devising a special education post-secondary planning guide; filing services for Students with Disabilities forms online; submitting transcripts, mid-year reports and letters of recommendations through an electronic imaging system known as e-docs; and introducing on-site college applications, where colleges actually meet with students at the high school.