Dubiski Counselor Connection

🎉 We are thrilled to announce and celebrate our QuestBridge National College Match Finalists!

These exceptional students have demonstrated remarkable academic achievement, leadership, and perseverance throughout their high school journey. Their dedication and hard work have earned them recognition in one of the nation’s most prestigious scholarship programs — connecting top students with full scholarships to the country’s best universities.

Please join us in congratulating our outstanding Dubiski Finalists:

November 6:

• District Financial Aid Night @ DCHS, 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

November 11:

• District Financial Aid Night @ SGPHS, 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

November 10 & 14-20:

• Sophomore CCMR Chats

November 13:

• NHS Induction - DCHS Cafeteria 6:00 pm -7:00 pm

November 18:

• District Financial Aid Night @ SGPHS, 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

November 17:

• Carter Blood Drive - DCHS North Entrance, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

November 17-21:

🎓COLLEGE & CAREER WEEK! 💼

November 18:

• Military Fair (1st Floor, During all Lunches)
• District Financial Aid Night @ Crosswinds, 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

November 19:

• College Fair (1st floor, During all Lunches)

November 20:

• Career Fair (1st Floor Atrium, During All Lunches)
• Senior Skate Night @ Arlington Skatium, 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm

November 21:

• Greek Life Fair (1st Floor Atrium, During All Lunches)
• TSIA2 Testing (for students who sign up)

November 24- 28:

• THANKSGIVING BREAK!

As Thanksgiving break approaches, we want to remind students and the adults who support them, to pause, recharge, and practice self-care. With the 1st semester winding down, it’s easy to feel stressed about grades, extracurriculars, and other things. Without intentional self-care, burnout and emotional fatigue can sneak in.

Here’s a fun challenge:
Try one new self-care activity each day of break! Some ideas include:

• 🚶 Going for a walk

• 🌳 Spending time outside

• 🎨 Experimenting with creativity

• 🧘 Meditating or practicing mindfulness

We're providing you with the “99 Coping Skills” handout — encourage yourself to complete nine activities over break, one for each day.

Take this time to reset, refresh, and prioritize YOU — because taking care of your mind and body is just as important as your grades. — Your School Counseling Team

The end of the semester is slowly creeping up on us! ⏰ We wanted to send a quick reminder about how credits are awarded to help ensure your student stays on track for graduation. 🎯

💡 Here’s how it works:

• Credit is awarded on a semester basis and is calculated by averaging the 1st and 2nd nine-weeks grades.
• Learners will earn 0.5 credits toward graduation for every passed course this semester.

So even if your student had a rough start during the 1st nine-weeks, there’s still time to turn things around! 🙌 By improving 2nd nine-weeks grades and doing well on the final exam, students can still earn their semester credit and stay on pace for graduation success! 🎉

Keep pushing, Jags — you’ve got this! 💪💚💛

If you’re interested in taking the TSIA2 Test on one of our upcoming testing dates, space is limited—only 30 slots are available! Slots will be filled first come, first served based on students who submit all required documentation by the deadline.

Important Update: Documentation MUST be submitted the Monday before your scheduled TSIA2 testing day by 4:30 pm, in order to be added to the testing roster.

✅ Upcoming TSI Testing Dates & Submission Deadlines:

To be eligible to take the TSIA2, you must complete all required steps: [click the link below].

Don’t wait—complete your steps early to secure your spot and take the next step toward your college and career goals! 🚀

Looking for a way to give back, build your résumé, and make a positive impact in your community? Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, explore your interests, and develop valuable skills that colleges and employers love to see. Below you’ll find flyers highlighting upcoming opportunities where you can lend a hand, share your talents, and make a difference.

November is National Career Development Month, and it’s the perfect time for freshmen to start exploring their future career interests!

To celebrate, we encourage all 9th graders to take a Career Interest Inventory using the CareerOneStop website. This short assessment will help you discover careers that match your interests, strengths, and goals.

👉 Start here: CareerOneStop Interest Assessment

Take the first step toward your future today — your dream career starts with self-discovery!

Hey Sophomores! 👋 November is National Career Development Month, and it’s the perfect time to explore the soft skills and transferable skills that will help you succeed in any career!

What are soft skills?

"Self-management" skills are personal traits you possess, your attitude, and personality.

What are transferable skills?
These are workplace skills — that aren’t tied to one specific job but are essential in nearly every career.

Your Activity:

1. Use the Exploring Soft Skills/Transferable Skills Checklist to identify the personal, self-management skills you believe you have.
2. Next, using the same checklist, think about times you’ve used any of the transferable skills in your part-time job, volunteering, extracurriculars, hobbies, or classroom activities.

3. After mentally checking off your skills, reflect on how these skills will be important in a career you’re considering.

Your Dubiski counselors will be meeting with you for CCMR Chats on November 10 & 14–20!

During these chats, we’ll review your transcript and discuss your progress toward graduation. We’ll also provide guidance on becoming College, Career, and Military Ready (CCMR) to help you plan your junior/senior year and life after high school.

In addition, you’ll be registered for your GreenLight Locker, an important tool that helps you store and share your academic records securely for future college or career opportunities.

Be ready to learn more about your path to success!

Hey Juniors! 👋 November is National Career Development Month, and it’s the perfect time to focus on you—your skills, strengths, and career goals. While we spend a lot of time on social media, news, or binge-watching shows, this month is all about building a better picture of yourself for your future career!

Here are some tools & tips to help you get started:

1️⃣ Skills Map – Employers look for key skills in every workplace. Rank yourself from 1 (low) to 8 (high) on these 10 skills to see your strengths and areas to grow:

• Verbal Communication _____

• Decision & Problem Solving _____

• Listening _____

• Organization _____

• Planning _____

• Time Management _____

• Creativity _____

• Building Relationships _____

• Written Communication _____

• Research _____

2️⃣ Career Opportunities – Explore these websites full of jobs, apprenticeships, and training programs. Pick 3 roles that interest you, identify the top skills needed for each, and compare them to your self-ratings.

• CareerOneStop

• Apprenticeship.gov

• My Next Move

3️⃣ My Skill Focus – Now, create a one-week plan to practice and improve your key skills. Try a different activity or task each day that helps you develop your focus skill. Feel free to use the planner here to visualize your progress!

Taking these steps now will help you understand your strengths, build essential skills, and plan for your future career. Start exploring and growing today! 🌟

The Texas Monthly 2025 College Guide is the perfect resource to explore your in-state choices! Whether you’re interested in a big university or a smaller campus with strong programs, this guide gives you the info you need.

Use it to:

• 📚 Discover detailed profiles of Texas colleges & universities

• 🎓 Learn about academic programs, campus life, and admissions tips

• 💰 Compare tuition, financial aid, and graduate outcomes

• 🗣 Hear from students, faculty, and admissions experts

Don’t miss this chance to explore Texas’ diverse higher-education landscape in one beautifully curated resource. Check out the digital version today — and start planning your next big step!

November is National Career Development Month, and it’s the perfect time to focus on selling yourself—making sure you stand out when applying for jobs, internships, or other opportunities.

Applying for jobs is not the time to be modest!
While you never want to exaggerate or be untruthful (that can backfire!), it’s important to highlight your key strengths. Think about your skills, accomplishments, and experiences that make you a strong candidate. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase what makes you unique! Highlighted below are some key steps to give you the best chance at the application and interview stage.

💼 Key Steps to Sell Yourself:

• Identify your top skills and achievements.
• Tailor your resume or application to highlight relevant experiences.
• Practice confidently describing your strengths in a clear, concise way.

🎤 Be Interview Ready:

• Do Your Research - Show interviewers that you’re interested in the position / course by making sure that you know your stuff about their company. Find out as much as you can about the company you are interviewing with. Use this template to guide your research.
• In the Hot Seat - A great way to prepare for interviews is to practice answering interview-style questions. We’ve created a mock interview video designed to help you practice - you’ll be asked a variety of questions and have a set amount of time to respond to each one.

🗣️ Talking the Talk (Sound Professional and Confident) - We naturally change how we speak depending on who we’re talking to—friends, family, or teachers. Job applications and interviews are no different! It’s important to use professional language to make a great impression.

• ➡️ Check out this list of employer-friendly phrases to help you “talk the talk” when applying or interviewing.

Taking the time now to prepare and practice will give you the best chance to shine during both the application and interview stages. Start practicing today and make your strengths count! 🌟

If you haven’t completed your applications or aren’t sure which school is right for you, the Texas Monthly 2025 College Guide is your go-to resource! Explore Texas colleges and universities to find the programs, campuses, and opportunities that fit your goals.

Inside the guide:

• 📚 Profiles of Texas colleges & universities

• 🎓 Academic programs, campus life, and admissions tips

• 💰 Tuition, financial aid, and graduate outcomes

• 🗣 Stories and advice from students, faculty, and admissions experts

Don’t wait — check out the digital version and start planning your next step toward college success!

We’re thrilled to introduce a new recognition program for our Class of 2026 graduates! Students who meet specific college readiness or military service benchmarks will be eligible to wear honor cords at graduation.

Here’s how you can qualify:

• College Readiness: Meet the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics through the ACT, SAT, or TSIA2 exams. You don’t have to meet both standards on the same test — for example, ELA on the SAT and Math on the TSIA2 works! Check with your counselor or college advisor to see your progress.

• Military Service: Students enlisting in the military can earn a cord by submitting a completed DD4 form to show their commitment to serving our country.

Important Notes:

• GPISD has all scores taken in-district. If you tested outside the district, please upload your full score report here.

• To report military enlistment with a DD4 form, submit here.

These honor cords celebrate not only academic achievement but also your dedication to community and country. We can’t wait to recognize your hard work at graduation!

📧 Questions? Contact Holly Mohler, Director of College, Career, and Military Readiness Outcomes, at Holly.Mohler@gpisd.org.

On Monday, October 27th, letters were sent home with Class of 2026 students who are currently in the Top 10% of their class. Please ask your student about their letter and be sure to electronically sign it using the QR code that was included.

• FAFSA is now open for application submission!
• Both student and parent/contributor will need to first set up FSA ID for signature
• Within the application you can link your tax information
• SSN and seperate email addresses required (students do NOT use DCHS email)

If you’re applying to colleges through Common App you must add your counselor to your account in order for them to complete the required school report and submit a recommendation, if required. Please make sure you follow these steps:

1. Complete the Education Section of Common App

2. Add a College to your application list

3. Open the College Questions for that school

4. Scroll down to Recommenders and FERPA

5. Complete the Release Authorization

6. WAIVE your FERPA rights (this allows colleges to view recommendations as confidential)

7. Invite your Academy Counselor

8. Invite Ms. Preston as your Advisor - This will allow her to remind you of missing documents and incomplete applications.

If you require a letter of recommendation for a scholarship, college application, or other educational opportunity, please message your Counselor at least TWO weeks prior to the application deadline. This will allow processing time for counselor's to fulfill your request.

You will need to complete your Brag Sheet and attach it to the email to your counselor, along with your Resume, if you have one. The information provided on your brag sheet will allow your counselor to write a comprehensive and detailed counselor recommendation letter. The content of your recommendation letter can have a great impact on your admittance into your college/university of choice or the scholarship to which you are applying. Counselor recommendation requests will NOT be completed until a Brag Sheet is completed!

COUNSELORS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO WRITE LETTERS OVER EXTENDED BREAKS, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO PLAN AHEAD!

Seniors, don’t leave money on the table! There are tons of scholarships out there waiting for you—and many don’t require perfect grades or test scores. Scholarships are a great way to help pay for college, career training, or other post-graduation plans. Check out the GPISD Scholarship page here and start applying today. The more you apply, the better your chances of earning free money for your future!

2990 South Highway 161

Grand Praire, Tx, 75052

https://www.gpisd.org/Domain/11979