Guidance and College Counseling
The High School for Climate Justice believes in a distributive counseling model; providing many opportunities for students to engage in academic, social-emotional and post-secondary support with multiple adults in the building and outside community organizations.
Ms. Martinez
Ms. Edgehill
Mr. Williams
Ms. Zaharakis
Guidance Counseling Office: Each Guidance Counselor follows a cohort of students from 9th grade to 11th grade to build relationships with both the students and their families. In their fourth year, students are transferred to our 12th Grade & College Counselor who has specialized in the post-secondary transitional needs of students.
Post-Secondary/College Readiness
Starting in 9th grade, students begin to build their College & Career Portfolio to emphasize the importance of student planning and decision making about their futures. This is supported through guidance lessons in Advisory, designated class time, small and individual counseling sessions, and regular self-reflection and progress monitoring. There are grade-specific tasks in the College & Career Portfolio that help to ensure students are continually working towards their goals and making the most of opportunities and resources available to them.
Every year, HSCJ offers tours to CUNY, SUNY, and private colleges, including trade schools, to help expose students to different settings, meet with the staff and students of those institutions, and get a feel for what post-secondary life might look like. Separate from our annual Career Day, we also host an annual Alumni Day event that brings back more than fifty former graduates to speak with current students about “life after high school,” including their college and career experiences.
In their senior year, students and their families will work closely with our College & Career Counselor to finalize decisions and apply for the post-secondary option that best meets their needs and goals.o.