Huntington UFSD’s guidance counselors were celebrated for the important work they perform daily during National School Counseling Week.
“School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans” was the theme of this year’s special week, which is designed to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors.
“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, postsecondary options and social/emotional skills,” said Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed.D., executive director of the American School Counselor Association. “School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”
The week honored Huntington High School counselors Diana Bonilla, Lauren Brunoni, Catherine Croke, Evelyn Hernandez, Steve Lashin, Josephine Saladin and Bernadette Walsh; J. Taylor Finley Middle School counselors Paloma Herrera and Alison Logan and Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School/Woodhull Intermediate School sixth grade counselor Ivy Alvayero.
The week included special announcements regarding exactly what school counselors do to support students’ academic, college, career and social-emotional development.
Huntington students showed their appreciation by writing thank you notes to their counselors and taking pictures with selfie frames created by high school Art Honor Society students Vivienne LaVertu and Niurca Chabla-Leon.
“It was a productive, yet fun week celebrating our district’s school counseling program,” said Jeannette Alomia, Huntington UFSD’s director of guidance and testing. “School counselors play an important role in student achievement, both academically and personally. The goal of the week was to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors and highlight the tremendous impact they have on students. I am proud and honored to lead the guidance team and will continue to ensure that students’ needs are our utmost priority in our daily practices.”
