School's Out...Now What?

School was out a couple of weeks ago for the teachers and students. The counselors get to stay an extra two weeks and two days.  I always ask why?  Why do we have to have an 11-month contract? I am not complaining about the extra month of pay, but I like the time off. Rather than writing a whole post complaining about the reasoning (is there any?) behind this decision, I want to share how I spend this time.

Day 1: This was the first day back to work after graduation and the last day of school. I am reminded that I get to stay an extra two weeks and two days while my colleagues are at home sleeping in.  I had no transcripts to review so I began cleaning my desk and office.

Day 2: Continued cleaning my desk and the office.  I cleared out binders that were two years old and shredded transcripts.

Day 3: Continued cleaning my desk and office.  The transcripts were not ready.  I made sure that my students were enrolled in summer school. Although I made this list already, I like to double-check it.

Day 4: Continued cleaning my desk and office.  I shredded so many transcripts. I have cleaned out so much but my desk is still a mess. Has this ever happened to you? I did final touches to Grad Nite! Transcripts are ready!

Day 5: Disneyland Grad Nite. I was a zombie the entire weekend because it takes me at least two days to recover from a trip to Disneyland.  I did not party like it was 1999.  Can it be 1999? Just kidding.

Day 6: We had a long department meeting with the principal to discuss the strengths and growth areas for our department. We made a list of things we are working on until June 30^th and things we want to prepare for the next year.  The list is long!

Day 7: That is today! It took me all day to review transcripts for about 60 students. I still have to review 157 transcripts. 

Day 8: We will have a follow up meeting with the principal to discuss next steps.  We will be discussing protocols, at-risk students, student activities distribution, clean and organize, and crisis intervention.  I need to connect with the Resource teacher to discuss some of the students on my caseload.

Day 9: I get to review transcripts. I may take a break and clean and organize some more.

Day 10: I will continue to review transcripts and work on my timeline for the juniors.

Day 11:  We will have another meeting with our principal to discuss the next steps and see where we are at with them. 

Day 12: We are having an end of the year counseling department meeting to discuss any items we did not get to after the meetings we already had. 

The counselors return at the end of July for professional development meetings.  We have meetings for a week until the students return to school.  I enjoy taking a week to plan and organize for the new school year and I am looking forward to some rest. 

What do you do to plan for the next school year? If you work 10 months, when do you have time to plan for the next year? I am always so curious to know what other counselors do to prepare for the next year.

The College Decision

College Decision Bulletin Board 

It felt like yesterday when I was talking to the seniors about their college plans.  At the start of the school year I meet with my caseload of seniors to discuss their college plans.  Some items we discuss are, CSU/UC GPA, test scores, re taking the SAT/ACT, personal statement and some refreshers about letters of recommendation and other college choices. 

During the entire year the senior counselors, guide and assist students throughout the college and financial aid process.   In addition, we are helping our students choose a college to attend in the fall.  This conversation can be very easy or very difficult.  It is easy because everything lines up-the student is excited, financial is good and parents are supportive. It can be a difficult decision because the college acceptances are not where the student wants to attend, the financial aid is not good and/or the parents do not want to let their baby go.  I understand all of this and this is definitely a process.

In May, students must make a college decision. To celebrate this the counselors, with the help of our service students put up a board in the 1^st floor hallway.  The theme this is “To Infinity and Beyond.”  The colleges were represented and the students attending were represented by a space ship. 

I am so proud of our Class of 2015.  They have been a joy to work with throughout the highs and the lows.  I will remember each of them. 

Here is a picture of the finished bulletin board. 

Self-Care

We are at the end of the school year and I am writing about self-care.  Everyday that I am at work and even when the day is done, I think about others feelings and well being before my own.  This is my job and it is what I love to do.  However, I forget about my own needs and here I am sick again.  Instead of wallow in my own sickness-this is the 4^th time I’ve been sick this year-I want to remind you that is okay to take care of yourself.  Remember, to get that extra hour of sleep, take vitamins, exercise, eat healthy and enjoy something that is just for you.  Every year I promise myself I am going to do all of these things and this just might be the year.  I do not like being away from my office and students.  I have to be honest with myself and I do have asthma so I need to stay home and rest.  I can be more preventative and take care of myself.  I am making a trip to get those vitamins!

Red Ribbon Week 2014

This year’s Red Ribbon Week theme was “Love Yourself. Be Drug Free.”  Each year, we have Red Ribbon Week the week of the annual college fair.  Each day had a theme along with Advisory competitions. 

Theme Days

Day 1 Red Out Drugs! Wear Red Accessories. Pledge Day. 

Day 2 Band Together Against Drugs. Wear favorite music band t shirt.

Day 3 College Day.  College Fair.

Day 4 Titans Say No to Drugs! Wear school gear.

Day 5 Scare Away Drugs. Crazy Hair Day. 

Advisory classes were able to win points for each day. The winning Advisory will receive a prize, which is still in the works. 

Door Decorating Contest

The door decorating contest is an annual tradition.  I had 4 categories this year: Most Creative, Interesting Content, Best use of a Halloween or Fall theme, and Overall. The administrators judged the doors. 

Red Ribbon Week Pledge

I like to come up with something each year for students and staff to write their drug free pledge.  Since this year’s theme was “Love Yourself. Be Drug Free” I created a heart, and had each student write his/her name, grade level, Advisory teacher and what he/she loved most about himself/herself.  Last year’s theme was college so the students’ pledge was a pennant. 

Drug Awareness Facts

I used the Daily Bulletin to insert a fact each day about statistics and teenagers. 

Workshop for students

A guest speaker presented to the students after school on Friday to close Red Ribbon Week.  It is an organization called Fresh Start and they coordinate the presentation for our students and they also present to parents. 

In the midst of college applications, planning a college fair and planning Red Ribbon Week I forgot to take pictures of the signs the students created for each day and some examples of the doors.  I promise the doors were outstanding. 

If you’re looking to coordinate a Red Ribbon Week next year, let me know.  I have my forms created and I’d be happy to share.  At the same time, I am looking for new, fresh ideas for next year and a way to get the entire school excited. 

Welcome Back!

It’s a new school year!  Well, I am 3 weeks into the new school year and after schedule changes and making sure that my seniors have the classes they need to graduate, I am sort of feeling like things are settling down.  I haven’t written a blog post since March.  The end of the school year is always busy and exciting.  Seniors were finalizing college plans and the underclassmen were selecting classes. 

This year I am not teaching a class.  However, I do have juniors this year as well as seniors.  In addition, I am the senior activities advisor so I get to plan winter formal, prom, grad night and graduation.

I am working on the counseling department bulletin board for the year.  The title this year is “To College and Beyond…”  More to come about that.  As always, I would like to blog more this year. I even have a few ideas for some regular posts. 

See you in the next blog!