Counseling Mission Statement: Our mission is to support and nurture the academic, career, and social-emotional development of our scholars, ensuring their holistic well-being while facilitating an environment conducive to their learning journey.
Academic: We collaborate closely with the scholars’ team to foster a passion for learning and encourage a sense of pride in their academic achievements. By inspiring strategic thinking about their coursework and real-world applications, we strive to instill a sense of accomplishment and a harmonious balance between academic endeavors and personal life.
Career: We empower scholars with the skills and knowledge necessary for a seamless transition into high school while also preparing them for the next steps in their educational journey and eventual career paths.
Social/Emotional: Our focus extends to aiding students in recognizing their strengths and emotional needs, guiding them to regulate their emotions, formulate meaningful goals, and develop constructive coping mechanisms. We emphasize building strong interpersonal skills rooted in respect, fostering resilience in the face of challenges, and nurturing the growth of well-rounded, productive members of their community who empathize, connect with, and value others.
Counseling Vision Statement:
AT VACS, Scholars will be respectful, compassionate, and culturally sensitive members of their diverse community who possess the interpersonal skills to persevere through adversity and build positive relationships. Through a rich, well-rounded, and rigorous curriculum, every scholar will have the skills to be a lifelong learner with a voice, purpose, and bright future.
VACS Believes all Scholars are:
- Valuable
- Accepted
- Capable
- Successful
Counseling Beliefs:
- All scholars have a right to attend a safe and welcoming school environment.
- All scholars are treated with dignity and respect.
- All Scholars have access to a comprehensive counseling program and professional school counselor.
- All scholars’ social-emotional wellness will be supported with priority, to encourage their academic development and future successes.
- All Scholars are accepted and inclusive regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, cultural and ethical considerations, and special needs/learning disabilities.
- All educators will ensure that Scholars are healthy, safe, supported, engaged, and academically challenged.
What is SEL?
- Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors they need to:
- recognize and manage their emotions.
- practice mindfulness
- demonstrate empathy and concern for others.
- establish positive relationships.
- make responsible decisions.
- handle challenging situations constructively.
- promote mental wellness.
- reduce mental health issues.
- develop positive coping skills.
Practice SEL at home – Resources for Parents
- https://www.thepathway2success.com/10-sel-activities-for-home/
- https://www.weareteachers.com/social-emotional-learning-at-home/
- https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-04-02-10-ways-parents-can-bring-social- emotional-learning-home
The Fight for Social Justice – TOGETHER
Resources for families and community to educate, connect, support and engage in the fight against racism and social injustice.
The Movement for Black Lives
The Yeadon/Lansdowne NAACP
https://yeadonborough.org/directory/the-yeadon-naacp/
11 Anti-Racist Workshops in Support of the Movement for Black Lives Matter (M4BLM)
http://www.raceconscious.org/2020/08/m4bl/
100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say to Your Child to Advance Racial Justice
10 Ways Families Can Support Black Lives Matter Protests
https://www.momscleanairforce.org/10-ways-families-can-support-blm-protests/
Delco Church for Social Justice and Community Outreach
https://www.uucdc.org/a-compendium-of-things-we-can-do-and-what-led-up-to-the-current-racial-crisis/
Crisis Information
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, use one of these 24/7 hotlines for immediate support.
There are people to talk to 24/7
**Crisis Phone Hotline 1-800-273-8255
Call and get connected to a trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7, for any problem you are dealing with.
**Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Text for help with any type of crisis and get 24/7 emotional support and information. A specialist will help you stay safe.
**The Trevor Project Hotline
1-877-565-8860
A 24/7 national phone, texting, and messaging hotline providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth.
Mobile Crisis
This service can come to you in mental health crisis situations. Trained crisis response teams are available 24/7 to help families cope with immediate situations. Support includes telephone counseling, mobile on-site help, referrals to other services, emergency respite and evaluations.
Bucks County: 215-785-9765
Delaware County: 855-889-7827
Chester County: 877-918-2100
Montgomery County: 888-435-7414
Philadelphia County: 215-685-6440
Other Emergency and Community Service Outreach
https://apathtohope.org/emergency-help
https://speakup.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SpeakUp2017ResourceGuide.pdf
Counselor Contact
Student Dropbox
- Scholars, please click on the form below and fill it out to speak with me about a problem or concern you’re having. I’m always here to listen and help!
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfplhUeHHCEf9cXaC33yAC0UEnSokf9SRE2tlzKe4UcpcsQlw/viewform
Parent Concern
- Parents and guardians, please click on the form below and fill it out to speak with me about a concern or problem regarding your scholar.
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjP6RV2dWF7_uTHIn6pG5SC2OwCgelQqv-wG2Xonb4Jo39xg/viewform
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one can only remember to turn on the light” -Albus Dumbledore