Counselor Connection
Huntsville City Schools
Where Has the Time Gone?
I cannot believe we're at the end of first semester!!! Half of the year is gone!!! This seems impossible! The days, weeks and months since July have been filled with so many incredible counseling programs and activities that the days have just flown by.
As I reflect and think about where the time has gone, I'm amazed by all of the things you've accomplished this semester. For starters, you can be proud of the following: New Student Orientation which helped set the tone for many changes in our schools, College Week where you encouraged our students to #ReachHigher!, No Place for Hate programs/activities that have received national attention via Twitter, PBiS bullying prevention lessons that are truly making a difference, Red Ribbon Week programs/activities that teach students how to avoid unhealthy/unsafe behavior, College Application Week (we have nearly 100% of our seniors applying to college or have a plan for life after high school!), tons of large and small group guidance lessons that you may never know the impact until you hear a student repeat something you've taught, thousands of individual student/parent counseling sessions and conferences that demonstrated your compassion and support, equity and diversity training that is making a lasting impact on our community, parent outreach programs that have been much appreciated, your partnership with CCYR to provide students with clothing, your assistance with helping families find needed resources, you've built students up when others have torn them down, you've supported your colleagues and administration during difficult situations, you've lead your school's Problem Solving Team to help struggling students, you've spoken thousands of words of encouragement, and the list could go on and on.
Over the next couple of weeks, I hope you'll take some time to reflect upon all that you have accomplished in just a few months. I'm so very proud of all of you and I'm thankful for your devotion and commitment to the counseling profession, Huntsville City Schools, and most of all, to our students and school families. I hope you have a joyful holiday break filled with lots of rest, laughter, food, family and friends. I hope all of your holiday wishes come true!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :-)
Looking Ahead
Dec. 18 - Deadline to complete PBIS bully prevention curriculum
Dec. 21-Jan. 1 - Winter Break :-)
Jan. 4 - Teacher work day
Jan. 5 - Students return
Jan. 14 - Counselor PD - National Children's Advocacy Center - 8:30-12:30 for elementary and 8:30 - 3:30 for secondary (grades 8-12) more details to come!
Jan. 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Jan. 26 - Middle and High School Registration meeting (times & details to come)
Jan. 28 - ALSDE/ALSCA - Career Development Conference in Gardendale, AL
Jan. 29 - Half-day PD
Feb. 1-5 - National School Counseling Week
Feb. 4 - Counselor PD
Feb. 27 - 2nd Annual i Register - Registration Fair at VBC North Hall (need all hands on deck!
**other dates may be added.....stay tuned :-)
Students At Risk
Of all of the things school counselors do to help and support students, working with students on an individual basis is at the core of our job! With our large case loads, it can be challenging to establish relationships with all of our students, but imagine the results and outcome when you do! Take a look at this blog post to learn about how "minute meetings" make it possible to "see" all of your students.
Keep in Touch
Email: donna.clark@hsv-k12.org
Location: 200 White Street Southeast, Huntsville, AL, United States
Phone: 256-428-6925
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HCSCounselorConnection/
Twitter: @HCSCounselor