Recommendations can come in a little later than the December 1st deadline, and can come in from a teacher OR counselor.
https://admission.usc.edu/firstyear/prospective/checklist.html
Although someone needs to be responsible for sending in your school report (after first semester grades), which is usually the counselor or the registrar so check that someone at your school is doing that. Be polite, everyone is stressed this time of year with too much to do!