The role of the Guidance Counsellor encompasses three areas:
1. Personal Guidance & Counselling – working with students to talk about issues that arise in their school life. This can involve one-to-one meetings with students, meetings with parents, outside agencies, group workshops and much more.
2. Vocational Guidance & Counselling – working with students on issues such as college and career choices, CAO and PLC applications, international college applications, interviews and references, apprenticeship applications, scholarships and funding.
3. Educational Guidance & Counselling – providing assistance at key junctures in our students’ time in Ardscoil Rís. This involves ability testing with students, helping with the transition from primary to secondary school, subject choices, college placements and much more.
Growing up and all that comes with it, can be a confusing time with many different changes – self, family, education, friendships, work, interests and much more. Students can meet the Guidance Counsellor in a confidential manner to discuss various matters, including family issues, mental health, relationships and sexuality, subject choice, career and college options, apprenticeship applications and much more.
Guidance and Counselling is an important part of the work we do at Ardscoil Rís. The Guidance Counsellor works with the Principal, Deputy Principal, Year Heads, Tutors, Class Teachers and Learning Support Teachers on a daily basis. There is also regular contact with parents, counsellors, psychologists, employers and colleges to ensure that students have a strong support network to guide and assist them.