The hallways and classrooms of Greeley West have been full of students talking about not having access to their counselors.  The counselors have set out to explain why.

This year, the counseling department is requiring pre-established appointments. There have been many new changes for students to get adjusted to since Greeley West remodel and this one has been one of the hardest.  10th grade counselor Ms. Hannah Rivera said the counselors are making sure students are positively impacted by them  every day.  “Every student is always welcome in the counseling office,” Rivera said.  “I think that needs to be heard. but we just want students utilizing that QR code to schedule appointments so that we know.”

Rivera said that with new rules come adjustments.  All students are still welcome any time – scheduling an appointment is just needed “But if something pops up and they need to talk to a counselor immediately, they can always ask their teachers to send their counselor an email.  They can ask to be escorted to the counseling office,” Rivera stated.

Building connections with students is what Rivera believes is the most important part of the start of the new year  “Your number one priority is to make sure your building connections with students right away, and I feel like us as a whole counseling staff is really achieving in that category,” Rivera stated.

But are the rules limiting that goal? “I think I’m getting a better connection with students. I feel like I have more time with them. I feel like some of our students are just in a different space with this new building, and I feel like the way our space is set up its more welcoming. It’s more warm, it’s more comforting,” Rivera said. 

The counseling staff does have goals for improvement.  “The thing that we could change is being more available for students, I think,” Rivera said.  “Sometimes we’re so busy and (we) can’t get to all students.”

Rivera said counseling appointments vary by day of week.  “It honestly just depends on what kind of day it is.  Maybe on like a Monday I’m not going to see that many kids but maybe on like a Thursday or Friday I’m going to see a lot more kids.  So if I had to put a number on it, I would say anywhere between 15-20 kids (per day),” Rivera stated. 

The counseling office is working to deal with their own emotions and struggles.  “All the counselors here at Greeley West are amazing, and when I have a stressful day, I’m able to talk with them and get some help.  I kind of is navigating some emotions that are coming up for me after a stressful day,” Rivera stated. 

Rivera said that she stands by the other counselors and thinks they’re doing a great job reaching kids in the new building.  “I think we are doing a great job positively impacting the students at Greeley West and were striving every single day to make sure we do that,” Rivera said.