Counselor CARE-ier
December 2021
Congratulations on Making thru the First Half of the School Year!
Kudos to our Kids!
Community Resources
Christmas Unlimited
Community Clothing Drive & Giveaway
All are welcome! Come shop for FREE at The Campus on Saturday, December 4th, from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. Have some clothing to donate beforehand? Drop it by so it can be shared with others, then come shop for your family. This event is put on by our National Honor Society students (SSAE & PPEC)
Annual Toy Drive
Home Internet Access
If a member of your household had their work or schooling moved to an online format but cannot afford home internet access, the following providers offer affordable options:
Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program that will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Access from AT&T is a low-cost home internet package for qualifying individuals and households. (https://www.att.com/internet/access/)
Comcast Internet Essentials is a similarly priced package for qualifying individuals and households. Due to COVID-19, it is currently available for free for the first two months. (https://www.internetessentials.com/)
Mediacom Connect 2 Compete offers internet access to students at a reduced rate. (https://mediacomc2c.com/)
Verizon Lifeline provides reduced-fee internet services at a 3-tier level for low-income customers. (https://www.verizon.com/info/low-income-internet/)
EveryoneOn, through partnerships with local internet service providers, is able to offer free on reduced home internet service in 48 states and the District of Columbia. (https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers?zip=30909&partner=chn)
If you have an existing provider, they may be making special accommodations in response to the pandemic. Visit their website or contact them via phone for more information.
(*Information taken from 211.org)
Holiday Happenings
FREE:
- Check out Timberline Landscaping Scavenger Hunt as you visit all of the amazing house displays in our region. Click here for the Colorado Springs Christmas Lights Guide 2021 (https://www.timberlinelandscaping.com/colorado-springs-christmas-lights-guide/)
- YouTube Live Paint Night: Frosty the Snowman- Dec 5th @ 4:00 pm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjnfQjmzGPg)
- YouTube Live Paint Night: Santa Gnome- Dec 17th @ 4:00 pm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aZo45T_4UY)
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen, food bank, or homeless shelter! Spread a little cheer to those less fortunate.
- Visit the elderly in a nursing home; bring them a card, visit with them and share some joy!
- Check out the beautiful Broadmoor holiday decor
- Festival of Lights Parade (Saturday, Dec 4th @ 5:30 pm); Starts at St. Vrain Street and goes south on Tejon to Vermijo Street.
- Play board games together!
- Have a movie night! Add some popcorn and hot chocolate to make it extra special.
FOR A FEE:
- Painting w/ a Twist- There are several family days you can sign up for! Check out their website for days/times/costs (https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/locations/)
- Skate in the Park: Ice skating at Acacia Park. $10.00 per person / includes skates (under four free w/ paying adult)
- Electric Safari at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Dec 3-5, Dec 10-23, and Dec 25 - Jan 1). For more info, click here: https://www.cmzoo.org/events-programs/special-events/electric-safari/
ON THE PRICIER SIDE:
- A hotel "staycation"; stay a night in a local hotel, swim, sit in the hot tub and just relax!
- Winter Wonderland Sleigh Ride & Dinner at the M Lazy C Ranch in Lake George. Various dates are available—Call 719-748-3398 for more information.
- Rent a cabin in the mountains
- Snow skiing / Snowboarding / Snow Tubing / Snowmobiling: We are surrounded by so many wonderful mountainous areas within a short 2-4 hour drive where you can participate in a variety of exciting outdoor sports.
ICAP Day / Career Fair
We look forward to future career fairs where we will invite a whole new group of presenters to share their wisdom and expertise. Be sure to ask your student about their experience and help encourage them to consider participating in an internship opportunity in the future. What better way to learn than on the job!
Students earned prize tickets throughout the day, and many great prizes were given out. We wrapped up the day with "Pie the Principal" to end the day with something fun and give everyone a good laugh! Thanks, Mr. Knoche, for being a great sport!
(*Thanks to Camden Casey and Johnny Buell, Yearbook Students, for the great photos)
SENIORS- Class of 2022
- Fill out the contact & sizing form for cap & gown. If you haven't done so already, please do it ASAP! Even if you aren't ordering just yet. Herff Jones is already working on gowns and needs each student sizing information to ensure a proper fit. Filling out this form does not mean you are placing an order; it is simply your sizing info. You will need to purchase your cap/gown separately (see step #2)
- Purchase your cap, gown, and tassel! This is all you need to purchase for the graduation ceremony. If you want to purchase senior swag such as a t-shirt, hoodie, or jewelry, you can certainly do so, but it is not required. The gowns are slightly different this year than from years past, so you will need to purchase one; you will not be able to use a sibling's gown from years past. Here are some helpful links for you.
Link to the larger packages w/announcements: https://highschool.herffjones.com/secom/school/CO/Springs%20Studio%20(SSAE)/05001815000/4331/package
Link to smaller packages (no announcements):
- Submit your senior photo for the yearbook. Photos should be a minimum of 300 x 300 dpi, portrait orientation, and include only the senior (a prop is okay, but not other people). They do not have to be professionally taken but should be appropriate for yearbook printing. To submit: download the "Entourage Yearbooks" App and upload your photos to the "Formal Senior Photos" link. If you have any questions about this, please get in touch with Mrs. Shonk at jshonk@d49.org.
- Submit your senior quote for the yearbook. Quotes cannot exceed 200 characters; they must be school-appropriate and include the author's name to be considered for publication. You may submit your quote here: https://forms.gle/ABnqTSUTxBbmUgub8 Senior photos will also be accepted through the app under the category "Formal Senior Photos." Send any questions to Ms. Shonk: jshonk@d49.org
- Submit your senior Slideshow photos. Please submit 3-4 photos of yourself throughout your life. Ideally, these should include photos from different stages of life (i.e., baby, young child, pre-teen, current). Upload these photos to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkZEcm6CBTzu2zEJPARIsoucQGAj-0uozXXJDrOx7vQvHFCw/viewform?usp=pp_url
Social Emotional Resources / Information
Laughter is the Best Medicine
What exactly are Coping Skills?
They are a collection of your various favorite and healthy strategies that you can use when you are feeling anxious, panicky, or distressed.
It has sometimes been recommended that students create a coping skills toolbox for those times when they need something to help them get through an anxiety attack, panic attack, or any kind of distressed situation.
Because there is nearly an infinite number of ways to cope, it is not necessarily important whether you cope like everyone else. All that matters is that you find effective coping methods that will help you build resilience and thrive.
To get you started, we’ve attached 99 Coping Skills (see link below) that you may find beneficial, especially during this festive but sometimes stressful time of the year!