Guidance Curriculum by Grade

Fairfield Prep offers a specific guidance program for each class year which is designed to meet the needs of students in that particular stage of development. Counselor assignments are arranged by alphabet and by class.Guidance seminars are set up by classification and topics for discussion, targeting those issues which affect students at each academic level and level of personal development.

The frequency of the guidance seminars vary by grade. Freshman and sophomore seminars meet once each cycle for the academic year, while junior and senior guidance seminars are less frequent but leave more room for individual planning with guidance counselors.

You can read through a full breakdown of the guidance programs below.

Freshman Guidance Program

Topics Include: Introduction to the Guidance Department and review of guidance procedures, transitioning to high school, academic success skills, time management, transcript review, goal setting, pillars of character, accepting responsibility, preparing for mid-term & final exams, course registration, substance abuse, stress management, peer interactions, establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, end of year reflection and evaluation.

Sophomore Guidance Program

Topics Include: Goal setting, preparation for PSAT, PSAT score report review, practice ACT exercise, first quarter self-evaluation, substance abuse, semester exam preparation, personality inventory, career/ major exploration, preliminary college search resume building through Naviance. Sophomores also discuss course registration, establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, substance abuse, sexual responsibility and final exam preparation.

Junior Guidance Program

Topics Include: PSAT preparation, review of PSAT, developing SAT/ACT strategy, review of factors essential in college admissions, exploring college majors and careers, college search through Naviance, preparation for the college application process, the campus visit, the admissions interview, the college essay, senior course selection, the junior interview and developing a college list, finalizing an activities resume and review of junior/senior summer activities to prepare for application procedures of the Fall.

Senior Guidance Program

Topics Include: College application procedures, finalizing college lists, determining application strategy in regard to Early Action, Early Decision, rolling and regular admissions options, the college application essay(s), teacher evaluations, counselor recommendations, application filing procedures and orientation to the personal, academic and social challenges of college. Seniors meet in groups to begin the year and then proceed in the application process through individual meetings with their college advisor. The year concludes with a transition to college program.