Holmes Counseling Connection
Welcome Huskies 2023-2024
Holmes & NSITE Counseling Team
About Us
Monday - Friday from 8:15 A.M. to 4:45 P.M.
Location: 6500 Ingram Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-397-7032
Holmes Counseling Department
Holmes Counseling Main Office
210-397-7032
Head Counselor
Javier Proa
397-7025
Holmes Counselors
Melissa De Luna, Counselor (A – Com)
397-7028
Michael Ortiz, Counselor (Con - Gom)
397-7030
Priscilla Rodriguez, Counselor (Gon - Lun)
397-7026
Kristle Jarvinen, Counselor (Luo - Pen)
397-6982
Christina Cantu, Counselor (Peo - Sal)
397-7031
Sharon Constancio, Counselor (Sam-Z)
397-7032
NSITE Counselors & Staff
A-L
Ijeoma Too-Chiobi
210-397-7073
M-Z
Veronica Herrera
210-397-7075
Michele Castellanos, NSITE Registrar & Grade Reporting Secretary
397-7074
Holmes Office Staff
Mary Clack, Counseling Secretary
397-7032
Cindy De La Rosa, Registrar
397-7038
Yolanda Rodriguez, Grade Reporting Secretary
397-7048
Sonya Benavidez, Clerk for Registrar
397-6955
College, Career & Military Advisors
Jackie Sanchez (Holmes)
397-5430
Leah Noriega (NSITE)
397-7067
May 2023 Updates
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop transferable skills relative to their educational, career, personal, and social development.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
The purpose of this Month is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
Promoting mental health awareness among students is important to help them develop healthy coping skills and support their emotional well-being.
Holmes Counselors will Pop-up mornings and lunch to host different mental health activities where students can learn about mental health topics while having fun.
Individual Planning
The purpose of Individual Student Planning allows Holmes/ NSITE school counselors to guide all students as they plan, monitor and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.
Additional individual planning can be requested before/after school and during lunch. Please email or visit your child's counselor for individual planning.
Last Day to change a course for the 2023-2024 school year is May 19th, 2023.
Summer school for Credit Advancement is now available. The High School Credit Advancement Summer Program provides High School and Rising 9th grade Middle School students with an opportunity to accelerate a High School credit through online platforms. The program is tuition-based and will be conducted via a hybrid learning environment (virtual and in-person). Deadline to sign-up is May 19th. Students must be on-track with credits to be eligible. Please reach out to your assigned counselor.
If your student is behind on credits there are options available, the High School Credit Retrieval Program is a supplemental online program for students who have the opportunity to retrieve previously failed credits( due to a failing grade and/or did not meet attendance parameters). Please reach out to your assigned counselor regarding eligibility and criteria.
Responsive Services
The purpose of responsive services is to intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or circumstances put their educational, career, personal and social development at risk.
Holmes Counselors Care
If you are requesting help regarding your child’s academic or personal struggles, please reach out to the assigned counselor.
We are determine to provide support towards their education, personal, and social development.
A referral to services outside the district may also be provided.
System Support
The purpose of System Support is to identify resources/activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. System support also uses campus data to support effective school counseling programs.
May 9th is National Fentanyl Awareness Day
National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day of action to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people (especially young people) are dying at alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl. National Fentanyl Awareness Day is pleased to present a series of virtual webinars with issue-area experts on an array of topics related to the illicit fentanyl crisis on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
​
The link below will show free webinars to the public.
Cafe College is an additional resource to help with post-secondary readiness. Both in-person and virtual help is available.
Cafe College & success advisors can assist you with:
- Goal Setting
- Career Exploration & Planning
- College Entry & Enrollment
- College Affordability
- Financial Aid
- College Transition
April 2023 Updates
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop transferable skills relative to their educational, career, personal, and social development.
9th grade students and 12 grades students were given a guidance lesson on Personal Health and Safety (coping skills).
The goal of this guidance lesson was to help students incorporate wellness practices into daily living. Other areas included were:
- Identifying healthy activities to do
- Identifying things that are healthy and unhealthy
- Defining stress and feelings related to stress
- Ways to manage stress/feelings
Individual Planning
The purpose of Individual Student Planning allows Holmes/ NSITE school counselors to guide all students as they plan, monitor and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.
Additional individual planning can be requested before/after school and during lunch. Please email or visit your child's counselor for individual planning.
Students will take the required EOC exams on these dates. Each student is required to take and pass all End of Course exams for graduation requirements.
English I 4-18-23
English II 4-20-23
Algebra 5-2-23
Biology 4-27-23
US History 5-3-23
Responsive Services
The purpose of responsive services is to intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or circumstances put their educational, career, personal and social development at risk.
Holmes Counselors Care
If you are requesting help regarding your child’s academic or personal struggles, please reach out to the assigned counselor.
We are determine to provide support towards their education, personal, and social development.
A referral to services outside the district may also be provided.
Our last Cafecito featured the Children's Bereavement Center. This is an outside resource that provides grief support for children, adolescents, young adults, and their caregivers
Here is a featured video about this center:
System Support
The purpose of System Support is to identify resources/activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. System support also uses campus data to support effective school counseling programs.
April recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. See something, say something!
ASVAB
The ASVAB test is an exam used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Military. To sign up for the ASVAB test please fill out a required form in F102. The test date for the ASVAB will be April 13th.
SAT
The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. This SAT is free of charge and given to all 11th graders. Taking the SAT can also be used for scholarships. The SAT will be given on April 25th. Scores will be available on a students CollegeBoard account.
FAFSA night
The Husky Career Center will host Financial Aid Night on April 18th to assist
families with the FAFSA or TASFA. This will be held from 5:30PM-6:30PM. Please bring 2021 Student and Parent Federal Income Tax Form. 2021 Student and Parent W-2. Completing the FAFSA is a graduation requirement for seniors.
February/March 2023 updates
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop transferable skills relative to their educational, career, personal, and social development.
11th Grade
11th grade students were introduced to Khan Academy/College Board. Students are encouraged to connect their College Board account to Khan Academy to help maximize their SAT scores.
College Board is also used to send official SAT scores to colleges/universities.
Use https://www.collegeboard.org/ to create your College Board account.
The first official SAT will be held April 25th for 11th graders.
9th Grade Guidance: Personal Health and Safety
Week of March 26th
Our goal for this lesson is to help students:
Analyze their feelings when wanted/unwanted changes occur
Analyze how their beliefs, interests, and capabilities have changed and are changing
Assess the effects of important events, both those that can and cannot be controlled, upon quality of life
Individual Planning
The purpose of Individual Student Planning allows Holmes/ NSITE school counselors to guide all students as they plan, monitor and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.
All students met with a counselor regarding academic progress such as courses for 23/24 school year, credits and overall progress. Additional individual planning can be requested before/after school and during lunch.
Responsive Services
The purpose of responsive services is to intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or circumstances put their educational, career, personal and social development at risk.
Holmes Counselors Care
If you are requesting help regarding your child’s academic or personal struggles, please reach out to the assigned counselor.
We are determine to provide support towards their education, personal, and social development.
A referral to services outside the district may also be provided.
System Support
The purpose of System Support is to identify resources/activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. System support also uses campus data to support effective school counseling programs.
FAFSA Night
Next FAFSA night will be held March 21st . Senior families are welcome to attend to help their senior complete the application.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid
If your child needs assistance with the FAFSA or TASFA, please tell them to stop by the Career Center, F102
Parent Cafecito
March 31st is our next Cafecito with The Children's Bereavement Center from 9-10 am.
The Children's Bereavement Center provides grief counseling for families and individuals for those in need. Information regarding services will be provided at the Cafecito.
Parent Information Night- Endorsements
March 28th @ 6pm in the LGI
Career Fair
March 7th is the Career Fair for Holmes/NSITE students.
The purpose of the career fair is to give our students the opportunity to speak to College Admissions Representatives, Military Recruiters and Local Business that are hiring. We want students to learn about the opportunities that each organization has to offer.
January/December 2023 Updates
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop transferable skills relative to their educational, career, personal, and social development.
Husky Rally
Incoming 9th grade students were presented with information regarding the importance of endorsements, graduation requirements, advanced courses, and athletics. Link will be attached below.
https://www.smore.com/qcmyj-course-selections
Endorsement/Elective Night
During elective night, students and families were presented information regarding 9th grade transition and endorsements. Other information such as graduation requirements, End of Course Exam, credits, and planning guide was also presented.
Individual Planning
The purpose of Individual Student Planning allows Holmes/ NSITE school counselors to guide all students as they plan, monitor and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.
Dual Credit
At Holmes and NSITE, you have the opportunity to start earning college credit while still in high school at no cost to you or your family. We offer many Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual credit courses in a variety of subjects. Please pay close attention to the following video created by our Program coordinators. The video will inform you about our offerings as well as how to sign up. At the end of this video, you will have an opportunity to fill out a form expressing interest in dual credit courses.
https://www.loom.com/share/1b5de0127874412fb5eea008327cde1f?utm_medium=gif
Questions regarding signing up for Dual Credit? Please use the contact information at the end of the video.
High school course selections for 9-11th graders will be reviewed during individual planning. Students will select courses for the 2022-2023 school year.
10th grade
Week of January 23rd to 27th
11th grade
Week of February 6th to 10th
9th grade
Week of February 13th to 17th
Course selections and 4 year plans are viewable on HAC. If a course request change is needed for the next school year, please have your Holmes/NSITE student visit their counselor.
https://www.smore.com/9fq0gb-course-selections
Middle school visits from Holmes Counselors will take place January 19th (Neff) , 20th (Ross) and 24th (Jordan). 8th grade students will select their endorsements, electives and placement levels.
https://www.smore.com/qcmyj-course-selections
Responsive Services
The purpose of responsive services is to intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or circumstances put their educational, career, personal and social development at risk.
Small Group Self-Referral is still available.
Students can fill out of self-referral form in front of the Holmes counseling office. A QR form is available to complete.System Support
The purpose of System Support is to identify resources/activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. System support also uses campus data to support effective school counseling programs.
Holmes Endorsement/Elective Fair Night
The endorsement night took place on January 12th from 6:30 to 8PM. Families and students were presented with the different endorsements Holmes offered.
FAFSA Night
Next FAFSA night will be held Tuesday, February 21st - 5:30-6:30. Senior families are welcome to attend to help their senior complete the application.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid
If your child needs assistance with the FAFSA or TASFA, please tell them to stop by the Career Center, F102
November 2023 Updates
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop transferable skills relative to their educational, career, personal, and social development.
11th grade students will receive a lesson on intrapersonal and interpersonal effectiveness. The purpose of this lesson is to improve their own emotional awareness/ intelligence. Students will also work on the ability to communicate their needs, goals, and ideas to others in an effective/positive way.
Counselor's Pop-up!
Students will be able to view and participate in various counseling related activities before school in the court yard.
Individual Planning
The purpose of Individual Student Planning allows Holmes/ NSITE school counselors to guide all students as they plan, monitor and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.
4 year plans and course selections for 9-12th grade will be finalized. Students will select courses for the 2022-2023 school year. Course selections and 4 year plans are viewable on HAC. If a course request change is needed for the next school year, please have your Holmes/NSITE student visit their counselor.
Responsive Services
The purpose of responsive services is to intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or circumstances put their educational, career, personal and social development at risk.
Small Group Self-Referral is available. The Holmes/NSITE Counseling Department offers small-group counseling services to promote students’ personal and academic success. Small-group sessions will begin Spring 2023. Topics include • Intrapersonal Effectiveness • Interpersonal Effectiveness • Post-Secondary Education and Career Readiness • Personal Health and Safety
- Before students can experience the small group process, they are interviewed by the counselor in order to be accepted/good fit.
- Parent permission is required
All groups are conducted according to the ethical standards of the counseling profession, the policies of NISD and the laws of Texas.
System Support
The purpose of System Support is to identify resources/activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. System support also uses campus data to support effective school counseling programs.
Parent Cafecito
December 2nd 9 AM inside the LGI Room
12-2-2022
A visit from the DePelchin Children's Center will visit Holmes. The center will work with parents with helpful tips and strategies on dealing with common parenting challenges.
Generation Texas (GenTX) Week 11/14-11/18
Generation Texas (GenTX) is a statewide public awareness campaign developed to encourage college access and success.
Join us this week by wearing the assigned theme per day.
September/October 2023 Counseling Updates
Classroom Guidance
The Holmes counseling team made visits to 9th graders for our annual Howdy Visits. During our 9th grade guidance, 9th graders were exposed to the importance of high school attendance, graduation requirements and resources for high school.
10th graders receieved a classroom guidance lesson on Growth Mindset. Students will reflect about their own fixed mindset behaviors and consider ways they can change them to growth mindset behaviors.
Individual planning
All grade levels will meet with their counselor for individual planning. We will discuss credits earned, course levels and options for electives.
October is Anti-Bullying month
October’s National Bullying Prevention Month reminds us that students, parents, teachers, and school administrators all play a role. Positive change comes as we begin to emphasize respect and inclusion at Holmes.
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week is held each year from October 23 to October 31. Red Ribbon week brings awareness to students and promote prevention.
Declaration of Respect
Holmes students will be participating in the Declaration of Respect event by signing a declaration promoting anti-bullying
The FAFSA & TASFA opens up this Saturday, Oct. 1st!
Completing a FAFSA or TASFA is a Graduation Requirement.
Here are the links to begin your FAFSA or TASFA.
- FAFSA Link: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- TASFA Link: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?objectid=a3119543-cbf8-c202-f1b0eefd5f4b9805
Need more help? Please attend our Financial Aid Nights:
- Tuesday, October 18th - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, November 15th - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, December 13th - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, January 17th - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, February 21st - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, March 21st - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, April 18th - 5:30-6:30
- Tuesday, May 16th - 5:30-6:30
Holmes Clubs!
Do you have a hobby or special interest? Would you like to become involved in your Holmes Community and meet people?
Joining a club or organization is a great way to meet other people, learn something new or even teach others about your interest. It is also a great way to get involved with your Brandeis community.
Check out the many clubs/organizations that are offered at Holmes.
PSAT
Just a reminder that PSAT testing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12th. All 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT. Students will be notified by email when results are available.
How to prep for the SAT/PSAT?
https://www.khanacademy.org/SAT
Khan Academy is a free program that will help students with SAT practice.
2023/2024 Course Information
Holmes Course Catalog2022
Graduation Toolkit
Holmes 4-Year Planning Guide
Holmes Audit Sheet
Holmes Endorsement Check List
Holmes Elective Courses List
HAC - Home Access Center
To set up an account, fill out this form. Then review the Quickstart Guide.
Clubs and Organizations
Holmes Athletics Information
College Career Center
Holmes Resources
UT OnRamps
Dual Credit
Dual Credit courses are an opportunity to earn college credit while in high school. If you have additional questions, contact the Dual Credit Coordinator, Ms. Gonzalez or visit her at D219.
Communities in Schools (CIS)
School contacts:
210-397-6950
Community Resources
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline
988 is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. (Please note, the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to function indefinitely.) Click below to learn more about 988.https://988lifeline.org/Northside Safeline
Dangers of Vaping
Clarity Child Guidance Center
(210) 616-0300.
COVID-19 Response Campaign
SAFB is offering help during the COVID-19 crisis. On-site food distribution is available on different dates for those who pre-register. Home delivery is available for the elderly and homebound individuals.
Click here.
NISD Guidance and Counseling
(210) 397-1257. https://nisd.net/guidance-counseling/gc/home