Bulldog Counseling News
Sept/October 2020
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.
Welcome, Bulldogs!
Here's to an excellent year, to looking for the best and finding it, to seek positivity while we all grow in ways expected and unexpected. Here's to a year of compassion and strength, understanding and resilience, and mostly, here's to our Bulldogs!
Counselor Welcome Video
We've Been Busy: Senior and 9th Grade Meeting Info
The counselors recently wrapped up senior conferences the week of September 14th - 18th. Each fall, counselors meet with Seniors during English classes for Senior Conferences. During Senior Conferences, we present information about graduation requirements as well as options for after graduation. After our presentation, we invited all 678 seniors to meet with us individually via Zoom to review their credits, graduation plans and next steps! Anyone who missed the first meeting will be invited to another meeting next week. If you have questions about your student’s graduation plan, please reach out to the counselor. If you have college and career questions, please reach out to our college and career advisor, Ms. Valverde.
9th Grade Meetings
Counselors also met with all freshmen the week of September 21st - 24th to discuss their four-year plans. Counselors shared information about various courses and pathways at Bowie, and we asked students to consider which courses they want to take over the next four years. Please note that these plans are not the same as course selection, and they can update their plan at any time. For more information, check out the BLEND Page: 4-Year Planning page. You can also familiarize yourself with the Graduation Requirements, Bowie Course Offerings, Career and Technology Pathways, Course Videos, and Course Levels. If you have any questions about this information, please contact your student’s counselor.
Virtual Learning Tips
We are off to a great start, but we know navigating this new virtual world will be full of ups and downs. We’re in this together. We have assembled a Virtual Learning Tip Sheet with study skill tips including links and videos. We can do this, Bulldogs!
Twilight Credit Recovery Registration Now
Twilight is going virtual!
Twilight (formerly called Summer School Now) will start Monday, 9/28. Twilight classes will meet before or after school, twice a week, and will run through Thursday, 12/3. If your student is missing credit for part B semester (the spring semester) of a course, they can recover credit in Twilight. Students are required to attend each scheduled session. Twilight courses will be taught by Bowie teachers through Zoom. Once successfully completed, students will receive a 70 for the course.
If you think your child needs Twilight, you can register here by completing this Google form. If you have questions, please reach out to your child’s counselor for information.
Mental Health Reminders
We are almost in our second month of school! As academic pressure mounts, it is important to take care of your mental health. Prioritizing self care is a good way to deal with the added stress of online school and the uncertainty of the future. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, we want to remind you to watch your MEDS: Mindfulness, Exercise, Diet, and Sleep. Are you fully present in your classes and conversations? Are you being active and eating healthy foods to fuel your body? Are you getting enough sleep at night and sticking to a routine? Taking care of your physical self is a great way to combat mental stress!
Even though we are in virtual school, your counselors are here to support you! Please reach out to set up a time to Zoom with us if you are having a hard time! As a reminder, our school has a school-based mental health clinic, the Vida Clinic, that is staffed with fully licensed therapists. If you think you would benefit from talking with them, fill out the form at this link to get started.
Parent-Teen Activity
BLEND Counseling Department Page - NEW!
Upcoming Events
College and Career Corner
Here is the latest Update from the College and Career Center. It includes information on:
Scholarships, Naviance, College Visits, Application Help Sessions and more. For more information, please contact our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Carli Valverde at carli.valverde@austinisd.org
Coffee with the Counselors: Sept 30
Level Changes: October 5-9
If you are in courses that require level changes, the opportunity to make these changes is coming soon: October 5-9. Level change forms will be available starting October 5th and due October 9th and will be available on the JBHS website and BLEND page beginning October 5th.
Reminder: once the student fills out the form, the parent needs to email the counselor approving the change. First steps, of course, are conferring with the teacher on student progress. Please reach out to the counselor if you have any questions.
Finally, a copy of the Advanced Course Acknowledgement form is here which outlines the level change expectations and philosophy.