Guidance and Counseling Program

The Guidance and Counseling Program is committed to assisting every student attending the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in acquiring the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to make and implement appropriate educational, career, and personal decisions. The program promotes conditions that ensure educational access and academic success for all students.

The school counselors are student advocates, educational leaders, and effective team members. Creating opportunities for all students that nurture healthy self-concepts, positive school relationships, academic potential, and high aspirations is the cornerstone of the program.

The counselors at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy are available to assist all students in the academic, occupational/career and personal/social domains.

MJBHA Counselors help students to:

• Achieve academic success
• Improve interpersonal relationships and build social skills
• Cope with crisis situations
• Learn problem solving and decision making strategies
• Resolve conflicts peacefully
• Achieve developmental milestones
• Recognize their strengths and build self-esteem

MJBHA Counselors offer their services and support by:

• Working with students individually and in small groups as needed to address social, emotional, and behavioral needs which may impact functioning at school
• Consulting with teachers, administrators, specialty staff, and families to meet the needs of students through a team approach
• Participating in parent conferences and team meetings  
• Assisting the team in developing and implementing both classroom and individual intervention plans to promote student success
• Consulting and collaborating with outside mental health professionals providing services to students
• Providing guidance lessons in the classrooms to address developmentally appropriate topics
• Offering information on resources in the community
• Making referrals to outside services and professionals who may address the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of children and adolescents
• Academic planning and advising  
• Providing college advising, planning, and assistance with the application process
• Providing information regarding PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, and the AP testing program

Please feel free to contact your counselor with any helpful information about your academic or social-emotional needs, to communicate a concern, to request resources, or to provide feedback.

Programs and Services provided by the Guidance Department

• Academic Advisement – grades 9-12
• ACT – Information, Registration, and Interpretation
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program – Advisement and Testing
• Career Exploration
• College Information Sessions – Students and Parents
• College Application Process & Recommendations
• College Planning – Juniors, Seniors
• Conferences – Parent, Teacher, Administration
• Counseling – Daily and Crisis Counseling
• Alcohol & Drug Awareness
• Financial Aid/Scholarship Session for parents of college-bound students
• Formal Education Plans – Accommodations & Special Needs
• Group Counseling
• Maryland Distinguished Scholarship Program – Academic, Talent in the Arts
• National Merit Scholarship Program
• New Student Registration
• Parent Information Nights – College Information/Planning, financial aid, and PSAT & SAT Information
• Peer Counseling
• Peer Tutoring
• PSAT – Practice Session/Test
• PSAT – Registration, Testing and Interpretation
• SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests – Registration Information, Interpretation, etc.
• Schedule Changes
• School Profile – Upper School 
• Students with Special Needs/Disabilities
• Summer Programs – Information, Pre-College, Travel Abroad
• Transcripts – Updates, Conversions, GPA, etc.