Guidance

In the Guidance Department, we strive to help each student make the best possible use of Northampton High School’s academic, extracurricular, and athletic offerings, both in relation to the school’s overall educational mission and to each student’s post-high school plans. The majority of NHS students pursue some sort of post-secondary education, but we also help students to prepare for employment, military service and deferred college admission. All four of us are knowledgeable, experienced guidance counselors who are certified in secondary school counseling. We also come to our work with advanced degrees and varied professional backgrounds in fields such as education, administration, mental health and human services.

We strive to develop a supportive connection with each student. Doing so allows us to use our knowledge to help students to plan their high school programs thoughtfully, and to become a trusted resource that students and parents can turn to with educational, personal, familial and community concerns and problems.

We manage all registrations and the transitions of new students and schools-of-choice students.

We coordinate enrollment in courses at Smith College, Holyoke Community College, tutoring with Smith College students, and internships.

We provide referrals to professional services outside of the school.

The Guidance Department attends to the “big picture” for each student. We encourage the active involvement of all families in their student’s education, and we are available to talk and meet with parents of students, and prospective students, throughout the year.