Counseling Services Newsletter

Observances:

National Career Development Month

North Texas Kindness Week

National Homeless Youth Awareness Month (NHYAM)

Monthly Maps:
ES | MS | HS - check for a full list of events

• Nov. 7-14 -- Dallas ISD Kindness Week (WAIP)

Mental Wellness During the Holidays

Course Planning (continued)

See link below for more information. Add to your Outlook Calendar.

November 3 -- Districtwide Counselor PD

November 18 -- Lead Counselor (virtual)

November 19 -- NEW Middle School Counselor PD

Click the image for more information.

Per TEA, all school counselors must complete Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) certification to proactively identify and intervene before violent incidents occur.

Click the links below for more information and to register for a training session.

Restorative Practices in Texas

Mental Health Webinars

Trauma Informed Training Series

LSSSCA provides three days of professional development specifically for school counselors. The conference includes breakout sessions, keynote sessions, general sessions and networking events that allows you to enhance your school counseling knowledge, improve your school counseling program, and network with other school counselors to discover best practices in the field.

Link: LSSSCA Conference

PSCC is an opportunity for school counselors from across Texas come together to grow, connect, and renew their passion for the profession. This conference is sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA), a division of the Texas Counseling Association (TCA)

Link: PSCC

Click links below for more information or to submit items

• You have one goal for SCEI this year
• Goal must focus on academic achievement - specifically off-track students or academic improvement
• Goal must represent at least 5% of your caseload
• Goals submitted prior to the re-launch in Cornerstone will need to be resubmitted using the new format
• Use your resources to identify your target students and to write your goal statement
• AI is a great support resource (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.)
  -- Use to proofread and make sure your goal meets criteria
  -- Use for ideas on implementation, tracking, and a success plan

Our district is partnering with New York Life on a Grief-Sensitive School Initiative. Every campus will read a grief book aloud with students this fall. Please read on for additional information about what to expect and what we need from you to make this effort a success.

NEXT STEPS

1. Access your book using the link for your campus level:

1. K-5 campuses: The Golden Sweater

• The Golden Sweater English
• The Golden Sweater Spanish

6-12 campuses: Lost in the Middle

• Lost in the Middle English
• Lost in the Middle Spanish

Multi-level campuses: Please read both books

2. Hold your read-aloud November 16–20.
We highly encourage reading on Friday, Nov 20, when campuses across the district will read together. You are welcome to do this at a time that works best for your campus schedule.

3. Submit your documentation by Wednesday, Dec 2 using this form: GSSI Completion Form
You’ll upload photos, enter the number of students, and share any optional observations or stories. Multi-level campuses submit one form for both books.

CONSENT (SB 12)

Only students with parent consent on file for school counseling services may participate. Readings can be done in whichever format your school prefers: in small groups, by class, or as a whole school, as long as all students have a consent form on file.

PHOTOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

• No identifiable student faces. Photograph the book, the reader, the setting, or students from behind.
• No student names in photos, captions, or form responses.

TIPS FOR THE READ-ALOUD

• Review the book ahead of time.
• Check in privately beforehand with students you know are grieving.
• Never ask students to share their own losses out loud.
• Follow up afterward with any student who seems affected.

Welcome to a journey of awareness and inclusion! Your campus has received the Participation Guide focused on the Purpose of the McKinney-Vento Impact, promoting National Homeless Youth Awareness Month (NHYAM) every November. This initiative aims to highlight the challenges faced by students with housing instability under the McKinney-Vento Act, fostering a supportive environment that encourages self-identification without stigma. When students feel acknowledged, they can access essential resources to aid their academic success.

The Homeless Education Program (HEP) is providing outreach materials for families to learn about available resources. Participation is flexible, allowing you to choose enjoyable activities that promote awareness. Don’t miss the "Wear Purple" day, a vibrant event to show support and spread awareness across the campus.

Click image to access the dashboard

Presentation: Counselor BTA Collaboration October 2026

Dallas ISD BTA Resources

Images are linked

Also check the Guidance section for additional resources

Midde school Academic Success Conferences should be noted in SchooLinks.

Links:

Advising Notes Instructions

View Student Notes Status (identify how many notes per student)

Click image for timeline

It's time to prepare for your future students. Review the Transition folder for helpful materials to guide you through the process. You can also use items you may have created from the Transition Project.

Link: Transition Folder

House Bill 5: Foundation High School Program requires schools to develop Personal Graduation Plans (PGPs) for at-risk students. Texas Education Code Sec. 28.0212 specifically addresses PGP development for middle school students who are not performing satisfactorily on state assessment instruments or not likely to receive a high school diploma before the fifth year of high school.

More information will be shared during an upcoming meeting.

Each high school student on your caseload must have

AT LEAST ONE Advising Note per grading cycle.

Links:

Advising Notes Instructions

View Student Notes Status (identify how many notes per student)

It's time to prepare for your future students. Review the Transition folder for helpful materials to guide you through the process. You can also use items you may have created from the Transition Project.

Link: Transition Folder

Click image. Check back frequently for new scholarship opportunities.

See the links below for tools to help you plan for guidance and schoolwide events.

Also use our K-12 Guidance site for resources and lessons.

Remember to include your staff and parents in your awareness events.

Share on social media and with your coordinator!

Bilingual Feelings Chart

Whole Hearted School Counseling

Links:

Flyers

Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/78689

HEP has approximately 25 copies of their Resource Guide for each campus. Counselors can come to pick them up at 4600 Spring Avenue near Fair Park. Please contact the office to make an appointment for pickup as the staff is often out support campuses. Also, if parents are seeking resources at the school, please print out the emergency resource guide from our website or direct the parent to our webpage.

Link: Food Bank Resources

Click to access

If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing issue, such as an eviction, and needs to speak with a free lawyer, please contact the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center by texting 469-436-2704 or emailing info@dallaseac.org. If you or someone you know is worried about, or currently experiencing, homelessness, call the Housing Forward Homeless Crisis Helpline at 1-888-411-6802.

Links: English Flyer | Spanish Flyer

The City of Dallas has emergency funding rent relief to Dallas residents. Funding is limited and parents must meet requirements to qualify. Link: www.dallasrentrelief.com

Homeless Education Program (HEP)

Parents can contact the Homeless hotline at 888-411-6802 to get connected to appropriate resources. Please note that the department does not have direct access to housing for families.

Dallas ISD has partnered with Carson's Village to give counselors tools to help students and families on their grief journey. See the links below to learn more about these supports.

Links:

General Resources

Educator Specific Resources

Website

Link:

Referral Follow up Form

Link: PowerSchool Manual for Counselors

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA)

Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA)

Email: counselingservices@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/Domain/3068
Location: 9400 N. Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75231 Suite 601
Phone: 972.925.8989
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasISDCounselingServices
Twitter: @CounselingDISD