CCMR/Counseling Newsletter

VISION: The vision of DeSoto ISD is to inspire curiosity and consciousness, develop character, build courage and nurture compassion.

MISSION: The mission of DeSoto ISD is to ensure students, without exception, learn and grow at their highest levels.

We are please to welcome two full-time Education is Freedom (EIF) Advisors to the DeSoto High School Campus to work with our high school students.

The EIF Advisors are each dedicated to one campus for the entire school year and are in their classroom throughout the school day to assist all students with activities related to their future education. In high schools, this includes:

· Researching college options

· Working on applications

· Writing admissions essays

· Completing FAFSA/TASFA applications

· Completing scholarship applications

· Exploring workforce training and certification programs

· Supporting SAT/ACT/TSIA/ASVAB preparation

In addition to the daily interaction with and guidance to students, EIF Advisors facilitate all student and parent activities throughout the year, such as college application and SAT/ACT preparatory workshops. EIF Advisors also facilitate EIF’s annual financial aid workshops for EIF parents and students to complete federal and state financial aid applications.

There are scholarships available for ALL grade levels. The CCMR department has compiled a list of scholarship opportunities that range from elementary to high school. It is never too early to start securing funds for college. View the listings below and start applying today!!

SchooLinks is a comprehensive college and career readiness platform that empowers students and parents to navigate the journey from elementary school through high school and beyond.

Through SchooLinks, students gain access to:

• Academic Planning Tools — course selection, graduation tracking, and progress monitoring

• Career Exploration Resources — interest inventories, career profiles, and pathway planning

• Postsecondary Readiness Supports — college searches, scholarship databases, and application tracking

• Parent Engagement Features — opportunities for parents/guardians to partner in goal-setting and decision-making

💡 This program equips students with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to plan their future—whether their path leads to college, career, or military service.

👉 Check out our SchooLinks Presentation (below) to learn more about all of the powerful features available to families!

This fall, EIF launched an exciting new partnership with Kaplan to help students boost their SAT scores and achieve TSI-met status.

Through this pilot initiative, 11th and 12th graders at 21 Dallas ISD campuses, two Garland ISD campuses, and one in DeSoto now have access to Kaplan’s premier SAT Prep program. Students can join live online classes or learn on demand, giving them flexibility to prepare on their own schedule.

By improving SAT scores, students can unlock more scholarship opportunities and avoid costly remedial courses—saving time and money as they begin college.

The Gifted & Talented (GT) program is designed for students who show advanced abilities, creativity, or leadership skills. It gives students the chance to go beyond the regular classroom, explore new ideas, and challenge themselves in exciting ways.

🎯 What Students Experience in GT

• Challenging Classes: Learn at a deeper and faster pace.

• Creative Projects: Explore passions in STEM, arts, writing, leadership, and more.

• Special Opportunities: Research projects, competitions, and advanced coursework.

• Supportive Peers: Learn alongside other students who love to think big and dream big.

🌱 Benefits for Students

• Stay Challenged – Explore advanced topics and never feel bored.

• Grow Confidence – Discover strengths and talents.

• Be Ready for the Future – Gain skills for college, careers, and beyond.

• Make Friends Who Inspire You – Build connections with other motivated students.

• Learn to Lead – Practice problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership.

💡 Why GT Matters

GT programming helps students reach their full potential by giving them the tools to think critically, act creatively, and succeed academically—all while having fun learning!

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department continues to provide meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world application while serving our community. Through these opportunities, CTE students demonstrate excellence, leadership, and real-world readiness—preparing for college, careers, and beyond.

Students & parents can view the CTE Student Planning Guide to learn about available career pathways to complete course selections for the 2026-2027 school year.

Educational planning is a critical step in ensuring each student’s success on their academic journey. To support this process, our school counselors are conducting advisement sessions with students and parents in grades 5 through 11. During these sessions, we will work together to develop and update an individualized education plan tailored for postsecondary success.

The courses identified in each student’s educational plan will be utilized for the 2026–2027 course enrollments. To assist in this process, we’ve provided the 2026–2027 Course Catalogs. Please review the appropriate document linked below to explore the wide range of course options available.

We encourage you to contact your school counselor to schedule an advisement session and review this important information. These sessions are an invaluable opportunity to align your student’s academic choices with their long-term goals. We look forward to working with you!

Students at Woodridge Fine Arts & Gifted Academy are learning about the Character Counts! trait of Kindness. Throughout the month of February, students are extending their learning by creating Kindness Trees, a meaningful activity that encourages them to recognize, practice, and celebrate acts of kindness within their school community. This experience supports social-emotional growth while reinforcing the importance of empathy, respect, and positive relationships.

Our Counseling Services team is committed to helping students build their future readiness from elementary through high school. Here are age-appropriate tips to guide students at every stage of the journey:

🏫 Elementary School – Awareness

• Dream Big: Talk about future jobs and careers you’re curious about.

• Build Habits: Practice organization, responsibility, and teamwork in school and at home.

• Explore Interests: Join clubs, sports, or arts to discover what you enjoy.

• Learn from Role Models: Ask parents, teachers, and grandparents about their jobs and education.

• Reading Matters: Strengthen literacy—it’s the foundation for all future learning.

🏢 Middle School – Exploration

• Connect Interests to Careers: Take career interest surveys and explore pathways in SchooLinks.

• Focus on Academics: Build a strong foundation in reading, math, and science—these open more opportunities later.

• Get Involved: Participate in CTE courses, clubs, and extracurriculars to test new interests.

• Goal Setting: Set short-term and long-term goals; practice tracking progress.

• Parent Conversations: Talk with your family about future plans, including college, military, or career options.

🎓 High School – Preparation

• Course Planning: Choose classes aligned with your graduation plan and career pathway (AP, Dual Credit, CTE, etc.).

• College & Career Research: Use SchooLinks to research colleges, scholarships, and programs of study.

• Testing Readiness: Prepare for SAT, ACT, and TSIA; review results with your counselor.

• Hands-On Experience: Seek internships, job shadowing, volunteer work, and leadership roles.

• Scholarships & Applications: Track deadlines, request recommendations early, and stay organized.

• Ask for Support: Regularly meet with your school counselor for guidance and resources.

College will offer your student countless opportunities in life. There are some simple things you can do to help your student prepare.

Start early.

• No matter how young your student is, it is never too early to begin planning for college and talking with your student about it.
  

Be clear.

• Communicate your expectations to your student about his or her behavior and performance in school.

Talk.

• Have frequent conversations with your student about schoolwork, goals and the importance of education.

Encourage.

• Motivate your student to try new activities, volunteer in the community and succeed in school. Studies have shown that students involved in school activities enjoy school more and do better academically. Extra activities at school help students make new friends, gain confidence and new skills and have fun!