As we settle into the new school year, this month's counseling theme is self-care and will continue to be interwoven throughout the year to ensure students have the tools to be successful both academically and personally.

Check out the calendars below to see provided services. Each also includes related WASC school goals and targeted American School Counseling Association (ASCA) mindsets and behaviors that describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness and social/emotional development.

• The Beckman Counseling Department invites you to join us for our upcoming Parent Workshops. The next workshop will focus on Teen Mental Health, presented by clinicians from HOAG ASPIRE. DUE to COVID-19 concerns, HOAG Aspire will be facilitating the workshop virtually. Click here for additional information and to RSVP.
• Please share with your students that we have a series of Lunch & Learn workshops that range from getting involved at Beckman, to study skills, and learning about issues of social justice. These workshops will take place on various Wednesdays throughout the fall semester. Students can RSVP on our sign-up here.
• October 10th is World Mental Health Day. To bring awareness to the importance of mental health, BHS Counseling will be coordinating different speakers and resources available to students during lunch. This Mental Health Resource Fair will take place the week of October 11-15th. Please encourage your student to participate by visiting one of the workshops and/or information booths.

Families Together has student groups they want to share with Beckman including an art group here on campus and a media group at their site in Tustin. Have you student see their counselor to sign up.

• Art Group Info: Using art as a coping skill to decompress and manage stress. Time: Afterschool from 3:30pm to 4:30pm; Dates: On Tuesdays, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16; Location: at Beckman, room TBD

• Media Group Info: See attached flyer; group starts Oct. 25

OCAPICA is offering many free wellness workshops open to the public. September is Suicide Prevention month so they are focusing our workshops on the topic of suicide prevention. Check out the attached calendar for more information.

• Ms. Jimenez is our new College and Career Specialist and is located in room 502, in the counseling office, right beside the library. Students may visit before or after school, during break and lunch.
• She offers assistance with Naviance and can help with any college and career related questions, ROP classes, part-time jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and more.
• Work permit applications are also processed through the Career Center. Processing can take up to 24 hours so please plan ahead.
• A virtual College and Career Center with quick downloads and college and career related information can be found here.
• We have colleges visiting almost every day in September and October. To find out which colleges are visiting, please check on Naviance or access the list here.
• On October 5th, the U.S. Marines will be visiting our campus. They will be located under the clock tower during lunch to answer any questions and to give out resources to students.

Girls Inc. of Orange County is still accepting participants for the Fall 2021 College Bound: Virtual Grad Lab program and is hosting TWO informational sessions this week on Wednesday and Friday and is open to12th grade girl-identified seniors.

In this program, seniors will develop the skills necessary to be a competitive college applicant and to navigate college life in a confident, informed, and supported way!

College Bound: Virtual Grad Lab Information Sessions:

• Wednesday, September 15th from 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
• Friday, September 17th from 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• RSVP here: English Spanish

Ways You Can Help Your Teen Make It Through College Application Stress

Applying to college can be a stressful experience for teens, especially when they must balance homework and extracurricular activities with college applications and essays. Fortunately, you can guide your child through the process and turn it into a meaningful, positive experience. Here are some helpful tips:

• Make sure your child eats well and gets adequate sleep.
• Help them find extracurricular activities that are meaningful to them, and emphasize quality over quantity.
• Remind your teen of the big picture when they feel overwhelmed.
• Focus on finding the right college, not necessarily the best college.
• Listen to their needs, dreams, and concerns.
• Encourage authenticity rather than focusing on status.
• Remind your teen that there are hundreds of great schools out there, even if they are not on a “best schools” list.
• Remove some of the pressure, and do not spend every moment talking about college.
• Enjoy quality time with your teen that gives them a break from college concerns.
• Take a moment to reevaluate your expectations if you find yourself worrying too much about your child’s college or achievements.
• Discourage your child from taking on too many challenging courses or extracurricular activities just to impress an admissions officer.
• Help your teen figure out their priorities and what’s most important to them to help them feel less overwhelmed by options.
• Reassure them you are there for them no matter what.
• Maintain a positive attitude and make the experience meaningful for both of you.
• Emphasize that success is measured by good health, character, and learning new things rather than acceptance into a college.

Senior 1-on-1 Meetings

The counselors will be meeting with their seniors during Gov/Econ class from September 1st- September 29th. These meetings are intended to discuss graduation status and post-high school plans. If students are absent, they will be re-scheduled during a makeup day.

BCAP (Beckman College Application Process) Reminders

Juniors, now seniors, completed the BCAP Lesson and project in English classes during the Spring semester of 11th grade. The BCAP included instructions on the application processes for each type of post-secondary path, how to request letters of recommendation, as well as necessary documents: student/ parent questionnaires, resume, & personal statements. All seniors also have access to their counselor’s BCAP Google Classroom which includes instructions on the application processes. Check out the BCAP Video Playlist below:

BCAP Overview

Junior Jumpstart Counseling Lesson

BCAP Google Classroom Tour & How To

Naviance Teacher LOR Request Tutorial

How to Add Colleges to Naviance “Colleges I’m Applying To” List

BCAP Next Step Lesson

BCAP Senior Outline & Reminders

Here are some helpful senior workshops coming up:

• Senior 1-on-1 Meetings Gov/Econ starting: Sept. 1- Sept. 29
• Virtual Common App Workshop: Sept. 21, 2:30 pm - 3:30 PM
• UC/CSU Workshop: October, date TBD
• Virtual Financial Aid/Dream Act Presentation: Sept. 25, 6:30 pm
• Cash for College (hands on support w/ FAFSA & Dream Act): Oct 5, 6:30 pm (more info coming soon)
• Fall College Visits: Before School, Break, Lunch & Afterschool
• College Application help in the Library during CCR: coming soon!

Upcoming Events:

• B Prepared for Post-Secondary Success – Grade 10 and 11 Parent Night will now be virtual and you can watch the video at your convenience. A Google site link will be sent to all parents of 10th and 11th grade students on September 30.
• If you registered for the PSAT please check your email periodically for a confirmation that includes detailed directions, arrival time, and testing room assignment for Saturday, October 16.

Reminders:

• Naviance is a great way to discover careers, but have you checked out Big Future or California Career Zone? If you haven’t yet Big Future is a great place to learn about the nuances in various types of college majors and the Career Zone has some unique career assessments that can help you hone your options.
• Looking to get organized? Junior year is very busy and having some go-to tools to help you manage your time and responsibilities can make a big difference. Check-out this list of Time Management Apps. I used Pocket Schedule Planner all throughout grad school and it was amazing!

• B Prepared for Post-Secondary Success – Grade 10 and 11 Parent Night will now be virtual and you can watch the video at your convenience. A Google site link will be sent to all parents of 10th and 11th grade students on September 30.
• One focus through the month of September is self-improvement. Improving yourself can lead to a lifelong relief of stress so it is worth it to try and find something that you would like to improve in your life. Examine your life and address the areas that you know need improvement. If you find it difficult to find working solutions to areas that you want to improve reach out to your counselor for help and advice. Taking control of your weaknesses and working to strengthen them can lead to better mental health and a better sense of self. You deserve to be happy…do the work to make it so!

• If you missed 9th Grade B Prepared for High School Night, you can view a video of the presentation here and the slide deck here. Post questions on the parent padlet wall here.

• Club Rush is on September 20th - October 1! Students will have an opportunity to check out all the clubs available on campus. Clubs motivate student to get involved on campus and allow students to make connections with others of similar interests. Check out our club page here.

• Parent tip: 10 ways to help your student suceed in high school

• Be sure to visit your student's teachers at Report Card Night on October 13th