The Counselor CARE-ier
September 2023
You counseling staff at SSAE wants to welcome you back for another great school year. We look forward to working with all the students and families and are here to support you however we can. The Couselor CARE-ier newsletter goes out every month / mid-month. Here you will find community & metal health resources, career & college information and events, kudos to our kids, senior information and more. We hope you enjoy the monthly newsletter and find value in the information and resources provided. If you ever have ideas to be included please let us know.
Meet Your SSAE High School Counseling Staff
Katy Swann
Mrs. Swann is the academic counselor for 11-12th graders and all HPP and concurrent enrollment students regardless of grade level. This is her 6th year at SSAE. Mrs. Swann's office is located in Rm #183 and she can be reached at katy.swann@d49.org.
Jenny Allen
Mrs. Allen is the social emotional counselor for all students and the academic counselor for 9th and 10th graders. This is her 4th year at SSAE. Mrs. Allen's office is located in Rm #181 and she can be reached at jenny.allen@d49.org.
Mike Masino
Mr. Masino is the Choice & Success Advisor for SSAE. He is here to provide career guidance to all students. This is his 4th year here at SSAE. Mr. Masino's office is located in Rm #179 and he can be reached at michael.masino@d49.org.
Community Resources
Sunny Side Market
SET Family Medical Clinics
SET serves all low income, uninsured and underinsured people, regardless of their ability to pay full price for services. SET has a discounted sliding fee schedule for those with limited financial resources. They also offer integrated behavioral health and have an on-site dental hygienist for cleanings and x-rays.
Cross Fire Ministries
Mandatory Senior Information Night (Class of 2024)
Wednesday, September 27th at 7:00 pm.
Ideally, both a parent and the student should attend this meeting where we will discuss "all things senior". We will share important dates, scholarship & FAFSA information, college applications, and your "senior to-do-list" in preparation for graduation. Herff Jones will also be on the Zoom call to discuss cap/gown/announcement ordering. Please sign up here! The Zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event.
Free NCAA Student Athlete Eligibility Webinar
Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level? Invest in your future and spend an hour on Sunday, September 17, from 5-6 p.m. Eastern time, understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification. Join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level! Click here to register.
Career & College Readiness
Fall 2023 Career Fair
SSAE & PPEC will be hosting a Career Fair in November (more info to come). We will host dozens of professionals on our campus where students will have the opportunity to visit with them and ask questions about various career pathways. If you (parents) are willing to attend as a professional supporting your career pathway, please send an email to Mrs. Swann at katy.swann@d49.org to let her know that you are interested and willing and she will share more specific information with you. Thank you.
College Preview/Discover Days
Below are various events that give you a glimpse into college life! This is a great opportunity to check out the college campuses and get a feel for what it will be like, learn more about the school, and get your questions answered.
Colorado School of Mines. Golden, CO
Discover Mines is designed to introduce prospective students and family members to Colorado School of Mines, our community and the student experience. Join us on campus to get all your questions answered before you apply, make connections and learn about what makes Mines unique!
- September 23, 2023 (Register here)
- October 21, 2023 (Register here)
University of Colorado- Colorado Springs (UCCS)
Prospective undergraduate students and two guests are invited to a Mountain Lion Visit Day (MLVD) at UCCS! Meet professors from your major of interest, Interact with UCCS students, Enjoy a free lunch at the Roaring Fork, Tour campus, Learn about admissions, housing, life on campus, and more! Mountain Lion Visit Day is a free event open to all high school and transfer students. Limit two guests per registrant. See all upcoming events here.
Adams State University, Alamosa, CO
At Discover Day, you will learn more about Adams State University by interacting with current Adams State students and will get a first hand look at Adams State programs and services. We hope you’ll visit us to learn how you can begin your great story at Adams State!
- September 2023- TBD
University of Northern Colorado
Join us for an immersive campus visit experience of your choosing. All programs are designed for students and their families, support persons and guests to learn more about UNC. All events are free to attend.
- Honors Program Visit Day: Friday, September 29
- Experience UNC & First Gen Student Visit Day: Saturday, October 7
- STEM & Health Sciences Visit Day: Friday, October 27
- Experience UNC: Friday, November 3
Your school not listed here? Check out the college website and search for "visit days". Checking out the campus first hand is a great experience and is highly recommended.
Social Emotional Resources
12 Tips for Raising Confident Kids
Right from birth, kids learn new skills at a dizzying rate. And along with those new abilities, they also acquire the confidence to use them. As children get older, that confidence can be as important as the skills themselves. To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren't successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence. Here are 12 ways you can set kids up to feel capable and get the most mileage out of their skills and talents.
1. Model confidence yourself
Even if you’re not quite feeling it! Seeing you tackle new tasks with optimism and lots of preparation sets a good example for kids. That doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be perfect. Do acknowledge your anxiety, but don’t focus on it—focus on the positive things you are doing to get ready.
2. Don’t get upset about mistakes
Help kids see that everyone makes mistakes and the important thing is to learn from them, not dwell on them. Confident people don’t let fear of failure get in their way—not because they’re sure they won’t ever fail, but because they know how to take setbacks in stride.
3. Encourage them to try new things
Instead of focusing all their energy on what they already excel at, it’s good for kids to diversify. Attaining new skills makes kids feel capable and confident that they can tackle whatever comes their way.
4. Allow kids to fail
It’s natural to want to protect your child from failure, but trial and error is how kids learn, and falling short on a goal helps kids find out that it’s not fatal. It can also spur kids to greater effort, which will serve them well as adults.
5. Praise perseverance
Learning not to give up at the first frustration or bail after one setback is an important life skill. Confidence and self-esteem are not about succeeding at everything all the time, they’re about being resilient enough to keep trying, and not being distressed if you’re not the best.
6. Help kids find their passion
Exploring their own interests can help kids develop a sense of identity, which is essential to building confidence. Of course, seeing their talents grow will also give a huge boost to their self-esteem.
7. Set goals
Articulating goals, large and small, and achieving them makes kids feel strong. Help your child turn desires and dreams into actionable goals by encouraging them to make a list of things they’d like to accomplish. Then, practice breaking down longer-term goals into realistic benchmarks. You’ll be validating their interests and helping them learn the skills they’ll need to attain their goals throughout life.
8. Celebrate effort
Praising kids for their accomplishments is great, but it’s also important to let them know you’re proud of their efforts regardless of the outcome. It takes hard work to develop new skills, and results aren’t always immediate. Let kids know you value the work they’re doing, whether they’re toddlers building with blocks or teenagers teaching themselves to play the guitar.
9. Expect them to pitch in
They might complain, but kids feel more connected and valued when they’re counted on to do age-appropriate jobs, from picking up toys to doing dishes to picking up younger siblings from a play date. Homework and after-school activities are great, but being needed by your family is invaluable.
10. Embrace imperfection
As grown-ups we know perfection is unrealistic, and it’s important for kids to get that message as early as possible. Help kids see that whether it’s on TV, in a magazine, or on a friend’ social media feed, the idea that others are always happy, successful, and perfectly dressed is a fantasy, and a destructive one. Instead, remind them that being less than perfect is human and totally okay.
11. Set them up for success
Challenges are good for kids, but they should also have opportunities where they can be sure to find success. Help your child get involved with activities that make him feel comfortable and confident enough to tackle a bigger challenge.
12. Show your love
Let your child know you love him no matter what. Win or lose the big game, good grades or bad. Even when you’re mad at him. Making sure your child knows that you think they’re great — and not just when they does great things — will bolster their self worth even when they’re not feeling good about themselves.
Article shared from the Child Mind Institute