We have had an incredible start to school year 2024-25! It is so nice to see and hear our students in the halls again. As the temps start to cool down a bit, and we prepare for pumpkins, scarecrows, and apple ciders, I was reminded of this verse above. This year is a great time for harvest! We are excited to see how we can bless and encourage each other this year. Happy Fall!
- 168 individual student conferences in the first 11 days of school.
- Our sophomores visited us the most this month! We love that they see us as a resource!
- Academic questions were the top reason for visits. This is a typical August at the start of school!
- We presented in 47 classrooms for August Guidance Lessons, Pop in To See Your Counselors, to all grade levels in the English classes.
- Meet the Counselor Presentation from August 21.
- If a student needs to drop a more rigorous course (Honors/DC/AP) to a regulars course, those request forms will be available September 4 through September 11 from their teacher. This will be the final time to request a class change until December. Students can pick up this form from their teacher.
- No other schedule change requests will be honored at this time.
- If students are wanting a schedule change past the September 11 deadline, students can apply again in December to be reflected on their spring semester schedule.
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Attention 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Families: Digital PSAT Information
JPII will be administering the Digital PSAT/NMSQT for all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors on the morning of Wednesday, October 9th.
What You Need to Know
Parents, please ensure that your student has completed the necessary preparations outlined in the PSAT Student Checklist below. Details on testing rooms will be provided to students soon.
What to Bring on Test Day:
Pen/Pencil
Charged Device
Device Power Cord
Approved Calculator(optional)
Bottled Water
IMPORTANT PSAT Student Checklist:
1. Verify College Board Account:
9th grade students will be setting up their College Board Account with counselors this month. 10th and 11th-grade students need to log in to their College Board account to verify their login and password by September 20, 2024. If unable to log in, students should call 866-433-7728 to reset their credentials and write down the new login/password for future use.
2. Download Bluebook App:
All students must upload Bluebook, the College Board testing app, to their personal laptop by September 20, 2024. Instructions for downloading are provided in the video linked HERE.
3. Check Device Compatibility:
If a student's personal device is a Chromebook, they must inform Kris Thurston, Director of Technology, ASAP, as Chromebooks are not permitted by College Board. A donor device will be made available for those who need it.
4. Ensure Battery Life:
Students need to check their device's battery life to ensure it can stay charged and operational for at least 3 hours.
5. Familiarize with Bluebook:
Students should log in to Bluebook using their College Board account and explore the new tools and practice tests to become comfortable with the testing platform.
6. Test Day Preparation:
On October 9, students must arrive at school with their fully charged device and power cord.
- Email Ms. Heslep if you have any questions at beckyheslep@johnpauliihs.org
- Click on "Account Settings"
- The next screen is "My Info"
- On the "My Info" screen, students can change any information
- Under "Security and Password" click "edit" to change:
- Email address--JPII email address is preferred
- Password (write this down somewhere!)
- Security Phrase (write this down somewhere!)
- Under "School Information" click "edit" to change school
- When editing any section--make sure to click on "save changes"
CALENDAR ITEMS:
- Minute Meetings
- Minute Meetings are brief meetings conducted by the school counselors to basically get the pulse of their student caseload. It gives us the opportunity to meet and make an immediate connection with every student in our building the first few weeks of school.
- 9th/12th grade: September 16 through 19
- 10th/11th grade: October 15 through 18
- if students were absent or time ran out during the visit, counselors will reschedule with the students
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, September 20 (no school)
- Guidance Lesson
- September 25 and 26 (Theology Classes)
- Mental Health Awareness
- Check out the bulletin board by our office for resources from each guidance topic.
- Coffee with the Counselors
- Our first meeting will be Sept. 11 at 8:45 a.m., in the Athenaeum
- Understanding the Teen Brain: A Work in Progress
- After September's meeting the rest will be the first Wednesday of each month!
- Save the dates! See below!
PARENT CORNER:
7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment
Good parents aren’t perfect, and that’s okay. There’s no formula to follow, but there are ways you can grow every day. This assessment gives you an honest look at your unique strengths, plus some areas that might use a little help.
7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment
Good parents aren’t perfect, and that’s okay. There’s no formula to follow, but there are ways you can grow every day. This assessment gives you an honest look at your unique strengths, plus some areas that might use a little help.
RESOURCES:
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- Need to see your Counselor? Email or stop by! Our doors are always open!
- The Shade (Elijah's Story from 1 Kings 19)
- Calming Room in the Counseling Office (check-in with counselor first)
- Reset, Relax, Recharge, Refresh, Return!
- Fidgets, Aromatherapy, Sound Machine, Cozy Chairs/Blankets, Journal, Coloring Books, & More!
- 20 minute limit....and then return to class
- Children's TCHATT
- 6-8 FREE weekly therapist appointments scheduled during non-core periods during the school day (referral through your counselor)
- Mental Health Navigation Line
- 972-525-8181, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Helpline sourced through Grant Halliburton to assist families with finding therapists (based on need, insurance, etc.) in the DFW area
- Coffee Days (mom support group for mothers of young people with mental health and emotional health conditions, offering opportunities to share experiences, resources, and information.)
- granthalliburton.org for upcoming meetings
- Additional Community Resources
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the John Paul II Counseling Office is to provide a proactive, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate program to address students' academic and career goals in addition to supporting their personal and social needs. This is accomplished through a partnership with parents/guardians, staff, and community members to enable all students to become successful, productive citizens and lifelong learners in a diverse and changing world.
VISION STATEMENT
The John Paul II High School Counseling Office is guided by our commitment to provide a safe, nurturing environment where the entire learning community addresses the unique needs of students to ensure students reach their fullest potential and successfully manage their lives as healthy, responsible, competent and productive citizens who respect themselves and others. Collaborating with students, parents, faculty and staff, we will foster the development of the entire person – mental, spiritual, academic and social. School counselors believe that every student can succeed through the collaborative efforts of school, home, and community leading to responsible and productive citizenship in the 21st ce
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