LCPS School Counseling News
January 2018
LCPS School Counseling Newsletter
“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”
― D. Simone
Facebook & Twitter
Don’t forget to share your news, events, and more with the Office of School Counseling. Send anything you’d like posted to our Facebook page and Twitter to counselingnews@lcps.org.
Calendar
January Events (2017-2018 ASCA Awareness Calendar)
Get Organized Month
National Mentoring Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Thank-You Month
1 Emancipation Proclamation Anniversary
1 Global Family Day
15-19 No Name-Calling Week
21 World Religion Day
22-28 National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
27 Holocaust Remembrance Day
SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES MEETINGS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
January
1/8/18: Elementary Facilitators Meeting; 8:30-10:30 am; Room 420
1/9/18: MS Leads Meeting; 8:30 am-12 pm; Room 102A/B
1/11/18: HS Naviance Meeting; 8:30- 10:00 am; Heritage HS
1/17/18: ASCA Model Meeting- Topic: Closing the Gap Action Plan; 3:00-5:00 pm; Room 102A/B
1/18/18: MS Naviance Meeting; 8:30-10 am; Simpson MS
1/19/18: HS Directors' Meeting; 8:30 am-12:30 pm; Room 100A
1/23/18: Career Center Assistants Meeting; 1:00-2:30 pm; Loudoun Valley HS
1/24/18: ASCA Model Meeting-Topic: Closing the Gap Action Plan; 8:30-10:30 am; Room 100A
1/26/18 & 1/29/18 Restorative Practices: Language and Circle Training; 8:30 am-4 pm; Sign up on MLP
February Events (2017-2018 ASCA Awareness Calendar)
African American History Month
Career and Technical Education Month
International Boost Self-Esteem Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
1 National Freedom Day
2 National Groundhog Job Shadow Day
5-9 National School Counseling Week
11-17 Random Acts of Kindness Week
22 World Thinking Day
23-March 1 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES MEETINGS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
February
2/5/18-2/9/18: National School Counselor Week
2/5/18: Special Presentation on Compassion Fatigue- ALL School Counselors Meeting: 3:00- 4:15 p.m.; Room 100B
2/6/18: MS Leads Meeting; 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.; Room 102A/B
2/16/18: HS Directors Meeting; 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; Room 100A
2/21/18: ASCA Model Meetings AM Session (Program Evaluation); 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Room 100A
2/21/18: ASCA Model Meeting PM Session (Program Evaluation); 3:00-5:00 p.m.; Room 100A
New School Counselor Trainings
Reminder to share with New School Counselors...
There are trainings that new school counselors must participate and complete. Several of the trainings are located in VISION and others are located in MyLearning Plan. Please assist your new colleagues in meeting the expected requirements by LCPS. Please have them contact the School Counseling Services Offices if there are questions. Below are a list of the topics:
Phoenix
Training on Suicide Prevention Guidelines
CSSRS Training
FERPA
CPS
DTS
McKinney-Vento
By Special Request... New School Counselor Meetings:
April 5, 2017: 9:00 - 11:00 am; Room 100A
Virginia Department of Education New Requirements for School Counselors
The Virginia Department of Education has issued new requirements for initial and re-licensure requirements for school counselors.
Below is a link to the memo with links to the new requirements. Please be sure to review all the options to meet the new requirements. There are FREE online options. We have the links on VISION to access Option 3.
Professional Development Conference Requests
If you are interested in attending a conference please contact Office of School Counseling Services first. We will need to check availability of funds before you complete the Request to Attend Conference Form which is available on the Intranet. The link is below:
Once you complete the form, return it to our office. It would be helpful if you could ask your principal to pick up a portion of the cost. Generally we’ll pay registration (if budget allows) and your school may offer to pay additional expenses. Also, you will have to prepay for the registration and then submit a reimbursement form through iexpense.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Professional Development
ASCA Webinar Series
New! Use Mindfulness to Help Grieving Students
Jan. 5, 2018, 1 p.m. Eastern
Perfectionism: What's it Costing Our Kids?
Jan. 11, 2018, 2 p.m. Eastern
Career Conversations for Large and Small Groups
Jan. 11, 2018, 12 p.m. Eastern
Career Conversations with Community Partners
Jan. 18, 2018, 3 p.m. Eastern
Help Students With Disabilities Self-Advocate
Jan. 24, 2018, 2 p.m. Eastern
How School Professionals Can Support Healthy Relationships
Feb. 6, 2018, 3 p.m. Eastern
Prepare Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Careers
Feb. 15, 2018, 3 p.m. Eastern
Technology Toolbox for School Counselors
Mar. 14, 2018, 3 p.m. Eastern
American Counseling Association (ACA) (You can receive up to 5 PD points)
The American Counseling Association proudly offers this FREE online professional development course on LGBTQ-affirmative counseling competencies. This introductory course (lessons 1-5) is produced in collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) and made possible through a grant by PepsiCo Foundation.
Professional counselors working with LGBTQ students and clients will enhance critical skills and insights, with a specific focus on youth and young adults who navigate college and career readiness issues. ACA and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation offer these online learning series free of charge.
Counselors will earn one (1) NBCC continuing education (CE) credit for each module successfully completed. Participants must finish each activity and successfully complete the CE Quiz at the end of each lesson to receive a CE Certificate. Lessons and related activities in this course must be completed sequentially. Graduate Programs in Counseling and related fields are encouraged to use these free resources as supplemental course content, as appropriate.
ACA has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 1000. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Participants who successfully complete all five lessons and required activities will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion(Counseling Competencies: Improving College and Career Readiness for LGBTQ Youth).
Virginia Counselor Association (VCA)
Online Training: VCA has set up a partnership with Mental Health Academy so that you can take courses any time and any where you have Internet access. You can save time and travel expense and have a wide choice of course work right at your computer.
Access Mental Health Academy at https://www.mentalhealthacademy.net/index.php
VCA Legislative Day - January 29, 2018
1/29/2018
Location: Richmond, Virginia Time: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA)
1/10/18: VSCA Legislative Day 2018 in Richmond
PCACAC
Save the date for our 53rd Conference:
April 15-17, 2018
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino
Dover, DE
Check back soon to view presentations from the 2018 Conference.
RAMP Camp
RAMP Camp is back! Session 1: June 15th & 18th and Session 2: July 30-31st. This is a two day training that reviews the 12 components of a comprehensive school counseling program. Sign up on MLP for one of the sessions. You will learn details about the how to develop a comprehensive school counseling program and jump start your planning for the 2018-2019 school year! You can also earn re-certification points!
Objectives/Goals of Summer Training: Upon completion of this hands-on workshop, participants should be able to (based on ASCA National Model Workshop, “RAMP: Putting It All Together”):
- Explain the 12 components of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) application
- Examine their school counseling program to assess if it's RAMP-ready.
- Communicate the benefits to the school counseling program – and the school or district – of achieving RAMP status.
- Understand the scoring rubric, and know what the RAMP reviewers look for in an application.
- Utilize online resources ASCA has available for completing the RAMP application.
- Evaluate a sample completed application, and know how to apply it to your application.
Stopbullying.gov Training Course
Bullying Prevention Training Course
Discover your role in bullying prevention! This training provides guidance on how to take a public health approach to bullying prevention through the use of long-term, community-wide prevention strategies. Take the course, earn continuing education and make a difference today!
Accreditation Statement
CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity provides 1.5 contact hours. Read More
Directions
- Click video to play.
- After video, take the post-course and evaluation and assessment to receive continuing education. Please set aside at least 15 minutes for post-course activities.
- If you do not want to receive continuing education, please complete an online feedback form.
*This training must be completed by ALL LCPS School Counselors by May 1 , 2018. Please email Anaid a copy of your certificate of completion to receive re-certification points.
Dating Matters
*This is required training for Middle and High School Counselors. This training must be completed by May 1, 2018. Please email Anaid copy of your certificate to receive re-certification points.
Here is the link for the course: https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/datingmatters/
Elementary News
Steuart Weller-
Our pay comes in a variety of currency: As we were walking out of my office my student said with a big smile on her face, "Before I felt like I was shaking in a box and now I'm out of the box!" Great way to start the New Year for her and for me!- Beth Hall
Nicole Moore applied for a $500 (or less) grant in the fall to be used with her caseload for 8 School Counselor Calm Down Toolboxes. These will be put to immediate use with my small groups (students working to manage anger and anxiety will benefit). Individuals can also access them when needed.
Rolling Ridge-- Kevin Terry
Morgan Huey is the counselor at Rolling Ridge. She coordinates the “Girls on the Run” program at the school. This weekend was the culminating event for the program. The “Girls on the Run” 5k. But the program is more than just Mrs. Huey running with the girls for the last 8 weeks and training them to run a 5k. She and the other teachers she recruited taught the girls the power of Girl Power, positive thinking and perseverance. In true Mrs. Huey fashion she ran the entire 3.1 miles with one (challenged) student to make sure she finished the race. Mrs. Huey was dead last but all the girls cheered as she crossed with finish line with the last student. Truly amazing to watch.
Hamilton- Lesson on Gratitude
Middle School News
Trailside during American Education week had students Mom's and Dad's come in to talk about their careers and introduced our 8th grade students to the world of work. Careers presented were from each of the career clusters from agriculture to transportation and logistics. 80% of students surveyed stated that it gave them insight into the world of work....check box on RAMP evidence!
Blue Ridge- Kindness Video
High School News
Park View
November 13-17th, Park View participated in State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's (SCHEV) College Application Week. During the week, students in schools with high free and reduced lunch rates are encouraged to apply to college. School counselors made themselves available to assist students at lunch, during the day, and after school. In return, many universities in Virginia and surrounding states agree to waive application fees. In our first year, 42 seniors participated, submitting 127 applications. As a result, our students, their families, and the community were able to retain $7835 in college application fees. In addition, many of these students applied to universities they may not have otherwise. If you have questions, feel free to contact me.
You might be interested, we have been analyzing recent drop out trends and have isolated 4-5 at-risk factors that predict whether or not PVHS drop out. We then looked at each student at PVHS, assigned them a score based on their individual at-risk factors, and are currently monitoring and working with our most at-risk students. We hope this preventative approach to limiting drop outs with pay out big dividends. The information is very valuable to our Social Worker and Psychologist, who are better able to focus their efforts with our most at-risk population. Today, this information has only been shared with the school counselors, school administrators, and department heads. We are currently working on plans to share this information with other necessary groups within the school (obviously, protecting student’s information is vital). If you would like further clarification, feel free to contact me.--Dave Edwards
IMPACT Luncheon Video
Virtual Loudoun- Cynthia Fillman
Virtual Loudoun successfully wrapped up Term 1 on December 15th. Virtual instructors emailed final grade reports to students and parents and the conclusion of the term. Final grades have been posted and rolled to course history.
Registration for our upcoming 15 week Term 2 remains open and will close on January 15th at 11:59pm. High School Counselors, be sure to log in and complete the registration process to approve or deny registrations for your students as soon as possible. When registration closes, we will create the master schedule including all approved students so that this information can be uploaded into Phoenix for students’ schedules. All student schedules will be created by Virtual Loudoun Staff and copied out to schools by the Student Information Office. Please refrain from adding Virtual Loudoun courses to students’ schedules.
Students looking to take courses after the January 15th registration deadline will be added on a case-by-case basis if space allows. If you have a student who would like to be added late, please contact Stacie.AhrensMininberg@lcps.org for approval.
Term 2 virtual courses will open on Monday, January 29th. Please see the detailed information on our “Term Dates” page (https://www.lcps.org/domain/21529) for Term 2 for the drop date (Friday, February 23rd) as well as the withdrawal date with no impact to GPA (Friday April 13th). Registration for Term 3, our 10 week Spring/Summer Term will open on April 20th and close on May 18th.
As always, please reach out to Stacie, Cynthia, or Joe with any questions or concerns. We appreciate your help and support for our virtual learners!
Cynthia Fillman
LCPS Virtual School Counselor
& Adult High School Counselor
571-252-6518
Email: Cynthia.Fillman@lcps.org
Twitter: @VLschcounselor
Parent/Guardian/Community News & Workshops
School Counseling Resources
School Counseling Tip
Anaid Shaver
Email: anaid.shaver@lcps.org
Website: http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/page/1872
Location: 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA, United States
Phone: 571.252.1017