Bulldog Counseling Newsletter
November 2019
Happy Thanksgiving from our team!
We hope you and your family have a restful, happy holiday.
Speak Up Training Comes to JBHS
During the month of October students got a couple of days off, allowing the JBHS faculty to come together and continue to work towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. All faculty and staff participated in Speak Up training, which consisted of an intensive workshop where we discussed and practiced strategies for interrupting biased or discriminatory speech. As counselors, we are acutely aware of the emotional and psychological toll words can take on a person, specifically those who identify as a person of a marginalized people group.
Speak Up provides tangible options for responding to hurtful comments – interrupt, question, educate, or echo. You can read more about the strategies here. The training also includes a presentation of the Pyramid of Hate, which outlines varying and increasingly complex biased behaviors. All students at Bowie will also participate in this training over the course of the school year. Seniors have already undergone the training and all others will participate in training through their English classes.
SAT AND ACT INFO: Which should I take?
The SAT and ACT are tests that help prepare students for the college application process. Both tests essentially cover the same topics and are used for college admissions decisions and merit-based scholarships. It's important to note, most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. It may be a good idea to try out both and see which one works best for you. Here is a link to explore that further: How to Decide
It's newsworthy to point out the ACT is making enhancements to its test and now has a method to re-take sections rather than the entire test. You can learn about these enhancements here: ACT Enhancements
THE NECESSITY OF SELF-CARE
GEAR UP FOR FINAL 6 WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER!
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
We are now in the heart of the College Application process. If you need help and are feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to your counselor or Ms. Valverde at the College and Career Center. Now is the time! There is a plethora of College and Career information in the link below. Even if you are not a senior, this is good information for you to put on your radar. Please have a look: Link to College and Career Newsletter
HELPFUL COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CHECKLISTS FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL: