Our Mission

Lovejoy High School’s Counseling Program intentionally delivers a comprehensive, data-informed school counseling program that promotes a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. We are committed to fostering excellence in academic achievement, personal growth, and post-secondary readiness for all students through equitable access to services, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships.

Our Vision

Lovejoy High School’s Counseling Program envisions a school community where every student is empowered with the skills, mindsets, and confidence to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally -- prepared to lead fulfilling lives as globally competitive individuals beyond high school.

Standard Operating Procedures

Emergency Office Visits with a Counselor:

-The student should be accompanied by a teacher, or another student, with a pass in an emergency.  The teacher must provide an email or note to the counselor to provide as much detail as possible about the student’s emergency visit.

Suspected Crisis/Self-Harm/Emotional Distress Referrals:

-The teacher should email the counselor and the school social worker with as much detail as they have obtained from the student.  Also, bring the student down to the office as soon as possible before the end of the class period (or immediately if after 1:30pm).  If the determination is made that an immediate mental health evaluation by a Mobile Crisis Team or the student will need to be transported to be evaluated at a hospital, the Counselor, School Social Worker or School Psychologist will make notification to the parent.  Then, the principal and/or assistant principal for the student’s grade level will be notified.  If the situation continues after hours, the administrator will supervise the student until the situation is resolved (parent arrives), even in the event of transport to a hospital.  A report can be made to the Counselor, School Social Worker, or School Psychologist.

Department of Family Children Service (DFCS) Calls/Referrals:

-The teacher should email the counselor and the school social worker with as much detail as they have obtained from the student.  Also, bring the student down to the office as soon as possible before the end of the class period (or immediately if after 1:30pm).  The Counselor, Social Worker, or School Psychologist will notify the administrator and/or principal regarding the need to make a DFCS referral. The Counselor, Social Worker, or School Psychologist will call DFCS or use the online reporting portal to report the suspected abuse. If it is determined by the principal (or principal designee) and school resource officer that the student should not leave school via their normal mode of transportation,  the administrator will supervise the student after hours until the situation is resolved.  The incident will be documented in the DFCS Referral tab in IC after reporting the abuse. Please note, DFCS referrals can be made by the Counselor, School Social Worker, School Psychologist or Administrator, who are all mandated reporters.

Crisis Assessments/Gaggle Notifications:

-If a student states they are in a mental health crisis, or it is suspected that the student is in a mental health crisis, the student should be brought to the Counseling office with the teacher or a student. 

-A Wellness and Safety Interview will be conducted and parent notification will be made.  The administrator for the student’s grade level and/or the principal will be notified by email. The incident will be documented in the Safety Assessment tab in IC.

-Gaggle notifications for behavior-related or threat-related incidents will be sent to the student’s administrator. The student can be referred to the counselor by the administrator, if needed, after the parent has been notified and the situation has been resolved.

If a Counselor is not available, then the School Social Worker or School Psychologist should be contacted to see the student.

First Day of School Student Schedules/Registration:

- Parents will be encouraged to continue to register students on the OLR system at home.  However, through the first day of school, the Media Center side door will be open to answer questions and for parents to use the computers to register if they do not have one at home. The Registrar/Counseling Secretary team will be available to assist parents inquiring about student enrollment.  

- After the first day of school, the parents will schedule an appointment with the Parent Liaison to come to the school to use the computers in the Parent Liaison’s office to use the OLR system (Counseling Secretaries will assist parents when needed).  Parent Liaison will assist and provide parents with information on how to access their Infinite Campus accounts from the Parent Liaison.

- All students whose name appeared on Gap Schedule will have schedules

- Students who register on the first day of school will be registered for classes on a first-come, first-served basis. They must be physically present to receive a schedule.

- Dual Enrollment students who have an online class will be scheduled for college classes at the beginning or end of the day and must complete those classes off Lovejoy campus.

-Parents requesting to see a counselor must make virtual counseling appointments to see a Counselor if they are not available during that time.

Withdrawals:

-The counseling secretary will coordinate parent withdrawals. Parents should complete the Request to Withdraw link provided by the district. The registrar will withdraw students.

Parent letters/Student Work Permits/Driving Attendance Documentation:

-The front office secretary will complete work permits, verification of enrollment letters for active students, and certificates of enrollments (for DDS).

OLR Enrollment After First Week of School:

The registrar will coordinate and process enrollment.  Once the application is complete, students/parents will receive an email providing an appointment time within the next 2-3 business days for the student to start school. The counselor, the counseling secretary, and the student's assistant principal should be copied on that email.

Students Requesting to “See The Counselor”:

-Students will be requested to make an appointment online to meet virtually or in person with their counselor. QR codes to directly access scheduling links will be posted in and around the counseling office, as well as outside the individual counselor’s office door and around various locations around the building.

-Office Aides and the counseling office secretary should stop any students trying to enter the Counseling Suite without a pass from their teacher, and who have not scheduled an appointment (unless in crisis).

Parent Conferences:

-Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be scheduled by the Parent Liaison. They will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 3:20-4:15pm. Teachers will be sent a calendar invitation. Parents not available should coordinate directly with individual teachers. Meetings can be held virtually or in person.

Program Delivery for Students:

-Character Education will be delivered through C.L.A.W time and grade level meetings. Academic Advisement and individual meetings will take place in person (with virtual sessions available upon request).

Weekly Workdays:

-Per the State of Georgia, school counselors are entitled to a planning period the equivalent of approximately ⅙ time. Per the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), professional school counselors should spend approximately 20% of their time engaged in program planning and fair-share school support activities. Individual counselors will coordinate with their cohort assistant principal regarding a daily planning period versus a weekly workday.

-Department Meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of each month.

-Counselors will only take student/parent meetings during that planning time in cases of extreme emergency. School faculty should utilize the school social worker and school psychologist for urgent student concerns.

Parent Night Meetings:

-Parent meetings will be offered virtually or hybrid for each grade level annually.

Attendance Meetings (Student Attendance Meetings):

-In-person & virtual meetings will be scheduled with parents by the attendance secretary. Assistant Principal Terry Colbert is the administrator of this duty. School counselors serve as contributing attendees of the meeting.

Circle of Support Meetings:

-Assistant Principal Colbert is the administrator of the Circle of Support initiative. School counselors serve as contributing attendees of the meeting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support Staff Duties/Responsibilities