Counseling
📢 If you are an incoming freshman and need to choose your courses,
please visit our office to pick up a course request form. Thank you 📢
Welcome
The Rio Mesa High School Counselors are dedicated to helping you throughout your high school career and advocating for you by having high expectations, challenging you through rigorous curriculum to become college and career ready. We offer academic, personal, social, and college to career counseling. While empowering you to develop 21st century skills, we strive to ensure that our students will become responsible and productive citizens in a global society. As servants to our students, we are student advocates and provide referrals to community agencies.
For parents, we provide educational and long-range planning, ensure a positive learning environment, and will connect you to Parent VUE, our online access to student attendance and academic progress. In addition, we provide information and events for community agencies, ROP, and assist foreign exchange students. Finally, we work in close partnership with the College and Career Center for information to colleges, trade schools, financial aid, scholarships, and the military and the Student Wellness Center to provide social emotional services.
Need to make an appointment?
To schedule an appointment with a counselor, please contact Yesenia Ambriz at (805)278-3024 or yesenia.ambriz@oxnardunion.org the counselor directly or message your counselor through their Google Classroom.
Counselor Google Classrooms
Please join your grade level Google Classroom for all counseling information that will be provided throughout the school year.
9th Grade Google Classroom Code: dah6rg3
10th Grade Google Classroom Code: 2btcr4d
11th Grade Google Classroom Code: lydcqjl
12th Grade Google Classroom Code: e4nw4ue
Counselors are assigned by student last name. Find your last name to identify your counselor from the list below.
Please note:
- All English Learners (EL), foster youth, exchange students and migrant youth are assigned to Mr. Zuniga, regardless of last name.
- All IB DP diploma candidates are assigned to Mrs. Kinney, regardless of last name.
- All IB CP certificate candidates are assigned to Mrs. Brennan, regardless of last name.
- All AVID students are assigned to Mrs. McDevitt, regardless of last name.
- Mr. Castillo and Ms. Tomasetti, the Student Wellness Specialists, are available through student self-referral and/or administrator, teacher, or counselor referral.
Your Counselors
A - Com
Victor Farias
victor.farias@oxanardunion.org
805-278-2972
Con - Estra
AVID
Carri McDevitt
carri.mcdevitt@oxnardunion.org
805-385-2771
Estrb - Lamp
Cristella Arriaga
cristela.arriaga@oxnardunion.org
805-385-2762
Lamq - Nav
IB Diploma Programme
Kristene Kenney
kristene.kenney@oxnardunion.org
805-278-3788
Naw - Rui
IB Career-Related Programme
Ingrid Brennan
ingrid.brennan@oxnardunio-n.org
805-278-
Ruj - Z
Sylvia Gomez
sylvia.gomez@oxnardunion.org
805-278-3133
Categorical Programs (ELD, Foster, Migrant Ed., Exchange Students)
Christian Zuniga
christian.zuniga@oxnardunion.org
805-278-5509
Student Wellness Specialist (SWS)
Jorge Castillo
jorge.castillo@oxnardunion.org
805-834-1390
Student Wellness Specialist (SWS)
Noemi Tomasetti
noemi.tomasetti@oxnardunion.org
805-385-2547
Wellness Center Guidance Tech
Gladys Rodriguez
gladys.rodriguez@oxnardunion.org
805-278-2966
DCAC Coordinator
Melani Castellanos
melani.castellanos@oxnardunion.org
EAOP Counselor
Monica Mora
monica.mora@oxnardunion.org
College and Career Center Technician
Vina Robbins
805-278-2937
vina.robins@oxnardunion.org
Oxnard College Adjunct Counselor
Griselda Rodriguez
Pronouns: She/Her(s)
Email: grodriguez2@vcccd.edu
Helpful Information
- College Board
- UC Pathways
- CSU Mentor
- Financial Aid for College
- OUHSD Curriculum Framework
- OUHSD Graduation Requirements
- OUHSD Listing of Helpful Online Resources
- Scholarship Help
- Please read the SAT Test-Taking Procedures before test day.
- Visit www.testpreview.com to take practice tests like the ACT, ASVAB, GED, and SAT, among many others.
Emergency Resources
- Interface Crisis Hotline – 211
- Kids 2 Kids – (805)573-0752 or (805)640-1632
- Food Pantry at Saint Paul’s – (805)643-5033
- Catholic Charities – (805)486-2900
- Rescue Mission – (805)487-1234
Support Groups
Rio Mesa offers the following Support Groups with professional therapists during the school day:
- Grief
- Teen Issues
- Drug/ alcohol and tobacco
For more information about these groups, please contact your school counselor.