Counselor Corner
This newsletter highlights two new advising resources, as well as tools to support all students in the wake of the storm that affected so many Texans.
Counseling Updates
Winter Storm Recovery: Talking With Students After the Storm
The impact of Winter Storm Uri continues to affect students and families across Texas both physically and emotionally. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) offers quality resources for supporting student recovery: Natural Disasters: Helping Kids During Crisis.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers another helpful resource to support students after the storm. It can be used by school counselors, educators, mental health professionals, and parents: Helping Your Child Cope with a Disaster.
Advising Updates
Big Future Student Profiles
The last CASS newsletter highlighted BigFuture Days, a series of virtual college fairs for high school sophomores and juniors to help connect them with hundreds of colleges, admissions officers, and current college students. Another valuable BigFuture advising tool is the Student Profiles. With this resource, students can hear directly from college students about their own college experience on topics such as what college is really like, what they wish they knew before applying, and how they overcame obstacles.
Texas Oncourse
Texas OnCourse offers a wide range of Texas-customized tools for Texas counselors and advisers. TEA works closely with Texas OnCourse to develop quality college and career resources. Do not miss the next Texas OnCourse Monthly Webinar, Enhance Your Advising Practice for Military-Bound Students, on March 16 at 10:00am CT. For asynchronous professional development opportunities through Texas OnCourse, counselors and advisers can complete online training at no cost through the Texas OnCourse Academy. Stay tuned in the months ahead for more information regarding new resources available through Texas OnCourse.
Student Supports Updates
School Social Work Week - March 7-13, 2021
National School Social Work Week is March 7-13, 2021. This is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions of school social workers in supporting the success of students, families and schools throughout the state. School social workers play a vital role in ensuring students have the array of services and resources needed to be “ready to learn” and achieve their full academic potential. Visit School Social Work Week for ideas on how School Social Work Week can be celebrated in your district.
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention
The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) provides a variety of helpful resources to support districts in preventing students from dropping out of school. Through their years of research, the NDPC has identified fifteen strategies districts can incorporate that have proven effective in keeping students engaged in learning and progressing toward graduation and beyond. Visit Effective Dropout Prevention Strategies for more information.
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