Earl Warren High School
& Construction Careers Academy
CREST 2018-2019
Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas
A continuous improvement document sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association
Seniors, check this out for everything you need to access about college!!
Category 1: Principal's Comments
By Valerie Sisk, Principal
The Warren community embodies the living legacy of the Brown v. Board of Education decision delivered by our namesake: “Separate educational facilities are not equal.” The counseling department introduces students to the tools that allow students to be the living legacy of that decision. The counseling team at Earl Warren High School and Construction Careers Academy together provide services for just over 3,000 students on campus. The counseling department imparts life lessons that transcend the classroom setting and affect our students into their adulthood. The counseling team implements a comprehensive guidance and counseling program model developed by the Texas Education Agency. The program is aligned according to the standards defined by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model. Our counselors strategically plan around the four components of school counseling, delivering guidance curriculum, individual planning, responsive services, and system support. Students meet with their counselors for a variety of reasons, individually and through small groups. Counselors assist students through responsive services when students feel they are in a crisis. The counseling team is an essential part of the school’s campus improvement plan and initiatives by addressing the many issues students face today. With a 95% attendance rate, students at Warren/CCA High School show an eagerness to learn and a willingness to develop as individuals socially, emotionally and academically with exceptional career readiness. Our counselors are an integral part of the school’s mission for student discovery and developing students from a holistic approach. Many of our college bound students will be first in their families to go beyond a high school diploma. Our economically disadvantaged (47%), at-risk students, high mobility, and majority-minority population (81%) present an unrelenting test of our expertise and care. The counseling team collaborates to build a safe, inviting atmosphere with an emphasis on cross-cultural effectiveness.
Category 2: School Counseling Advisory Council
The Warren/CCA community strongly believes that the more assets and resources students acquire at school, the better prepared each of them will be for a bright future. For that reason, we have a School Advisory Team (SAT) comprised of teachers, counselors, parents, administrators, and community leaders who volunteer their time to discuss and address current issues pertinent to our school environment. Members volunteer and serve for up to four years and meet twice a semester to develop goals and action plans in order to continue the forward progress and success of our students. Committee results are then implemented in the School Improvement Plan.
As members of the SAT, the Warren counseling team uses this platform to advocate for the most pressing issues students face, whether they be academic, social, emotional, or college and career focused. The counseling representative addresses concerns and relays information to the SAT and reports back to the entire counseling team. This process often inspires the counseling team to develop presentations, classroom lessons, and campus-wide events to improve upon the counseling guidance program. Topics such as school safety, student absenteeism, parent involvement, assisting ESL and At-Risk populations, and increasing the graduation rate are all vital issues that the counseling representative brings awareness to the SAT committee in an effort to collaborate on strategies for improvement. This year, one area of discussion will be on how to best prepare our students for post-secondary success through college enrollment, joining the military, or having necessary skills to join the workforce. We are proud of the opportunity the Warren/CCA Counseling department has in our ability to partner with the other members of the SAT and bring about solutions that ultimately enhance our students' high school experience and success.
Category 3: School Climate & Safety
By utilizing a variety of modalities, the Warren counseling team seeks to promote a positive school climate and safety for a diverse student population. This year the counseling staff is excited about painting positive messages on the girl's bathroom stalls. The response from the student body has been wonderful. We are excited to spread the positive messages to the boys restrooms. Students are encouraged to sign a pledge to respect others on a school-wide "Declaration of Respect" day. Other activities include announcements performed by students, as well as posters and videos that encourage students to be respectful of all people they encounter, regardless of their differences. We also celebrate "World Day of Bulling Prevention" on the first Monday of October. Students and staff wear a blue shirt to school to show our commitment to creating a campus culture of kindness, respect, inclusion, and unity. Counselors are in the cafeteria during lunches, encouraging kids to choose kindness. This theme is carried on in guidance lessons throughout the year in Healthy Relationships and Bullying lessons. Additionally, the topic is addressed in small group and individual counseling. The presentations that counselors make regarding bullying, lead to a decrease in administration referrals. By mentioning this subject matter in classroom presentations and then stressing it once again during our healthy relationships presentations, the school saw a significant decrease in bullying incidents being reported in our counseling office from our administration.
During Red Ribbon Week, students are encouraged to make good choices when it comes to using drugs. The counseling staff enlists the participation of student groups to educate other students on the dangers of risky behavior. Posters, contests, banners, pledge drives to be "drug free", and games such as the Wheel of Knowledge during lunch times are all designed to educate students about the effects of drugs on the body. During lunches, paper tombstones are displayed on a bulletin board, to represent the number of people who died due to drug and alcohol use every hour. The visual representation makes the statistics much more real for the students. Another activity that heightens student's awareness is the announcement over the intercom of the "Drug of the Day". It is designed to get students to realize the real consequences of bad choices. All of these activities help to decrease our drug related discipline issues.
Other activities that help promote a positive school climate include GenTX week, where post-high school education is promoted. This past year we led various activities in the cafeteria, promoting post-high school education. We celebrated an increase in awarded scholarships thanks to our efforts. We also have grade level conferences promoting the 4 Student Skill Goals, referrals to the Reconnecting Youth program (which addresses issues faced by at-risk students) as well as small group and individual counseling. Counselors also seek out students who may need special attention, such as placement in the Credit Retrieval program or referral for services, including 504, School-age Parenting, and Special Education. Additionally, counselors may occasionally refer students and parents to outside sources for assistance, depending on their needs.
All activities are designed to assist students to make positive choices so they can be successful as they face challenges. With the 40 Developmental Assets in mind, which counselors speak to all teachers on campus about; students are encouraged to join campus clubs and organizations. Counselors give students information on clubs and organizations during individual conferencing and give parents the information during parent nights. This has resulted in a number of students forming their own clubs by enlisting the help of a teacher sponsor. Approximately 75% of the student population is involved in some type of extra-curricular activity. Through education, involvement, and having the proper tools and resources, students at Warren are doing well in a number of areas, as is evidenced by the decrease in student conflicts since 2013.
Counselors also play an integral role in the Campus Safety Plan. Depending on the situation, they are assigned key roles, should a crisis occur. For example, in some emergency situations, counselors may be tasked to work with both students and parents to meet their emotional needs at the high school and at a neighboring elementary school where parents would be directed. Additionally, the counselors' role is to debrief with staff after a crisis and be available for follow-up counseling.
The Counseling Team worked rigorously in classroom guidance which led to a decline in student conflicts from 2016 to 2018. Anti-bullying guidance lessons and healthy relationships were presented to students at all grade levels. Problem solving strategies were given and demonstrated for students.
Category 4: Student Results
Counselors guide students in course selection based on past performance, looking at grades and test scores. Last year counselors held individual conferences with each student twice (once in the fall and once in the spring), to plan their future courses. In some cases, they work with teachers and administrators to facilitate the Response to Intervention process (RtI) which may lead to a referral to special programs needed for student success. As a result of concentrated efforts, the Warren 5-Year Extended Longitudinal graduation rate for the last three years that data is available continues to surpass the state and district levels. Our students also showed improvement and met the district and state guidelines in all academic standardized tests required for graduation.
Along the path to graduation, some students find themselves hindered by a vast array of issues, including problems ranging from academics to family, social and emotional to financial, and many others. To address these issues and to facilitate their success, the Warren counseling staff specifically targets individuals and invites them to join a small group. Warren Counselors met with 240 students in small groups last year. In addition, the Warren High Counseling Team has assisted students in their post-academic endeavors in helping students receive academic scholarships.
Goal # 1 Statement
The Warren High School Counselors have instituted the GPA Game early on in the student’s high school career. This guidance activity stresses the importance of grades and how a grade of “0” can be detrimental to a student’s academic profile and how earning good grades impacts students receiving academic scholarships in the future. This realization from students has thus made a positive impact increasing scholarship awards from 2016-2017 from 11 million to over 12 million in 2017-2018.
Goal # 2 Statement
An additional goal for the Warren Counseling Team is to increase attendance by at least .5% for all students for the following school year.
Since school attendance is critical to student success counselors focus on addressing individual concerns by calling students who have excessive absences to identify causes and develop plans to address the problem(s). Many times counselors call for a parent/teacher/counselor conference to address both attendance and academic issues. Strategies are discussed and implemented, which help the student to be accountable and often lead to success. With this approach, we are able to maintain an excellent attendance rate.
Category 5: Major Achievements
Between Warren High School and Construction Careers Academy, there are nine counselors dedicated to helping students achieve their potential while in the district. Each one of these counselors has worked collaboratively with other educators in creating the best guidance and counseling program for students, parents, staff and the community. This section highlights the accomplishments of Warren/CCA counselors who have gone over and beyond by highlighting major achievements along with distinguishing delivery systems and amount of time allotted to the work they did for the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students in the previous academic year.
In the 2016-2017 school year, one of Warren's counselors wrote and won a grant from the Northside Education Foundation to fund a book study for The Outsiders. The counselor used this book to demonstrate Choice Theory with the students in her group. Students were able to see how the choices we make, impact us throughout life.
The Warren/CCA Counseling Team hosted a Roundtable Discussion with Senator Menendez. Counselors have a duty and responsibility to advocate not only for the counseling profession but first and foremost for students. Our purpose for advocacy is to effectuate political change and to promote and protect the counseling profession. It is important to maintain and provide additional resources to address student concerns by increasing the ratio of school counselors per student. There is an epidemic of trending behaviors from bullying, to suicide and school shootings that have traumatized the school setting. The profession needs more counselors to help students cope and address these and many other social and emotional concerns.
Guidance Curriculum and Percentage of Time - 20%
Counselors developed interactive Healthy Relationships and Texting presentations, which had a significant impact on discipline incidents, from 5980 in 2013-2014 to 2871 in 2015-2016. A consistent emphasis in the scholarship search process has resulted in over $11 million in scholarships for our senior class.
Responsive Services and Percentage of Time - 30%
Counseling groups included topics such as grief, anxiety, academic success, family/social transition, and career investigation. Eighteen different groups met for six to eight weeks.
Counselors worked diligently with students individually in crisis and other situations. Thanks to many classroom lessons and groups, our responsive services continue to decrease. In 2015-2016 we saw 4308 students for responsive services, 2016-2017 it dropped to 1955 and 2017-2018 it continued to drop, down to 1328.
Individual Student Planning and Percentage of Time - 30%
Counselors lead 100% of sophomores and juniors through a college and career exploration program (Career Cruising or MyCollege Quickstart). Additionally, after one -on-one and group presentations, 100% of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors have chosen a graduation endorsement relating to a career path and have chosen their courses for the rest of their high school careers.
System Support and Percentage of Time - 20%
All faculty and staff were trained in the following areas: Abuse and Child Protective Services (CPS) reporting, Bullying Dating Violence, Issues Students Face, Special Program Referrals, 40 Developmental Assets, Suicide Prevention, and testing procedures. Counselors also coordinate with other school and district programs as well as agencies, colleges, and businesses to provide education and services to students, parents, and staff.
Category 6: Community Partnerships/Resources
ACADEMIC
The Warren counseling department has partnered with local colleges and universities to provide information and facilitate the transition from high school to college. Representatives from Texas A & M and Northwest Vista spoke at Warren's senior parent night about admissions and financial aid. A number of colleges and military recruiters attended to provide information and answer questions. Scholarship expert, Mr. Nippy Betz, gave a presentation on the best methods for applying for free money. Northwest Vista College works with all Warren seniors in the College Connection program. Students are provided orientation, test prep, application assistance, and advising to allow a seamless entry into college. It is through Northwest Vista College and St. Philip's College that students may earn both high school and college credit concurrently. Additionally, by working with CafeCollege, a San Antonio city initiative, students and parents are provided academic and financial aid advising.
CAREER
Over 50 businesses and organizations provide representatives for the Warren Career Day, which is coordinated by the counseling department. One such organization is the Electricians Union, IBEW Local #60, which provides information about their career field and how to enter the industry. Warren also works with the National Security Agency to have our students intern with them. Warren's partnership with St. Philip's College provides training and opportunities for students to enter into the career fields of Aerospace, Information Technology, Manufacturing Technology, and Heavy Machinery. Construction Careers Academy also has many business partnerships, such as Gillette Air Condition, Lowes, HEB, Spaw Glass, and many others who sponsor the Tiny Homes Showcase where students from the Academy build and auction off three to five Tiny Homes each year.
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
The Warren counseling team works with the San Antonio Rotary Club to identify students at risk of dropping out of high school. Students selected from an application process receive a $1000 scholarship for their senior year and are provided a mentor from the business community. The scholarship is awarded in increments and is dependent on the students maintaining good grades and attendance. The Rotary scholarship has been awarded this prestigious academic opportunity to Warren students every year. Additionally, counselors assist Child Protective Services in agencies, such as the Center for Healthcare Services, to get help for students and families. Through information nights and workshops, guidance lessons, and one-on-one sessions, counselors connect students and parents with resources which facilitate present and future success.
Category 7: Parent Collaboration
GUIDANCE CURRICULUM - Parents are invited to review counseling materials at Open House, other parent meetings, and from the counseling website as mandated in Texas Education Code 33.004(b). In order to assess the effectiveness of and improve presentations, counselors seek input from parents and students. This year, the counselors have utilized QR codes to gain parent and student feedback and to conduct needs assessments. Counselor contact information is also provided for future reference.
RESPONSIVE SERVICES - When a serious issue is presented regarding a student, parents are contacted. Resources are provided and guidance is offered when dealing with student issues. At times, parent conferences are required. Parents are informed of small group topics and permission is needed for participation.
INDIVIDUAL PLANNING - Warren counselors host informational nights to assist parents as they help their students navigate through the educational and career exploration process. Course descriptions are posted on the website, as well as an explanation of graduation requirements. Counselors also assist students and parents through the transition from middle school to high school and the transition from high school to post-secondary school. Counselors also attend parent conferences to advocate for the student, discuss grades, credits and help educate parents on tutoring schedules and the Home Access Center.
SYSTEM SUPPORT - Aside from parent nights and meetings, parents are invited to visit the Warren College and Career Center to gather information and to receive assistance with college and/or career investigation. They can also receive help with scholarship searches, as well as testing and test prep information. Additionally, a wide range of resources is available on the Warren counseling website.