Highlighting the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students succeed and plan for a career, many school counselors will be hosting special events and activities to celebrate National School Counseling Week Feb. 5-9. This year's theme is " Helping Students Reach New Heights."

Counselors in the United Federation of Teachers will launch the week with their third annual conference on Saturday, Feb. 3. The event, which attracts hundreds of counselors and counseling students, features timely topics such as girls who bully; what counselors need to know about gangs; and preparing student athletes for college success.

"We opened the event to universities in our vicinity that have counselor education programs," said Angela Reformato, head of the UFT's guidance counselor chapter. "Most of these students later become school counselors in New York City schools, so it's a great introduction."

The UFT is NYSUT's affiliate in New York City schools.

This year, the UFT will also be sponsoring a Feb. 6 lobby day in Albany, where advocates will make the case for more counselors, particularly in the elementary schools. The UFT and NYSUT are pressing for legislation that would require a counselor in every school building.

Currently, fewer than half of all elementary schools in New York state have one because it's not mandated by the state. The proposed legislation recognizes that in tough budget times, counselor, social worker and psychologist positions are too often among the first to be cut.

"The week offers school counselors the ideal opportunity to tout the important work we do," said New York State School Counselor Association President Ellen Bieber, a member of the Somers Faculty Association in Westchester County. Her group's Web site, www.nyssca.org, offers ideas to commemorate the week.

You can also get more information and tips from the American School Counselor Association, www.schoolcounselor.org.