Counselor's Corner
CHS counseling newsletter, October 2021
Important October Dates
October: Bullying Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness month
10/3-10/9: Mental Illness Awareness Week
10/17-10/23: America's Safe Schools Week
10/18-10/22: National School Bus Safety Week
10/6/21: Coffee with the Counselors
10/11/21: Fair day (no school)
10/13/21: Testing Day (see more info below)
10/14/21: 10th grade field trip
10/15/21: UIL Eligibility Check (end of first nine weeks)
10/18/21: Anti-Bullying meeting, CHS cafeteria 530-630pm
10/20/21: Coffee with the Counselors
10/22/21: Student holiday
10/25/21: Student holiday
10/26-10/29: Red Ribbon Week
10/28/21: College Funding Coach presentation (in person and via FB live), CHS auditorium, 6-7pm
We are now in full swing of school and our fall semester and it continues to fly by! This month always seems to be extremely busy so please make sure you are checking dates, social media, and emails for all the important information.
Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.
Hygge: a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)
Mental Health Videos/Resources for Teens
Seize the Awkward recently released four new videos containing powerful advice for teens and young adults on mental health. Each video features expert advice on practical tips on supporting a friend who may be struggling with their mental health.
- Learn the Signs (https://youtu.be/3jCCxsvYjA4)
- Have the Conversation (https://youtu.be/8evtuxohDvU)
- Tips for Better Conversations (https://youtu.be/gX0cQBL_RzU)
- Conversation Starters (https://youtu.be/H-Q6ieH_Z08)
**APPLY TEXAS**
Two Help desks for STUDENTS:
General Help Desk - applytexas@austin.utexas.edu
Account Recovery - applytexas_pw@austin.utexas.edu
Federal student aid resources (English and Spanish)
Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students (Spanish Version)
Check under Loan Information, Booklets and Brochures for more like this.
ADVI/Virtual Advising Project
A chatbot named ADVi – short for “adviser” – uses artificial intelligence to provide on-demand support to Texans looking to attend or return to higher education. Right now, any student in Texas may access ADVi by texting “COLLEGE” to 512-829-3687 or by starting a freshman application in ApplyTexas.
When students sign up to receive messages from ADVi, they receive:
- The ability to ask questions about college 24/7 via text message,
- Backup support from our virtual advisers if a student has needs or questions beyond what ADVi can provide,
- Student-friendly, accurate, and engaging messages about key college access milestones,
- Information and tips to help with their college applications, planning, and financial aid, and
- Resources to help navigate the transition to college.
Learn more at www.askADVi.org.
Scholarships..
Check them out, here:
Post-Secondary Advising Tools (FREE)
Labor Market and Career Information- https://lmci.state.tx.us/
Texas Reality Check- https://texasrealitycheck.com/
Texas Career Check- https://texascareercheck.com/
Jobs Y'All- https://jobsyall.com/
Texas Internship Challenge- https://www.txinternshipchallenge.com...
Texas CREWS- https://txcrews.org/
State Training Inventory- https://lmci.state.tx.us/apps/STI/
Counselors and Teachers- https://lmci.state.tx.us/counselors/counselors.asp
Have you Heard of Bulb?
Using bulb students can create digital portfolios to showcase work and build resumes. bulb can also be used to create your pages to showcase virtual events or information. See examples below.
CCMR Fair Example: https://www.bulbapp.com/CCMRVirtualFair
Example student portfolio: https://www.bulbapp.com/RayneAguilar
To create a free trial account: http://bit.ly/AimeebulbTrial
Contact: Aimee Pavelock
aimee@bulbapp.com | 210.787.6046
Red Ribbon week @ CHS
CHS will celebrate with a theme each day, prizes for students who participate, and various other activities to promote "Drug Free Looks Like Me".
Tuesday, 10/26: Wear RED to promote Red Ribbon Week
Wednesday, 10/27: "Drugs are Never in Style" Decades day
Thursday, 10/28: Unity Day: Wear ORANGE to show we are united against bullying/cyberbullying
Friday, 10/29: "Have the Power to say NO to Drugs" Superhero/First Responder/Military day
(no masks)
What are Senior Meetings?
Senior meetings involve the counselor, the student (senior), and it's HIGHLY encouraged the parent participate, however, not necessary. Parents and students, you will be receiving a Google Calendar Invite, please check your e-mail.
Senior Meetings will include: graduation checklist, post-secondary planning, testing information, and important dates.
Coffee with the Counselors
Our October Coffee with the Counselors will be Wednesday, October 6th and Wednesday, October 20th at 830AM via Facebook Live.
We want to hear from our PARENTS as we plan our future bi-weekly events.
Oh how beautifully you are cultivating gratitude in daily life by learning to embrace the process.
In life, we often have expectations for how we want certain plans to work out in our lives. These expectations can help us plan with intention, but at the same time, whenever our goals and expectations seem to take a different direction or take longer than expected, we can start to feel like we should be further along by now. We begin to believe that we should be further along by now. At times, these feelings can remove us from the present moment, and before we realize it, we’re living for a future that hasn’t even arrived. We start spending our time wondering what the outcome will be without letting ourselves fully be in the process, in the present moment.
I'm sure you've already heard the phrase “embrace the process” a million times, but what does it actually mean? After all, to embrace means “to hold closely in one’s arms” (Oxford Languages) which, in the literal sense, is, of course impossible, since a “process” isn’t something you can physically hold.
So what does it mean to embrace the process?
To embrace the process is to be present to the part of the journey you’re on without letting past or future points on the journey hinder you. It’s the act of being conscious of the fact that every day you wake up, you’re entering into one part of a larger story that is still unfolding. And whether or not you feel aligned with a larger goal or plan every single day all day, even when you’re not thinking about it, just by being here, you’re a part of something bigger.
May you never let society or individuals in your life cause you to think that you have to be actively working toward some larger goal in your life every second of the day. It can be incredibly beneficial to plan, but it can be even more beneficial to be present to this very moment, whether or not you know what the outcomes will be.
Here are some things you can still do in the present moment no matter if it’s attached to some larger goal or not:
1 - Be kind to someone without worrying about the outcome.
2 - Be kind to yourself...including all things mind, heart, and body
3 - Take breaks without feeling bad about it
4 - Do small things that bring you joy
5 - Educate yourself and take action where needed
6 - Take naps where needed
7 - Water the plants.
8 - Eat something delicious
9 - Drink plenty of water
10 - Stay curious
All of these things matter and have enormous impact and value whether you feel tethered to some big life goal or not.
So whenever you start to feel discouraged about whatever you feel like you should be doing right now, just remember, in this very moment you can water the plants of your life that need to be cared for…and trust that it matters, even if you don’t know the outcome.
Affirmation: Today, I am cultivated gratitude in my life by learning to embrace the process.
Journal Prompt: How can you embrace the process today?
How to reach the counselors
Our website is being updated regularly to give you the most important information about school, future education, mental health, and all other things counseling. Please e-mail us or fill out a counseling request so that we can help!
The CHS counseling team is here for you!
Sarah McKimmey: Advanced Academics Counselor (Last names M-Z)
Tiffany Goff: Braves Support counselor
Email: tiffany.goff@communityisd.org
Website: https://www.communityisd.org/domain/879
Phone: 972-843-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/communityhs
Twitter: @CHScounselor3