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‌	Dec. 11, 2018

Can you believe we are already in December? Winter break is right around the corner, but I hope you all had a chance to take a breath and reflect on the season of Thanksgiving this past month. I am thankful for each and every one of you. You make a difference in the lives of young people and that alone is a reason to celebrate!

As I teach my class of future school counselors at San Diego State University (shout-out to my students!), I am reminded of my own awe and wonder of our profession and the wide-eyed, anxious, future counselor that I was. I had many people supporting me and encouraging me to pursue my passion, but I was (and probably still am), my biggest critic and doubter. I hope you all know you can lean on me, but you also need a team of supporters in your corner, either professionally or personally, to keep you energized and reminded of why you chose this super important role for students.

I hope to see you all on Feb. 14 at the fourth annual School Counselor Leadership Conference! Happy holidays and I look forward to supporting you in 2019. Tracy Wilson Counseling Coordinator Learning and Leadership Services 858-568-5459 Join the Network! National School Counseling Week National School Counseling Week 2019, "School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life," will be recognized Feb. 4 to 8. The goal is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by American School Counselor Association (ACSA), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. To help you promote the week, ASCA has many materials and documents available on its website . Send Your Pics of School Counselors in Action If you are posting any pics of events on your campus, don’t forget to use #sdcounselors and tag @SanDiegoCOE to share your great work with everyone! You can also submit photos to our Google folder. You may see them in the conference program or slide show. Share your pride and all your hard work!

CSU Application Deadline Extended Due to the wildfires in California, the California State University system extended its application deadline to Dec. 15. Please pass along this information to your students! For more information visit the CalState Apply website .

California Dashboard Released The California Department of Education and the State Board of Education launched the second version of the California School Dashboard , which gives parents, students, and educators access to valuable school and district data. The 2018 Dashboard includes two new metrics for evaluating school and district performance and a new, user-friendly look that makes complex data easier to understand. The Dashboard is now fully accessible on smart phones and tablets, is easier to navigate, and has improved graphics. The new Dashboard also has the most current data available, including 2018 test scores and graduation rates.

New Legislation for 2019 I attended the Pupil Personnel Services Directors Legislative Update and listed below are some of the new laws that will impact your work beginning in January 2019. Deeper descriptions can be found in the Legislative Update 2019. AB 2121 — Coursework and Grad Requirements: Migratory Children and Newly Arrived Immigrant Pupils AB 1248 — Pupils: School Graduation Ceremonies AB 3022 — Retroactive Grant of High School Diplomas: Departed and Deported Pupils AB 1858 — Student Financial Aid Shopping Sheet AB 2015 — Pupil Instruction: Information about Completion of Applications for Student Financial Aid AB 1974 — Pupils: Collection of Debt AB 2735 — English Learners: Participation in Standard Instructional Program AB 2289 — Pregnant and Parenting Teens For more information, see your district Pupil Personnel Services director or visit the California legislative website.

Counselor Recognition LifeChanger of the Year Know a school counselor you would like to recognize? The National Life Group is currently accepting nominations for the LifeChanger of the Year and the Spotlight Award. The LifeChanger of the Year Award is an annual program recognizing K-12 educators and school employers across the county. The program celebrates those who are making a significant difference in the lives of students. The nominees embody excellence, positive influence, and leadership. They are an inspiration to others, both students and adults. This year the program is bringing back Spotlight Changer of the Year Award. This award is given to a LifeChanger in a specific discipline each year. The 2018-19 spotlight award recognizes school and district counselors, social workers, psychologists, and advisors. Applications are due by Dec. 31. Arthur S. Marmaduke Award The Arthur S. Marmaduke Award is an annual honor recognizing an outstanding California high school counselor who demonstrates exemplary skills in helping students fulfill their dreams of going to college. Each year, the California Student Aid Commission solicits nominations of a counselor who demonstrates effectiveness in serving students in preparing for and pursuing their higher education. The candidate may be nominated by his or her district or county leadership, a fellow school counselor or teacher, school principal, or another site administrator. The winner will be chosen by the California Student Aid Commission and announced in spring 2019. The award, which includes a plaque and $1,500 check, will be presented at the awardee’s school.

Opportunities for Professional Development and Learning We will continue to share any new opportunities for learning in the Google folder for training flyers and on our School Counselor website . Here is a calendar of upcoming training opportunities from the SDCOE Student Support Services division.

School Counselor Leadership Conference Feb. 14 This Valentine’s Day, invest in a day of professional development and self-care at the 4th annual School Counselor Leadership Conference. The cost is $125 and covers breakfast, lunch, a T-shirt, and conference materials. Registration is now open! Register by Jan. 10 to be guaranteed a shirt in your size!  Hundreds of counselors use this event to re-calibrate, de-stress, and get re-energized for their busy spring. It is the go-to annual event for school counselors, focusing on topics unique to their role and bringing together best practices with quality networking and planning time.

International and Out-of-State College Fair and Counselor Certificate Have you ever wondered how to help a student who wants to go to school outside of California? SDCOE, in conjunction with College2College Fairs and San Diego State University School Counseling Graduate Program, will provide a unique opportunity on April 17 for high school counselors to learn more about out-of-state and international college counseling. There will be a day of learning with a certificate for those who attend. Additional details will be available by February. This event is the day before the NACAC College Fair on April 18 at the San Diego Convention Center. Need some convincing about out-of-state and international options for students? Check out the California students find tuition discounts, less-crowded campuses out of state article by EdSource to learn more.

The Power of Pathways and Partnerships: An Unconventional Convening In partnership with ConnectED and the Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence (CREATE) at UC San Diego, San Diego Unified presents PoPPCon on Jan. 16 to 18. This unconventional convention aims to expand the vision for college and career pathways and industry, post-secondary, and community-to-school partnerships. Through customized hands-on experiences around common problems of practice , participants will explore and experience how college and career pathways and partnerships create the conditions and opportunities for students to discover their interests and build essential skills for the future.

CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) Breakfast The annual Joint EAP Breakfast meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29 at CSU San Marcos. Space is limited and registration will close Jan. 23.

Scholarship Opportunities for Students San Diego Foundation It’s getting close to that time of the year again! The San Diego Foundation 2019-2020 Common Scholarship Application is open until 2 p.m. on Feb. 2. As you may already know, many awards included in the application have criteria that makes them better suited to specific groups of students, which means that counselors, administrators, mentors, and community members are vital to helping match those students with relevant awards. Please click here to find scholarship flyers that may correspond to your students’ interests. Caring.com Scholarship More and more high school and college students are taking on the role of caregiver for aging loved ones. To help support these students, there are scholarships through Caring.com that can provide financial assistance. College Board Opportunity Scholarship The College Board Opportunity Scholarships lay out six simple steps that all students can take to get into college. Completing each step will earn a chance for a scholarship; completing all six will earn students a chance to win $40,000 for their college education.         The more effort students put in, the more chances they get to earn a scholarship ranging from $500 to $2,000. If they complete all six steps, they're eligible to earn a $40,000 scholarship. Scholarships are awarded through monthly drawings to students who complete each step. Build Your College List: $500 — Get started by exploring colleges you’re interested in. Practice for the SAT: $1,000 — Use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® to get ready for test day. Improve Your Score: $2,000 — Show how practice pays off by improving your SAT score. Strengthen Your College List: $500 — Make sure your college list has a mix of academic safety, fit, and reach schools. Complete the FAFSA: $1,000 — Fill out the free government form to apply for financial aid. Apply to Colleges: $1,000 — Apply to the schools you want to attend. Complete Your Journey: $40,000 - Complete all six scholarship steps to be eligible. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., San Diego Alumnae Chapter Scholarship Delta Sigma Theta Sorority recognizes and honors African-American female students who are committed to academic excellence, positive leadership, and community service. They typically give book grants and/or scholarships in the amount of $1,000 and more.

Nominate an Inspirational Student for a Surprise Recognition The San Diego County Office of Education and NBC 7 San Diego invite you to nominate an inspirational student who is an outstanding individual on campus and/or within their community. An Inspirational Student of the Month is a high school junior or senior who not only excels in their curriculum and demonstrates leadership, but who goes above and beyond and takes initiative to improve their school and community's environment through service, philanthropic efforts, personal values, or a positive influence. NBC 7 education reporter Rory Devine will recognize the selected student with a surprise visit to their classroom and interview the recipient for an Inspirational Student of the Month segment that airs during a weekday newscast. Pictured below (from left to right) is NBC's Rory Devine with inspirational student Sydney Danso, a senior at Rancho Buena Vista High School, and her nominator and counselor Colleen Williams. College Resources

Race to Submit Dashboard Did you know you can see the number of FAFSAs or California Dream Act applications completed for your school (or any school in California)? Visit the California Student Aid Commission’s Race to Submit website to look up your own school and for more information.

SAT Student Ambassador Program Students are our most powerful advocates for college access tools and information. An Official SAT Practice Student Ambassador program can help you amplify student voices in your mission to increase access to college and career in your school or district. For more information on this free resource, visit the student ambassador page .

Specific College Going Resource for School Counselors Great downloadable resource to bookmark and keep! College Board Resources for Counselors ACT Counselor Toolkit and ACT Counselor Guide UC Counselor Quick Reference Guide CSU Admission Handbook Community College Counselor Resource Center

Career Resources Computing Careers The National Center for Women in Technology has a wonderful list of resources and presentations to help schools get the word out and recruit more women into the tech and computing world. Examples include: Top 10 Ways Families Can Encourage Girls' Interest in Computing (Spanish Version) Top 10 Ways to Engage Underrepresented Students in Computing Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes Top 10 Ways to Be a Male Advocate for Technical Women Top 10 Ways You Can Retain Students in Computing Which Computing Majors are Right for Me?  Community College Pathway to IT and Computing Careers California Career Zone Have you checked out Cacareerzone.org recently? The helpful website has a new look and great, free resources.

Other Resources Vaping Curriculum Available Stanford Medicine created a Tobacco Prevention Toolkit with learning modules specific to vaping and e-cigarettes. The free resources provides an understanding of the inner workings of e-cigarettes, the content of the aerosols they produce, and third-hand smoke. It's broken down into five units, each of which explores e-cigarettes in-depth.

If you have any questions or comments on the Counselor Network newsletter, please contact  Tracy Wilson .

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county.

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