RHS Counselors Connection
February 2018 Edition
Welcome!
Stay Informed...
RHS School Counseling Website: http://www.rhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com
Subscribe to our Remind Text messaging service for specific grade levels- see http://rhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com/faq-for-parents.html
Random Acts of Kindness Week- Feb 11th - 17th
Examples of kindness can include, but are not limited to, paying for someone's coffee, offering to rake leaves for an elderly neighbor, visiting a nursing home resident, load groceries for a friend, let someone move ahead of you in line, or reach an item off a high shelf for someone in the grocery store.
Challenge yourself this month to commit a random act of kindness in celebration of the month of love.
Intentional Acts of Kindness
Although kindness can be misunderstood as an ineffectual or even superficial nicety, it’s neither. Like many amazing practices I’ve learned through mindfulness training, kindness is inspiring, powerful, courageous and wise. It’s also disarming, compelling and transformative. In any given moment, the kindness you offer to yourself or to others affects what happens in the very next moment.
Like mindfulness itself, kindness is a natural human quality that requires intentional action to realize it’s potential. And like mindfulness, research shows that kindness is good for our physical and our emotional well-being.
Studies show that thinking about, observing or practicing a kind act stimulates that vagus nerve, which literally warms up the heart and may be closely connected to the brain’s receptor networks for oxytocin, the soothing hormone involved in maternal bonding. Kindness also triggers the reward system in our brain’s emotion regulation center releasing dopamine, the hormone that’s associated with positive emotions and the sensation of a natural high.
Kindness—which reduces stress, anxiety and depression—can literally put us, and others, at ease. It works wonders in the relationships we have with ourselves and with everyone else, even with people we don’t know.
Try it next time you are out and about. Offer a kind word or gesture to someone you meet, or to someone who works in town or serves our community. Notice what happens. From a learning perspective, you’ll see that the effects are cumulative. The more we practice, the better we get at it. This seems to be especially true in our most difficult moments. All of sudden, something shifts and we’ve chosen kindness instead of our habitual reaction.
More and more, the scientific community demonstrates that our brains can learn new things for most, if not all, of our lives. And human development and psychology teaches us that relational skills, unlike language and motor ones, do not automatically present themselves as we mature in age. The skills it takes to be in healthy relationship to self, other and our environment are ones we need to learn, once we decide to learn them.
The good news is that we can learn to be kinder. We literally train our brains every day by the things we repeatedly say and do. So when we practice kindness, we’re training our brains to get better at kindness. When we practice being frustrated, angry or otherwise stuck in our reactions, we get better at that. What we practice and how is our choice. Here are a few ideas on how to start practicing kindness:
1. Practice being kind to yourself. This is very important because we’re often less kind to ourselves than we are to others—even strangers! Think about what kindness to yourself would look like, then try it. Need ideas?
- Notice your self-talk (how you talk to yourself about yourself). If it seems negative, ask yourself if you would say this to a good friend and notice what happens.
- Practice treating yourself as well as you treat your friends, co-workers or family members.
- Sometimes, when we’re off or having a bad day, we start judging ourselves. Practice letting your experiences, thoughts and feelings in, whatever they are.
- Take a break when you need one.
- Engage in basic self-care. Get enough rest, eat when you’re hungry (and stop when you’re not) and exercise when you can (be sure to pick something you like to do).
2. It’s easy to be kind when were in a good mood. When we’re struggling, not so much. So next time you feel frustrated, angry or hurt, refrain from speaking or acting immediately. Take a moment. I help myself to remember this practice by using an acronym a teacher once gave me: S-T-O-P: S for stop, T for take a breath, O for observe what’s happening in and around you and P for practice responding rather than reacting.
3. Incline your mind toward kindness (and the positive emotions associated with kind action) by practicing “loving kindness” meditation (see resources below). If you are skeptical about meditation, you can think of these exercises as practicing affirmations to bring kindness into your daily life as a way to increase well-being to the benefit of yourself and others.
Resources
One of the most influential teachers of kindness is Sharon Salzberg, who’s written warmly and extensively on the topic. Two of her books that I’ve enjoyed are The Kindness Handbook: A Practical Companion and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness.
She has a number of lovingkindness meditations in these books and others that you could try if you’re curious. She also has a brand new book out titled, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, which I am enjoying right now. Visit her website, or search her out on YouTube to hear her speak on the topic directly.
For more on the science of kindness, see Dacher Keltner’s book, Born to Be Good: The Science of A Meaningful Life (published by W.W. Norton in 2009). Dr. Keltner is the director of the Social Interaction Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley.
Article by Mary Ann Christie Burnside. For this full article go to https://www.mindful.org/intentional-acts-of-kindness/
National School Counseling Week
College Corner
Universal Technical Institute- Orlando FL
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has campuses across the nation with the nearest location in Orlando Florida. UTI provides highly demanded technical training in automotive and diesel engine repair and building. They work directly with many automotive manufacturers and have an extremely high job placement rate after completion of one of their programs. They also have a branch MMI, that specializes in Marine engine and motorcycle technology.
For more information and to schedule a tour go to https://www.uti.edu/locations/florida/orlando-uti
Career Planning & Spotlight
Why it's important to think about your career in High School.
Considering how competitive the job market has become, it’s never too early to start to think about your career. “What are you going to do when you grow up?” is a common question, even for elementary school children, but today, high schoolers are reportedly planning ahead and seeking internships to help them get into college and land job opportunities down the road.
Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm, and Internships.com, the world’s largest internship marketplace, announced a new study, “High School Careers,” which surveyed 4,769 students (172 high school students and 4,597 college students) and 326 employers from across the country. The study found high schoolers are actually more entrepreneurial than college students. Many high school students surveyed are interested in internships to get new skills, work experience and to network.
The sponsors of the study, Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding and author of "Promote Yourself," and Robin Richards, CEO of Internships.com, suggest the following reasons why it’s important for you to start to think about your future career while you’re still in high school:
1. You’ll grow your network early. If you’re thinking about your career, you’ll make a point to start to network. Schawbel notes: “By going to school sponsored events, local meetups and connecting with your teachers, you can grow a powerful network that will support you in college admissions and beyond. Very few high school students take the time to meet professional contacts, leverage them to create opportunities and then keep in touch with them when they graduate.”
There’s no question that having a professional network is useful for career success. High school students who focus on career early are more likely to be motivated to focus on their personal brand. LinkedIn encourages teenagers to create profiles on their professional network, and young people who are interested in their future are more likely to take advantage of this and other online and in-person tools to expand their network.
2. You’ll be more competitive for college applications. If you’re applying to colleges, your part-time job or internship experience can build a case for you as a strong applicant. “Because many students apply to college after high school without having completed an internship, your experience over the summer can help you stand out from the crowd of students," Richards explains. "The admissions committee will be able to see that you are motivated, inquisitive and serious about success from the fact that you used your break to work and gain professional experience.”
3. You’ll have a head start figuring out what you want to do after high school. When you gain work experience, it will be easier to rule out the majors you won't be interested in if you go to college, so you don't make any career mistakes. Or, you may learn that you want to pursue a career that doesn’t require a college degree, and you can save a lot of money, time and effort. “The sooner you understand what you do and don't want to do for a career, the easier it will be to make the right career decisions," Schawbel says. "In high school there's no pressure to pick a major or a career so it's the best time to experiment.”
4. You’ll learn a lot. Just applying for internships is a great learning experience. Richards explains: “Going through the internship application process and completing a summer internships program offers valuable decision-making lessons which can come in handy when applying to colleges and future summer internships.” She adds: “In addition to learning important skills that will make you a very valuable employee, a summer job or internship in high school can help you gain confidence and a better understanding of ‘the real world.'"
Article published in US News by Miriam Salpeter February 11, 2014. To view the article CLICK HERE
Automotive Service Technicians
Automotive service technicians and mechanics typically do the following:
- Identify problems, often by using computerized diagnostic equipment
- Plan work procedures, using charts, technical manuals, and experience
- Test parts and systems to ensure that they work properly
- Follow checklists to ensure that all critical parts are examined
- Perform basic care and maintenance, including changing oil, checking fluid levels, and rotating tires
- Repair or replace worn parts, such as brake pads, wheel bearings, and sensors
- Perform repairs to manufacturer and customer specifications
- Explain automotive problems and repairs to clients
2016 Median Pay- $38,470 or $18.50 an hour. The more specialized training you receive the higher the pay.
Schools nearby that offer training in this field include:
Florida State College at Jacksonville- Click here for a link to the program
JTech Institute- click here for a link to the program
Universal Technical Institute- click here for a link to the program
Go to http://rhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com/scholarships.html for more scholarship information.
Vivian Scott Scholarship- $1,500
This scholarship is sponsored by the Florida Association of Federal Education Program Administrators and is open to any Florida high school senior planning to pursue post-secondary education and qualifies for Free/Reduced lunch program. The application packet includes three letters of recommendation so start early. CLICK HERE to download the application. The full application must be turned into Ms. Johns in the RHS School Counseling office. Deadline for complete packet is February 21, 2018.
Clay County Fair Association Scholarship- $1,000
This scholarship is available to any 2018 Clay County graduating senior who plans to pursue college or technical education after graduation. Student must be associated with 4-H, FFA, FCCLA, or Clay County Sheriff's Explorers and must complete a minimum of 10 volunteer hours for the 2018 Clay County Fair. For a full list of qualifications and the application come to the RHS School Counseling office or download the forms below. Deadline February 23, 2018.
Click here to download the directions
Click here to download the application
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Sophia Fleming Chapter- $1,000
Any 2018 graduating senior who is pursuing postsecondary education may apply for this scholarship. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, books or materials. There is no GPA requirement for this scholarship. For a copy of the application come to the RHS School Counseling office or go to www.sophiaflemingchapter.org Deadline to apply February 23, 2018
TeenDrives 365 Scholarship Challenge- multiple awards up to $15,000
Learning to drive is one of the coolest times for a teen. But facts have shown it can be extremely dangerous. You have the power to inspire your fellow teens, maybe better than a teacher or a parent can, because you know what messages will be the most powerful. Create a 30-60 second video for your fellow teen drivers that highlights the importance of safe teen driving and you could win $15,000, or one of 14 other prizes!
Contest ends February 28, 2018
Go to www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/scholarships/170348-15-000-teendrive365-video-challenge
Southern Scholarship Foundation
SSF provides rent-free scholarship housing for qualified incoming or current undergraduate and graduate students demonstrating academic achievement (with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA), financial need (as identified on the FAFSA), and good character. With our scholarship, students save an average of $13,000 per year. We accept applicants who are in any year of their undergraduate or graduate degree programs, but to make the most of this opportunity we recommend that students who will be enrolling in or transferring to one of our above mentioned institutions should apply for our housing scholarship the semester before they arrive.
Institutions include:
Flagler College – Tallahassee
Florida A & M University (FAMU)
Santa Fe College (SFC)
University of Florida (UF)
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
Florida State University (FSU)
Tallahassee Community College (TCC)
To apply for this scholarship go to www.southernscholarship.org Deadline March 1, 2018
NEFL Scottish Games and Festival
February 24th 9am - 5pm: Volunteers are needed to set up, take down, gate attendance, ticket booths, children's area, petting zoo, trash patrol, refreshments, runners, programs, restroom monitors, parking and traffic, etc. If you are interested, complete the online registration form at https://www.neflgames.com/get-involved.html
YMCA- Reading Tutors
Work in a small group environment or one-on-one with a kindergartener to 3rd grade student developing positive self-esteem and reading skills. Afterschool Mondays through Thursdays. Contact Clarissa Evans Y READS Program Coordinator at cevans@firstcoastymca.org or 904-336-2043
Community Hospice thrift shop is looking for teen volunteers for all aspects of their store. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. Please contact Moira Minta, Thrift Shop Volunteer Coordinator, at mminta@communityhospice.com or call 904-998-1718 for more information.
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