School Counseling

List of 6 items.

• Tailored One-on-One Support

  Community & Character
  We believe that personal connection is the foundation of student success. Our counselors provide individual personal, social, and academic counseling for all students in grades 6–12, including crisis management and customized "Return to Learn" plans for students in academic recovery.
  
  As students progress through the Upper School, individual counseling becomes highly targeted to their current needs:

  • 9th & 10th Grades: Students meet with their counselor at least twice a year—once for general wellness and transition support, and once for personalized course scheduling.
  • 11th Grade: Counselors meet with juniors at least three times, adding early college planning into their regular wellness and scheduling conversations.
  • 12th Grade: Counselors provide significantly increased, individualized support as seniors navigate the college application process and prepare for post-graduate life.

• Active Classroom & Group Presence

  Building Character & Connection
  Our counselors don't just wait in their offices; they are active participants in our students' daily lives. We embed essential life skills and wellness education directly into the student experience:

  • Middle School Advisory: 6th and 7th graders meet weekly for 30-minute advisory periods focused on organization, emotional regulation, self-identity, cultural awareness, and peer interactions.
  • Health & Wellness Programming: We deliver targeted classroom lessons on critical topics, including 9th-grade suicide prevention, 11th-grade depression awareness, and substance misuse prevention. We also proudly facilitate One Love relationship programming for middle schoolers and juniors.
  • Peer Education: Our Peer Education Program empowers 10th through 12th-grade students to serve as mentors, presenting valuable guidance to younger Dons in grades 6–9.

• Comprehensive College Planning

  Preparing for the Future
  Finding the right college fit is a multi-year journey. Loyola’s College Counseling team begins laying the groundwork early, gradually increasing programming so students and families feel prepared, not overwhelmed.
  
  Our robust college planning initiatives include:

  • Workshops & Fairs: We host broad and targeted college fairs (including Jesuit Schools and HBCU nights), after-school application workshops, summer college essay boot camps, and case-study workshops with Jesuit colleges.
  • Campus Connections: We facilitate regular college representative visits and collaborate directly with the Athletic Department to advise student-athletes on NCAA recruitment.
  • Network & Expertise: Our counselors regularly visit college campuses and actively collaborate with professional networks (AIMS, NACAC, ACCIS) to bring the latest admissions insights back to our families.

• A Partnership with Parents

  Supporting the Journey
  We know that supporting our students requires a strong partnership with families. To maintain open lines of communication, our counselors provide monthly Middle School and quarterly College Counseling newsletters. Throughout the year, we also host vital parent education events tailored to each stage of your son's journey. This includes Freshman Roadmap Meetings in the fall to help understand and support 9th graders, followed by spring sessions focused on academics and scheduling. As students progress, we offer targeted grade-level events, such as substance misuse and conversation-prep meetings for sophomore parents, alongside multi-part college planning meetings for families in grades 10 through 12. Additionally, we provide specialized programming like our school-wide College Funding workshops, Murray Learning Services College Night, and bi-annual NCAA/Student-Athlete meetings to ensure every family has the specific resources and guidance they need.

• Supported Transitions

  Meeting Students Where They Are
  Moving between grade levels can be challenging, which is why we provide structured programming to ensure smooth transitions at every major milestone. For students moving from 8th to 9th grade, we don't wait until May to prepare for the Upper School. Instead, our Middle and Upper School counselors collaborate early on a formalized program focused on self-advocacy and high school readiness. As students advance from 10th to 11th grade, we host small group meetings to introduce rising juniors to their new college counselors and familiarize them with the SCOIR College Planning platform. Finally, as graduation approaches, our dedicated Senior Transition programming in May ensures that graduating seniors are prepared for the independence and responsibilities of college life.

• Campus Collaborations

  A Community of Care
  Our counselors work hand-in-hand with every department on campus to fully support the whole student. We partner closely with Murray Learning Services to assist students with learning differences across both the Middle and Upper Schools, and we maintain an active presence in Mission & Identity through our involvement in Loyola’s core retreat programs, including Kairos, Neighbors, Leading With Light, and Freshman Ignite. In collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) office, our counselors proudly support the Black Student Union (BSU), POC support nights, and the Multicultural Festival. Furthermore, our team meets bi-weekly with Upper School Student Services, the AP for Student Life, and Grade Deans to quickly identify and assist students with immediate, significant needs. Rounding out this campus-wide effort, we also handle essential academic logistics, managing the coordination of critical standardized testing like the October PSATs and May AP Exams.