Students looking for a schedule change or other help in the guidance office may be in for a little bit of a wait.
There are currently three counselors serving about 100 more students than we had last year. Last year the office had four counselors.
“There will be a new procedure if we stay just three counselors. But we want to continue the services we have offered in the past,” Counselor Patt McConnaughhay said.
This year brings two new guidance counselors with the hiring of former English teacher Jalaene Choquette and current German teacher Pat Vogel. Jan Carper and Steve James, previous counselors, retired at the end of last school year.
Vogel, the fourth counselor, hasn’t moved into the position yet because the new German teacher’s arrival date is still up in the air.
Choquette is looking forward to a different type of day with her new position.
“I like it because I’m learning new things everyday and the routine is a little bit different,” Choquette said.
The counselors don’t often have a typical day of a teacher in the office.
“It depends on the week or month, at the beginning of the school year it’s a lot of schedule changes, and Mrs. Choquette is fitting in very well. Mr. Engberg was successful in getting a $10,000 grant from Education Quest,” McConnaughhay said.
Money from the grant will go toward assisting students on college trips and encouraging them to get through high school and finish college.
Until Vogel takes over the fourth counselor position Choquette says they are preparing for the years ahead and the possibility of having only three counselors in the school.
“We are just trying to think about what we will do every year with only three counselors,” Choquette said.
Choquette and McConnaughhay would still like all of the students to feel comfortable and welcome, but to expect a small wait when visiting the counselors office.
