Guidance Department Head: Mrs. Piskovic Guidance Counsellor: Mr. Seifarth
The Guidance Counsellors are available to all students and provide the following services:
- Individual counselling about courses, careers, personal matters;
- Interest and aptitude tests to learn more about themselves;
- Computer information about jobs and careers;
- Information about jobs, colleges, apprenticeships, universities and other opportunities;
- Records of courses taken and total credits towards graduation;
- Awards, bursaries, scholarships and financial aid information for post-secondary study;
- Information sessions on job-search techniques, cover letter and résumé writing;
- Assistance with registration for the next school year at W.F. Herman Academy – Secondary School, college or university.
Interviews may be requested by filling in “request for counselling appointment slip” in the guidance office or by making a request on EDSBY. Requests may be made before school, at lunch, or after school in the guidance office. All students are seen by a guidance counsellor at least once during the school year to discuss selection of courses and possible career directions.
Guidance counsellors may also make a referral to a psychologist, social worker, child youth worker, learning support teacher, student success teacher, etc.
Learning Support Teacher: Mrs. Alison Forbes
- Prepares Individual Education Plans for students and teachers,
- Provides assistance and help with academic work,
- Prepares and implements accommodations for academic work.
Student Success Teacher: Mrs. Heather Malmberg
- Provides assistance and help with academic work for non-identified students,
- Liaise with feeder schools to ease transition from grade 8 to grade 9,
- Provide support and homework help.
Child and Youth Workers: Mrs. Michelle Mousseau and Mr. Kevin Racine
- Counselling, mediation and conflict resolution,
- Behavioural, emotional, social support and mediation for students.
Create Your Future Advisor: Mr. Ronald Jeffries
- Helps racialized and marginalized students to progress through school and overcome the challenges they face in the education system,
- Tailors interventions for each student’s needs and includes: mentorship, community involvement and field trips, monthly group and one-on-one meetings, career guidance and planning, résumé writing, job search and tutoring.
Social Work: Mr. Matthew Martinuzzi
- Social, emotional, individual and family counselling,
- Appointment requested through guidance.
Psychological Services: Dr. Elaine Williams
- Assessment of cognitive abilities and behavioural issues.
Special Education Co-ordinator: Mrs. Jennifer Newton
- Co-ordinates special education services
Graduation Coach – Indigenous Students: Ms. Candice Allen
- Identify and remove barriers to better enable Indigenous students to engage in school and facilitate their learning, well-being and achievement,
- Establish trusting relationships with Indigenous students, their families and communities, so they have a greater level of confidence in the student’s education,
- Identify strategies, milestones, and indicators to support Indigenous students to achieve credits, graduate and transition successfully into their chosen post-secondary pathway.
Graduation Coach – BAC (Black, African, Carribean) Students: Ms. Natalie Browning-Morgan
- Provide intensive and culturally responsive support and advocacy to Black, African and Carribean students and their families,
- Empower students and see students through graduation,
- Develop transition strategies to support post-secondary pathways and programs.
FNMI (Fist Nations, Métis, Inuit) Support Worker: Ms. Brieanne John
- Improve student achievement, provide cultural learning opportunities, create greater opportunities for success in education,
- Foster understanding and appreciation for Indigenous Peoples in school communities,
- Provide support based on student voice and parent/guardian voice.
Mental Health and Addictions Nurse: Ms. Raj Singh
- Meet one-on-one,
- Provide mental health and addiction education to students and families,
- Provide short-term therapy,
- Connect to community services.