What is Guidance?
A School Guidance Programme refers to the range of learning experiences which a school
provides in response to the guidance needs of its students and its available resources.
The Guidance programme at Gonzaga College SJ is provided in a developmental sequence,
designed and maintained to assist students to cope with their life experiences. These
experiences may be categorised into three distinct, but interlinked areas:
- Personal and Social
- Educational
- Career
All our Guidance activities are rooted in the “Cura Personalis” characteristic of
the Jesuit education designed to help the students grow holistically, to think for
themselves and develop their diverse competencies.
We have a full time Guidance Counsellor who is responsible for managing, co-ordinating
and ensuring delivery of the annual Guidance Plan which is designed to deliver the
objectives of the overall school Guidance Programme
The Guidance programme is informed by best practice guidelines from the National
Centre for Guidance Education (NGCE) and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
Team Approach
A team approach is the preferred and most effective way of delivering our programme
in Gonzaga College SJ. We recognise that guidance is both a whole school concern
and a specialist area within education. The Guidance programme dovetails with other
school programmes which themselves may address guidance related issues. These other
areas include:
- Pastoral Care
- Social, Personal and Health Education
- Religious Education
- Civic, Social and Political Education
- Transition Year programmes
Across the School
Guidance provision in Gonzaga College SJ is delivered as a whole school programme
across all years. In the Junior Cycle the SPHE programme forms the basis of the Guidance
Programme delivered by Form tutors. Students can see the Guidance Counsellor at any
time or can be referred directly to the Guidance Counsellor by management and staff.
In 4th Year a classroom based Guidance programme is delivered including the completion
of a full Guidance project. In 4th-6th Year all students are counselled on a one
to one basis.
The Guidance Counsellor in Gonzaga is Sharon Byron-Smith Q.M.I.G.C.
Calendar
Gallery
