To reach the DHS Guidance office, please call the high school main number at 781-934-7650.  Enter the counselor's extension (listed below) at the menu or press 1 for the guidance assistant. The Guidance Department fax number is 781-934-6081. The DHS Main Office Fax is 781-934-6080.

The Duxbury Public Schools Guidance Department offers a comprehensive and developmental school counseling program that provides services that promote its students' academic, personal/social, and career/college potential. Counselors work with students to foster independence, life-long learning, individual and civic responsibility, and the ability to navigate an ever-changing world. While students are the primary focus of the counselors, positive relationships with families, teachers, and administrators are also crucial to the program's success. 

Counselors provide academic counseling by monitoring student progress reports and report cards, participating in various teacher/team meetings, reviewing standardized testing, facilitating course selection meetings, and monitoring student progress toward promotion and graduation requirements.  Counselors communicate regularly with teachers to ensure students reach their academic potential.  Guidance counselors encourage students to consider programs of study, courses, extracurricular activities, and occupational opportunities based on their interests, abilities, and skills.

Students are encouraged to meet with Guidance Counselors to discuss any issues that may arise personally or socially. Portions of the developmental guidance curriculum are infused into the classroom through counselor-led lessons on relationships, bullying, peer pressure, and other relevant social topics. At the elementary and middle school level, students also have the opportunity to participate in lunch groups, which help teach social skills. Counselors are trained to provide mediation and crisis intervention as necessary. They coordinate the 504 process and monitor the implementation of the 504 plans. Counselors also serve as members of building student assistance/support teams, which meet to share information and develop strategies to meet the specific needs of individual students. Guidance counselors can also make appropriate outside referrals as necessary.

At each school level, counselors provide transition services to assist students as they move on to the next level of their academic journey. Students also explore their skills and talents in various ways and begin to think about what they plan to do after graduation. Students and counselors use SCOIR at the high school to explore post-graduation options and careers. Parent information sessions on college and post-graduate planning and financial aid also exist.

Any student or family who wishes to meet with their guidance counselor individually should make an appointment in advance by contacting the Guidance Office or counselor specifically. However, in an emergency, students and families should feel free to come in and see the counselor without an appointment. At the high school, guidance counselors typically work one flex day (11 am-6 pm) to accommodate appointments. All counselors can be contacted via email or phone. Since most of a counselor’s time is spent working with students, receiving a return call or email may take up to 24 hours. 

Duxbury Public Schools provides guidance services to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, homelessness, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Below is some additional information to help you transition to Duxbury High School. 

Step 1 - Complete the registration paperwork on the district website. 

Step 2 - Once you have met with the registrar and been approved for registration, your information will be sent to the Guidance Supervisor, who will evaluate it for grade level and potential class placement.  

Step 3 - You will receive an email from Guidance and will be assigned a Guidance Counselor as well as an appointment time for registration.  If it is during the summer this appointment will be once counselors return the week before school starts.  

Step 4 - Meet with assigned counselor on appointment date to finalize course enrollments and complete formal registration process.

Counselor Assignments

Students' Guidance Counselor can be found in Aspen.

Important Note about Phone calls and Emails:
As you would anticipate, most of the day of a Guidance Counselor is spent meeting with students and families.  As a result, we ask that you give us twenty-four hours to respond to email and voicemail.  Obviously, there are plenty of times that we will not need this window to respond, but certain times of the year can be extremely busy.  If your call is urgent in nature, please state that in your call.  Please be advised that for urgent situations, email is not the best method of communication.

Appointments

Students and families are encouraged to make appointments to see their Guidance Counselors.  Counselors are available Monday through Friday during school hours.  

To make an appointment, students and families can sign up in the appointment books within the Guidance Office.  Students will be given a pass for the class which is during that period.  The student's responsible for showing that pass to the teacher PRIOR to coming to Guidance for the appointment.  Students WILL NOT be called out of class as we do not want to interrupt the class.  Students should also consider the class for which they will be leaving for the appointment.  They should not miss any exams, projects etc. 

Families can also call the DHS Guidance Office to make an appointment. Unless it is an emergency situation, it is difficult for us to accommodate walk-ins, so please do your best to make advance appointments.

Below are the options for summer school.  Remember that Duxbury High School students must get permission from their Guidance Counselor to enroll in a non Duxbury High School Summer School option.

• Duxbury Summer School - Virtual 
  Summer School for Duxbury is virtual and done through Educere.  More information will be out about registration.  

  • Courses for credit recovery registration 

  • Courses for original credit registration

• Other summer options

  • Middleborough Summer School

  • Rockland High School