Guidance

Counseling Curriculum by Grade

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student and teacher smiling during class

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.

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.

student athlete wearing hockey equipment

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
developing a college list
finalizing an activities resume
review of junior/senior summer activities to prepare for application procedures of the Fall

teacher talking to students in a lab classroom

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.