National School Counseling Week

Join Prince William County Public Schools in celebrating the incredible impact school counselors make in helping students succeed academically and plan for their futures.

School counselors play a pivotal role in shaping students’ academic, social, and emotional success. Their work goes far beyond guidance—they deliver comprehensive services that include:

• Individual and group counseling to address personal challenges and build resilience.
• Classroom lessons that promote academic skills, career readiness, and social-emotional learning.
• Crisis intervention to ensure safety and provide immediate support during difficult times.

School counselors make a powerful impact by collaborating closely with teachers, families, and community partners to create a nurturing environment where every student feels supported and empowered. Through their dedication, they help students overcome obstacles, discover opportunities, and develop the confidence to thrive in school and beyond.

Here are some ways that students, families, and school staff can show their appreciation to school counselors:

Families can:

• Write a heartfelt thank-you note or email.
• Share your gratitude online using #NSCW26.
• Record a short video message of appreciation.

School and student-led initiatives:

• Encourage students to write personalized messages of gratitude
• Give a shout-out during school announcements.
• Create a gratitude wall for students to post notes.
• Make a bulletin board highlighting counselors with fun facts, quotes, and services.
• Have students line the hallway with signs and cheers for counselors.
• Organize a large poster or group thank-you card to show appreciation.
• Have classes decorate counselors' office doors with appreciation messages and creative designs.

As defined by ASCA:

School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling program to the school’s academic mission and school improvement plan. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of ASCA and promote the development of the school counseling program based on the following areas of the ASCA National Model: define, deliver, manage, and assess.

School Counselors

• Help students manage emotions and apply interpersonal.
• Are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development.
• Help parents focus on ways to further the educational, personal, and social growth of their children.
• Collaborate with families/teachers/administrators/community to help students reach their full potential and set realistic goals for themselves to ensure success.
• Seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs and help students become productive members of society.
• Advocate for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings.
• Assist with individual academic advising and planning for postsecondary options (higher education, military, workforce).

Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school.