Guidance

Mission and Goals of the Department: The Guidance Department is fully and actively committed to the mission of the school. Our role is to assist each student and, by extension, each family in meeting the spiritual, academic, social growth, and developmental goals of each young man in living the mission to the best of his ability.

Services: The counselors set up regular meetings with students by appointment. Parents are encouraged to call and make appointments to see their son’s counselor when necessary. Academic advisement, social, and individual concerns are the main subjects of these appointments. For freshmen, adjustment to high school life is a very important aspect of counseling. Also, parents are encouraged to check Edline for weekly updates on academic progress.

As Bergen Catholic is a college preparatory high school, we begin college counseling and related services, in earnest, during the sophomore year. Guidance coordinates the PSAT for sophomores and juniors and assists in the registration process for the SAT in junior and senior years.

The school coordinates an SAT preparation course for juniors. This course is timed to finish just before the SAT I exam in spring of junior year.

For juniors, Mr. Ulrich offers College Process during the activity periods. This is a review of the entire application process. Speakers from Making College Count address juniors and seniors in assembly programs in the second semester. The department conducts two guidance nights for sophomores and juniors and their parents each April. All seniors are encouraged to apply to college and all applications to college are processed through the guidance department.

In addition, the guidance department produces a booklet of scholarship opportunities for seniors and a booklet of summer programs for sophomores and juniors. Also, scholarship and program announcements are posted on bulletin boards, homerooms, and BCTV. As members of Coin3 Career Community, students, counselors, and parents have access to a complete on-line guidance system. Students take interest survey tests through the Coin 3 system.

For students and families with special concerns, a student assistance counselor is available each Monday through Thursday. To maximize this counselor’s time at B.C., it is strongly suggested that the student or parent speak to the regular counselor first for a referral.