Office of School Counseling
Friday Sendoff - June 5, 2020
Announcements
**NEW** Recent event newsletters
How Can I Help? staff newsletter: https://www.smore.com/vt2w8
Family Resources parent newsletter: https://www.smore.com/sdaf8
As you can imagine, race can be a sensitive topic for parents, even more with the recent events. These feelings can run deep and in some cases, they've been left unresolved or unspoken. Our resources are never meant to supplant a parent's decision of when or how much to share with their children. Before you initiate a conversation with students about race or current events (especially with our youngest students), please speak to parents first to give them an opportunity to opt out or share what they feel would be helpful.
**NEW** Podcast on Conversations about Race
Listen to the Podcast here.
**NEW** TENTATIVE - Summer Department Chair Meeting
High School - July 15, 2020 from 8am-11am
Middle School - July 15, 2020 from 12pm-3pm
All Chairs on July 16, 2020 from 8am-3pm
Because we're in the virtual environment, we may be able to spread out information in smaller meetings but for now we want to have these dates and times on your radar.
**NEW** Grief and Loss During COVID-19
Huge thanks to the Hereford Middle School team for working on this presentation for the office. It was a huge success!
Option 1: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/75e2de93-14dd-4f9b-aa16-c0c1cfce6803
Option 2: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/791fcfe5-4a2c-40b8-bf10-df728bf31775
** NEW** Free Retirement Seminar
During this unsettled time, many of you might be experiencing a variety of feelings about your financial health. AIG Retirement Services (formerly “VALIC”) will be offering a short optional web based workshop entitled, “Uncharted Waters: Navigating Stock Market Volatility In A Coronavirus World” on Wednesday June 10th at 4:00. It is free to all BCPS employees and their families. If interested in this webinar, and an opportunity to create your own personalized Pathfinder retirement plan, you can reserve a spot below:
Click here to register for this Seminar and include registration code BOBPWA11AD
**NEW** Second Semester Use of Time Survey
Please be sure to read the directions carefully, as this is different than in previous years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning environment, we will only be collecting use of time data for March 30 – June 19. This means that responses in this survey should ONLY include your time from March 30th to June 19th (during Remote Learning). Surveys must be completed no later than June 19, 2020. Feel free to reach out to your specialist with any questions.
Use of Time Survey Spring 2020 - Virtual School Counseling Services
**NEW* Food Pantries in Baltimore County
**NEW** Clarification on ASCA U courses and Reimbursement from Certification
If you took an ASCA U course and are planning to pay Lindenwood University the additional $225 to get 3 graduate credits, please be aware that you cannot be reimbursed for both. The Office of Certification shared with us that they can only reimburse for one or the other. If you choose to submit the ASCA course for CEUs, they will reimburse for your payment to ASCA. But if you choose to pay the additional money to get graduate credits, you can only be reimbursed for the payment to Lindenwood.
**NEW** Factuality the Game - free session available
**NEW** Using Flipgrid to Facilitate Conversations
**NEW** Black and LGBTQ+ Youth in Crisis and the Psychological Toll of COVID-19
Records of Student Records
Please use the Consent for Release of Student Records below if you’re working with students who are seeing an outside therapist so you’re able to share information. This document can also be used when you’re obtaining records from a sending school.
https://www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules/rules/5000Series/RULE5230_Form_A.pdf
2020-2021 School Counseling Theme
If you have an idea for next year's theme (and images/art work, if possible), please send it to Sharon (sholter@bcps.org).
Virtual Counseling Offices
Below is the link to create a bitmoji and add it to your Chrome browser for easy add-on.
Video tutorials:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKTvlUbXxY&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-P_WdQWPc8&t=3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFiKrXAGxM
Thank you to Amy Horvitz, Jamie Rudden, Monica Jones, Sarah Mintz, Chloe Kazlow, and Ashley Hofferbert for sharing their virtual offices/career days with us! And thank you to Katie Oppenheim for the tutorial on creating an inserting a Bitmoji!
Elementary School Counselors
SEL activity for virtual sessions
Middle School Department Chairs
June College and Career Newsletter
High School Counselors
**NEW** NCAA EC COVID-19 Response FAQ Addendum
In response to membership feedback, DI and DII Administrative committees have approved an extension of the COVID-19 Automatic Waiver criteria providing the benefits of Academic Redshirt (DI) and Partial Qualifier (DII) status for expected Spring/Summer 2020 graduates presenting at least 10 core course units and a 2.0 GPA prior to start of their seventh semester. Additional details regarding this relief can be found in the updated EC COVID-19 FAQ document.
ESOL Foreign Language Course Transitions
The graduation requirements fulfilled by ESOL courses have changed over the years. The rules are applied to the year the student took the course.
- In 2015-2016 ESOL HS Foreign Language 1 fulfilled the English 9 graduation requirement. The name changed to ESOL 1 in 2018-19 and still fulfills the ENG 9 requirement.
- In 2015-2016 ESOL HS Foreign Language 2 fulfilled the WL requirement.
- In 2017-18 it switched to fulfill the ENG 12 requirement. The name changed to ESOL 2 in 2018-2019 and still fulfills the ENG 12 requirement.
Virtual Recruitment Information Session
Maryland State Police 2020 Youth Leadership & Law Enforcement Seminar
Governor Hogan has proclaimed 2020 as the Year of the Woman in Maryland. The 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, is this year. As an initiative in commemoration of the latter, the Maryland State Police is sponsoring a female law enforcement program. This program, Year of the Woman: 2020 Youth Leadership and Law Enforcement Seminar, is geared towards female high school juniors and seniors. It will be held August 21 - August 23 at the Maryland State Police Training Academy. (see flyer below)
High School Department Chairs
**NEW** Senior College Application Boot Camp
MSDE Graduation Data
Please take a moment to review and complete the survey form below so your information can be subnimitted to MSDE. You’ll have until June 19th to share the requested data.
Here's the link to the form 2020 School System Scholarship Form
Student Voter Registration
The Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. of Baltimore County would like your help getting eligible BCPS students who are 17 and 18 years or older registered to vote by October 13, 2020 so they can vote in the November 3rd Presidential election.
Please share this link with seniors who are interested in registering to vote: https://www.whenweallvote.org/alphakappaalpha/
College Counselors
**NEW** Please pass on this graduation message to your seniors
We appreciate your support and commitment Wes!
Naviance Scholarships with upcoming deadlines
no new scholarships at this time, but please make sure students update their scholarship information in Naviance
Professional Development
Teachers and counselors must engage in a minimum of two hours of virtual professional learning each week during the closure. Please document your participation in your Outlook calendar.
**NEW** ASCA U Specialist Trainings
Updated: April 30, 2020 Since many professional development opportunities have been canceled this spring and ASCA professional members, graduate students and school counselor educators have asked, ASCA has reduced the fee for ASCA U Specialist trainings. March 17–June 15, 2020, Specialist trainings are $29 for members (regularly $99) and $49 for nonmembers (regularly $249). No code needed. If you have problems registering at this rate or accessing materials, contact ASCA
Current courses available through ASCA U include:
· Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist
· Bullying Prevention Specialist
· Career Development Specialist
· Closing the Achievement Gap Specialist
· College Admissions Specialist*
· Cultural Competency Specialist
· Legal and Ethical Specialist
· School Counseling Data Specialist*
· School Counseling Leadership Specialist*
· Students With Special Needs Specialist
· Trauma and Crisis Specialist
*Not available for graduate credit
If you plan to take (or have recently taken) an ASCA U course and are planning to pay Lindenwood University the additional $225 to get 3 graduate credits, please be aware that you cannot be reimbursed for both. The Office of Certification shared with us that they can only reimburse for one or the other. If you choose to submit the ASCA course for CEUs, they will reimburse for your payment to ASCA. But if you choose to pay the additional money to get graduate credits, you can only be reimbursed for the payment to Lindenwood.
Additional upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
**NEW** ASCA Pop-Up Webinar: Address Students’ Race-Based Stress and Trauma on 6/9 at 12:00
ASCA Webinar: Making MTSS Work on 6/8 at 1:00
Yoga Nidra and Relaxation for Children and Teens presented by Dr. Gayle Cicero on 6/15 at 1:00. 2 CEUs available (flyer attached below)
Ten Faces Of Trauma 1 CEU on 6/17 at 10:00
Adulting 101: Finding Structure in the Chaos 2 CEUs on 6/18
The Creative Use Of Games, Stories And Art With Children And Teens 3 CEUs on 6/22 at 9:30
Effective Treatment for Children & Adolescents Diagnosed with PTSD 2 CEUs on 7/15
BCPS Counselors Good News & Inspiration
Perry Hall High Class of 2020 Decision Day was held on June 1, 2020
Dundalk Virtual Awards Ceremony and Signing Day!
Huge shout outs go to Department Chair, Diana Harden, on all of her hard work leading, organizing, and coordinating this event and to Senior Counselor, Mr. Tormey, for being such a fantastic MC!!
Aileen Losin did the Virtual Mental Health Mile, who else joined her?
Pikesville Middle did!
Websites
Traitify: https://bcps.traitify.com/
Other career-related websites:
https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/students/careers/career-exploration.htm
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx?frd=true
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs.html
https://www.cacareerzone.org/budget/
http://www.careersinthemilitary.com/
MD CAPS (MHEC): https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx?c=-8586295899786270826&ReturnUrl=/MDCAPS/int/FinAid
College Covered resources for school counselors https://www.collegecovered.com/resources-for-counselors/
Schoology Access Codes
Elementary Counseling Curriculum: M4HSN-FCFN4
Secondary Counseling Curriculum: CFBV7-B6PCM
Threat Management: Q6RHK-WHHVC
College and Career Counseling: PFZD6-65N4V
Curriculum Updates: T7BM2-R8JSC
GSA Sponsors (LGBTQ+ resources): ZMBZ-4QXP-DKC89
Contact Information
Naviance Support: 1-866-337-0080 option 2 & support@naviance.com
Signup Genius Support: support@signupgenius.com
CPS phone number: 410.887.TIME
CPS email address: dhr.baltimorecountycps@maryland.gov
MHEC FAFSA Completion (MD CAPS): fafsa.mhec@maryland.gov