Montbello High School

Departments

Counseling Center

5000 Crown Blvd. Rm. 224
Denver, CO 80239
Office Hours: M-F 7:30-3:00
Phone: 720-423-5700
Fax: 720-423-5767

Montbello Counseling Department
"Remember, It takes a Village"

May 2008 Calendar (.pdf)

Philosophy

The role of the counselor is to provide services to help students transition from school to career and develop skills in respect, responsibility, integrity, teamwork, commitment, and potentiality. Services will be delivered in a proactive rather than reactive style in order to better serve students, parents, teachers, administrative staff and the community. Delivery of services will be personalized and individualized according to need. The humanity of each individual will be recognized in all counseling tasks.

Mission Statement

To provide counseling and support services to students involving academic, career, emotional and social issues to enhance each individual’s ability to become responsible and productive members of his/her community and society.

Staff:

Mrs. McNeal, MAEd
Counselor H-O, Department Chair
720-423-5726
Ethel_Mcneal@dpsk12.org

Dr. Zaragoza, Ed.D
Counselor A-G
720-423-5723
Victor_Zaragoza@dpsk12.org

Mrs. Silence, MA, MT-BC
Counselor P-Z
720-423-5804
Rebeccah_Silence@dpsk12.org

Ms. Walker
Registrar/Records Secretary
720-423-5729
Jalonia_Walker@dpsk12.org

Ms. (Spellman) Johnson
Counseling Secretary
720-423-5772
Helen_Spellman@dpsk12.org

Our Goals and Beliefs:
To implement the school counseling program in Denver Public Schools, Montbello counselors are committed to the following:

All students have dignity and worth.
All students have the right to be served by the school counseling program.
The school counseling program shall be evaluated on stated goals and related student competencies.
The school counseling program should be consistent with expected developmental stages of learning.
School counseling program activities shall be planned and coordinated by the counseling staff.
All students ethnic, cultural, and racial differences and special needs are considered in the planning and implementation of the school counseling program.
The school counseling program will utilize community resources.
The school counseling program shall be managed by state-certified, masters degree level counselors.
All students should have access to a school counselor to discuss academic, career, and personal/social concerns.
The student and parent(s) are responsible for monitoring the students educational progress with the assistance of a professional school counselor.
An ongoing program of counselor continuing education is necessary to maintain a quality school counseling program.
Professional mandates and guidelines proposed by the national and state counselor association will continue to set standards for the school counseling program.
All counselors abide by the professional ethics of guidance and counseling as advocated by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Counseling Services Provided:
* Academic/College Planning
* Class Scheduling and course information
* Career Guidance
* Social Work and Mental Health services
* Substance Abuse Referrals and counseling
* Teen Pregnancy Prevention referrals and counseling
* Scholarship information
* Social-emotional Individual/Group Counseling
* Transcript Interpretation
* Community agency referrals
* Classroom Visits/Presentations
* College Visits
* College Fairs
* Financial Aid Information
* Post-Secondary Options

Graduation Requirements:

Senior Checklist:
1. Continue to challenge yourself and take solid, rigorous courses (keep grades up, it’s not over yet).
2. Update ICAP.
3. Meet with everyone who has a stake in your college decision and solicit input.
4. Begin formal request for letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to write the letters.
5. Attend college fairs and go on college visits. Narrow your college choices.
6. Gather scholarship information from your counselor and/or someone a year ahead of you who received several scholarships. Begin completing application forms. Know when deadlines are!
7. Give completed applications to counselor to review at least 1 week prior to deadline. Remember to request official transcripts.
8. Attend a financial aid workshop. Complete the FASFA (as soon after January 1st as possible).
9. Continue checking for and applying for scholarships.
10. Watch for acceptance letters and deadlines.
11. Consider your summer options.
12. Fine tune your resume.
13. Watch for senior announcements for important information.