Halls High School Counseling Department

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Phone: (865) 925-7709

Registrar: Jane Toppins

Computer Secretary: Janice Sumter

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Counseling Appointments
Counselors meet with students individually and collectively throughout the year. If you have a need to meet with your counselor, please make an appointment in the guidance office. Your counselor will see you as soon as possible.
Parents may schedule an appointment with their student’s counselor by phone or e-mail. Parents may also call or e-mail the counselor at any time to address a specific concern.  Many issues can be resolved quickly through a phone conversation or through e-mail.  Parents/guardians may request parent/teacher conferences with multiple teachers through the Guidance Office.  These meetings are held in the Guidance Office at 8:00 a.m.
Services Provided by Halls Counselors:

• Assist students with course selection and planning in preparation for post-secondary experiences
• Continually review students’ progress towards graduation and advise students and parents/guardians accordingly
• Counsel students who are struggling academically and refer for assistance and tutoring as needed
• Provide students with strategies to work through specific classroom issues
• Guide students in researching college, career, scholarship and financial aid information
• Provide evening programs for parents/guardians and students that walk them through the Financial Aid, Scholarship Search, and Course Selection processes
• Act as a liaison between students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other support staff to facilitate communication
• Make referrals to the school support team for students who may require assessment or testing for learning disabilities, emotional issues, or other educational concerns
• Provide counseling and/or referrals for students with personal problems
• Request homework for students who are absent from school more than 3 days in a row 
  • Parents/guardians may contact their student’s counselor to request homework.  We allow the teachers 24 hours notice when collecting homework.  Students who are absent less than three days in a row should request make up work when they return to school.

Confidentiality
Confidentiality means that the information a student shares with a counselor remains private. A student may share information with others as he or she wishes, but we understand that there is an absolute right to privacy. We will guard that privacy as much as is permitted by the law, ethics, and school rules. There are exceptions where we are obligated to break confidentiality, including potential harm to the student or to someone else, state laws that mandate reporting of child abuse, or a court of law that requires testimony or student records. Counselors occasionally consult with other school professionals, but in such cases only information necessary to achieving the goals of the conference will be shared.

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