Counseling

MISSION

The mission of our counseling department is to assist students in being holistic learners by pursuing academic excellence and integrating self-advocacy and leadership. The counseling staff provides support to every student and parent/guardian in academic, personal/social, and career counseling. Together with all communities, the counseling staff collaborates to encompass a positive and innovative learning environment, highlighting a college-going culture.

VISION

Through partnerships with all key stakeholders, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy Academic & College Counseling Department will prepare students to become graduates who will emerge poised to succeed in college, career, and life. Our students will advance and prosper in order to contribute to the global community. We believe all students can succeed and we support the pursuit of their goals by:

Discovering purpose
Encouraging self-actualization
Promoting balance
Teaching advocacy

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT STAFF

Ms. Maldonado, 9th & 10th Grade Early College Program Counselor [email: amaldonado@piusmatthias.org]
Ms. Valenzuela, 9th & 10th Grade Counselor, Dead of Student Success [email: lvalenzuela@piusmatthias.org]
Mr. Velarde, 11th Grade Counselor [email: avelarde@piusmatthias.org]
Ms. Elefante, 12th Grade Counselor [email: melefante@piusmatthias.org]
Ms. Turcios, Onwards Scholars Program Director [email: mturcios@piusmatthias.org]

COUNSELING PARTNERS OF LOS ANGELES

There are 2 counselors from CPLA on campus and they are located in office 123. Their schedules are as follows:

Emily Welch, Mondays and Wednesdays 7:30am-3:00pm
Kenia Garcia, Tuesdays and Fridays 7:30am-3:00pm

STUDENTS

Students are welcome to schedule an appointment to meet with their counselor. To schedule an appointment please contact your grade level counselor via email or use the appointment request sign up form located inside the counseling department offices. Students may also visit the College and Career Center (CCC) during the designated hours of operation to receive support from the Counseling Department. Please Check your College & Career Google Classroom frequently to receive updates and information from the Counseling Department.

PARENTS

Parents are welcome to schedule an appointment to meet with their son/daughter's counselor. To schedule an appointment please contact your son/daughter's grade level counselor via email or phone. The Counseling Department can also respond to your questions via email. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response. Throughout the school year the Counseling Department will be hosting a variety of events dedicated to providing parents and students with information and support.

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS

Throughout the year, the Counseling Department gives many presentations to students and parents about academics and college readiness. Refer to the weekly update and school calendar for more details.

Financial Aid

Counseling Partners of Los Angeles (CPLA)

CPLA Consent Forms & Referral Request Link (Click to View)

CPLA Consent Forms & Referral Request Link (Click to View)

The CPLA Counseling Referral Request Links can be found below. A verbal request is okay, as this form is not mandatory.

English Counseling Referral Request Form: https://forms.gle/76oUszkS78V9MJrbA
Formulario de Solicitud a Consejería: https://forms.gle/8S5b1EfdPusxhaya6

The following are links to Informed Consent (IC) forms. Just a reminder that the Informed Consent is NOT a Counseling Referral Request.

English Informed Consent Form (Student under 18): https://forms.gle/sy11RniCJ6iYY9548
English Informed Consent Form (Student over 18): https://forms.gle/hvsapw7ZoifWN1EF8
Consentimiento Informado (Para Estudiante Menor de 18): https://forms.gle/tZ2qnUdPTVfnwgkS8
Consentimiento Informado (Para Estudiante Mayor de 18): https://forms.gle/J5bVuJGpS3Fg1nc27

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

Etiquette for Requesting a Letter of Recommendation (Click to View)

Etiquette for Requesting a Letter of Recommendation (Click to View)

Need a Letter of Recommendation?
Etiquette when requesting a Letter of Recommendation from a member of the St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (PMA) faculty

Choose well. Request recommendations from those who know you, since they will be better equipped to write a compelling recommendation for you.

Ask a potential recommender, "Do you feel you know me well enough to write a letter of recommendation for me" for this particular position/program/school/ scholarship/etc. Rather than saying, "Will you write me a recommendation," asking if they feel comfortable writing one is a better approach and gives them a way out if they don't.

Start Early. Ideally, give the person three to four weeks, but never less than two weeks to complete the recommendation. Most faculty are very busy and have numerous recommendations to write, so you want to be courteous. Plus, rushing them might lead to a recommendation that isn't as polished or as positive as it could be.

Provide full information. Often, faculty will need some specific information from you in order to write an effective recommendation. Help us help you. If you are requesting a recommendation from a faculty member, please provide ALL information necessary for the faculty member to write and send a letter of recommendation.

Be gracious. You need to say thank you and send a personalized thank you note to the individual who wrote your recommendation. Finally, let your recommender know if you got the job, the scholarship, admitted, etc. It is nice to let us know if our efforts were fruitful!

Info to Provide to Your Instructor
If you would like to ask for a letter of recommendation, you will need to provide your instructor with the following information:

About the position/program/scholarship/etc

The name of the position/ program/scholarship/etc. and a description or brief relevant information about it.

The name and title of the person who will receive the completed letter, if known ( "To Whom It May Concern" is impersonal, and the inappropriate use of Miss, Mrs., Ms., Mr., Dr., etc. can be offensive).
The address or website
The date by which you need the recommendation, and if you will pick up the recommendation personally, or would like it to be mailed, emailed, faxed, or submitted online (if you expect the person to mail the recommendation, be prepared to provide an addressed and stamped envelope)
If applicable, a reference form with your information already typed/neatly filled in

About you

Your complete statement of purpose (if possible), or a statement of why you are interested in this particular position/program/school/scholarship/etc. and how it specifically fits into your short or long-term goals.

Key points you would like to be discussed in your recommendation (your academic abilities, your extracurricular accomplishments, character traits, etc--be specific).

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