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Academics
Counseling
School Counseling
Welcome to the School Counseling Department!
The primary goal of the Counseling Office is to support the student in his educational and personal development. We strive to provide personal and academic counseling that enables the student to utilize his talents and make intelligent and wise decisions for the future.
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Our Role
Read MoreThe role of the School Counselor at Saint John's is to advocate for students, counsel, consult, coordinate, and collaborate with students, parents, and school staff to support academic achievement and help students prepare for future endeavors in academic, career, and personal and social areas.School Counselors are available for individual counseling sessions as necessary. After each interim and quarterly report, students in scholastic difficulty are seen as soon as possible to address the areas of concern. When personal or family issues seriously interfere with academic progress, school counselors will evaluate the situation and attempt to support the student accordingly. In some cases, a referral to off-campus professional counseling will be made. -
Our Staff
The greatest strength of the Counseling Office is the effort of each member to make him or herself available to the needs of the students before, during, and after school. Counselors also welcome the opportunity to meet with parents to discuss student academic progress and post-secondary plans.The Counseling Office is a source of valuable information and support for the student as he progresses through his educational career. -
Program Offerings
Read MoreThe School Counseling team provides students and families with the following programs, presentations, services, and events each year: College Seminar Series, Parent / Guardian Nights, Coffee with Counselors, College Rep Visits, Be Well @ SJ, and access to Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services. -
College Placement
Saint John’s offers a college preparatory course of study and School Counselors guide students through the entire college placement process. Researching colleges, majors, and careers, applying for admission, financial aid, and scholarships, strategizing standardized testing, college essays, and interviews - these are all topics within the School & College Counseling curriculum. View more on College Placement.
Academic Advising
In addition to individual academic advising and support, listed below are the general steps involved in the counseling process for each of the four years of high school. Graduation requirements for Saint John's students are listed in our Descriptive Catalog and on the School Profile.
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Middle School
The middle school has a dedicated school counselor supporting all students in grades seven and eight. The role of the middle school counselor is to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. The middle school counselor also oversees support services for students with disabilities in the seventh and eighth grades.The seventh grade program is designed to assist students with their transition to middle school. Individual meetings with students are held to help students identify areas that are going well with their transition, as well as opportunities for support–be it social, academic, or organizational to name a few. The middle school counselor collaborates with faculty and administration to further identify students requiring additional assistance. These services continue for students in the eighth grade. In the spring of grade eight, the school counselor works with eighth grade students and families on course selection and preparation for high school. -
Freshman Year
The Freshman Year Program involves orientation and adjustment to the high school. Students are introduced to the high school counseling staff and resources through group guidance sessions and individual meetings. A substantial amount of group guidance time is spent addressing areas that pertain to the student’s academic and personal growth. In early Fall, freshmen are introduced to and prepared for the October administration of the Practice SAT or PSAT. Throughout the year during group guidance and individual meetings with students, a strong emphasis is placed on involvement in the school community through extracurricular activities, co-curricular classes, athletics, and community service. In the spring, counselors work with students on the course selection process for sophomore year. -
Sophomore Year
The Sophomore Year program utilizes group guidance sessions to explain and prepare students for the PSAT in October. Group guidance sessions are also conducted after PSAT results are returned in order to help students analyze their individual test-taking strengths and weaknesses in preparation for the SAT. The School Counselors introduce students to various resources that can help students research colleges, majors, college funding opportunities, and careers. College Board and Naviance accounts are two notable resources that counselors will introduce to sophomores. In the spring, counselors work with students on the course selection process for junior year. -
Junior Year
The Junior Year program also includes group guidance sessions in the fall that address the PSAT, this time with special emphasis on the National Merit Scholarship Program. In the middle of the junior year, counselors begin to work with students on college placement. Further instruction in the use of student College Board accounts is provided and students are introduced to a variety of other college information resources, including Naviance, an interactive college placement platform that contains specific SJ college stats. Counselors are also available for individual counseling appointments to discuss student transcripts, records, and test scores as they pertain to future plans. Group guidance sessions (Junior Seminar) occur throughout the second semester to prepare juniors for the college placement process. -
Senior Year
The Senior Year program focuses mainly on the college placement process from September to January. The Senior Seminar course provides seniors with an overview of the process and counselors use this class to distribute essential college placement documents and information. Seniors are advised to sit for the August and/or the October SAT. Seniors are required to meet with their counselor at least once during first semester and individual parent appointments are encouraged. Individual meetings are used to guide students (and parents) through the college application process, taking into consideration individual student needs and talents. A Senior Parents Night (September) and a Financial Aid Seminar (October) are also provided for senior parents.
International Student Advising
Saint John's High School is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.
Prospective international students and parents should inquire with the Admissions Office about the application process.
US Embassies are an excellent source of information for students interested in studying in the United States. Additionally, Study in the States is a helpful government resource that explains rules and regulations governing the US student study process.
Current Saint John's international students should contact Mr. Paul Brulé, Director of School Counseling, in Xaverian Brothers Hall for any advising needs.
***Please remember to have your I-20 signed by Mr. Brulé before you travel outside the United States!
Prospective international students and parents should inquire with the Admissions Office about the application process.
US Embassies are an excellent source of information for students interested in studying in the United States. Additionally, Study in the States is a helpful government resource that explains rules and regulations governing the US student study process.
Current Saint John's international students should contact Mr. Paul Brulé, Director of School Counseling, in Xaverian Brothers Hall for any advising needs.
***Please remember to have your I-20 signed by Mr. Brulé before you travel outside the United States!
Services for Students with Disabilities
Although Saint John’s does not provide specialized education teachers for students with learning differences or disabilities, the school attempts to make reasonable accommodations for the differentiated learning needs of our students, as appropriate. If a student will require such accommodations at Saint John’s, the appropriate documentation for new students must be submitted to the Admissions Office. In the case of students diagnosed with a learning difference or disability while enrolled at Saint John’s, documentation must be submitted to the Counseling Office. Once adequate documentation is provided, a protocol may be developed for the duration of enrollment, provided that Saint John’s feels it can appropriately meet the educational needs of the student. If the academic supports are deemed necessary by Saint John’s personnel, these supports will be shared with the student’s teachers and parents / guardians. School counselors will meet with the student to discuss learning style, means of accessing classroom supports and strategies to optimize academic success.
Below are the Documentation Guidelines utilized by Saint John’s to determine eligibility for academic accommodations and standardized testing accommodation requests.
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Documentation Guidelines
Read MoreIf you are seeking accommodations for your son as he receives them in his current school setting, an active I.E.P., 504 plan or otherwise noted school accommodation plan is required in order for any documentation to be reviewed in consideration of accommodations at Saint John’s High School. -
Helpful Links
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Additional Notes
- The school administration will determine if Saint John’s personnel can adequately meet the differentiated learning needs of a student; in some cases the school may not be able to do so.
- Any request to waive a graduation requirement must be approved by the school principal.
Meet the Counseling Office
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Saint John's High School
Saint John’s High School has educated young men under the sponsorship of the Xaverian Brothers since 1898. Through the Saint John’s strong college preparatory curriculum, over 900 students in grades seven through twelve pursue personal and intellectual growth in an environment that is committed to the development of the whole person and recognizes a moral dimension of life through service to God and to others.