GUIDANCE
Our Vision
Our guidance program exists to assist students with their educational, career, spiritual and emotional development—equipping students for higher levels of learning, successful careers, and a matured faith. Three areas are incorporated into our program:
Academic
- Class schedule development based on aptitudes & interests
- College Admissions Direction
- Naviance Guidance Program
Career
- Career Day
- Resume Formation
- H.S Internships (V.E.T. program)
Spiritual/Emotional
- Access to student care faculty
- Christ & Culture Seminars
- Weekly teaching in chapels
VET Program
Our VET (Vocational Educational & Training) Program is an opportunity for students to shadow in a profession that they are interested in as a possible career choice. Students are responsible to find a place of business where they can shadow for these days.
This program was formerly referred to as our Internship Program. Over the years the term “internship” has become associated with a paid position; in light of this we have changed the name to the VET program and refer to is as a shadowing experience. Sometimes in house it is still referred to as an internship.
Our VET program and J -Term classes are sharing space for the 2023-2024 school year.
- VET program will occur for 9th and 10th graders January 2 and 3. J-term will occur for 9th and 10th grade January 4 and 5.
- VET program will occur for 11th and 12th grade January 4 and 5. J-term will occur for 11th and 12th grade January 2 and 3.
See below for helpful links to relevant documents.
- See here for a list of 2023 VET Internship locations.
- See here for the VET Expectations and Overview.
- See here for the VET Proposal.
Academic Guidance
Middle School
In middle school our students begin using the Naviance online program and meet with our guidance department, allowing students to start exploring their interests with a look toward high school course selections.
High School
Beginning freshman year students work actively with our guidance administrator to create a strategic plan for academic courses, leadership opportunities, and extracurricular activities.
This process intensifies during a student’s junior year as they look toward college. During senior year, they are led in the college application and selection process and guided in pursuing available scholarship opportunities.
Spiritual & Emotional Care
Care and Counseling
Our care and counseling team interacts with students as early as Kindergarten and continues through their senior year.
Elementary classes receive teaching on topics such as friendship, conflict resolution, bully prevention, and making wise choices. Students can also meet one on one or in groups, as needed for care and counseling throughout their academic career.
In middle school we provide care through discipleship groups, break-out small group discussions, and participation in weekly chapels. Additionally, we work with middle school students in Naviance to help them discern their learning style and interests.
Additionally, our care and counseling team sends regular weekly communications (Axis’ Continuing the Conversation) to equip parents with resources relevant to the culture that students may encounter.
2023 Recommended Summer Opportunities
Select from the below options for recommended off-site summer extracurricular offerings. Summer classes, internships, camps, etc. provide students with rich, new experiences in different fields such as engineering, writing, STEM, art, community service and so much more. We do encourage you as a student to make the most of your free time in the summer by considering new and different learning experiences. These activities are highlights to be added to the resume of activities you use when you apply to colleges. Please note CLS is not sponsoring or endorsing these opportunities. We are providing them to you for your own interests.
Innovative experiences for teenagers in community service, language, and leadership. There are 22 programs in six continents around the world with both service and travel programs. Visit http://www.adventurescrosscountry.com/ or call 800-767-2722.
Scheduled for June 18-24, 2023 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD
The American Legion is sponsoring their annual summer residential program for current H.S. junior boys, called Boys State. The program emphasizes the necessity of participation as a citizen in the government process to ensure continuing freedoms and rights. It is a week of learning & group participation where students are required to work as a team under close supervision. http://mdlegion.org/boysstate/
Girls State is a residential training program for high school classes and is operated annually by the American Legion. Every American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program operates with the same patriotic values through a nonpartisan curriculum where students assume the roles of government leaders, campaigning in mock parties (often called “Federalists” and “Nationalists”) to become mayors and county and state officials of their ALA Girls State.
Global Scholars have the option to join an all-virtual program, or a blended virtual-in person program. Global Scholar equips youth leaders to be bold and visionary change makers around urgent global challenges. Participants learn about global issues from experts, build tools for transformative action, and launch careers in international affairs. Global Scholars learn with and from some of the brightest young minds working on these issues today. There are sessions for grades 9-12. Find out more at https://ampglobalyouth.org/global-scholar/
Sessions in over 200 courses for talented high school students who want to prepare for college success and experience life as a student on an Ivy League campus. Students can shadow a physician, hone writing skills, map the stars, seek answers to human behavior, examine international affairs, or analyze their own DNA. A limited number of Dean’s Scholarships are awarded to Pre-College students who demonstrate financial need and academic merit. For more information and to apply visit www.brown.edu/summer
An intensive 6 week summer experience in creative mathematical exploration. Financial aid is available. Applications are available at www.promys.org.
Offers ten distinct pre-college programs to rising juniors and seniors. Take architecture, art, computational biology, design, drama, music, game academy, math and science, summer session, or writing courses. Call 412-268-5914 or visit https://www.cmu.edu/pre-college/
The Pre-College Program offers two summer opportunities: College Intensive and Summer Immersion.
The College Intensive program offers rising juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit
through undergraduate level courses, access university resources, and preview an authentic college
experience. The Summer Immersion is a program offers rising sophomores, juniors and seniors the
opportunity to expand and deepen their knowledge of a topic through rigorous noncredit sessions that
connect academic experience with real-world activities. www.summer.gwu.edu/pre-college
Offers an engaging hands-on experience and an opportunity to earn college credit. https://summer.georgetown.edu/all-programs
Choose from a 2-week immersion program or a 6-week self-paced experience that will allow you to meet other students and learn in the style that works best for you! All high school students who identify as girls can apply, and no prior computer science experience is required. https://girlswhocode.com/programs/summer-immersion-program
Offers fun educational summer camps at local universities. Learn how to create your own websites using the best industry software. Register at https://www.idtech.com/on-campus or call 888-709-TECH
At Maryland Leadership Workshops’ week-long residential leadership workshops, students experience creative and interactive workshops, hands-on leadership opportunities, and personal coaching; immersing themselves in all
aspects of leadership. http://mlw.org/summer-programs/
This 2 to 5-week program for rising juniors and seniors is an intensive college-level experience that offers
opportunities to build a professional portfolio of work. https://www.mica.edu/non-degree-learning-opportunities/programs-for-youth/programs-for-teens/summer-pre-college-program/
Enrichment programs for students in K-12. Visit https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/workforce-development-continuing-education/youth-programs/summer/index.html
The Therapeutic Recreation program offers a variety of volunteer options for students ages 14 and older
to assist people with disabilities in summer day camps and programs. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/therapeuticrec/volunteers.html
For low income sophomores or juniors with at least a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) who have an interest in journalism. The cost is free, including travel costs to and from Princeton! Apply now! Go to www.princeton.edu/sjp
For rising high school juniors and seniors. This program offers both a 3-week and a 6-week online options designed to help students explore their talents and interests before graduating from high school. www.precollege.syr.edu
Targets college-bound seniors, juniors and sophomores who have a strong academic record and a desire to excel to experience college life while earning three academic credits. Explore academic interests, investigate career opportunities, and explore campus life. An array of rigorous courses are offered for three weeks and are taught by the same award-winning faculty who teach UMD students.
Visit https://oes.umd.edu/pre-college-programs/terp-young-scholars-online
Various camps for students offered during the summer. Previous camps have included Cyber Defense Training Camp, Make Your Own Wearables, Introduction to Computing 101 and more.
Go to https://inclusion.cs.umd.edu/outreach for details.
Smith’s summer business programs are living-learning, immersive experiences aimed to enhance students’ understanding of business, create global awareness on pertinent topics and develop leadership skills.
To learn more and enroll, go to http://go.umd.edu/smithsummerprograms
C-Tech² offers an opportunity to learn about college life–from residence halls to classrooms and everything in-between. It provides access to information and technology necessary to best prepare you for your future. The C-Tech² program targets rising junior and senior high school girls.
https://eng.vt.edu/ceed/ceed-pre-college-programs/c-tech2.html
