Counseling Office Weekly Update
April 13th-17th, 2020
Parkway North Counseling Office
Email: mzitza@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/926
Location: 12860 Fee Fee Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Paul Arthur
Jamesell Kee
Chandra Brown
Lindsay Kerlin
Stephanie Bluestein
Caitlin Tritch
Update from Dr. Marty
Based on ongoing guidance from health professionals, and after careful consideration, Parkway and all public schools in St. Louis City and County have decided to continue with eLearning for the remainder of the school year.
All school counselors, the social worker, and the care coordinator will be checking their emails throughout the day and will be available for virtual or phone counseling appointments between 9:00-10:00 am and 1:00-2:00 pm. Students who would like to make an appointment can do so by sending an email to their counselor.
12th Grade Updates
Plans are under way for class meeting/chat session. Stay tuned for that. Administration is looking into ways to celebrate your class. If you have ideas for this please email me.
11th Grade Updates
Tuesdays: 2pm - 2:30pm
Thursdays: 10 am - 10:30 am
10th Grade Update
Week 4 of E-learning Sophomores:
4/14/2020
Happy Tuesday Sophomores,
Going into the 4th week of E-Learning, I trust that most of you all have created your routine for school, home and socializing. I also understand and appreciate that finding out about school remaining virtual through the end of this calendar school year can bring about mixed emotions and questions. Please feel free to reach out to me and we can process this collaboratively. I am hosting virtual meetings on Fridays, but I am more than willing to schedule meetings throughout the week during my office hours. The goal is to provide clarity, purpose and reassurance that PNH’s goal is to make sure that you are prepared to take on your Junior year.
Remember, this is a process, you should be doing no more than 3 to 3.5 hours of E-Learning a day! Get outside and get some Social Distancing Vitamin D (it helps build your immunity)!
Continue to be Great,
Ms. Brown
I miss seeing you all daily!!!
Resource Reminders:
Please see another example of an organizer to help with your time management and task completion created by Dr. Page.
Google Spreadsheet - Digital Planner
Parkway Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/10020
Meal Request: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/2421
Technology request or assistance: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/2420
9th Grade Updates
Week 4 of E-Learning
Since we are going to be continuing with E-Learning for the remainder of the year, I wanted to let you know that I will continue to be available for academic and social/emotional support. If needed, I am available to meet virtually either via the phone or Google Hangout. Please contact me to schedule an appointment. I will be checking my email throughout the day (8:30am-3:30pm) and will hold virtual "office hours" Monday-Friday from 9:00am-10:00am and 1:00pm-2:00pm.
I have included the link for the check-in form that I previously shared with you. It is not mandatory, but feel free to fill it out and let me know how you are doing. It is a short questionnaire, so if you have the time to fill it out, I would love to hear from you :) I have also included a link below for parents to check-in with me as well.
I know that these circumstances are unusual and unpredictable. Please remember that all of us here at North High are here for you and we will figure out how to navigate these uncertain times together. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. Keep up the good work and have a great week! :)
Student Check-In Form:
Parent Check-In Form:
College Counseling Updates
AP Update
A+ Program
Just a reminder that the requirements changed for the class of 2020. This info was provided in a previous newsletter.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please email Mrs. Bluestein.
ACT/SAT
In the meantime, if you do not want to wait, you can register for the ACT National Exam on the ACT website. The student will make an account, register for the exam, and pay the exam fee all online. Registration does take about 30 minutes to complete and you will need to upload a photo to complete the registration.
Upcoming National Test Dates:
June 13, 2020 (Registration Deadline is May 8, 2020)
July 18, 2020 (Registration Deadline is June 19, 2020)
*If you receive free/reduced lunch and are having difficulty paying for the registration fee, please contact Mrs. Bluestein. You may be eligible for an exam fee waiver.
Free ACT Practice Test
In an effort to help students whose learning environments have been disrupted by COVID-19, Testive is offering free online practice tests to all students of Parkway School District.
These tests include an online test proctor, and live support for the duration of the exam. There are timed sections and breaks, to help simulate the real test experience. We also have extra time accommodations for students in need.
At the end of testing, you will receive scores and a complementary score analysis consultation.
If you would like to participate, please follow the instructions below:
1 - Register for a Saturday or Wednesday digitally proctored practice test. You can select ACT or SAT from the registration screen.
2 - Have a quiet location with a laptop or desktop computer and strong internet connection for a 3.5-hour time period.
3 - Check your email later today for the confirmation and detailed instructions.
4 - Parents: attend the free parent seminar on what you need to know about the ACT/SAT to ensure your child achieves success in the college admissions process.
5 - Check your email on morning of the test, as we will send login and testing instructions by 9 AM ET.
Bridge to the ACT" Summer Intensive is going VIRTUAL!
UMSL has some updates about their free one-week Bridge to the ACT program for current 11th grade students: First, we have moved the workshops to a virtual format through Zoom conferencing. Students will still receive live ACT instruction and the program dates will remain the same (June 8-12 or June 22-26). We know that this is an especially stressful time for students preparing to navigate the college application process this fall, and we hope that the online format will make the program accessible to even more students this summer. For students who have already applied for the program, we hope to send out our first batch of acceptances by email next week.
Second, since the April ACT test date was cancelled, we have eliminated the ACT score report requirement as part of the application moving forward. Applicants who have not yet taken an official ACT should submit practice test scores so that we have a baseline score on file. If they have not yet taken a practice test, they can contact our office (precollegiate@umsl.edu) and we can provide them with a practice test to take at home.
Here is the application for the program: https://tinyurl.com/bridgetoact20
NCAA Update
In response to questions regarding schools that have moved to distance or e-learning environments, the Eligibility Center will not require a separate review of distance or e-learning programs utilized by schools with NCAA-approved core courses that have moved to distance or e-learning environments for Spring/Summer 2020 terms due to school closures related to the COVID-19 situation.
Students are encouraged to complete their NCAA-approved core courses through the channels of instruction provided or recommended by their school, district or state department of education.
For information on COVID-19, please visit ncaa.org/COVID-19 and continue to monitor for more information from the Eligibility Center at on.ncaa.com/EC_COVID.
STLCC Take a Class on us (Only for students attending STLCC in the fall)
New (first-time in college or transfer) and degree-seeking student
Apply and register for at least one summer 2020 class and you will receive a scholarship for your first three-hour class at the in-district rate.
Care Coordinator Updates
FINDING JOY!
How have you found joy during this time? Here are some small things you can do to find joy for yourself or spark joy in others!
-send a handwritten note or postcard
-watch funny animal videos
-MAKE a video or tiktok & send it to friends and family
-write chalk messages on your sidewalk
-wave or say hello to your neighbors as they pass
-put an encouraging sign up in your window or lawn
-go for a walk and take pictures of as many different flowers you can find
-learn a dance and do a dance challenge
-paint rocks and leave them in random places or at a park
Please enjoy the video below of pets doing silly things!
Mental Health Tips
Coping Strategies
The COVID-19 outbreak means that life is changing for all of us for a while. It may cause you to feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely, or frustrated. It is important to remember that it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. There are some simple things you can do to take care of your mental health and well-being during times of uncertainty. Doing so will help you think clearly, and make sure you are able to look after yourself and those you care about. If you or a loved one is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression, here are some tips and resources that might be able to help:
Tips for Maintaining Your Mental Well-Being at Home (source)
Stay connected: Maintaining healthy relationships with people you trust is important for your mental well-being. Think about how you can stay in touch with friends and family while you are all staying at home- by phone, messaging, video calls, or social media- whether it’s people you usually see often, or connecting with old friends. Lots of people are finding the current situation difficult, so staying in touch could help them too.
Talk about your worries: It’s normal to feel a bit worried, scared, or helpless about the current situation. Remember: it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust- and doing so may help them too.
Look after your body: Our physical health has a big impact on how we feel. At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behavior that end up making you feel worse. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water, and exercise regularly.
Stay on top of difficult feelings: Concern about the Coronavirus outbreak is perfectly normal. However, some people may experience intense anxiety that can affect their day-to-day life. Try to focus on things you can control, such as how you act, who you speak to, and where you get information from. It is fine to acknowledge that some things are outside of your control, but if constant thoughts about the situation are making you feel anxious or overwhelmed, try some ideas to help manage your anxiety.
Do not stay glued to the news: Try to limit the time you spend watching, reading, or listening to coverage of the outbreak, including on social media, and think about turning off breaking-news alerts on your phone. You could set yourself a specific time to read updates or limit yourself to checking a couple of times a day. Use trustworthy sources and fact-check information from the news, social media, or other people.
Carry on doing things you enjoy: If we are feeling worried, anxious, lonely, or low, we may stop doing things we usually enjoy. Make an effort to focus on your favorite hobby if it is something you can still do at home. If not, picking something new to learn at home might help. There are lots of free tutorials and courses online, and people are coming up with inventive ways to do things like online quizzes/trivia and music concerts.
Take time to relax: This can help with difficult emotions and worries and improve our well-being. Relaxation techniques can also help deal with feelings of anxiety. Refer to last week’s newsletter for tips on mindfulness practices from Ms. Tritch.
Think about your new daily routine: Life is changing for a while and you are likely to see some disruption to your normal routine. Think about how you can adapt and create positive new routines and set yourself goals. You might find it helpful to write a plan for your day or your week. If you are working from home, try to get up and get ready in the same way as normal, keep to the same hours you would normally work and stick to the same sleeping schedule. You could set a new time for a daily home workout, and pick a regular time to clean, read, watch a TV show or film, or cook.
Look after your sleep: Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, so it's important to get enough. Try to maintain your regular sleeping pattern and stick to good sleep practices. Click here for some tips on sleep health.
Keep your mind active: Read, write, play games, do crosswords, complete sudoku puzzles, finish jigsaws, or try drawing and painting. Whatever it is, find something that works for you.
Virtual Counseling Options:
West County Psychological Associates
Preferred Family Health
Resources that are available to you via the Parkway School District or outside agencies.
If you have an emergency (including a mental health emergency) outside of those hours please call one of the following resources for help:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Behavioral Health Response Crisis Line: 1-800-811-4760
Behavioral Health Response Crisis Line: 1-800-811-4760
Youth Connection Helpline: (314) 819-8802
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery: 314-768-3201
Salvation Army: 211 (mortgage, utility bills, clothing, medication bills, etc.)
Parkway Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/10020
Food information
Food information for Parkway Families: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/2421
If you are in need of food, there are options and forms on our parkway website, accessible by the link above.
Technology Information: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/2420
Grief Resources: