Student Services
In support of the Dominican Community.
In support of the Dominican Community.
The Dominican International School Guidance and Counseling Program endeavors to make a POSITIVE INFLUENCE in the lives of our students in PARTNERSHIP with parents, teachers, staff and community. Our program offers COMPREHENSIVE, PREVENTIVE and DEVELOPMENTAL services addressing students’ PERSONAL, SOCIAL ACADEMIC, CAREER AND GLOBAL competencies necessary for their growth toward lifelong learning and success.
The delivery system describes activities, lessons and other areas in which counselors deliver the program. School counselors use the four components below to systemically deliver the program.
The school counseling and guidance program is a part of the total school program and complements learning in the classroom. It is child-centered, preventive, and developmental. The program encourages students' social, emotional, and personal growth at each stage of their development. The purpose of counseling students, parents, and teachers is to help students maximize their potential. The school counselor also conducts guidance lessons; consults with parents, teachers, and other professionals; and coordinates student services in the school. This counseling and guidance program provides students with assistance in:
Counseling is considered as the heart of the guidance program. It is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. School counselors’ help students identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. It is conducted with students and parents individually and in small groups when requested and determined appropriate. It is short-term, voluntary, and confidential.
Counselors collaborate with other school and district staff to select testing and appraisal programs that help students identify their abilities, aptitudes, achievements, and interests. In addition to test data, other sources of appraisal information include interviews, biographical summaries, academic records, anecdotal records, personal data forms, and records of past experiences. Counselors have knowledge of the principles, practices, and limitations of test data, and are ethically bound to treat assessment data as confidential, so that only those with a need to know have access to the information. Counselors should not have the responsibility of coordinating and administering the testing program in their school. Their role is to interpret the test data and provide input to administration.
This service underscores the fact that other people’s opinions and decisions may have a positive impact on the program. It is, therefore, important for the guidance counselor to consult parents, legal guardians, homeroom and subject teachers, Discipline Committee, Administration and staff who are involved with the counselees welfare. This will give the counsellor an opportunity to ascertain various changes in behavior that might have occurred. Such consultations may also demand referral. The consulting service supports the fact that collective decision-making and problem exploration allow for more objectivity. The counselor has to promote relations with community agencies, which helps to establish contacts and effective communication channels. Once channels of communication are open, it is easy to exchange information and ideas with other stakeholders. Consultation with teachers is an important means of increasing teacher awareness of issues their students face.
Since some problems and concerns are beyond the capability of the school counselor, it is important to establish a referral network. This should consist of a team of well-trained and skilled professionals who have expertise in assisting referred individuals. Referral does not imply the guidance counselor might have failed, but signifies strength on the part of the counselor, who recognizes his/her limitations, and explores opportunities to maximize the help he/she can offer. Counselees should be well informed about referral services, which include social workers, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, priests, police and others.
Research and evaluation are designed to determine the effectiveness of a guidance program. Further, they provide the counselors with the opportunity to be resourceful and independent. Evaluation and research encourage counselors to continue to find solutions to the problems of their clients. It is through active research that counsellors or guidance teachers can upgrade their programs, to ensure that they address the needs of the clients.
The TOEFL iBT Test, administered via the Internet, is an important part of students journey to study in an English-speaking country. In addition to the test, the ETS TOEFL Program provides tools and guides to help you prepare for the test and improve your English-language skills.
The TOEFL iBT test measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks.
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses offered at many high schools. Courses are available in many subject areas, including English, history, humanities, languages, math, psychology and science. The focus is not on memorizing facts and figures. It's on engaging discussions, approaching and solving problems together and learning to write well. You'll get to study fascinating topics and ideas. AP courses can help you gain the skills and study habits you'll need to be successful in college. You'll improve your writing, problem-solving, time-management skills, and learn how to stay focused on your work and goals. Research shows that AP courses help students graduate from college in four years and qualify for scholarships. AP courses can also help you get accepted into college. It's less about taking the easy classes and earning an "A" than it is about showing colleges that you're willing to take a challenging class, even if it lowers your grade point average. This makes you stand out in the admission process. It also shows that you are taking the initiative to prepare yourself for college-level work.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), measures high school students' general educational development and their capability to complete college-level work with the multiple choice tests covering four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The optional Writing Test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. Specifically, ACT states that its scores provide an indicator of "college readiness," and that scores in each of the subtests correspond to skills in entry-level college courses in English, algebra, social science, humanities, and biology.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with over 2 million tests taken in the last year.
IELTS assesses all of your English skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking, and is designed to reflect how you will use English at study, at work, and at play, in your new life abroad.
It is the most widely accepted English language test that uses a one-on-one speaking test to assess your English communication skills. This means that you are assessed by having a real-life conversation with a real person. This is the most effective and natural way of testing your English conversation skills.
The Guidance and Counseling Office is in collaboration with the Community Services Center. The Community Services Center is a non-profit organization that provides a support network of counseling, activities, events, cross-cultural education, and information services to meet the needs of the whole international community in Taipei and throughout Taiwan. The majority of The Center’s services are offered in English. It welcomes all members of the international community regardless of race, nationality or religion. Their services and programs include:
The Guidance and Counseling Office works in partnership with Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center (TSPC). It was founded in December 2005, which is under the contract to the Taiwan Department of Health and operated by Taiwanese Society of Suicidology (TSOS). Their mission is to prevent suicide through enhancing the efficiency of care delivery system networks nationwide and coordinating the efforts among the government and non-government organizations in Taiwan.
