Respite for School Counselors
The concept of respite, or the provision of temporary relief or rest, has roots that extend deep into history across various cultures and civilizations. While the formal term "respite" might be relatively modern, the idea of taking breaks or finding moments of relief has existed for centuries, and for good reason.
In ancient times, societies recognized the importance of rest and renewal. In ancient Rome and Greece, it was an essential practice to invest in oneself without the demands of public life. In addition, many faiths have rituals or observances that encourage periods of rest or reflection. The Sabbath in Judaism, for example, is a day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation.
In the Middle Ages, monasteries and convents sometimes offered respite to caregivers by temporarily taking in sick or disabled individuals, allowing their families a break from their caregiving duties. As you can see, respite is recognized throughout history to be an essential element of life and service to others.
School counselors serve as essential pillars of support within educational institutions, guiding students through academic challenges, personal growth and emotional difficulties. Their role involves continuous emotional investment and the responsibility of being a confidant, mentor and advocate.
The significance of respite for school counselors cannot be overstated. It's during these moments that counselors can recalibrate, rejuvenate and tend to their own well-being. By stepping back momentarily, they can prevent burnout, process their emotions and renew their capacity to provide empathetic and unwavering support to the students who rely on them.
Respite isn't merely a pause from responsibilities; it's an essential practice that allows school counselors to sustain their emotional resilience and offer the best possible assistance to those in need within the school community.
This holiday season, remember that you deserve a period of pause that it is necessary for you to be able to provide the support and advocacy to your students at a high level. Before you leave for winter break, remember to put on an out-of-office reply – including information for local support and the 988-crisis text line – and then unplug for a well-deserved respite.
Governor's School for Entrepreneurs
The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Summer Startup program is accepting applications for summer 2024. Deadline for submission is Jan. 22.
GSE’s Summer Startup is a free, three-week residential program where high school entrepreneurs from across the state come together on a college campus to create innovative solutions to real-world problems. Participants will gain vital entrepreneurial skills, make connections and transform their lives whether they head to college, start a business or both.
All Kentucky 9th-, 10th- and 11th-graders interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply for the Summer Startup program. GSE does not consider grade-point average or test scores in its application process.
Dozens of businesses have been launched in Kentucky by GSE graduates and several patents have been filed. Graduates also qualify for millions of dollars in scholarships at colleges and universities across Kentucky.
To learn more about GSE and apply for Summer Startup 2024, visit KentuckyGSE.com. Register to attend one of the virtual information sessions about the Summer Startup experience and application process.
Advanced Placement (AP) Information
The Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma program offers high school students an opportunity to learn interdisciplinary critical thinking and collaboration skills, and to complete academic research.
AP Seminar Curriculum Framework rekindles the curiosity of youth and fortifies it with transferable skills students can use to engage in deeper learning about issues of interest to them. Eighty-seven percent of Kentucky students who took the AP Seminar exam in 2023 earned a qualifying score.
For additional information about AP Capstone, AP Seminar, or support available to Kentucky schools through AdvanceKentucky’s College Readiness Program, please reach out to Stephanie Carter or Mark Yoho.
2024-2025 State Course Codes Now Available
The Searchable State Course Codes Database within the Kentucky Educator Certification System is now available with an updated view for the 2024-2025 school year. The Course Codes Frequently Asked Questions document has been revised for 2024-2025 and remains an excellent resource to help new and returning course codes contacts familiarize themselves with proper course code usage.
There are several changes to both career and technical education (CTE) and academic courses. Changes for CTE courses include 18 new courses, as well as seven deprecated courses. Updates to academic courses primarily include course description updates necessary for alignment to official descriptions for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate courses, or to clarify appropriate awarding of credit to satisfy minimum high school graduation requirements.
Additionally, the Pilot AP African American studies course is now open to schools beyond the pilot and a new Jobs for Americas Graduates course code has been created.
New CTE Courses added for the 2024-2025 school year include:
- 480925 Special Topics - Interactive Media
- 461024 Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
- 461053 Constitutional and Criminal Law
- 461030 Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- 030718 Emerging Agriculture Technology
- 170708 Internship: Biomedical Science
- 170503 Co-op (Allied Health)
- 170561 Co-op (Pharmacy Tech)
- 170581 Co-op (Medical Assisting)
- 170582 Internship: Medical Assisting
- 170556 Internship: Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- 170504 Internship: Patient Care Technician
- 170505 Co-op (Patient Care Technician)
- 170562 Internship: Pharmacy Technician
- 170570 Internship: Phlebotomy Technician
- 170603 Internship: Pre-Nursing
- 060123 Introduction to Logistics Management
- 060124 Supply Chain Management.
Deprecated Course Codes that should no longer be used beginning in 2024-2025 include:
- 461066 Firefighting Intermediate Skills II
- 461067 Firefighting Intermediate Skills III
- 461062 Company Officer Development
- 461064 Firefighting Advanced Skills I
- 461065 Firefighting Advanced Skills II
- 210235 Space Systems Engineering I
- 210236 Space Systems Engineering II
For a detailed list of course code changes, please see the 2024-2025 Course Code Changes spreadsheet. A Deprecated Course Codes and What to Use Instead spreadsheet also is available to help schools replace deprecated course codes. Both sheets include historical changes from the 2016-2017 school year to the present.
Please contact coursecodes@education.ky.gov with any questions.
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