October 2025

             

OCTOBER, A HARVEST OF BLESSINGS!

As autumn unfolds its beauty, Psalm 67:6 reminds us: "The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us." This month is a powerful invitation to pause and reflect on the blessings in our lives, both seen and unseen. Just as the earth produces fruit through seasons of growth, change, and rest, so too do our children grow through seasons of learning and challenge. Let us walk alongside them with patience, gratitude, and faith, trusting God to continue His abundant work in their hearts.

WHAT HAVE YOUR JPII COUNSELORS BEEN UP TO?

Since school has started, we've had over 795 student visits in our offices.  We love that students see us as a resource, a safe place, and a friendly smile!  There is nothing better than a busy school counseling office. If you haven't stopped by yet, we are in the glass offices of the Senior Hall.  We presented in 44 classes for our guidance lessons over Mental Health, and we've met individually with over 500 students in our Minute Meetings.  We should be finished with the entire school in the next few weeks!  The most important aspect of our job is building connections and relationships with our students!  We are so grateful for the connections we’ve already made, and we look forward to meeting even more of you in the days ahead. Whether it’s a quick hello in the hall, a class visit, or a conversation in our offices.  We can’t wait to continue building relationships with each of you!

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

• The final window for this semester is October 10-17.  If a student needs to drop a more rigorous course (Honors/DC/AP) to a regulars course, students can pick up this form from their teacher.  Once the form is completed, students will submit to Mrs. Slate, our Dean of Academics, for approval.
• 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.
• The final time to request a schedule change for 2025-26 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:

Total Registration Website

Total Registration Instructions

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:

• PSAT Check-In:  Counselors will be meeting with each of their alphas by grade level during the week of Oct. 6-10 to ensure that their personal devices are ready for the digital PSAT.  Students will be logging in to their BlueBook account to verify systems are ready.
• 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 months of school.
• Counselors are continuing meeting with their students one-on-one.  As always, if any students need to speak with their counselor, stop by our office!
• Guidance Lesson
• Mental Health Awareness (presented in September in our English classes)
• Several posters have been placed around campus for regulation tips when we feel stress and anxiety (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn).
• Check out the bulletin board by our office for resources from each guidance topic.

• Choosing Connection:  Healthy Relationships in Action (coming November in our Theology classes)

• Coffee with the Counselors
• Thank you to those that came to the October presentation!  Check out the LINK to the presentation, Guiding Students Through the Age of AI.
• Presented by Ashley Falloure, JPII Instructional Technology Specialist
• Our next Coffee with the Counselors will be November 5.  Topic TBD!!!!

PARENT CORNER:

"The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us." — Psalm 67:6

October is a beautiful season of change.  The air grows cooler, leaves turn golden, and the world reminds us of the blessings that come from patience, growth, and care. Psalm 67:6 calls us to notice God’s abundant provision, a reminder that in both nature and parenting, there is a harvest to celebrate.

As parents, we are stewards of something far greater than ourselves, our children’s hearts. This month, let’s intentionally embrace the idea of a “harvest” in parenting. Just as farmers tend fields through every season, we guide our children through seasons of growth, rest, and change.

Here are some October parenting tips inspired by Psalm 67:6:

1. Celebrate Growth and Effort 
   Look for moments of progress in your children, no matter how small. Praise effort as much as achievement. This builds confidence and resilience.

2. Practice Gratitude Together 
   Create a simple ritual, such as sharing daily blessings at dinner or writing them in a family gratitude journal. Teach your children to notice God’s hand in everyday life.

3. Nurture Through Seasons 
   Understand that children grow in different seasons. Be patient with transitions and challenges, remembering that every season has its purpose.

4. Teach Stewardship 
   Use harvest imagery to teach your children to care for what God has given them:  time, talents, resources, and relationships. Consider acts of service as a family this month.

5. Create a Family “Harvest” Tradition 
   Whether it’s a gratitude jar, prayer walk, or a simple family night, intentionally set aside time to reflect on blessings and the ways God has provided.

6. Model Faith in Parenting 
   Let your children see you lean on God’s guidance in your parenting. Short prayers or reflections during daily life help them see faith in action.

7. Encourage Reflection 
   Invite your children to think about their own harvest: strengths they’ve grown, kindness they’ve shown, or lessons they’ve learned.

This October, let us remember that parenting is not just about the daily tasks, but about cultivating hearts. As Psalm 67:6 reminds us, God’s blessings are abundant both in the world around us and in the lives of our children.

May this month bring you joy in your family’s harvest, gratitude in your hearts, and peace in knowing God is blessing your work as parents.

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