COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 13

January 18, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	School Counselor Appreciation Week, February 4-8, 2008

 

The Virginia Department of Education would like to recognize professional school counselors during the week of February 4-8, 2008, as we celebrate National School Counseling Week. This week highlights the tremendous impact that school counselors have in helping students achieve success in school and develop academic and career plans. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the unique contributions of school counselors in Virginia.

 

School counselors are recognized for the many services they provide to students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Our school counselors work diligently to help students excel, and their hard work is essential to the success of our schools. They play a vital role in the educational process of all students in the Commonwealth.

 

The Virginia Department of Education would also like to recognize a recent document created by the Virginia School Counselor Association entitled The Virginia Professional School Counseling Program Manual. The purpose of the manual is to provide school counselors with the tools needed to develop a comprehensive school counseling program in order to enhance academic achievement and social and career development for all students. The manual will assist school counselors in aligning their program with the Standards for School Counseling Programs in Virginia Public Schools (Virginia Department of Education, 2004), and the Virginia Standards of Learning.

 

The Virginia School Counselor Association will provide free training to division supervisors of school counselors on the use of The Virginia Professional School Counseling Program Manual on February 28, 2008, in Richmond and will unveil the manual at its April 3, 2008, conference in Newport News. Specific information on the training and the manual is now available on the Virginia School Counselor Association's website at www.vsca.org. The Association will mail a hard copy to each division superintendent in early February 2008.

 

Division superintendents are encouraged to join the Department of Education in recognizing Virginia school counselors for their dedication to students' educational success.

 

Should you have any questions, please contact Joseph Wharff, school counseling specialist, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by telephone at (804) 786-9377, or by e-mail at Joseph.Wharff@doe.virginia.gov.

 

 

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