SEPTEMBER 2025

                         

HAPPY FALL, YA'LL!

We have had an incredible start to school year 2025-26!  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!

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

• If a student needs to drop a more rigorous course (Honors/DC/AP) to a regulars course, those request forms will be available September 2 through September 9 from their teacher. Students can pick up this form from their teacher.  The form must be completed before returning to their counselor.
• To finalize the form, three items must be completed.
• parent/teacher conference discussing the best placement for the student
• student has attended 3 tutorials with the teacher
• no zeros or missing assignments in the gradebook as the grade transfers to the new class
• No other schedule change requests will be honored at this time.
• If students are wanting a schedule change past the September 9 deadline, students can apply again during October 10-17.  The next time to request a schedule change will be during semester exams in December to be reflected on their spring semester schedule.

PSAT UPDATES:

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 Monday, October 20th. 

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

Student Checklist:

1. Verify College Board Account:  
9th grade students will be setting up their College Board Account with their Cohort in September. 10th and 11th-grade students need to log in to their College Board account to verify their login and password by October 1st, 2025. 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 October 1st, 2025. Instructions will be provided.

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 20th, students must arrive at school with their fully charged device and power cord.

No Late Testing or Retesting: Please note that there will be no late testing or retesting available, 

so it is crucial that students are well-prepared for the October 20th testing date.

AP UPDATES:

DUAL CREDIT UPDATES:

Dual Registration has begun for those taking Dual Credit classes! Please see your email from Mr. Frein and complete your registration soon as possible. If you have any questions or need help registering, please reach out to Mr. Frein at peterfrein@johnpauliihs.org.

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 8 through 12
• 10th/11th grade:  September 22 through 26
• if students were absent or time ran out during the visit, counselors will reschedule with the students
• Parent/Teacher Conferences, September 19 (no school)
• Guidance Lesson
• September 17 and 18 (English 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. 3 at 8:45 a.m., in the Athenaeum
• JPII P.E.P. Squad:  Partnering, Encouraging, Preparing
• Save the dates!  We will meet the first Wednesday of each month!

PARENT CORNER:

7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment

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:

• 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 century.