June 5, 2017
Happy June! Congratulations on finishing the school year!

I hope you have a plan to recharge and get in some much-needed rest! We are already preparing for next year's support and professional learnin g for counselors, including the 2018 School Counselor Leadership Conference. We had a great year and we have listened to your feedback. We took your ideas and suggestions, coupled it with some challenges we see co ming up, and are hopeful that "if we build it, they will come." Check out some of the opportunities below to begin planning for next year.
 
As a mom of a high school junior and incoming freshman, I've been able to see things from a parent's perspective this year. Wow! There is so much for parents and students to know. As counselors, we play such a huge role in making time more manageable for our students. It is so important to keep up with the changes and have the most up-to-date information.  
 
I love seeing you and your work in action, so please email me  and send in pictures of your campus or district activities. This newsletter is an outlet to share resources and best practices, so let's keep learning from each other!
 
Looking forward to another great year!

Counseling Coordinator, Learning and Leadership Services
858-568-5459
Suicide Prevention AB 2246

AB 2246 mandates all schools serving pupils in grades 7 through 12 to implement suicide prevention policies before the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. For resources and templates, visit the SDCOE Student Support Services  website.

13 Reasons Why Netflix Series

The series 13 Reasons Why is based on a 2007 young adult novel about a 17-year-old girl named Hannah Baker who commits suicide and tells the story after her death through audiotapes. Hannah uses the recordings to tell 13 people the part they played in her decision to take her life. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) strongly recommends that vulnerable youth, especially those who have experienced suicidal ideation, not watch the series. However, the series and the attention surrounding it presents an opportunity to engage youth and adults in meaningful conversations about the multiple and often complex issues associated with suicide.
 
UC-CSU-College Board Highlights Day

We highly recommend you attend the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and College Board conferences listed below under Upcoming Professional Learning. However, we are aware that some people may not be able to attend. To support school counselors, SDCOE will host a UC-CSU-College Board Highlights Day for counselors from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 13. The day will include presentations from San Diego State University, UC San Diego, and College Board representatives for updates on their various specialities. Register here before spaces fill up!
New Counselor Institute

Last year was our first cohort of the New Counselor Institute. This six-part series highlights skills and resources with which every school counselor should be familiar. Learning and Leadership Services and Student Support Services, two separate divisions at SDCOE, teamed up to offer this unique training. Participants shared that they loved the activities, learned about new resources, and were grateful to know they are not alone in continuing to learn and grow.  
 
The first cohort of counselors was very clear in a request for a second year of support. We are working on a second year of supports for the first cohort and opening up the next New Counselor Institute for the next cohort. The target group for the New Counselors Institute is counselors who have been in the profession three years or less, but we invite anyone who wants a refresher to attend! Visit the website to register and get more information.
Counselors and Curriculum

The four-part Counselors and Curriculum series ended in May, but you can review the highlights and updates from different content areas in these presentations . Feedback was very positive and we will likely offer this again in 2017-18. Dates will be announced in future  newsletters and on the School Counselors website when available.
Share Your Story with Dr. Trish Hatch and Hatching Results 

Now is the perfect time to celebrate the everyday miracles created by school counselors by sharing stories of courage and success in using data to positively impact student achievement or create unbelievable systemic change. Your story could be used in an upcoming inspirational book celebrating the use of data in school counseling. If your story is selected, you will receive a free copy of the book. Click here to share your story. Visit the website to sign up for a periodic newsletter.
Upcoming Professional Learning

UC Fall Counselor Conferences
The one-day UC Counselor conferences offer the latest information about UC admissions, policies, and practices. They are designed for anyone who advises students about higher education, from community college transfer counselors to high school guidance counselors, principals, and teachers. Nearby dates include Sept. 5 at UC San Diego and Sept. 6 and 7 at UC Riverside. Learn more and register here .

CSU Fall Counselor Conference
This year's CSU Counselor conference in San Diego County will be  Sept. 21 at the Center For The Arts in Escondido. To register and see other dates and locations available click here .

The conference will introduce the new CSU application, Cal State Apply, and promote the CSU's efforts to improve college readiness, including the Graduation Initiative 2025 designed to support students throughout the entire pipeline from the CSU application to graduation. The conference also showcases CSU tools and resources for counselors and students and provides a forum to discuss hot topics such as financial aid, student services, and impaction. Counselors and educators can collaborate with colleagues and CSU campus  representatives to share knowledge and learn best practices.

College Board Fall Counselor Workshops
College Board Counselor workshops provide important updates on College Board programs and services, and exclusive tools and resources to make it easier to guide students toward college and career success. They're also a great opportunity to network with colleagues. Each workshop is three hours. There will be a workshop Sept. 14 at the University of San Diego. Click here for more information and to register.
 
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) High School Counselor Workshops
The CASC High School Counselor workshops focus on state-funded financial aid programs and the student application process. These free workshops provide valuable information to high school counselors and educational advocates on financial aid programs such as the California Dream Act, Cal Grant, and the Chafee Grant. In addition, attendees receive a comprehensive overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The workshops for San Diego and Imperial counties will be Oct. 5 or 6 at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego. Click here to learn more and register.

Trauma-Informed Practices for Schools (TIPS) 
Learn about the physiological impacts of trauma on the brain and possible emotional, behavioral, social, and intellectual or academic impacts on students in foster care. These can include attachment issues, externalized behaviors, disabilities, and more. Also, develop an understanding of the importance of self-care and addressing our own history or traumatic experiences. The TIPS workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 20 is free to attend, but  registration is required .

TIPS Training of Trainers
The training of trainers workshops are offered multiple times a year. Please visit the  Student Support Services calendar for dates and cost.

Best Behavior: Building Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
School sites will be guided through the process of developing and sustaining a schoolwide Positive Behavior Support system at the Best Behavior workshop. In order to implement Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI2) in the area of behavior, school sites must develop a system of universal screening, site-wide teaching of positive behaviors, and a mechanism to support staff in ongoing implementation. Click here for more information and to register.
Upcoming Events
 
2017 Equity Symposium
Don't miss the 2017 Equity Symposium on Sept. 7 and 8! Explore student agency with Dr. Anthony Muhammad , a well-known author and speaker on transforming schools, George Couros , educator and author of The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity , and author Liz Murray , inspirational speaker and best-selling author of, Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard .
 
The second annual Equity Symposium builds on district efforts to ensure equity and access for all students. Learn more about the event and how you can submit a proposal to present by clicking here . We want to make sure counselor voice is represented!

SAVE THE DATE: School Counselor Leadership Conference 2018
Don't miss out on our third annual School Counselor Leadership Conference! Save the date now for Feb. 15. We're planning another uniquely counselor-focused event featuring dozens of breakout sessions, resources, and more. Mark Feb. 15 on your 2017-18 calendar and  look for early-bird registration and other details in the September newsletter.

California Association of School Counselors (CASC) Annual Conference
The 17th annual CASC School Counseling Conference on Oct. 23 and 24 in Riverside is themed Evolve. Engage. Empower. The conference focuses on five themes: safe and supportive schools; reaching higher for college and career readiness; evidence-based school counseling; professional practices; and the digital landscape. Click here to learn more and register to attend the Riverside event.
College Resources

Explore this curated list of websites, resources, best practices, and articles that school counselors and others can use to aid students in exploring college options and selecting post-secondary options. If you have resources you think should be added, please fill in this form .

SSD  Accomodations
The College  Board has provided this presentation on accommodations for students
with disabilities as SDCOE was unable to host a previously advertised webinar on the topic.

Counselor Summer Institute 
Join the free Counselor Summer Institute, a three-day professional development event designed to make it easier for you to prepare your students for college and career success.  Online presentations and webinars developed by counseling and higher education leaders will explore college counseling strategies and show you how to apply what you've learned when you get back to school. The institute is from Aug. 8 to 10 and click   here to register or learn more.

Additional Training
The College Board also offers a series of free, live webinars to middle and high school counselors on the topics most relevant to your work. Click here for a list of all College Board professional development opportunities and resources for school counselors and teachers to promote a college- and career-going culture. There is even an  end-of-year checklist  for you.

Career Resources

 

Personal, Social, and Mental Health Resources

 

General Articles and Resources

Get daily local and national education news with the SDCOE Daily News Clips by emailing  communications@sdcoe.net , and learn about student opportunities with the monthly What's Happening newsletter.
Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county.

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