“Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse society, new technologies and expanding opportunities. To help ensure they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders and citizens, every student needs support, guidance and opportunities during childhood, a time of rapid growth and change. Children face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement."
– “Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth Development a National Priority,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

School counselors have a positive impact on student achievement through programs and services that are a part of the counseling program at Riada American School.

 Mrs. Lakshana Hassan is RAS’s school counselor.  She provides assistance to students by guiding them towards the appropriate path towards achieving academic excellence and becoming responsible members of society.

High school is the final transition into adulthood and the world of work as students begin separating from parents and exploring and defining their independence. Students are deciding who they are, what they do well and what they will do when they graduate. During these adolescent years, students are evaluating their strengths, skills and abilities. The biggest influence is their peer group. They are searching for a place to belong and rely on peer acceptance and feedback. They face increased pressures while exploring the boundaries of acceptable behavior.  They need guidance in making concrete and compounded decisions. They must deal with academic pressures as they face high-stakes testing, the challenges of college admissions, the scholarship and financial aid application process and entrance into a competitive job market.

Our school counseling program provides students with:

Classroom Guidance

• Academic skills support
• Organizational, study and test-taking skills
• Post-secondary planning and application process
• Career planning
• Education in understanding self and others
• Coping strategies
• Peer relationships and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and study skills
• Career awareness and the world of work
• Substance abuse education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning

• Goal setting
• Academic plans
• Career plans
• Problem solving
• Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
• Transition plans

Responsive Services

• Individual and small-group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Peer facilitation
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals

System Support

• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation

RAS is built with collaborative efforts from all stakeholders.  Our school counselor collaborates  with:

Parents 
Academic planning/support 
Post-secondary planning 
Scholarship/financial search process 
School-to-parent communications 
School-to-work transition programs 
One-on-one parent conferencing 
Referral process

Students
Academic support services 
Program planning 
Peer education program 
Peer mediation program 
Crisis management 
Transition programs

Teachers
Portfolio development, providing recommendations and assisting students with the post-secondary application process 
Classroom guidance lessons on post-secondary planning, study skills, career development, etc. 
School-to-work transition programs 
Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically 
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success

Administrators
School climate 
Academic support interventions 
Behavioral management plans 
School-wide needs assessments 
Data sharing 
Student assistance team development

Community
Job shadowing, worked-based learning, part-time jobs, etc. 
Crisis interventions 
Referrals 
Career education

The elementary, middle, and high school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. At RAS, we enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement.  Our school counseling program is essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.