Mission & Vision: Our Counseling Team
The mission of IVA High’s comprehensive school counseling program is to collaboratively empower students to grow in their intellectual character virtues guiding them towards self-discovery and self-advocacy. We are committed to knowing all of our students well, ensuring that their values, interests, experiences, and backgrounds are considered when implementing data-driven interventions and programs to meet their needs.
The vision of IVA High’s comprehensive school counseling program is to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where students embrace life-long learning, preparing them to navigate and contribute meaningfully to the real world.
Our counseling team:
- Meets 1:1 with students
- Facilitates counseling groups
- Implements restorative practices and conflict resolution strategies
- Designs advisory curriculum for social-emotional learning, college and career readiness engagement
- Maintains a safe school community for all learners to connect and belong
- Plans school and community events
- Establishes community partnerships and resources for students and their families
- Partners with teachers to emphasize our positive culture, as well as our community values and virtues.
- Oversees clubs and extracurricular programming
Social Emotional Well-Being
IVA High recognizes the importance of developing and maintaining social and emotional habits important for mental well-being. We believe in educating the whole child, to learn and live well. Therefore, IVA High provides all students with resources and programs for social and emotional support. Students at IVA High can discuss their concerns in a safe, judgment-free environment in 1:1 session with our counselors or in small Advisory groups.
StopIt is a secure, anonymous reporting platform where students can share concerns about safety, bullying, or other issues affecting our school community. Reports go directly to school staff and are reviewed promptly to ensure student well-being.
Download the app to your phone using the link below and search for “IVA High School.”
How We Feel App – Daily mood check-in tool & tracker
10 Mindfulness Activities for High School Students
LACOE Suicide Prevention Training
Support youth mental health
Dual Enrollment & Pathways
Ready to take college classes through Long Beach City College? We’ll walk you through every step, from creating your Viking Student Account to submitting forms and registering for classes. Talk to a counselor or request a meeting to get started!
School & Community Resources
Free TAP Cards for Students
All K–12 students in LA County are eligible for a free TAP card for unlimited rides on Metro buses and trains. If you don’t have one yet, talk to a counselor or request a meeting—we’re happy to help you get started!
Child Net – Counseling & support for youth
Cal Fresh – Free grocery & food assistance
Boys and Girls Club – Afterschool programs & mentoring
Scholars Collective – STEM-focused after-school programming
College, Career, and Life
Through personalized advising and real-world exploration, we support students in discovering their interests, identifying meaningful goals, and building the confidence to pursue them. Our dual enrollment partnership with Long Beach City College (LBCC) gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while exploring future possibilities.
We believe that every student deserves access to future planning support that is clear, inclusive, and grounded in curiosity and purpose.
Navigating how to pay for college can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. These resources will help you explore scholarships, understand financial aid, and get started with FAFSA.
FAFSA –
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Scholarships.com –
Search scholarships by grade level
Bold.org –
Find scholarships for seniors
Video: FAFSA Overview
Intro to federal student aid
Video: FAFSA Walkthrough
Step-by-step FAFSA tutorial
Video: FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid
Tips to prevent FAFSA errors
Whether you’re looking for a part-time job or preparing for your first interview, these tools can help you build confidence, create a resume, and start your job search.
Jobs
Resumes
Resume Templates – Canva
Customizable student resume templates
CareerExplorer Assessment
Discover careers through assessment
YouScience – Soft Skills Guide
Build career-ready soft skills
Interview Q&A – Balance Money
Common student interview questions
Video: Job Interview Tips
Advice for first interviews
Video: English Interview Phrases
Practice job interview language
Video: Job Interview Tips
How to interview confidently
From SAT prep to virtual campus tours, these resources are designed to support you through every step of the college application process.
Admission Info
CSU – California State University system
UC – University of California system
SAT/ACT
SAT Overview – College Board
Info about the SAT exam
SAT Registration – College Board
Sign up for the SAT
ACT Overview – ACT.org
Explore the ACT test
ACT Registration – ACT.org
Register for ACT exam
ACT Free Test Prep
Study materials from ACT.org
Khan Academy Test Prep
Free SAT practice & lessons
College Fair Tools
Video: College Fair Overview
What to expect at fairs
Video: Registration Tips
How to register for fairs
Video: How to Prep
Get ready for college fairs
College Fair Slide Deck
Guide for navigating fairs
Gain real-world experience, build your resume, and give back to your community with these opportunities for internships and volunteer work.
VolunteerMatch
Find local volunteer opportunities
Internship Opportunities Coming Soon!
Adulting 101: These tools will help you prepare for life beyond high school—budgeting, insurance, taxes, and everything in between.
Adulting 101
Register to Vote – CA
Voter registration for students
Budget Bytes Recipes
Budget-friendly meal ideas
Everyday Speech – SEL Skills
Communication skills for teens
Video: Professional Email Writing
Write effective professional emails
Video: Health Insurance Overview
Understand your health coverage
Video: 2SisterBees – Insurance 101
Health insurance for beginners
Video: LegalEagle – Renting & Leases
Learn legal basics for renters
Video: Car Buying Guide
Understand how to buy cars
Finances
Banzai – Financial Literacy Game
Interactive money management simulator
Banzai – Teen Finance Game
Practice budgeting & decision-making
Build Credit – MoneyUnder30
Start building credit safely
Video: “Basic Banking: How to open a Bank Account”
Video: Credit Cards for Beginners
Understand credit card use
Video: Debit Cards Explained
How debit cards work
School Culture
We believe that a thriving school culture begins with trust, voice, and community. Our goal is to create spaces where students can grow not only as learners, but as kind, courageous, and reflective members of the IVA community.
IVA High’s weekly Advisory program provides a safe, small classroom environment for students to develop their intellectual and social character while building a personal roadmap to college and career.
Teachers nurture students’ character through conversation, relationship-building, goal-setting, structured reflection, team counseling exercises, and personal encouragement. Students form supportive relationships with trusted adults and peers, relationships that are foundational to fostering intellectual courage as they navigate increasing academic rigor and evolving social networks.
Advisory also emphasizes exploration, goal setting, and developing personalized plans for college or career readiness. The program integrates academic support, team building, multicultural programs, community involvement, and activities that promote higher-level thinking and communication skills.
The small group setting creates opportunities for students to practice open-mindedness, spark curiosity, and explore their identities. In the process, students make meaningful connections with others and cultivate a sense of self, academically, emotionally, and socially.
IVA High prioritizes relationships as essential to a supportive learning environment. We acknowledge that community building and belonging are pivotal schoolwide and celebrate our learning each month as a community.
In addition to fostering positive classroom culture, we set aside time each month to recognize the learning happening across IVA. During our monthly Community Meetings, students and teachers take turns highlighting the thinking and learning taking place in their classrooms. These meetings offer an authentic platform for students to develop their presentation skills, find their voice, and listen to the diverse perspectives of their classmates.
We also take time to celebrate individual community members who have demonstrated at least one of the virtues through our Virtue Ceremony.
The Family Alliance is the heart of our school community—welcoming all families to get involved, connect with resources, support students and staff, and strengthen our shared commitment to thoughtful education. From organizing community clean-ups and family potlucks to hosting teacher appreciation events and supporting student exhibitions, there are many ways to participate. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, there’s a place for every IVA family here.
For more information, please contact Myriam Loeschen:
myriam.loeschen@ivahigh.org –
562-283-4456
IVA High’s Counseling Team is committed to fostering an inclusive and identity-affirming environment for all students. We believe that every student—regardless of background, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, ability, or immigration status—deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Our counseling practices are rooted in equity. This means we actively work to:
● Address barriers to academic & personal success
● Support students from historically marginalized communities
● Uplift student voice & agency
● Create safe, welcoming spaces for all identities
We recognize that identity shapes every student’s educational experience. That’s why we integrate culturally responsive counseling, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices. Our team participates in ongoing professional development focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health, so we can better support every learner.
Whether a student is navigating personal challenges, seeking academic guidance, or exploring their future path, we strive to ensure each interaction reflects respect, belonging, and care.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that IVA High School is located on the traditional lands of the Tongva people, and we honor their history, resilience, and continued presence in the region.
One element of our discipline process is to hold Restorative Conversations, adapted from restorative practices. IVA High values a restorative approach to student behavior and academics as part of our commitment to equity and growth.
Our goal is to create the most positive, least disruptive learning environment possible. We work with high school students, and this developmental stage brings with it all the complications of growth, identity, and change. As a public school that serves all students, we cannot promise an environment free from disruption—but we are committed to minimizing the seriousness and frequency of disruptions through supportive policies and proactive practices.
We take seriously any distraction that interferes with a student’s ability to learn in a positive environment. At IVA High, we view all student interactions—including mistakes, struggles, and conflicts—as opportunities for growth. It is part of our educational model to treat disruptions as teachable moments, not just rule violations.
We believe restorative practices:
● Create a safer, more caring environment
● Build stronger teaching & learning dynamics
● Promote awareness of the importance of connection & belonging
● Increase confidence among staff to address challenges collaboratively
● Reduce bullying & interpersonal conflict
Restorative practices at IVA High:
● Acknowledge that relationships are central to building community
● Ensure equity in voice—everyone is heard & valued
● Establish a culture of high expectations with high support
● Address misbehavior in ways that focus on harm, not just rule-breaking
● Emphasize collaborative problem-solving
● Enhance accountability, responsibility, & empower growth for all members of our community
Students are taught how to resolve conflicts within our community through a restorative lens. Conflicts arise when people have different opinions, misunderstand one another’s intentions, or fail to show mutual respect.
At IVA High, we believe resolving conflict requires learning how to communicate effectively and reach meaningful compromise. This is a lifelong skill that students can carry into all areas of their relationships, both in and beyond school.
Academics
The IVA Counseling Team is committed to supporting every student’s academic journey with intention, encouragement, and individualized guidance. We help students set goals, develop self-awareness, and build the habits and mindsets they need to thrive in a rigorous learning environment.
We believe academic growth is deeply connected to intellectual character. By fostering curiosity, perseverance, and autonomy, we empower students to take ownership of their learning and confidently pursue future opportunities.
IVA offers multiple pathways to support your post-high school goals. Whether you’re planning to attend a UC or CSU, enter the workforce, or pursue a different path, we’ll help you stay on track.
IVA High School Diploma:
UC / A-G Pathway (Recommended for University of California)
• History/Social Science (A): 2 years (World History, U.S. History, Gov/Econ)
• English (B): 4 years
• Mathematics (C): 3 years (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) — 4 years recommended
• Lab Science (D): 2 years (Biological & Physical) — 3 years recommended
• Language Other Than English (E): 2 years (Same language) — 3 years recommended
• Visual/Performing Art (F): 1 year
• College Prep Elective (G): 1 year (from approved A-G list)
• Physical Education (H): 2 years (IVA Requirement)
• Total Credits: Minimum 200, including all A-G aligned courses
—–
CSU Pathway (California State University)
Follows the same A-G subject areas as UC but may have slightly more flexibility in admissions GPA and course substitutions.
• Minimum GPA: 2.5 (varies by campus)
• Test-blind: SAT/ACT not required but can be submitted for placement
• Includes all courses listed in UC/A-G Pathway
Minimum IVA High Graduation Requirements:
• English: 4 years
• Math: 3 years
• Science: 2 years
• History/Social Science: 3 years
• Language Other Than English: 2 years
• Visual/Performing Arts: 1 year
• Humanities/College Prep Electives: 2 years
• Physical Education / Health: 2 years
• Other Electives: As needed to meet 200 credits
• Total Credits Required: 200
**Basic Diploma Pathway (Alternative Graduation Track)
For students with specific needs or circumstances, this pathway provides a more flexible graduation route. Eligibility determined by counselor and IEP/504 team if applicable.
• English: 4 years
• Math: 2 years
• Science: 2 years
• History/Social Science: 2 years
• Other Required Courses: As outlined in individual graduation plan
• Total Credits Required: Typically 130–160 (customized)
Academic Support Groups
Saturday School
Small Groups
SPED
504
EL
Homeless/Foster Youth Support
MagicSchool Student Tools
AI tools for school success