Office of School Counseling
Friday Sendoff - May 29, 2020
Permission Slips
Take some time right now to give yourself permission. Write yourself a permission slip (or 10). Yes, you read that correctly. YOU are going to write permission slips for YOURSELF.
Now grab some post-its, a notebook, or a journal and take a minute to write yourself some permission slips.
Examples:
I give myself permission to take a nap.
I give myself permission to go to bed early.
I give myself permission to ask for help.
I give myself permission to take a walk.
I give myself permission to feel _______________.
I give myself permission to share how I feel.
I give myself permission to say no to ____________.
I give myself permission to order takeout.
I give myself permission to stop what I'm doing to close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I give myself permission to be imperfect.
Now hang these up or put them in place where you will see them. If you feel comfortable, tell a loved one about them. Consider doing this activity with a friend or loved one so you can encourage each other.
Announcements
**NEW** Records release form
Please use the Consent for Release of Student Records below if you’re working with students who are seeing an outside therapist so you’re able to share information. This document can also be used when you’re obtaining records from a sending school.
https://www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules/rules/5000Series/RULE5230_Form_A.pdf
**NEW** Second Semester Use of Time Survey
The due date for the 2nd semester Use of Time survey is Friday, June 19th.
**NEW** 2020-2021 Theme
If you have an idea for next year's theme (and images/art work, if possible), please send it to Sharon (sholter@bcps.org).
**NEW** Virtual Counseling Offices
Below is the link to create a bitmoji and add it to your Chrome browser for easy add-on.
Video tutorials:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKTvlUbXxY&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-P_WdQWPc8&t=3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFiKrXAGxM
Thank you to Amy Horvitz, Jamie Rudden, Monica Jones, Sarah Mintz, Chloe Kazlow, and Ashley Hofferbert for sharing their virtual offices/career days with us! And thank you to Katie Oppenheim for the tutorial on creating an inserting a Bitmoji!
**NEW** Creating a SMORE eNewsletter
Now that you’ve accessed Smore for our weekly newsletter, would you like to create your own for your school community? Smore is happy to introduce Smore Academy — a quick and easy intro to using Smore. Speak with your principal about the educator Smore pricing so you can begin creating Smores in the fall.
**NEW** Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Newsletter for this week.
Please take a moment to check out this week’s FACEtime Newsletter: Home Edition.
- Newsletter Link: https://www.smore.com/n183f
In the newsletter itself near the top there is a picture of a computer screen and above that a button that reads “Click Here for Free Learning Opportunities.”
- The picture links to the Parent University Schedule that showcases all current offerings. The link to the schedule can normally be found at the foot of our Parent University page at bcps.org/parentu
- The “Click Here” button takes you right to our Eventbrite page where you can sign up for our BCPSConnects sessions.
The schedule is updated regularly so please check back often for new workshops.
Volunteer Opportunity
Volunteers Needed!
The YMCA of central Maryland is looking for volunteers to help with food distribution this week at various locations.
Please visit https://ymaryland.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog?regions=&tags=&keywords=COVID_19 to learn more and sign up.
Elementary School Counselors
**NEW** June lessons
**NEW** SEL activity for virtual sessions
Middle School Department Chairs
**NEW** June College and Career Newsletter
High School Counselors
**NEW** ESOL Foreign Language Course Transitions
The graduation requirements fulfilled by ESOL courses have changed over the years. The rules are applied to the year the student took the course.
- In 2015-2016 ESOL HS Foreign Language 1 fulfilled the English 9 graduation requirement. The name changed to ESOL 1 in 2018-19 and still fulfills the ENG 9 requirement.
- In 2015-2016 ESOL HS Foreign Language 2 fulfilled the WL requirement. In 2017-18 it switched to fulfill the ENG 12 requirement. The name changed to ESOL 2 in 2018-2019 and still fulfills the ENG 12 requirement.
**NEW** Virtual Recruitment Information Session
**NEW** Maryland State Police 2020 Youth Leadership & Law Enforcement Seminar
Governor Hogan has proclaimed 2020 as the Year of the Woman in Maryland. The 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, is this year. As an initiative in commemoration of the latter, the Maryland State Police is sponsoring a female law enforcement program. This program, Year of the Woman: 2020 Youth Leadership and Law Enforcement Seminar, is geared towards female high school juniors and seniors. It will be held August 21 - August 23 at the Maryland State Police Training Academy. (see flyer below)
High School Department Chairs
**REPRINT** from the May 8th edition
Naviance Graduation Survey
The built in grad survey data populates the following district/school reports in Naviance. Naviance does not have a single report to view the responses for the 5 questions.
- Student outcomes report
- College application report
- Scholarship report
Student Voter Registration
The Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. of Baltimore County would like your help getting eligible BCPS students who are 17 and 18 years or older registered to vote by October 13, 2020 so they can vote in the November 3rd Presidential election.
Please share this link with seniors who are interested in registering to vote: https://www.whenweallvote.org/alphakappaalpha/
College Counselors
MSDE Scholarship Data
Please take a moment to review and complete the survey form below so your information can be subnimitted to MSDE. You’ll have until June 19th to share the requested data.
Here's the link to the form 2020 School System Scholarship Form
Supporting Students in Navigating Trauma, Grief and Stress during the College Process
A few weeks ago, the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) held its 2020 National Convention. A presentation hosted by Laura Owen, Ph.D., American University, and Kara Leva, Ph.D., Rowan University addressed how individuals who are working directly with students can help them navigate trauma, stress, and grief. Additionally, the presentation shared information about how trauma impacts the college-going process.
Ohio College information session
The Ohio Six were so thrilled to have over 1,000 registrants for their first Ohio 6 Colleges webinar yesterday! As they reached capacity in the virtual room, they wanted to invite your students to a second webinar, hosted by the following Vice Presidents and Directors of the Ohio 6 Colleges, on Tuesday, June 2nd at 2 pm EST:
- Tom Abeyta, Director of Admissions, Oberlin College & Conservatory
- Diane Anci, VP for Enrollment and Dean of Admission & Financial Aid, Kenyon College
- Kelsey Ellis, Director of Admission, Wittenberg University
- Scott Friedhoff, VP For Enrollment, The College of Wooster
- Stefanie Niles, VP for Enrollment and Communications, Ohio Wesleyan University
- Drew Riley, Director of Admission, Denison University
Naviance Scholarships with upcoming deadlines
Got a Spine Scholarship - deadline June 2, 2020
Walmart Foundation First-Generation Scholarship - deadline June 8, 2020
Big Sun Scholarship - deadline June 19, 2020
Tools for Success Scholarship - deadline July 1, 2020
Rosen & Ohr Scholarship Program - deadline July 20, 2020
Professional Development
Teachers and counselors must engage in a minimum of two hours of virtual professional learning each week during the closure. Please document your participation in your Outlook calendar.
**NEW** Yoga Nidra and Relaxation for Children and Teens presented by Dr. Gayle Cicero on 6/15 at 1:00. 2 CEUs available (flyer attached below)
**NEW** ASCA Webinar: NCAA Eligibility Center Overview and Updates on 6/4 at 11:00
**NEW** ASCA Webinar: Making MTSS Work on 6/8 at 1:00
**NEW** Ten Faces Of Trauma 1 CEU on 6/17 at 10:00
**NEW** Adulting 101: Finding Structure in the Chaos 2 CEUs on 6/18
**NEW** The Creative Use Of Games, Stories And Art With Children And Teens 3 CEUs on 6/22 at 9:30
**NEW** Effective Treatment for Children & Adolescents Diagnosed with PTSD 2 CEUs on 7/15
BCPS Counselors Good News & Inspiration
Relay counselors visit 5th graders' homes to celebrate and recognize their accomplishments
Websites
Traitify: https://bcps.traitify.com/
Other career-related websites:
https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/students/careers/career-exploration.htm
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx?frd=true
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs.html
https://www.cacareerzone.org/budget/
http://www.careersinthemilitary.com/
MD CAPS (MHEC): https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx?c=-8586295899786270826&ReturnUrl=/MDCAPS/int/FinAid
College Covered resources for school counselors https://www.collegecovered.com/resources-for-counselors/
Schoology Access Codes
Elementary Counseling Curriculum: M4HSN-FCFN4
Secondary Counseling Curriculum: CFBV7-B6PCM
Threat Management: Q6RHK-WHHVC
College and Career Counseling: PFZD6-65N4V
Curriculum Updates: T7BM2-R8JSC
GSA Sponsors (LGBTQ+ resources): ZMBZ-4QXP-DKC89
Contact Information
Naviance Support: 1-866-337-0080 option 2 & support@naviance.com
Signup Genius Support: support@signupgenius.com
CPS phone number: 410.887.TIME
CPS email address: dhr.baltimorecountycps@maryland.gov
MHEC FAFSA Completion (MD CAPS): fafsa.mhec@maryland.gov