Behind the scenes, they’re working diligently, shifting around student schedules and writing letters of recommendation. In front of the crowds, they pass information to families and ensure everyone is receiving support. In this way, Northwood counselors are an integral part of the school community. To recognize their hard work, Northwood ASB took part in the annual National Counselor Appreciation Week with redesigned recognition activities from Feb. 5-9.
The week, organized by ASB community commissioner junior Ines Khodja and ASB treasurer senior Samin Shahrabian, featured activities such as appreciation message writing and counselor spotlight slides on the @nhstwolves Instagram. These activities were inspired by a wish to do smaller things that really touch others, rather than through materialistic goods, according to Khodja.
“We wanted a way for students to express their appreciation for their counselors through telling them ‘thank you for all you do’ or even something specific to them,” Khodja said. “I believe that showing them these little acts of kindness goes a long way.”
These new activities aligned with the theme of this year’s National School Counseling Week, “School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student Focused,” which highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Public primary and secondary schools in the U.S. were introduced to the National Counseling Week on Jan. 22 when the California legislature passed the bill as a result of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 131 in an effort to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems, according to the Department of Defense Education Activity.
Northwood, however, has been recognizing Counselor Appreciation Week for years before this new legislation; annually organized by ASB, Counselor Appreciation Week specifically emphasizes the diverse responsibilities of Northwood counselors to both students’ academic success, college counseling and mental health.
Counselors expressed their appreciation towards student efforts, towards proactive nature to ask questions, express concerns and remain appreciative of the hard work that the counseling department puts in.
“Receiving thank you notes from my TAs and getting student-made posters appreciating what counselors do, I really feel seen on campus,” counselor Kelsey Loup said. “It really tells me that I’m doing a good job and helping them in some way.”
With the newly implemented National Counselors Week, Northwood ASB is planning to maintain this annual tradition and hopes to see more high schools recognize their counselors.
