RHS Counselors Connection
September 2018 Edition
Welcome!
Stay Informed...
RHS School Counseling Website: Click here for the New School Counseling Website
Subscribe to our Remind Text messaging service for specific grade levels- see Parent Resources Page
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time to come together with collective passion and strength around a difficult topic.
- Know the Warning Signs and Risk of Suicide
- Preventing Suicide as a Family Member or Caregiver
- Being Prepared for a Crisis
Crisis Resources
- If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
- If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
Senior Parent Night- Navigating Financial Aid
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2018, 06:30 PM
RHS Cafeteria
Positive Panther Project
September- The Science of Developing Your Character
Character Day- September 26th
Students can sign up to participate in this discussion. Sign up sheets are in the School Counseling office. The discussion will be conducted during lunch periods and students will have an opportunity to talk virtually with participants around the world.
Go to Let It Ripple to read more about Character Day. Ridgeview will participate by viewing and discussing one of the provided short films and then joining the international virtual discussion.
Monthly Focus
Here is a preview of the next few months:
September- The Science of Character
October- Developing Positive Attitudes and being Open-minded
November- Showing Empathy and Caring; Learning to Forgive
The Science of Character
Family or Classroom Discussion Questions
1. Take a look at the periodic table of character strengths at the end of this document. What are your five strongest character strengths?
2. Notice where your strengths lie. Are they all in one particular area (in, say, the Wisdom or Courage column) or are they spread out? What do you make of that?
3. How can you use your character strengths to improve your life?
4. How can you use them to improve your community?
5. Now expand the list of your character strengths to twelve and make a pie chart out of them. Which character strength is your biggest slice? Which is the smallest?
6. The film explores two ideas around character development: First, you should focus on the strengths you have, and second, develop the strengths you'd like. With that in mind, look back at the table of character strengths. What are three character strengths you'd like to develop?
7. What are some steps you can take to develop those three character strengths?
8. What character strengths are most valued on your campus or your job? Are these similar to the character strengths valued by your family, or very different?
What character strengths are most important in a digital age? How do we demonstrate and develop character strengths online?
9. Given that the Internet allows a lot of anonymity, and permits people to try on different personas, what happens to our character when we’re online? Do our character strengths remain constant?
10. The film discusses the ways you can develop your character strengths in your day to day life. Can you think of some ways you can develop your character strengths in your online life?
11. The film describes a fixed mindset (when you think you can’t change who you are) and a growth mindset (when you believe you can change and improve things about yourself). Is there an area in your life that you have a fixed mindset about, like “I’m not athletic,” or “I’m not creative”? Can you think of a way you can use your character strengths to improve in that area?
12. The film suggests we can affect other people’s character strengths, too. Do you agree? Can character be contagious? Can it go viral?
13. The film ends by asking you to complete this sentence: I want to be ____________________. What do you want to be? What character strengths will help you achieve that, and how will you use them?
10 Daily Practices to Strengthen Character
Classroom Resources to Focus on Character
Character.org- High school lesson plans
Random Acts of Kindness- High School Character Ed Unit
40 Kindness & Empathy Activities for the Classroom
Family Resources for Developing Character and Family Values
College Corner
Lynn College - Boca Raton, Florida
Lynn University is a private institution that was founded in 1962. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,095, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 123 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Lynn University is an independent college based in Boca Raton, Florida, with approximately 3,000 students from 100 countries. U.S. News and World Report ranks Lynn among the top three most innovative and international schools in the region. Lynn's NCAA Division II Fighting Knights have won 23 national titles, its Conservatory of Music features a world-renowned faculty of performers, and its nationally recognized Institute for Achievement and Learning empowers students with learning differences. The school's Dialogues curriculum and award-winning iPad program help Lynn graduates gain the intellectual flexibility and global experience to fulfill their potential in an ever-changing world.
Freshmen at Lynn University can choose from more than 20 undergraduate majors, and if they're particularly motivated, they can apply for the Lynn 3.0 program. This opportunity allows a select group of students to take advanced classes and graduate in three years instead of four, which could save the students thousands of dollars in tuition.
2018 Rankings
Lynn University is ranked #95 in Regional Universities South. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
Career Planning & Spotlight
What is an Apprenticeship?
An “apprenticeship” is a relationship between an employer and an employee during which the employee, or apprentice, learns a highly skilled occupation. A “sponsor” operates apprenticeship training programs on a voluntary basis. A sponsor can be an individual employer or an association of employers.
An “apprenticeable occupation” is a skilled trade or technical occupation that possesses all of the following characteristics:
- It is clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout an industry
- It is customarily learned in a practical way through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised training
- It involves manual, mechanical, or technical skills and knowledge that require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job work experience (more hours for more complex occupations)
- It requires related classroom instruction to supplement the on-the-job training
Scholarships 101
CLICK HERE (or on the pic above) to access the RHS Scholarship Bulletin.
Now is the time to set up accounts on the scholarship databases listed in the left hand column. Start applying early and for as many as you can. Also check with the schools you plan to apply since they each have their own scholarship applications and deadlines.
Federal Financial Aid
It is also time to request your FSA ID. You will need this to complete your FAFSA. CLICK HERE for directions. BOTH you and your parent must request a FSA ID prior to completing the FAFSA. FAFSA opens on October 1, 2018 for the 19-20 school year (the year you plan to attend college or other institution).
Florida Bright Futures
Information about eligibility requirements can be found at the Florida Bright Futures website. Be sure to check your specific status at Florida Shines. Your State ID is your social security number with an X at the end. If you have questions about your status, see your School Counselor.
Institutional Financial Aid
Each college or university also has their own sources of financial aid. You need to check with each school individually to see if they have a financial aid application.
Scholarship Databases
There are several online scholarship databases that provide secure links to apply for private scholarships. We recommend that you use one (or many) of these to ensure that your private information is not stolen. Googling scholarships can lead you to scam or phishing sites that target students for identity theft.
http://studentscholarships.org/
http://tuitionfundingsources.com/
http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.militaryscholar.org/index.html
Private Local Scholarships
As local organizations contact us with scholarship applications, we will post them on the RHS Scholarship Bulletin. Be sure to check it out often for updates. Here is a sample of what is available right now.
Young Arts Awards Competition
Artists in grades 10-12 or ages 15-18 on December 1, 2018 may apply. The Young Arts competition includes cinematic arts, dance, design arts, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Awards range from $250 - $10,000. Go to www.youngarts.org/apply. Deadline is October 12, 2018.
American Public Power Association
High school seniors planning to pursue a certificate or degree that could lead to a career at an electric utility. Awards $2,000. Go to www.publicpower.org/deed-funding-students. Deadline October 15, 2018.
Voice of Democracy- VFW Scholarship Essay Contest
Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been a Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, Why My Vote Matters. For all the details, pick up a flyer in the RHS School Counseling scholarship box. Entries will be submitted to the local VFW 5968 Post at 187 Aurora Blvd. Orange Park, FL 32073. Deadline is October 31, 2018.
American Academy of Chefs
High school seniors accepted into an accredited, post-secondary college with a major in either culinary or pastry arts or be an ACF registered apprentice. Awards $2,500 renewable each year. Go to www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Scholarships. Deadline October 31, 2018
Wendy’s High School Heisman
High school seniors currently involved in one of the 47 recognized sports. Leadership in schools, minimum 3.0 GPA. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000. Go to www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/application/are-you-eligible. Deadline October 2018.
Student Resources
SAP (Student Assistance Program) Counselor- Kim Barrera
The Student Assistance Program works with identified adolescents to screen for risk factors that may interfere with a student’s ability to positively cope with life challenges and stressors. The program consists of individual and/or group prevention activities where teens work with an SAP team member 1-4 times a month on a short term basis. SAP does not provide direct therapy services but can assist students with accessing services through Clay Behavioral Health. You can ask any of your teachers to go see Ms. Barrera in Building 5 room 554 or you can talk with your School Counselor to be referred for services.
Military Life Counselor- Atrews Bell
Mr. Bell provides a variety of services and/or referrals for students with a parent/guardian on active duty or retired military. This can include academic assistance, personal counseling, help with transitioning from school to school and much more. See your School Counselor for more details or stop by Mr. Bells office in Building 1 room 140.
Contact Us!
Pre-IB & IB Students
(904) 336- 8912
Lori.feathergill@myoneclay.net
Maria Littlejohn
Student Last Names A-E
(904) 336- 8904
Maria.littlejohn@myoneclay.net
Jackie Welch
Student Last Names F-L
(904) 336- 8903
Jacquelyn. welch@myoneclay.net
Margo Whyte
Student Last Names M-R
(904) 336-8902
Tabbatha Johns
Student Last Names S-Z
(904) 336-8906
Tamara Mansel-Tucker
College & Career Coach
(904) 336-8889