FEBRUARY

What were we up to in January?

January was all about Course Request Meetings.  We've enjoyed meeting individually with our Class of 2025 to help prepare them for their senior year!  If you are a junior and have NOT met with your counselor yet, please reach out to set your appointment ASAP!

FRESHMAN COURSE REQUEST MEETINGS!

• Meeting Window is open from February 5 through February 27.
• Check your school email for an email from Mrs. Ramirez/Naviance to get your Freshman Link to sign up for an appointment with your counselor.  You can also visit with your specific counselor for their appointment link.
• Do not schedule your meeting during your English, math, science, or social studies class.
• Report to the Counseling Office 5 minutes prior to your meeting.
• Bring your phone to scan the Google Form Course Request.
• Use your reminder email the day prior or 15 minutes before as your pass.
• Work with your teacher for any missed assignments.

****Don't worry, Sophomores!  You're up next in March!  We'll see you soon!

PSAT SCORES ARE IN!

Student PSAT Scores are available to be viewed on student College Board Accounts at this link or online at studentscores.collegeboard.org using the log-in students created. Students may also access using the Big Future School mobile app. Once students sign-in to College Board to review their scores, they will have access to additional information on Careers, Colleges, Scholarships and details on free SAT practice through Khan Academy.  If students have forgotten their College Board login credentials, they can contact College Board directly and come by the Counseling Office to receive a .PDF of their testing report.

AP UPDATES:

Stay tuned for more updates!  Ms. Heslep will be finalizing the ordering of exams for the spring in the next few weeks.  Make sure you read her emails!

Check out the AP Calendar to make plans for your exams.

AP/DC UPDATES:

Unsure about the differences between Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit (DC)?  How do these courses earn credit for college?  What are the requirements to enroll?  What are the costs involved?  How do high school students transfer their credits to their university?  Plan on attending the AP/DC Information Meeting via Zoom on March 20!  We'll send link information soon!

CALENDAR ITEMS:

• Course Request Meeting
• Every student will meet with their counselor to select courses for the next year.
• Counselors will be sending a Google Calendar link to make the appointment.
• Students will NOT schedule during a core class.
• Students will report to the Counseling Office 5 minutes prior to meeting.
• Students are responsible for making their teacher aware the class prior and making up any missed assignments.
• Dates
• Juniors (January 16-29)
• Freshmen (February 5-27)
• Sophomores (March 4-April 5)
• Follow-Up for Students that Haven't Met with Counselor (April 8-19)

• Guidance Lesson
• February 28 and 29 (Theology Classes)
• Don't Go Bacon My Heart:  Dating & Conflict
• Check out the bulletin board by our office for resources from each guidance topic.

• Coffee with the Counselors
• Our next meeting will be April 3, 8:30 a.m., in the Athanaeum
• Topic:  Cell Phone Addiction

PARENT CORNER:

When Texting Your Teen,

Follow These Four

(Not So) Simple Rules

by Nancy Brandt | September 13, 2023

Like most parents, I text with my teens regularly, and I feel fairly competent:

I’m a good communicator, know the lingo, and understand the ins and

outs of texting with teens.

Or so I thought.

Last week my oldest daughter, a college junior, sent me this text:

“Sometimes, when you ask a ton of questions about whatever I’m

doing or use excessive punctuation, it stresses me out.”

Wait, what? I scrolled through our texts, looking for evidence, and

quickly found this offending text: “How was your interview?!”

Ah. I was trying to convey a mix of excitement and shared nervousness.

But to my daughter, the question mark/exclamation point combo meant

one thing: stress! I checked in with my other two daughters, and they

strongly agreed with their sister: too much punctuation is bad.

If I wasn’t aware enough to recognize that punctuation was a big deal,

what else might I not know? I reached out to a few dozen students

between the ages of 15-22 in different parts of the U.S. and received

remarkably similar responses.

Here are the top four things I learned and that you need to know when

texting with your high school and college-age kids:

Parent rules for texting a teen

1. Punctuation matters (a lot).

It turns out punctuation causes a lot of miscommunication and reading

between the lines (often incorrectly).

Here are some guidelines:

Avoid using periods. They make your kids nervous and your meaning

unclear. Here’s a sampling of comments I received on the topic:

“The use of periods makes it seem much more serious and makes us think

we did something wrong.”

“Many periods instead of exclamation marks make me feel like my mom

is mad at me or something.”

“It’s easy to read too much into a simple question when it ends with a period.”

Avoid using ellipsis. Similar to periods, but maybe worse: an ellipsis leaves

too much for your teen to try to figure out. What are you leaving unsaid? As

one teen said to me, “Don’t end a sentence in ‘…’ — that is STRESSFUL!”

Avoid punctuation combinations. My earlier example of “How was your

interview?!” It’s too much and, again…stressful.

Exclamation points are fine. This is the preferred form of punctuation and

usually comes across as positive (Unless you’re saying, for example, “Call

home immediately!”).

The safest bet: is no punctuation (if you can bear it). This is painful for me,

a stickler for grammar and spelling, to suggest. But if you look at your kids’

texts, you’ll see that most of them use no punctuation, so if you want to speak

their language, consider doing the same.

2. Know your emojis, and use them sparingly — and

appropriately.

It turns out parents aren’t great with emojis.

Top complaint: using too many emojis

“Go a little lighter on the emojis.”

“Stay low-key with emojis. You only need a few.”

On the complaint list: Using emojis without knowing what they mean (some

emojis have sexual connotations, so you DEFINITELY don’t want to use those).

Low key. Right, got it.

3. Bitmoji is good!

While overusing emojis is bad, it turns out that our kids think it’s good and

funny when we use Bitmoji. Don’t know what Bitmoji is? It’s an app that

lets you create a cartoon character/avatar that looks like you, and you can

add it in text messages. (My friends and I love our Bitmojis and find them

hilarious.)

Here are a few comments from teens on the topic:

“Bitmojis can be very funny if used at the right times.”

“I find it super funny that my parents will respond with their Bitmojis only

or that my mom and I can have a full conversation with Bitmoji.”

“My mom getting a Bitmoji would be GREAT.”

4. Timing is everything.

Be quick. Teens appreciate it when you reply to them immediately and

get impatient when you don’t (Sound familiar?). Give them the benefit

of the doubt. Don’t get mad if they don’t reply to you immediately (“If I

don’t reply right away, don’t assume I’m ignoring you. Sometimes I’m

driving or with friends and just not looking at my phone. Those are good

things!”).

What day is it? Texting your college kids on the weekend may lower your

chance of a quick response. One college freshman admitted, “When my

parents text me, I always read it, but 9 out of 10 times, I wait and usually

forget to respond for a couple of days. Especially if I get a text Thursday

through Saturday.”

And, finally, remember that kids don’t love it when we text them for no

reason, so make sure your texts have a purpose.

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 TeleHealth
• 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.

 

JANUARY

WHAT WERE WE UP TO IN DECEMBER?

StressBusters with with our Cardinals!  

Snowflakes and puzzles and cocoa and coloring and Santa, Oh My!

JUNIOR COURSE REQUEST MEETINGS!

• Meeting Window is open from January 16 through February 2.
• Check your school email for an email from Mrs. Ramirez/Naviance to get your Junior Link to sign up for an appointment with your counselor.  You can also visit with your specific counselor for their appointment link.
• Do not schedule your meeting during your English, math, science, or social studies class.
• Report to the Counseling Office 5 minutes prior to your meeting.
• Bring your phone to scan the Google Form Course Request.
• Use your reminder email the day prior or 15 minutes before as your pass.
• Work with your teacher for any missed assignments.

PSAT SCORES ARE IN!

Student PSAT Scores are available to be viewed on student College Board Accounts at this link or online at studentscores.collegeboard.org using the log-in students created. Students may also access using the Big Future School mobile app. Once students sign-in to College Board to review their scores, they will have access to additional information on Careers, Colleges, Scholarships and details on free SAT practice through Khan Academy.  If students have forgotten their College Board login credentials, they can contact College Board directly and come by the Counseling Office to receive a .PDF of their testing report.

AP UPDATES:

Stay tuned for more updates!  Ms. Heslep will be finalizing the ordering of exams for the spring in the next few weeks.  Make sure you read her emails!

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

• LAST DAY FOR SEMESTER---January 10!!!!
• If students are interested in making a schedule change for the spring semester, they will pick up the Request For Schedule Change Form from their teacher.  The forms will be available beginning December 11.  The deadline to turn return to their counselor is January 10.
• No other schedule change requests will be honored at this time.

CALENDAR ITEMS:

• Course Request
• Every student will meet with their counselor to select courses for the next year.
• Counselors will be sending a Google Calendar link to make the appointment.
• Students will NOT schedule during a core class.
• Students will report to the Counseling Office 5 minutes prior to meeting.
• Students are responsible for making their teacher aware the class prior and making up any missed assignments.
• Dates
• Juniors (January 16-29)
• Freshmen (February 5-27)
• Sophomores (March 4-April 5)
• Follow-Up for Students that Haven't Met with Counselor (April 8-19)

• Guidance Lesson
• January 30 and 31 (English classes)
• Bullying/Cyberbullying
• Check out the bulletin board by our office for resources from each guidance topic.

• Coffee with the Counselors
• Reviewing process for students to request courses for the 2024-25 school year.
• Topics to be discussed with students:
• grades/GPA
• required graduation credits
• goals/interests and how that relates to colleges/careers
• interest in changing level of rigor
• new classes:  English IV topics, DC World History, DC Physics, Principles of Architecture, Small Animal Management, eSports
• Juniors (January 16-February 2)
• Freshmen (February 5-27)
• Sophomores (March 4-April 5)
• Follow-Up for Students that Haven't Met with Counselor (April 8-19)

PARENT CORNER:

How to Choose High School Electives

These courses outside the core curriculum allow students to explore and develop their interests.

By Donna Tetreault

|

April 27, 2022, at 5:18 p.m

.

High school is a time when teens begin to find real independence from their parents, look toward the future and learn more about who they are as individuals and what they’re passionate about.

Education experts say high school electives – classes students choose that allow them to explore beyond the core curriculum – are one way to help high schoolers figure out what matters to them.

Electives can help ease a student's schedule with a course they may enjoy, says Regine Muradian, a psychologist and coach who works with students on their learning and study skills. By offering students the time to focus on new and emerging passions and talents, they can also help point to future careers.

“Electives can also increase a student’s desire to learn,” Muradian says.

And having the opportunity to develop personal passions makes for a more meaningful and impactful education, says Cindy Chanin, founder of Rainbow EDU Consulting.

The Value of High School Electives

The number of electives students take varies by district and grade level, as do the courses offered. But the classes students choose can help communicate their unique academic journey, says Jenn Curtis, founder of FutureWise Consulting and co-author of “The Parent Compass.”

“Electives relate and build upon an interest and underscore who the student is and what they are about,” she says.

In the early high school years, “students don’t always know what they want to do, which is natural, but this is a time for exploration,” Curtis says. “In the later years, 11th and 12th grades, students start to home in on their interests, and electives can play a significant role in completing the picture of a student’s academic story.”

In some cases, electives can bolster a student’s college application. Some students may use their elective slots to dive deeper into subjects beyond graduation requirements. As students begin thinking about college, they can fill those elective slots with honors and Advanced Placement classes in their particular field of interest. For example, students interested in going into the medical profession might take advanced biology or anatomy.  But honors or AP courses aren’t the only electives that can build on a student’s core skills. Classes in subjects like debate, photography, robotics, world languages, theater, speech, leadership or music can all enhance teens’ high school education.

Parents’ Role in Selecting Electives

Experts say parents should step back when it comes to selecting electives, and let their teen decide. “Electives provide students an invaluable opportunity to find their ‘why’ as it relates to their education,” says Chanin, helping them develop the ability to build “an education that’s happening for them instead of to them.” Students need the freedom to figure out their interests and dive in.

Still, there are some ways parents can help their high schooler in the elective process:

• Help figure out requirements. Rules around electives can vary by school and from year to year, so parents and high school counselors can step in to help students understand what's required.
• Gather information together. Explore the course catalog with your teen, and find out what excites them or piques their interest. Have an open conversion and encourage your child to ask other students about their elective experiences.
• Let your student lead the process. This is imperative, experts say. Students need to use electives to find out what they like and what they don’t like. Electives allow for the exploration of intrinsic passions.

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 TeleHealth
• 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

COMING SOON FOR FEBRUARY!

• Guidance Lesson---CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
• Coffee with the Counselors--NEXT ONE IS MARCH 6, AT 8:30, ATHENAEUM

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.

DECEMBER

 

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS 

WHAT WERE WE UP TO IN NOVEMBER?

• 323 individual student conferences during the month of November.
• Seniors were our most frequent visitors (115), but we're so glad that our other grade levels are starting to pick up and stopping by to visit with us!  Their breakdown is 62 (9th), 71 (10th), and 75 (11th).  
• The number one reason students came to see us were for academic concerns, but mental health was a close second.  We love that our Cardinals want to do their best and present themselves well in their classes, and they also want to nurture their mental well-being as well!
• We presented in 48 classrooms for the November Guidance Lesson, College & Career Readiness, to all students in all grade levels.  

PSAT SCORES ARE IN!

Student PSAT Scores are available to be viewed on student College Board Accounts at this link or online at studentscores.collegeboard.org using the log-in students created. Students may also access using the Big Future School mobile app. Once students sign-in to College Board to review their scores, they will have access to additional information on Careers, Colleges, Scholarships and details on free SAT practice through Khan Academy.  If students have forgotten their College Board login credentials, they can contact College Board directly and come by the Counseling Office to receive a .PDF of their testing report.

AP UPDATES:

Stay tuned for more updates!  Ms. Heslep will be finalizing the ordering of exams for the spring in the next few weeks.  Make sure you read her emails!

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

• If students are interested in making a schedule change for the spring semester, they will pick up the Request For Schedule Change Form from their teacher.  The forms will be available beginning December 11.  The deadline to turn return to their counselor is January 10.
• No other schedule change requests will be honored at this time.

CALENDAR ITEMS:

• Guidance Lesson
• December 7 and 8 (Theology classes)
• Stressbusters!  Getting Ready for Semester Exams!
• Check out the bulletin board by our office for resources from each guidance topic.
• STRESSBUSTER WEEK!
• Get ready for semester exams with some fun activities with the Counselors!

• Coffee with the Counselors
• Reviewing results from the Strengths Explorer, Career Interest Inventories, Personality and Learning Styles, etc.
• Share all the resources available in Naviance with college, career, and scholarships research.

PARENT CORNER:

How To Stress Less This Christmas

WRITTEN BYTama Fortner

I heard someone say once that as mamas, we are the keepers of all the things—especially all the appointments and schedules—from our kids, to our husbands, to the dog, and even occasionally ourselves. Carefully filed away somewhere in our minds are all those essential little details about favorite socks, hated and tolerated veggies, and that all-important, must-have-it-to-go-to-sleep lovey. 

We know who to call when this breaks and what to grab for this practice and that field trip. All the house stuff. All the kid stuff. All the time. So many details. And at Christmas, that just intensifies. Because we’re adding in holiday parties, shopping, baking, decorating, entertaining, and all the things. We want to simplify. We want to scale back. We want peace and calm and maybe even a nap. But where to start? How do we make that happen? 

Ponder your treasures:

Let me offer this little bit of advice: take a few minutes—in the carpool line, while littles are napping, or hiding in the tub—and do some pondering. Pondering? Yes. It’s a word I’m borrowing from one of my favorite verses—Luke 2:19. It says, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (NIV). It’s such a calm, peaceful image, isn’t it? Mary quietly pondering these treasures that have been gifted to her. And yet, do you remember when that moment happens? It’s right on the heels of a whole bunch of chaos. Just think about it. Mary has traveled to Bethlehem, given birth in a stable, and had a flock of shepherds burst into her barn. I’m guessing it’s not quite what she envisioned for her firstborn. But there she is, taking time to sort through and lift out the things that mattered most, the things she wanted to remember and treasure. So, as we’re poised to dive headlong into the chaos that so often characterizes the holidays, let’s do as Mary did and ponder for a bit. Let’s ask ourselves what treasures we want to be sure we’ve collected when this season screeches and tumbles to an end. What memories do we want to make and store up for ourselves and for those we love? 

3 questions to ask yourself:

As you ponder, I invite you to ask yourself the three questions that I find myself asking these days: 

1. What makes me smile? 

Is it the baking, the decorating, the entertaining? Is it the quiet times gathered with family at home? Maybe it’s this gathering, that party, or a highly anticipated event. Perhaps it’s choosing just the right gift and topping it with the perfect bow. Maybe it’s serving here or lending a hand there. I’m learning that I need to carve out time for the things that bring my heart joy. I need to plan for them and write them on the calendar—or they don’t happen. And conversely, what are the things that just don’t bring joy? Can some be simplified or simply skipped—making room for more things that do make me smile? 

2. What makes my loved ones smile? 

Sure, it’s important to include some moments for myself, but it’s just as important to include the things that make my loved ones smile. Because, as a mama, one of my greatest joys is putting a smile on the faces of those I love the most. Yes, even when it means doing something I could easily—even happily—skip. Sometimes I know what those things are, but as kids grow and our family life changes, it’s good to have a conversation or two. So I find myself asking questions like, What do you remember most from Christmas last year? What are the things you love and want to be sure to do? Is there anything you’d rather skip this year? What is it that makes Christmas special for you? The answers are sometimes surprising—and prioritizing these treasured things have made our holiday celebrations so much easier. 

3. What makes God smile?

And isn’t this the most important question of all? Because while the world gets so caught up in all the trappings of the holidays—myself included sometimes—what I truly want is for me and mine to be so caught up in all those things Mary pondered. 

What can I do to show my littles, my bigs, and the world around us just how wonderful and amazing and marvelous our Jesus is? How can we as a family honor this God who loves us so much that he sent his own Son to save us? Who can I gift with the story of God’s greatest gift? As I ponder these questions, as I lift them and their answers up to God, he opens my eyes, my mind, and my heart to what really matters. Then my calendar, my to-do list, and even my busiest of busy days begin to reflect him and his ways. 

This year, how will you answer these three questions? What are the things you’ll ponder? And what treasures will you and your loved ones collect?

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 TeleHealth
• 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

COMING SOON FOR JANUARY!

• Guidance Lesson---BULLYING/CYBERBULLYING
• Coffee with the Counselors--January 10 at 8:30 a.m. in the Athenaeum

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.