The Ripple Effect of Belonging: Helping Students Feel Seen and Valued
As school counselors, our role goes far beyond schedules, testing or even crisis intervention. At its heart, our work centers on human connection. Every student who walks through the doors of our schools carries a story—a unique blend of experiences, dreams, fears and challenges. Yet, for many of our students, what they really need to know is, do I matter here?
We never forget the first time someone truly saw us—not just as another name on a roster, but as a person with value, potential and a story worth knowing. For some of us, it was a teacher who noticed our passion for art or music, a coach who encouraged us during a tough season, or a counselor who said, “I see you, and I believe in you."
When students feel seen and accepted, the impact goes far beyond that one moment of connection. It creates a ripple effect that fosters belonging, confidence and resilience and creates a space where students can learn at maximum levels, which impacts generations to come.
What Ripple Effect Can You Have?
Each day, you have an opportunity to create ripples of connection. It may be through a kind word, an encouraging note or simply taking a moment to sit with a student during lunch. These seemingly small actions have the power to change lives.
Ask yourself: What ripple effect can I create today? How can I connect with a student or staff member to remind them that they are valued and belong here?
As hope dealers, we hold the power to shape a culture of belonging in our schools. When we show up with intention, empathy and hope, we not only help students feel seen—we empower them to see themselves as worthy of every opportunity and success that comes their way.
Never doubt your ability as school counselors to open doors and opportunities for students that will have lifelong impacts. Create safe spaces for students to be their authentic selves, where they are not only accepted but celebrated for who they are. Your encouragement, empathy and belief in their potential can be the catalyst that helps them discover their strengths and pursue their dreams. By showing up with consistency and care, you remind students that they are not alone, that they belong, and that their unique voices matter.
In partnership, purpose and deep admiration,
Michelle
New Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results
The Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted as part of a national effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor students’ health-risk behaviors in six priority areas. These six areas include injury and violence, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors. These risk behaviors contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and social problems among youth and adults in the U.S.
Kentucky has been administering the YRBS since 1997. The survey is voluntary and is administered to a randomly selected sample of middle and high school students across the state.
For more information regarding the YRBS and for national, state and large city survey results, please visit the CDC website.
2025-2026 Course Codes View Now Available in the Searchable State Course Codes Database within KECS
The Searchable State Course Codes Database (SSCCD) within the Kentucky Educator Certification System (KECS) is now available with an updated view for the 2025-2026 school year.
There are several changes to both career and technical education (CTE) courses and academic courses. For CTE, the program areas of Engineering, Transportation, and Business and Marketing have had inactive courses removed due to their misalignment with current state-approved pathways. New courses in Law and Public Safety, Health Science, and Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) have been added to support active pathways and align with industry needs within their program areas. Two new Advanced Placement (AP) courses were added: AP CK Cyber: Security and AP CK Cyber: Networking.
For academic courses, changes were made to courses for English Learners based on district feedback, and changes were made to world languages courses based on feedback from the Kentucky World Languages Association. Additionally, clarifications around which courses can serve as required credits towards minimum high school graduation requirements were made. Several visual and performing arts courses were updated to better align to the revised Kentucky Academic Standards for Visual and Performing Arts. Several other minor changes were made across content areas to better align to intended course purposes.
Please note that 303091 Integrated Science I, 303092 Integrated Science II and 303093 Integrated Science III will be deprecated beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Schools are advised to prepare for this change now.
The name and description of state course code 909995 was updated to reflect its appropriate usage for teaching planning periods.
For a detailed list of course code changes, please visit the Kentucky Uniform Academic Course Codes webpage and access the Course Codes Changes spreadsheet.
Please contact coursecodes@education.ky.gov with any questions.
Kentucky Advising Academy Grant Opportunity
The Kentucky Advising Academy, an initiative of the Council on Postsecondary Education, invites Kentucky public middle and high schools (including Area Technology Centers) to apply for mini-grants reimbursable up to $10,000 to support postsecondary advising for Kentucky students.
Proposals must include new or expanded events or experiences prioritizing at least one of the following, related to the Kentucky Postsecondary Advising Framework (KPAF), to support students in their postsecondary journey.
The application and full proposal can be found on the CPE website.
2025-2026 Course Codes View Now Available in the Searchable State Course Codes Database within KECS
The Searchable State Course Codes Database (SSCCD) within the Kentucky Educator Certification System (KECS) is now available with an updated view for the 2025-2026 school year.
There are several changes to both career and technical education (CTE) and academic courses. For CTE, the program areas of Engineering, Transportation, and Business and Marketing have had inactive courses removed due to their misalignment with current state-approved pathways. New courses in Law and Public Safety, Health Science, and Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) have been added to support active pathways and align with industry needs within their program areas. Two new Advanced Placement (AP) courses were added: AP CK Cyber: Security and AP CK Cyber: Networking.
For academic courses, changes were made to courses for English Learners based on district feedback, and changes were made to world languages courses based on feedback from the Kentucky World Languages Association. Additionally, clarifications around which courses can serve as required credits towards minimum high school graduation requirements were made. Several visual and performing arts courses were updated to better aligned to the revised Kentucky Academic Standards for Visual and Performing Arts. Several other minor changes were made across content areas to better align to intended course purposes.
Please note that 303091 Integrated Science I, 303092 Integrated Science II and 303093 Integrated Science III will be deprecated beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Schools are advised to prepare for this change now.
The name and description of state course code 909995 was updated to reflect its appropriate usage for teaching planning periods.
For a detailed list of course code changes, please visit the Kentucky Uniform Academic Course Codes webpage and access the Course Codes Changes spreadsheet.
Please contact coursecodes@education.ky.gov with any questions.
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