Office of School Counseling
Friday Sendoff - April 17, 2020
Virtual Meeting Information
Informed Consent for IEP counseling sessions
Internet Service for Homeless Students
Staff in the Title I office are looking into providing homeless students with hotspots. PPWs are supporting this effort, however, if you are aware of any students experiencing homelessness, please contact Sharon so that we can pass along the name of the family.
Enrollments and Attendance Updates
The documents (below) describe the process for enrolling students and capturing student attendance/engagement while schools are closed. Principals received these documents last week and have shared them with staff members.
Per our director, the intent of the document was to have the SIS administrator, who is typically a principal or AP, enroll the student in SIS because they have the "rights" to do so. We are not expecting that any other staff member be trained to enroll students or be given rights. The school counselor should be using the academic information provided by the family to create an appropriate student schedule.
Announcements
**NEW** Creating a Schoology Course
Thank you Christina Jordan from Lansdowne Middle for creating this tutorial on how to create a schoology course. She’s using this to store resources by grade for her school.
**NEW** Open Google Meet Sessions
In order to ensure confidentiality and eliminate students from entering the room without an adult, it's important to create a new code for each meeting with an individual student or family. We need to think about the implications of a student or parent sharing sensitive information in a session while another adult or child is entering the virtual meeting. We don't allow people to walk into our face to face sessions at school, so we need to avoid this in virtual settings as well. If you are getting a different message from your school, please reach out to your specialist for support.
Another option is to create a Google Form or Microsoft Form for students/families to sign up for an appointment with you. Several counselors have included links to their form in their signature lines. Jenn Holt and Michele Coleman both have forms set up in their signature lines, if you'd like to see an example.
**NEW** Coping Skills Resource
**NEW** Grief Resources
Check out this video interview of David Kessler about grief during COVID-19 and how we can still stay connected.
**NEW** Ways to Promote Resilience During COVID-19
**NEW** Parenting During COVID-19
**NEW** Feelings Check In Chart
**NEW** FREE Weekly "Hour of Self-Care" on Thursdays
The weekly hour of self-care will provide a space for cultivating personal, professional, emotional and spiritual growth and healing as we transition through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thursdays @ 4 pm – 5 pm ET. In case you can’t make it live, a recording will be available.
**NEW** Collaborative PL Planning Survey (School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers, September 3rd)
– Leadership in the Department of Social Emotional Supports is excited to plan for the 2020-2021 school year! We are continually looking for ways to provide professional learning and would appreciate your participation in a brief survey. Your feedback is valuable information that will support us in meeting your professional learning needs. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and there are two methods for access; you can use the survey link below or attached QR code to access and complete. We appreciate your time and ask that you reach out should you have any questions or technical concerns while taking the survey.
Survey Link: Department of SES Collaborative 2020-21 Professional Learning Planning Survey
**NEW**Navigating Emotional Wellness During Uncertain Times
Join Sheppard Pratt, NAMI Metro Baltimore, and Baltimore magazine for a virtual discussion Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM. This event is free to the community!
An email will be sent to you the morning of the event with Zoom information. To register, visit:
https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/events/navigating-emotional-wellness-in-these-times-of-uncertainty
**NEW**Google Meet for Windows 8 (old revolve)
If your computer has Windows 8, use one the directions below when using Google Meet
**NEW**A list of resources for school counselors from American University:
**NEW**Virtual Crisis Walk-in Clinic
If you or someone you know are in need of mental health care, Sheppard Pratt is offering NEW virtual options
The Virtual Crisis Walk-In Clinic is available to any individual living in Maryland in need of urgent psychiatric care. They serve children, adolescents, adults, and older adults who need to be seen for a mental health issue as soon as possible. Their licensed clinicians are available Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. to assess your needs and connect you with care.
**NEW**Child Abuse and Neglect Refresher
Below are resources the CPS Liaison can share with school staff. This abbreviated presentation was taken from the online version to remind teachers of their reporting responsibilities. Attached is the generic DSS fillable pdf we’re using during the extended closure so reporters can email the report. Please instruct staff that the completed CPS form should be sent to the email address in the presentation (which is also at the bottom of the sendoff), Sharon Holter and the CPS Liaison. The CPS liaison should inform the principal of reports filed.
DSS received an increased number of reports last week of students not logging in for class and reports with no follow-up to determine if reasonable suspicion exist. If you are the liaison, please work with staff on what and when reports should be filed. If a student appears with a mark but no one questioned the privately to find out what happened, more information is needed before the call is made to DSS. If you have questions about specific cases, you can call your Specialist during office hours or email them for assistance.
**NEW** Preferred Name and Gender in SIS and Google Meet
We are aware that some of the preferred names/genders in SIS are not showing up in Google Meet. If you have a student who is experiencing this, send the full name of the student (current name), the dead name and the user ID to Michael Fort (mfort@bcps.org) and cc your specialist. They are going to work on a more permanent solution to this situation so when a name is changed in SIS the changes are picked up by Google.
**NEW** The Calm App
The Calm App is offering a subscription for families who may not be able to afford the paid version:
**NEW**Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign May 3 – 9, 2020
The Children’s Mental Health Matters campaign brings together non-profits, schools, and other agencies with the following goals: raising public awareness of the importance of children’s mental health and substance use, helping reduce the stigma of mental health, and connecting families, educators and providers throughout Maryland with resources to help children. This statewide campaign is co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Maryland and the Maryland Coalition of Families.
Historically the campaign information and activities are coordinated by a champion in each school. Due to the educational changes associated with COVID-19, this year the campaign’s focus is to reach families at home, rather than students in school. Over the next few weeks leading up to Awareness Week, the campaign will post weekly themed resources that will benefit families and educators called Mental Health Mondays. Each Monday focuses on a different mental health topic providing activities and resources.
Please help spread the word to staff and families about this campaign. Information on the campaign and Mental Health Mondays can be accessed at www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org
Elementary School Counselors
**NEW**De-Stress During Coronavirus
**NEW** Conscious Discipline Resources for Families and Educators
Conscious Discipline released a valuable collection of free resources to help you and your families manage big feelings during these intense times. Managing our emotions allows us to strengthen the bonds of connection within and between families. For more information, visit: https://consciousdiscipline.com/
**NEW** Helpful Resources and Stories
High School Counselors
**NEW**NCAA EC COVID-19 Response Update –
The NCAA Eligibility Center has received a number of inquiries regarding potential adjustments to the initial-eligibility certification process as a result of closures, cancellations and changes due to COVID-19. They are working closely with their member institutions and making progress toward national solutions to the issues raised for both Divisions I and II. They look forward to communicating the details of these adjustments in the coming weeks upon complete review through our governance processes.
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
**NEW** A Letter to High School Seniors
Secondary Counselors
**NEW**Activating Parent Naviance Accounts
In order to give your parents access to their child’s account and send parent communications via naviance, parents must first activate BCPS one accounts. This creates a naviance account for you to activate using the video link below. The video also includes how to generate parent registration code lists, cards and send a mass email to parents using the naviance templates. Parents do not have access to single sign-on but they will have a merged account if they have more than one child in your school. If you have any questions about activation, please contact MaatenRe via email.
**NEW** Update - Request for Transcript
As was published in a previous sendoff, BCPS has implemented an exclusively online process for former students to request graduation verifications, duplicate diplomas, and transcripts. Additional information is available on the Official Transcripts, Duplicate Diplomas and Graduation Verifications page. This process is exclusively online, there are no longer walk-in services. High School staff may continue to serve graduates throughout their first year after graduation with transcript requests.
With the closing of schools & offices we reached out to see how requests are being handled & this is the response we received:
College Counselors
**NEW** Baltimore County Police Department Employment Opportunity
**NEW**APPLYING TO THE CIA IS EASY AS 1-2-3
APPLYING TO THE CIA IS EASY AS 1-2-3 – Good news CIA is still accepting applications for Fall 2020! They need all the below information to give your student an admissions decision. To complete an application, they need the essay responses, high school transcript, and recommendation letter.
Follow these three easy steps:
- Essay Questions: Your student might be sitting at home looking for something to do, why not complete the essay questions? Three simple questions, 100 words each.
- Your student can submit them via this form.
- E-mail them to admissions@culinary.edu.
- Your student can also call an admissions counselor and answer the essay questions over the phone.
- Official High School Transcript(s): The admissions team is working remotely and are eagerly waiting to receive transcripts and give your student an admissions decision.
- Official e-transcripts can be e-mailed directly or sent via an electronic database, including Parchment, Scribbles, eScript, and CommonApp.
- Send Letter of Recommendation: Now is a good time for students to reach out to teachers, mentors, or employers about writing a letter of recommendation. In the letter they should address the student's commitment to the food world, problem-solving ability, and persistence in work or academics.
- They can be e-mailed to us at admissions@culinary.edu
- Or submitted via this secure form
**NEW**Virtual College Exploration Week
Strive is offering four full days of free virtual presentations for juniors to explore college opportunities.
For more information, visit: https://www.strivescan.com/virtual/
**NEW**Apprenticeship Program opportunity –
The Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship Training School has extended their deadline for applications for the 2020-2021 school year to May 2, 2020.
Below is a flyer for interested seniors.
**NEW** MCAC Scholarship List -
A scholarship list that is now available on the MCAC website. The deadline for a few scholarships is fast approaching. The link to access the scholarship list is below. The link to access the MCAC website is also below. The list of scholarships is for informational purposes.
During this time, just a reminder to request juniors to create their FSA ID. A link to access instructions to create the FSA ID is also below. The information is also located on the MCAC website. If there are any questions regarding the content of this email, do not hesitate to contact me.
Scholarship List - each scholarship is hyperlinked to its website.
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DSFSS/SSSP/MCAC/2020/Scholarships.pdf
MCAC website
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DSFSS/SSSP/MCAC/index.aspx
FSA ID Instructions
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DSFSS/SSSP/MCAC/FSAIDInstructions.pdf
**NEW** HBCU Virtual College Tour - April 18, 2020
**NEW**ACT Information
ACT is offering digital learning and workforce resources to assist students, teachers, schools and workers impacted by COVID-19. You can either follow the link I provided or to do act.org and click on COVID-19 updates.
Included in this are some free Online ACT Test Prep classes:
- ACT Prep Class – April 18, 2 pm to 3:30 pm ET
- ACT Bootcamp – April 29, 7 pm to 8:30 pm ET
There are several more resources that ACT is offering for free that are normally paid resources. Please check out the link above for more information.
Fee Waiver Instructions:
For schools inquiring about electronic fee waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, ACT can send a maximum of 25 electronic fee waivers to them.
They can call or email ACT Customer Care:
- Phone numbers: 319.337.1320 or 877.789.2925 option 3
- Email: act-services@act.org
Guaranteed Access Grant - UPDATE
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) within the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), would like to inform you that due to the extended closure of all Maryland schools, the deadline date for the 2020-2021 Guaranteed Access (GAG) Grant program has been extended to June 1, 2020.
MHEC is in the process of notifying all potentially eligible GA Grant recipients that the deadline has been extended. The new deadline of June 1, 2020, will also be updated on our website and on the applicants’ To-Do List in the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) in the coming days.
Effective immediately, MHEC will accept documentation for the GA Grant program by email or mail. All required documentation must be submitted by June 1, 2020:
By Email: ga.mhec@maryland.gov
Or
By Mail: Maryland Higher Education Commission
Ground Floor Suite
Office of Student Financial Assistance
6 N. Liberty Street, Ground Suite
Baltimore, MD 21201
Finally, please note the deadline for students to submit documentation for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship program will remain June 15, 2020.
For more information, pertaining to the GA Grant, Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program, and other state scholarships and grants available to Maryland students, please visit www.mhec.maryland.gov and click on State Scholarships and Grants under Quick Links.
Scholarships
Updating Local Scholarships
Transcripts - If seniors are need copies of their transcripts for scholarship opportunities, please upload them to their individual document page in Naviance so the student can access it from
home.
Updated Naviance Scholarships for this week.
Norfolk State University Scholarship - deadline May 12, 2020
MHEC Financial Assistance Programs
State Financial Assistance Programs and Applications
Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients
NACAC Request for Admission Application Fee Waiver
Students who have limited financial resources may use the NACAC Request for Application Fee Waiver Form when applying for college. The form — aimed at students planning to enroll in post-secondary education immediately following high school graduation — helps ensure that access to college is possible for all.
BCPS Hub Information
Recently added Hub items
TOWSON UNIVERSITY NEW COHORTS BEGINNING FALL 2020
GOUCHER COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP FOR ONLINE GRADUATE COURSE
BCPS Counselors News
Our Counselors Are The Best!!!!
A Tweet from Relay Elementary - Denise Campbell
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** Telemental Health 101 for School Mental Health - This is a recording. No CEU's available.
**NEW** FREE (Webinar) Healing the 5 Areas of Grief
**NEW** (Webinar) Digital Ethics: Technology in the workplace 3 CEU's on 4/23/20 at 10:00am
**NEW** (Webinar) Telehealth Ethics for Today and For the Future 3 CEU's on 4/23/20 at 1:45pm
**NEW** Webinar: Why It’s Hard to Let Go: Emotional Attachment to Our “Stuff” 2 CEU's on 4/30/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** Webinar: Added Complexity: Bringing Vital Understanding to the Dimensions of Complicated Grief 2 CEU's on 5/4/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** (Webinar) Starting Point: The Importance of Being Culturally Attuned With Children and Families 2 CEU's on 5/13/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** Webinar: Where Do We Go From Here? Solution-Focused Therapy Skills for Moving Forward 2 CEU's on 5/14/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** Webinar: Ethics and Energy, Understanding the Many Faces of ADHD 2 CEU's on 5/19/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** (Webinar) Your Own Worst Enemy: Helping Clients Address Anxiety Through the Lens of Emotional Intelligence 2 CEU's on 6/10/20 at 8:00pm
**NEW** Free and low cost trainings are available through Family and Children's Services of Harford County. Wide variety of topics available! Sign up to receive a list of their trainings regularly.
Webinar: Responding to the Alarm: Addressing Black Youth Suicide on 4/21 at 11:30 - 1:00 (FREE)
CBT for Anxiety (FREE) 1 CEU - includes free handout and self-help forms
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