GPCI Counseling Services Department

Greetings GPCI Scholars and Families,

March is here!! Warmer weather and spring break are in sight. I loved seeing everyone at Open house at the end of February. During the month of March, GPCI Counseling Services will be focusing on Escape the Vape week and Rising 9th Grade Registration. Escape the Vape week is one of the substance abuse prevention programs GPISD uses to raise awareness.

Rising 9th Grade Registration

If your scholar is staying at GPCI Mrs. Robb is meeting with each returning scholar individually to review their core class selection and advise them on their electives (this will also happen yearly). If they are leaving GPCI, the counselor at their new HS will meet with them to make their schedules.

Click on this link for instructions on how to see your scholar's course requests (8-12 grade only) in Xello for next year, Xello Lesson progress and post-secondary information.

Please check in with your scholar regarding their Xello Lesson completion status. All scholars should have completed the first two lessons and should be working on Lesson 3.

Lesson 3 is due on 3/25/2022.

Finally, at GPCI we are wanting everyone to feel included, seen and valued...we are doing this by normalizing two phrases 1) Are you okay? 2) I'm here for you. Students and staff are encouraged to say this to people in their lives at school, at home and in their community.

As always, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Mrs. Robb, M.Ed

School Counselor

• GPCI Counseling Services Website
• GPCI Virtual Relaxation Room
• GPISD Mental Health Resources
• Family and Community Engagement Department
• STOP. BREATHE. THINK
• Greater Good

When students use e-cigarettes, also known as vape pens, many of them believe they are just vaping "flavored water". On the contrary, vaping involves inhaling "e-juice", a form of aerosol. According to the American Lung Association, aerosols typically contain flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease. Students also fail to realize that some vape pens, cartridges, or pods can contain nicotine, even when it is marketed to contain none at all. For example, according to the CDC, JUUL (a popular brand amongst 15-24 years old) always contains nicotine. They are one of the few e-cigarette brands that use nicotine salts, which allow particularly high levels of nicotine to be inhaled more easily and with less irritation than commonly used tobacco products. Vape cartridges or pods can also be filled with THC (marijuana oil), CBD, in addition to other harmful chemicals. NOTE: If a vape pen has more than one gram of THC, students will be arrested and charged with a third degree felony.

Vape pens are quite easy to conceal. They do not leave a telltale scent, and many of them can be disguised as commonly known items, such as a small USB drive and/or a Sharpie. Vaping is harmful to our students because it affects brain development, respiratory systems, and in some cases, will cause psychological effects. It could lead to an addiction, or students wanting to "chase a high" and experiment with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, LSD, PCP, meth, fentanyl, etc.

Check out the references and resources below for more information.

Talking to Youth & Young Adults
Talk to Your Child About Drugs (Parent Resource)

American Lung Association: Talk About Vaping

Quick Facts on the Risks

Opioid Crisis: The Story of a Fentanyl Victim

Drug Overdoses Top 100,000

February - March 10 (Deadline) Rising 9th Grade Xello Registration

March 8 - March 11 - GPCI Q 3 District Assessments

March 21 - 25 - Escape the Vape Week

March 31- Xello Lesson 3 Due

Scholars, to be successful in your dual credit courses. Please make sure you do not procrastinate and ask for help from the professor when needed.

Your dual credit grades are in blackboard, so it is a good practice is to look at them every time you go into blackboard.

Dual Credit Parent Presentation

Financial Aid Checklists

• Middle School Financial Aid Checklist
• 9th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 10th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 11th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 12th Grade Financial Aid Checklist

College Preparation Checklists

• Middle School College Planning Checklist
• 9th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 10th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 11th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 12th Grade College Planning Checklist

HS Scholars taking On-Ramps Courses

Students who earn and accept college credit in an OnRamps course may request a transcript from UT Austin's Office of the Registrar, Transcript Services three months following the end of their course. Students will not automatically receive a transcript. Transcripts are not available for courses in progress, courses that were dropped, or courses for which the student elected not to claim credit.

Students must wait until the final course grade is recorded with the Office of the Registrar before ordering a transcript. Students may use the Registrar's See My Grades application to confirm their course grade is posted to their UT Austin transcript.

After the 3 month period, OnRamps students who are unable to order online may complete the transcript order form and email it to transcripts@austin.utexas.edu; or fax it to 512-475-7681. The Registrar charges $20 for each transcript requested.

SENIORS

• Complete applications for colleges/universities through Xello.
• Link your Common App. to your Xello Account
• All Transcript requests must be done through Xello. If college/university does not accept through Xello, go to your College Portal and request the transcript get sent that way.
• Have copies of your most recent GPISD (Skyward), Dallas College and University of Texas-Austin Transcript.

Dallas College- https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/transcripts/pages/electronic.aspx

UT-Austin- https://enterprise.login.utexas.edu/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s2

• GPISD Local Scholarships
• Going Merry February Scholarships
• Education is Freedom March 2022 Scholarships

Xello is an engaging, fun-to-use software that students can access online, at school or at home. Students can even access Xello from their mobile devices. Using Xello, students plan their journeys toward the future by creating their very own unique roadmap for future success.

The program is implemented through the GPISD Counseling Services Department at every elementary and secondary campus. The mission of the Counseling Service Department is to guide students from cradle to career, making every student future-ready!

Scholars Sign in link for Xello. (Do not use old login information)

See Canvas for specific login information

https://auth.xello.world/SAML/Student/d2046896-095a-4acd-919e-28dca02b9564

Xello Resource Website

How Students Request Transcripts in Xello

• Access the College Planning Tools

• To begin with, go to College Planning from the Goals & Plans link in the top menu of on the Dashboard.
• This page is a central hub to view all the applications you're tracking, and local scholarships available. Or check our the Knowledge Hub with topics to help you plan for college.
• Create an Application to Track
• Click Create Your First Application to choose the college you want to track your application with.
• If this isn't your first one, this page will be a list of your previous applications.
• Use the search bar to enter the school name and click Select, then click Next.
• On the next page, add details such as your application Admission Type and Deadline. Then click Create to begin tracking your application for this college.
• Send a Transcript
• In the application tracker for the college, you'll see the Applications Checklist. Use this checklist to track the things you need to complete for the application.
• From the list, where it says Transcript, click Request to request your high school send your transcript to the school.
• If you don't see Transcript listed under the requirements, this college may not require it. You can still make a request by clicking Add Task and selecting Transcript.
• View the Progress
• View the status of your sent Transcript by opening the Application Tracker of the college you want to view.
• From under Application Checklist, click the drop-down next to Transcript and select Track Transcript.
• View the chronological updates of your transcript request.

Mimi Robb

Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute

School Counselor

Mimi.robb@gpisd.org

972.343.3151(Office)

972-885-9741(Google Voice-Call & Text Enabled)

Schedule Appointment Here

GPCI Counseling Services Department Website

Rebecca Burns

GPCI Campus Hours: 8:15am-3:45pm, M/W/TH

rebecca.burns@gpisd.org

Google Voice Phone: 404-926-6829

Appointy Link: https://booking.appointy.com/msburns

Vision Statement

The Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute Counseling Services Department will support students so they can reach their maximum potential personally and academically, by using a comprehensive program that addresses personal/mental/social, academic and college/career readiness goals so scholars can establish a solid foundation that they can build upon through post-secondary goals and through adulthood. The counseling services department also aligns with GPCI in that we will promote a rigorous academic and College/University going culture.

Mission Statement

The Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute Counseling Services Department's mission is to give scholars in grades 6-12 lifelong personal/mental health/social resources and strategies. Counseling Services will implement a comprehensive counseling program that aligns with GPCI in that we will promote a rigorous academic and college going culture while partnering with families, staff, and community members to provide social/emotional/academic and career resources.