West Shore

School District

Student Services

School Counseling

The goal of the school counselor is to assist our students in acquiring and maintaining attitudes, knowledge and skills that promote effective learning in school and success throughout life. School Counselors serve students in large group, small group and individual settings, addressing academic concerns as well as personal and behavioral issues.

Both District high schools have four counselors, one assigned to each grade level. Each of the three District middle schools has at least one school counselor. At the elementary level, the larger buildings have a dedicated counselor, while our smaller buildings share a counselor. A counselor is assigned to the District Alternative Education program.

Click here for resources parents may find helpful in dealing with issues related to grief, fear, and confusion in children following a tragedy.

School Psychology Services

The primary role of the school psychologist is to lead the multi-disciplinary evaluation process for students presenting academic and/or behavioral concerns. A more involved formal evaluation may take place in order to determine if diagnostic recommendations are consistent with state and federal regulations. A psychologist also makes recommendations to instructional staff members that may enhance a student’s overall development.

School Social Work Services

The District provides Social Work Services to assist students and families with accessing community based services as a way of meeting their basic needs, including food, shelter and medical care. In addition, Social Workers have been instrumental in working with families to ensure students attend school on a regular basis. For more information, please click here.

Student Assistance

Student Assistance is a way to identify students experiencing academic challenges due to mental health or drug and alcohol concerns. It is also a method for intervening and referring students to appropriate community services. It is not a treatment program; rather, it is a systematic process which makes it possible for school personnel to identify students having problems and refer them for help. The heart of the Student Assistance program is the Student Assistance Team. This group of school personnel and outside agency representatives are specially trained to work with high-risk students.

Homeless Students

The District is required under federal regulations to ensure that homeless students have access to the same educational programs and services provided to other District students. Students determined to be Homeless have specific rights including free school meals and consideration for remaining in the school the student was attending at the time he or she became homeless. Homeless students are generally defined as individuals lacking a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence, which include the following conditions:

Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
Living in emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelters
Using public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings, as a primary night time residence
Living as runaway children, abandoned or forced out of homes by parents/guardians or caretakers; or separated from parents/guardians for any other reason

If a student or parent believe they meet any of these conditions, they should contact their school counselor immediately. District staff who suspect that a student meets these definitions should immediately share any information with the school counselor, building administration or their direct supervisor.

Additionally, Finding Your Way in PA is a mobile and desktop app available to help connect students and families experiencing homelessness with local services and resources. Users can search for and request assistance with services and resources in their current location, local communities and throughout Pennsylvania to connect them with help. Click here for more details.

Homebound Instruction

A student who will be absent from school for more than three weeks, due to an extended illness or health condition, is eligible for homebound instruction. This service permits a teacher to come into the home, hospital, or other established area for up to five hours of individualized instruction each week. Instruction is provided in core courses only (reading, math, science, social studies, world language and/or language arts) at no cost to the family.

If homebound instruction is needed, contact the student’s school counselor. A student receiving homebound instruction must submit a new doctor’s note every 30 days documenting the need for these services. Requests for homebound instruction for reasons related to mental health issues must be prescribed by a psychiatrist.