Student Services
| Student Services |
Escola Americana is proud of its history of providing assistance to students at all levels of ability and achievement, primarily through Student Services. Student Services is designed to provide a strong program in personal, academic, college, and vocational counseling; short-term psychological counseling, testing, and referrals; and the administration of standardized tests and the interpretation of test scores to students, teachers and parents. In the Upper School these services are provided by a Student Services Committee consisting of a counselor, a licensed psychologist, a learning specialist and the Upper School Principal. A full time, licensed nurse is on campus during the school day to provide minor medical care. |
Counseling Office |
The guidance program in the Upper School builds on the goals of the lower school and middle school in supporting and facilitating personal growth, self-esteem, and good interpersonal relationships. In addition, the program helps students to grow in their understanding of themselves and their world and to become responsible adults. The guidance program includes the planning and monitoring of students’ academic program and progress, assists students who experience academic or personal difficulties, and stresses decision-making and personal responsibility. The program provides small group counseling, through a Peer Counseling program and the Counselor’s Workshop, as well as short-term individual counseling. When there is a need, the counselor refers students to the school psychologist for diagnostic testing and outside referrals. Both parents and students are encouraged to contact the counselor as soon as they experience any personal or academic difficulties. |
Psycologist Office |
EARJ employs a full-time, licensed psychologist. The psychologist is available for diagnostic testing, conferences, in-school counseling sessions, and out-of-school referrals. But more importantly, as an integral member of the Student Services Team, the psychologist endeavors to meet and establish a relationship with all students in the Upper School. Students and parents are encouraged to visit the psychologist on an informal basis and to view the psychologist’s office as a place to obtain information on and assistance with any issues or concerns which they might have. |
Academic Advisement and Assistance Program |
EARJ identifies, monitors, and provides assistance to students who experience academic difficulty through the Academic Advisement and Assistance Program (AAAP). The program is supervised by the Upper School Student Services Committee, and is made up of the school psychologist, the counselor, the learning specialist, the principal, and the vice-principal. All students who fail two or more subjects at the end of the first quarter, first semester, third quarter, or the year are placed in the Academic Advisement and Assistance Program during the following quarter. Once students enter the AAAP, the Upper School Student Services Committee closely monitors their progress each quarter and develops and implements intervention plans to help students improve in the subjects in which they are experiencing difficulty. Parents are notified in writing and may be asked to attend a conference with the counselor and/or the principal to discuss specific steps for improvement, which could include requests for educational and/or emotional assessment. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend parent-teacher conferences that are scheduled twice a year, following first quarter and third quarter grading periods. In an effort to help students improve in their academic classes, students on AAAP are put on probation and are not allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities. At the end of each quarter, the Student Services committee re-evaluates each student’s achievement and a decision is made regarding the student’s continuation in the program. |
College Counseling |
Over 95% of EA graduates enroll in college or university upon graduation. In recent years, more than 50% have applied to and been accepted at universities in the United States. See the Upper School Profile for more information. Others attend university in Brazil, other Latin American countries, Europe, and Asia. The Counseling Office has reference material and information on universities in the US and throughout the world, the application process, financial aid, essay writing, and adjusting to university life. While college counseling in effect begins in the second semester of eighth grade as students are advised about their academic programs for the four years of Upper School, the College Counselor begins meeting with individual students on a formal basis during second semester of the junior year to discuss options concerning university attendance. Students and the College Counselor continue to work together closely throughout the senior year to ensure that all applications are complete, all deadlines are met, and that students are fully represented and advised during the admission process. Parents are urged to become involved in this process. |
Standardized Testing |
Escola Americana is an authorized testing center for The College Entrance Examination Board’s PSAT, SAT I: Reasoning Test and SAT II: Subject Tests, as well as various psychological tests available from the school psychologist. The PSAT is administered to all 10th, and 11th graders each October. The ERB test is administered to 9th to 12th graders in September. Dates for the SAT I and SAT II are available in the counseling office. |
Homeroom Program |
The goal of our homeroom program is to assist and support students with their individual development. Students will have the opportunity to identify and meet their individual academic needs or explore their special interests. Homeroom meets twice a week and students choose to attend a STUDY HALL or a CLUB. Club activities are limited to one homeroom a week; the other homeroom is used for Study Hall activities. Study Halls consist of quiet, uninterrupted time and teacher assistance for each student to get academic assistance and advisement. Activities may include making up schoolwork, planning or getting ahead in homework, etc. Using a student pass system, students are allowed to leave the classroom to do one of the following: get extra-help with another subject area teacher; use the library, computer lab, or art room; or meet with the counselor, the college counselor; or or the IB coordinator. Clubs consist of activities such as MUN, Stress Management, and O Binóculo. Different clubs may be offered each semester depending on student interest and teacher offerings. Clubs may have different attendance requirements and participation expectations and these will be clearly described in writing before students sign up for one. If club requirements allow students to leave the homeroom, the student pass system should be used. |
LS Open House K & 1st
2008 Alumni Rewarded for IB Results
