IN recognition of excellence in guidance and counselling, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture recently adjudged St Mary’s College the institution with the most outstanding guidance and counselling programme among schools in the parishes of St Catherine and Clarendon.

The co-educational school received the Regional Award for its excellent rating as a part of the Ministry’s Exemplary Guidance Programme Initiative, which recognises the contribution being made by guidance counsellors while at the same time encouraging professionalism in the field.

Located in the quiet community of Above Rocks in St Catherine, an area of undulating hills and lush terrain, the physical environment is as endearing as the attractive school compound, famous for its “one hundred steps”, constructed of stone, which link the uppermost levels of St Mary’s College to the terrace below where the classrooms are situated.

Such is the setting for the 50-year-old school which grew out of the adjacent St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. In the past the school was headed by priests, but now principals are from other denominations.

The guidance team of Inez Douglas-Reynolds supported by principal Ivy Clarke, vice-principal, teachers, nurse, health professional worker and parents have coordinated efforts to produce a programme with a difference. It is one which targets a broad cross-section of constituents, catering to over 870 students, teachers, ancillary staff, and parents and there is a strong community outreach element.

The extension of the programme in a meaningful way into the wider community stems from the close relationship the school shares with the district, as both the principal and guidance counsellor are past students of St Mary’s College. Principal Clarke has taught at the school for some 25 years while Douglas-Reynolds has been a teacher there for 31 years, the last seven of which she has been the guidance counsellor.

Douglas-Reynolds has also taught history, home economics, and has been supervisor of the canteen and a dedicated member of the St Mary’s College Past Students’ Association. In addition to their connection with the school, she grew up in the community and continues to reside there instead of moving out as many others have done.

“Because I am from this community people accept me and this makes my work less difficult,” Douglas-Reynolds says.

“We know the children and their parents. We know the community. Being from this area, our guidance counsellor can identify with their problems and so effectively deal with any challenges which may arise,” Clarke said.

The guidance programme involves 12 contact sessions with grades seven and nine; and grades eight to ten and eleven are seen during their form period. Based on a needs assessment survey, the needs of the students are ranked as personal, social, educational and career.

Welfare is a vital component of the programme as some of the students are from a poor socio-economic background and are in need of assistance, whether it be lunch, examination fees or transportation costs.

With approximately 25 per cent of the students being from the immediate community, the majority hail from as far afield as Linstead, Sligoville, Red Hills, Kingston, Bull Bay and St Mary. The far distances entail the need for transportation fares, which parents are sometimes unable to afford.

About 45 students are on the lunch welfare programme, which has been assisted by Food For The Poor. A 15-year-old student expressed his appreciation for the programme.

“The guidance counsellor gave me bus fare when I didn’t have any, she helped me with lunch,” he said.

His guardian, who is unemployed, expressed appreciation for the programme.

“I don’t have a job, it is hard, so I appreciate that he is in school and getting assistance. Now he is emotionally much better,” the guardian explained, noting that the Guidance Department is also providing assistance to the boy’s ill father.

For the past three years, another 15-year-old student has been benefitting from a scholarship, arranged by the Guidance Department, which affords her lunch money, bus fare, uniforms and back-to-school expenses.

Her father, who is the sole caregiver for the student and her two other siblings agreed that the guidance programme is working. “The scholarship is also helping me because I do not have a constant job to provide for my children,” he said.

The provision of meals for less fortunate students extends to the wider community, as the Guidance Department has a meal programme for the needy persons in the area. Clothing and other necessities have also been provided for the underprivileged.

The community outreach aspect of the welfare programme has gone even further by assisting with housing. With the help of Food for the Poor, the Guidance Department secured a house for a resident of the district, who was living in cramped quarters with her large family.

In addition to addressing the financial challenges of the students as well as community needs, the Guidance Department continues to see to the welfare of its constituents by providing individual and group counselling, where necessary.

Although St Mary’s does not have a disciplinary problem, there may be a few cases of indiscipline and conflict-resolution problems. Pupils with these problems are given the appropriate counselling.

Where there may be cases of a psychological nature or if there are learning difficulties, these are referred externally for specialist treatment. Students are given special attention and care, and guidance counsellor Douglas-Reynolds ensures that she manages each case in the best interest of the student.

“I am one of those counsellors who take my children (for referrals) and do the follow-up myself,” she said.

Principal Clarke reiterates this point.

“She (Reynolds) gets into her own car and drives to Kingston with students who may have particular referrals,” Clarke pointed out.

A student who was referred for specialist treatment because of a learning difficulty states, “When I was sick the guidance counsellor took me to the doctor and helped to pay my hospital bill. She helped me to come back to school”.

She explained that her grades were once poor but have improved since her treatment.

The guidance programme is supported by an active Past Students’ Association. President of the association Beverley Yearde regularly arranges for its members, many of whom have been highly successful in their respective careers, to address and motivate students.

“We try to empower the students,” Yearde said.

The association has assisted in projects such as the fencing of the school, refurbishing of the bathrooms and by providing well-needed scholarships.

The education of students remains the core objective of the department, as technically all is being done to ensure that the students’ personal and external environments are conducive to learning. The attractive guidance room boasts a CXC bank with information on the examination; a career corner, information corner with publications, and HIV/AIDS World AIDS Day display.

In promotion of good health, a Health Advisory Committee is in place. A pilot project by the Ministry of Education, this Committee seeks to sensitise students, teachers and parents about HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections. As a part of health promotion, First Aid Kits have been given to each student, provided by Food for the Poor.

The Guidance Department organises a Staff Development Seminar to promote leadership training and professionalism and to help participants understand the students in their care.

A programme has also been established for parents including a Parenting Seminar and Parents’ Month activities designed to equip parents to deal positively with their families and their respective communities and encourage collaboration between school and parents.

Parents’ Month activities include talks by resource personnel on good parenting. And parents who are very supportive are specially recognised with awards. With respect to behavioural problems, home visits are a part of the programme as they are seen as vital to learning more about the parents and the socialisation of the child.

St Mary’s College’s guidance and counselling programme has been enriched by the positive relationship that the guidance counsellor shares with the school, alumni, the district and external organisations which continue to fully support the activities.

Douglas-Reynolds’ “hands-on” approach and years of experience coupled with her innate knowledge of the community have nurtured a successful programme which is assisting with the needs of its immediate student body and the residents of the area, making it among the most outstanding islandwide.

Angela Reid is a communications consultant who prepared this article on behalf of UNESCO.