Comet Connection
CHS School Counseling
April 2020 - Welcome to Virtual Learning!
Counselor Office Hours:
Mr. Pinson (A-C):
Monday, Thursday, Friday 9 am - 11 am; Tuesday, Wednesday 12 pm - 2pm
Mr. Kowalczyk (D-I):
Monday-Friday 12 pm - 2 pm
Mr. Stewart (J-Mb):
Monday-Friday 9 am - 12 pm
Mrs. Carrell (Mc-R):
Monday-Friday 12 pm - 2 pm
Mrs. Watkins (S-Z)
Monday-Friday 9 am - 11am
Ms. Weston (College and Career):
Monday, Thursday, Friday 9 am - 11 am; Tuesday, Wednesday 12 pm - 2pm
School Counseling Lessons and Info Sessions
In addition to all of the other school processes that have been disrupted by COVID-19, we are unable to physically hold the classroom lessons and information nights that were scheduled throughout the spring. These lessons are extremely important for disseminating information and helping to guide students through the completion of activities aimed to advance their CCR plans.
We don’t want anybody to miss a step, and are working to provide several different options for students and families to access this information remotely. The PowerPoint slides and corresponding resources for each lesson/presentation will soon be uploaded to our Schoology group for anyone wishing to explore independently. As an additional measure, we will be offering a number of virtual sessions for each topic/activity. A schedule of the available “live” sessions will be posted shortly.
Students can still access each of the assigned grade-level tasks through their Naviance account (via BCPS One), and are encouraged to utilize the program’s many features that can help to prepare you for post-secondary success. There will be more to come on this topic within the next 1-2 weeks, so be on the lookout for updates. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage all students and guardians to join our CHS School Counseling group in Schoology (7DVXZ-XXDD9).
Take a Moment for Self Care
Drop your shoulders down and relax the space between your eyebrows.
So much tension and stress has built up over the past month.
Take a deep breath in, and slowly exhale some of that tension out.
While we are experiencing these unprecedentd times, it is important take care of our physical and mental health. We are balancing many stressors at this time and sometimes it may feel overwhelming. We can reflect on what we've learned and experienced over the past month. Our reflections will help us gather information that will help us manage our stress and make decisions as we continue through this.
Here are four questions to reflect on:
1. What has helped you to get through this pandemic so far?
(Clarifying questions: What has helped you deal with the stress? What people, activities, or media have been helpful for you? Is there something you've being doing regularly that helps you feel better? What has been grounding for you? What are you grateful to have had during this time? What's a positive coping skill you've implemented that was helpful?)
2. What has not been helpful that you need to stop doing or do less of?
(Clarifying questions: What are some behaviors, people, or situations that have negatively impacted your well-being? What negative coping skills might you need to decrease? What ways have fear or stress manifested that have made this harder for yourself or others?)
3. How could you be kinder or more compassionate with yourself through this?
(Clarifying questions: Is there something you've been too hard on yourself about? How have you been putting too much pressure on yourself? How could you have given yourself more grace, patience, and love during this difficult time?)
4. Gently place one hand on your chest and take a breath. Take a moment with your heart and be here with your body. What are your heart and body communicating with you?
(Clarifying questions: What does your heart need right now? What does your body need? What lessons might your heart have to share with you? What messages might your heart and body have for you? What wisdom does your heart hold?)
If the answers to these questions are not all there yet, that's okay. They will come with time. Even just considering these questions can help your mind shift into curiosity, which can be a healthy state of mind to be in.
Do not underestimate importance of the answers that do come, and use this as information to make changes.
Your responses here hold valuable wisdom on how to recover from all the stress that built up and how to keep moving forward through this. I recommend going over these questions first on your own as a personal reflection exercise. Write this down in your journal or copy and paste these questions into a document on your computer and type out your responses.
Then, go over these questions with your family, friends, and loved ones if you'd like to. One great way to release stress is through words and communication, and learning can be solidified when communicated.
Adapted From:
Ami Kunimura, MA, MT-BC
Founder The Self-Care Institute
Monthly Spotlight
COLLEGE MAJOR: VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
TRADE: CULINARY ARTS
MILITARY: AIR FORCE
Important Information for Seniors
- Have you received a decision letter from a college? If so, we want to know! Please email al of your college decision and scholarship award letters to Ms. Weston (lweston@bcps.org). While we are not physically in school, we still want to share your achievements with the Catonsville community!
- If you are still waiting for a decision letter from a college, it may be worth checking in with their Admissions Office to ensure they have everything they need.
- Do you have a plan for next year? If you are still unsure of what you want to do after graduation, consider scheduling a virtual meeting with your school counselor or Ms. Weston to discuss your options!
IMPORTANT: College Updates for Juniors and Seniors
To view the list, visit this website:
https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/college-admission-status-coronavirus/
*NEW* Scholarships
- Naviance: Under the "Colleges" tab, click "Scholarships and Money", then "Scholarship List". Here you will find a multitude of different scholarships. TIP: Filter the scholarships to find the ones that are best for you.
- Schoology: "CHS School Counseling" group > Resources > "College and Career Resources" > "Scholarship Info & Applications"
- Check out the attached chart with updated Scholarships and Deadlines.
The CHS Local Scholarship Application is NOW OPEN!
*NEW THIS YEAR* Due to the school closure, the application is available in both paper and electronic versions. While we recommend completing the electronic version, the paper version is available for any student who may need it. Paper applications must be submitted via email to Ms. Weston at lweston@bcps.org.
Electronic Application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_fuBlNiUFBROlto8r0Y8eOVURjVJQzhMUE5MVFFNVDMyTlVCT0NLQkczWS4u
THE CHS LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IS DUE BY FRIDAY, MAY 8th, 3:00 PM.
Contact Me
Email: lweston@bcps.org
Website: https://catonsvillehs.bcps.org/
Location: 421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, MD, USA
Phone: (443) 809-0809