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May 2023 - Counselors' Corner
The breezes are warming up, and we are beginning to plant our gardens. Many of us think of Spring as a beginning and renewal. However, others have a more difficult time when the temperatures rise. Research on the seasonal effects of suicide rates suggests that the prevalence of suicide is greatest during the late spring and early summer months, despite the common belief that suicide rates peak during the cold and dark months of the winter season.
May is Mental Health Month, and this is a topic that we take very seriously, proactively building suicide prevention into our training and everyday practices. All staff members in the school have been trained in suicide prevention gatekeeper training, helping to support students at-risk. In the first semester, the South mental health team spent time with most of the students in their English classes, discussing mental health and wellness and reminding them about the warning signs of suicide and prevention tools to support our school community. Click Here for a good info-graphic for reference so that you can be our partners in prevention from home. Also, here are important resources for you to have available:
● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Dial 988
- The Lifeline is a 24-hour toll-free phone line for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. An online chat option is available at
- 988lifeline.org
If you or your student have any concerns or would like to talk through ideas on this subject, we are here to support you.
● National Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741
- Every texter is connected with a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem-solving.
- www.crisistextline.org
Senior Parents
Remember that as your student turns 18, they are no longer a minor; your child is an adult in the eyes of the law. This also means your legal right to access their protected medical, financial, and academic records comes to an abrupt halt, regardless of whether they are still in high school or covered by your health insurance plan. Parents who wish to continue providing support in case of emergency should take action, especially if they are sending a child off to college. Here is a good site to offer more information.
As college-bound students and families begin to make their final college decisions, please ask your student to complete their graduation survey in Naviance, which will direct us on where to send the student's final transcripts. All graduating seniors who will enter college in the fall of 2023 must send their final transcript to their college since the colleges require final proof of graduation and want to see final grades. Colleges reserve the right to rescind offers of admission if they do not like what they see on final transcripts, so we ask you to help us to keep your seniors focused on doing their best in this last lap of high school. See weekly e*blasts for scholarship opportunities, summer programs, and helpful info.
Pro-Tips! There are several presentations from The Family Center that may be very helpful for parents of seniors to check out as their child officially becomes an adult and maybe living away from home
● Beyond Your Reach: Documents you Need When Your Child Turns 18 Once your child turns 18, they have reached the “age of majority,” and he or she is considered an adult. Information regarding your child’s health, finances, and education will not be disclosed to anyone without their written consent, including their parents. In the unanticipated situation where your child is incapable of making decisions on their own, you will be barred from making them on their behalf, including medical decisions. Certain legal documents must be put in place to designate you as your child’s legal representative. We discuss which documents you should consider having in place on your child’s 18th birthday to ensure that you have the authority to make health care and financial decisions on their behalf and to access the educational records.
● College Launch to Empty Nest Transitions with Mary Petersen, LMSW, ACSW
● Staying Safe Without the Safety Net Presented by Sharman Davenport, CEO of
Turning Point, Inc. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. This presentation explores how important it is for teens to understand the importance of safety measures, clear communication, and consensual relations from a male and female perspective, especially when they leave home for college.
● Student Perspectives Panel A Family Center "Ask the Experts" presentation featuring current and former college students offering insight on college life and this big life transition leaving home. The panelists answer questions about things they wish they had known/done, things that surprised them, how the transition went, etc.
Junior Parents
Juniors who took the SAT at South in April will receive an email with instructions on checking their scores online. This is a college entrance reportable score for applications next fall. Counselors have been meeting with students monthly to discuss the college admissions process. If you and your student would like to meet to have a thorough conversation discussing the next steps in planning for college, financial aid consideration, and careers, we are happy to do this. Students should make an appointment to meet with their counselor at their earliest convenience. Parents are welcome to join this meeting. Junior meetings will end at the end of May so that counselors can focus on building student schedules. If you do not have the opportunity to meet with your counselor, we recommend checking the resources available on the Counseling Center Presentation website.
Junior college ‘to-do’ for spring
● Work on developing a list of colleges or trade schools to visit.
● Consider creating a Common App account.
● IF a college you are applying to requires a letter of recommendation, consider asking a teacher in the spring after AP testing. Remember to ask in person, followed up by an electronic request in Naviance. Always be sure to send a handwritten thank-you note to the teacher.
All Students
Summer School is an opportunity to earn credit for classes or replace a low grade. Many core academic courses are available. Reach out to your student’s counselor if you would like to explore options.
We are almost there! Summer is a fantastic opportunity to relax and recharge and enrich and experience. Many summer programs are available to students on college campuses, from community colleges to elite universities. We have included many on our weekly e*blasts, but even a basic Google search will return massive results. Go. See. Do. And have a lovely summer!
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