Bulldog Counseling News
October 2021
Welcome to our Bowie Community - we're glad you're here!
This newsletter's purpose is to share events and information from the Counseling Department. Please contact your counselor should you need further or specific information. Here is a link to our Bowie Counselors.
Groups to Support Students
How Much Competition is Healthy?
October undoubtedly brings about some natural stressors in high school life. The first grading period just ended, a big adjustment for this school year, and many of our seniors are ramping up their college applications to meet December 1st deadlines. In the counseling office, we are certainly seeing an increase of students affected by academic pressure.
When we talk with students, we always remind them of the importance of balance. It may be a shift in thinking for some, but we would like to share an article from The Washington Post about the stressors of high-achieving schools and its effect on student mental health. This article detailing the effects of “toxic competitiveness” also echoes these concerns and provides strategies parents can use to promote healthy balance.
Stomp Out Bullying
For more information about how to address bullying as a parent, please visit the Stomp Out Bullying organization’s website.
Gaggle Alerts - Reporting Bullying
October is Bullying Prevention Month, and we would like to share some ways that Bowie is committed to eliminating bullying on our campus.
In his September 21st newsletter, Mr. Robinson shared information about Gaggle, a program that monitors and filters keywords related to student safety through students’ Google accounts (Gmail, Hangout, Docs, etc.). When students type certain words related to drug use, harrassment, violence, drugs and alcohol, nudity, sexual content, self-harm, or suicide, our school safety team of adminstrators, counselors, and SROs receive an alert to check-in with the student. It is our hope to prevent bullying and other threats on campus using the alerts generated through this software.
Community members, including parents, students, and staff, can also submit student safety reports online using the AISD Let’s Talk platform linked here. The online reporting system can be used to report bullying, self-harm, and potential violence on campus, and the person completing the report can choose to remain anonymous. When reports are completed, they are routed to appropriate campus staff to address the concern.
Study Skills are Key to Success!
One of the most challenging and yet rewarding things students can do to increase their academic success is to work on their study skills. What are study skills, exactly: a method of organizing, prioritizing and maintaining assignments and school work. With strong study skills in place, students can feel a strong sense of accomplishment and hopefully see the rewards to their work. Here are some tips for success which include links to further skills. As always, please ask your student to check in with their teacher and of course, their counselor, if they would like support!
Your Mental Health Is Just As Important as Your Physical Health
As we are approaching the middle of the semester and the second 9-weeks, it may feel like the pressure of school on top of other aspects of life are affecting student mental health. While we are available to support students with an open-door policy, there are ways students can independently protect their mental health as well.
A big factor when it comes to mental health is physical health. Physical health directly affects mental health. Make sure students are including some movement and physical activity at least three times a week. This releases chemicals in the body that can improve mood. Eating three nutritious, balanced meals a day can energize the body and help students be prepared to tackle each day. Getting a full night of sleep promotes mental health, because being well rested improves mood, reduces stress, and makes students feel more alert. Additionally, a useful way to reduce stress and promote wellbeing is to incorporate mindfulness and deep breathing exercises into the day.
A key part of protecting mental health is learning how to balance school and other parts of life. It’s important to make time for physical activity, eating healthy meals, getting enough rest, and socializing with family and peers. This prevents burnout, which can lead to negative mental health outcomes and negatively impact performance in school.
We would like to remind families that Austin ISD has partnered with Gramercy Speciality Clinic to provide access to individual therapy services on campus. If you are interested in signing your student up for mental health services, please fill out the electronic student referral form.
Connecting with Nature: Fuel for the Soul
Many people report that they feel better in a variety of ways when spending time in nature. Hiking, walking, going to the beach, gardening, outdoor sports, and camping all have tangible benefits to your mental health. Nature helps us disconnect from the stressors of our everyday lives. We are reminded of our connection to the earth and the cycles of life. Time in nature facilitates spiritual connections by engaging our senses and quieting our minds. And it's a great way to connect with teenagers!
With this gorgeous fall weather we hope you enjoy some happy family time outdoors! Here are some links to:
PSAT
Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will be automatically registered to take an official PSAT at Bowie on Tuesday, October 26. The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT college entrance exam. If you earn a high score on the PSAT your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship! $180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. Given the opportunity for scholarships, 11th grade students are encouraged to prepare for the PSAT by taking a mock PSAT exam and utilizing PSAT resources in Khan Academy.
College and Career Corner
Ongoing Counselor Resources
- The Bowie High School Counseling Department BLEND page is available! All students and parents have been enrolled. On our BLEND page you will find counselor contact information, upcoming events, and numerous resources. Please make sure that your announcement notifications are turned on for this course so that you keep up-to-date on all of the great things we have planned for our students and the Bowie community.
- Also, be sure to check out our link at the jbhs.org website!
- Visit us On Twitter @BowieCounseling for regular updates and Thoughtful Thursday messages