Save The Date! October 25 - Statewide Counselor Cadre
Carolyn Stone will join Kentucky counselors virtually from 9 a.m. to noon ET on Oct. 25 to present legal and ethical considerations for school counselors.
Stone was the 2006 president of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). She has chaired the last three revisions of the American School Counselor’s Ethical Standards and recently retired from serving more than 15 years as ASCA’s Ethics Chair.
Submit questions or topics you would like Stone to discuss. Please register through your local regional cooperative.
Kentucky's Safe Schools Week
The Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS) said this year’s Kentucky Safe Schools Week is set for October 16-22.
The theme this year is "Create A Ripple Effect," to focus on being a difference-maker and create a difference in someone's life. Resources and promotional materials may be found on the KCSS website.
National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, when we shine a light on what bullying is and how to proactively prevent these behaviors from happening. Now is a great time to look at your own system of identifying bullying, proactive education for staff and students on what bullying behaviors are and how to safely report situations that are deemed unsafe.
As a school counselor, something to consider is ensuring your students understand the difference between what behaviors are conflict, rude, mean and bullying. Starting a young age, another lesson to consider is ensuring students understand how to be assertive when these behaviors happen to stay safe and advocate for themselves. The Stop, Walk, Talk Strategy is a simple way for students to learn how to stand up for themselves and others when these behaviors occur.
 School Counselor and School-Based Mental Health Service Provider Use of Time Due Nov. 1
Senate Bill 102, KRS 158.4416, has been updated regarding what information superintendents shall report annually by Nov. 1. It includes school counselors, with the addition of any school-based mental health providers.
The form and other information may be found within the Use of Time Survey for School Counselors and School-Based Mental Health Providers guidance document.
2022 Calming Space Grant Winners
Kentucky received $90,000 funding from ESSER II to enhance social-emotional skills, specifically for self-management within the state's schools. This money will be distributed to eligible schools to support self-management strategies for all students.
Nine winners were awarded $10,000 each to fund the implementation of a universal calming space schoolwide. A second round of applications will be available during the 2023 year on the KDE Competitive Grants webpage.
The 2022 winners include the following schools and districts:
- Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent)
- Crosby Middle School (Jefferson County)
- East Perry Elementary (Perry County)
- Nelson County Early Learning Center
- Painted Stone Elementary (Shelby County)
- Ponderosa Elementary (Boyd County)
- Red Cross Elementary (Barren County)
- Sublimity Elementary (Laurel County)
- Webster County High School
KDE Seeking Nominations for 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking nominations for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
This is not a scholarship; however, all scholars will be honored for their accomplishments during the National Recognition Program, held in June in Washington, D.C. Presidential Scholars will be guests of the commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education during the National Recognition Program and enjoy an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with government officials, educators and other accomplished people. To commemorate their achievement, the recipients are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.
Each school may nominate two high school seniors: one male and one female. Schools are encouraged to nominate students who, while demonstrating outstanding scholarship, might not otherwise be nominated through the current ACT/SAT or arts recognition processes. For the arts component, students must participate in the National Young Arts program.
In addition to the general nominations, we also are asking each of you to nominate additional students from your jurisdiction to be included as candidates for excellence in career and technical education (CTE). Please see the suggested CTE criteria.
It may be helpful to consider the following questions:
- What about the student makes him or her stand out as having outstanding scholarship?
- What special challenges or hurdles has this student overcome while still achieving success in academics, CTE or in the arts?
Students who apply should complete the first page of the application form. The second page must be completed by a counselor or teacher who is most familiar with the student. Please email the completed application for the male and female candidates from your school to Kathie Anderson by Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
KDE will select and submit the names of 25 students to the national selection committee, which will determine the Presidential Scholar winners.
Shout Outs!
The regional cooperatives throughout Kentucky continue to support and advocate for school counselors! Not only do they collaborate with our school counseling statewide cadres, they also ensure other stakeholders such as administrators and central office staff are being trained on updated legislation and how to use school-based mental health providers effectively.
For more information about the cooperatives, visit the links below:
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