December

Dec. 21 - Jan. 6 - Winter Break

Dec. 4 - End Marking Period 2

Dec. 7 - Begin Marking Period 3

Dec. 10 - Parent Connect Meeting

Senior Chats

TBD - EOC test dates

January

Jan. 4 - Deadline to register for Twilight Credit Recovery

Jan. 12 - Feb. 11 - Twilight Session 3

Jan. 18 - MLK Holiday (No School)

Jan. 29 - Semester 1 ends

Junior Chats

TBD - TSI Testing for Juniors

Giving is good for you. It is good for us. When we give to others it activates the areas of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection and trust. Altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain and boosts happiness for us as well as the people we help. Giving connects us to others, creating strong communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone. We can give in more ways than just money. We can give our time, ideas and energy.

7 Reasons why Giving is More Important than Receiving

https://www.guidedmind.com/blog/7-reasons-why-giving-is-more-important-than-receiving

Teach kids about the importance of giving to others https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/success/tca-teach-kids-about-the-importance-of-giving-to-others-20171220-story.html

Small actions can lead to big changes. Let's start by completing the Action for Happiness calendar. Don't worry if you miss a day, just double up to get caught up.

By Ms. Baker

We all know we are in unprecedented times. A lot of things have changed but one thing that has not changed is the importance of Education. Whether you are learning in a traditional school setting or virtually, it is more important than ever that you take responsibility for and ownership of your education. Your CHHS Counseling Department will send tips and strategies to our in-person and flex-learning scholars as well as parents. We will concentrate on three areas: academics, self-care and self-advocacy.

Tips for this month:

• Stick to a schedule
  If you are the only student at home it is best to follow your schedule, as if you are at school. If you are in a home with multiple students with one or two devices, set up a schedule of time chunks, one or two hours, for each student and rotate throughout the day. Consistency is key. Sticking to a schedule will not only help you to improve your grades, it will also help you to feel better, physical and mentally. (Academics/Self Care)

• Be sure to know CHHS and your teachers’ expectations
  For example, bell ringers count as attendance for flex learners. All scholars should complete all assignments and turn them in on time. Be aware of due dates and submission deadlines. Knowledge is power. Knowing what is expected of you and following through will improve your grades and self-esteem. (Academics/Self Advocacy/Self Esteem)

• Communicate with your teachers and school staff
  Know when your teachers have office hours and keep a list of teachers and staff email addresses and telephone extensions. Knowing who to contact and contacting them is advocating for yourself. If you are struggling with an assignment, contact your teacher to attend tutorials. Your academics and self-esteem will improve. (Self-Advocacy/Academics/Self Esteem)

• Get exercise
  Run, follow a YouTube exercise video, take a walk (take the dog if you have one), bounce a ball, dance, etc. Exercise will help you feel better and sleep better which in turn will help improve your academics. (Self-Care/Academics)

By Mrs. Burns

During November students and staff participated in Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. CHHS will be promoting Acts of Kindness, not only during our Annual Bullying Prevention Week, but throughout the school year. CHHS also participated in a No Place for Hate assembly where we learned about the role we play in combating bias and bullying as a means to stop the escalation of hate.

What is Cyberbullying?

As more people rely on technology to communicate with others, it’s not surprising that bullying has gone from the schoolyard to cyberspace. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying behavior that takes place through electronic means. It can occur in many ways, including posting hurtful messages about someone, impersonating the victim, or disseminating personal information about someone digitally for the world to see.

Although all forms of bullying can be detrimental to the victims, cyberbullying ratchets up the terror for numerous reasons.

• Unlike bullying that occurs at school, cyberbullying can be even more pervasive and difficult to avoid.
• It can occur at any time during the day or night, seven days a week.
• In addition, given the nature of the Internet, it can be witnessed by many more people, whether they actually attend the victim’s school or they’re a stranger on the other side of the world.
• Cyberspace affords a bully the anonymity to cause a great deal of damage with little or no repercussions.
• The evidence of the bullying can be long lasting because once a harassing message is posted, it can spread like wildfire around the net. Even if the original message is deleted, it may be reproduced many times over, making it impossible to reign in the damage.

Where does cyberbullying happen?

Cyberbullying can occur wherever people congregate on the Internet—chat rooms, social networking sites, and message boards can be a prime breeding ground for bullying. Similarly, cyberbullying can also be experienced through instant messages, texts, and emails.

What can people do if they are the victims of cyberbullying?

Teens who are the victims of bullying can get help from their school. They should talk to a teacher, principal, or school counselor. Also, you can submit the Bullying/Harassment Reporting Form if you have real information about a bullying/harassment situation and want to report it without giving your name. Once the form is completed, a copy will automatically be sent to an administrator.

Our guidance lesson for the month of December is Suicide Awareness and Prevention. Please be on the lookout for information regarding the lesson that will be accessible via your scholar's science class using Schoology.

Lesson Objectives:

• Learn key concepts of suicide prevention
• To understand the characteristics of students who are at a higher risk to attempt suicide, warning signs of suicidal teens, and what to do if a friend is suicidal
• To practice needed skills by reviewing red flags or someone who may be at risk
• To discern facts and myths of suicide

Suicide Prevention Resources:

• Talking About Suicide
• Protective Factors Against Suicide
• How to Ask - Mayo Clinic Video (4 minutes)
• Youth Suicide Prevention Program
• Depression in Young Children
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
• Grant Haliburton Foundation
  

Have you started planning for life after high school graduation? If so, what does that look like? Well, it begins with creating a vision for your life beyond today and staying focused on what really matters. Even though school and life may look a little different now due to COVID 19, it is still necessary to work hard and finish strong. What you do today matters. When you don’t plan for success, you are planning to fail.

You have a team of advocates here at Cedar Hill High School who want to see you win. Please know that whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, what you do in the classroom will set the stage for the opportunities that await you when you graduate.

As your College, Career and Military Readiness Counselor, I am here to assist you in creating a success plan for whatever postsecondary option you choose--whether it is attending college, entering a career or enlisting in the military. The links below are designed to help you with the steps necessary to begin planning for the future you desire. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or need assistance with any part of this process. We believe in you!

Timeline for Seniors:

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/timeline-12-grade

Immediate To Do List

• Complete the Dallas County Promise Pledge
• Apply to colleges of interest
• Complete the FAFSA
• Apply for scholarships

Timeline for Juniors:

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/CollegePlanning/media/pdf/BigFuture-College-Planning-Calendar-Juniors.pdf

Timeline for Freshman and Sophomores:

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/CollegePlanning/media/pdf/BigFuture-College-Planning-9th-10th-Graders.pdf

I realize that some of you may have plans to enter the military. Stay tuned. A virtual military fair is being planned and you will be notified once the date has been set.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to prepare for life after high school, please use the contact information below.

Ms. S. Mechelle Matthews

College, Career & Military Readiness Counselor

seanjula.matthews@chisd.net

College and Career Center - Room 152

chisd.net/ccmr

“It’s a great day to be a Longhorn!”

Practicing Self Care

By Ms. Mercy

As a campus and district we have confronted unprecedented challenges as we’ve moved to quickly shift classes to an online platform, provide equitable access for all students, and make plans amidst great uncertainty. Help is available to address mental health for all ages. Take a look at this resource from The Jed Foundation.

Ways to Practice Self-Care:

Maintain a regular sleep schedule
Number one on our self-care tips for high school students is sleep. It seems obvious, but you should try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. Your peers might brag about pulling all-nighters and getting only two hours of sleep, but don’t feel pressured to follow their example. Studies show that sleeping more actually leads to better grades! Your brain needs time to relax and regain energy to take on more as you prepare yourself for your workload.

Remember to eat and hydrate
Alongside sleeping, drinking enough water a day (8 glasses at least!), eating balanced meals, and ensuring that you’re receiving the nutrition you need are other important routines to maintain. It might be tempting to have ice cream for every meal but remember the basics: your body needs a certain amount of carbs, protein, vegetables, and vitamins in order to function properly.

Take breaks
Next on our list of self-care tips for high school students comes another action point that your peers might overlook. Avoid hours of studying in one sitting or multiple hours of screen-time, you need to make sure you schedule time to step away from the books or computer for half an hour - say at every two-hour interval - and relax. You could try meditating or any other activity that helps you regain energy. You’ll come back with a fresher mind if you take the time to ground yourself before hitting the books again.

Keep up to date with attendance and grades

• Check Skyward with your scholar regularly
  
• Turn on notifications for assignments, attendance, grades, etc.
• Contact the Registrar or Counseling Secretary if you are not able to login
• Contact the teacher directly for questions about attendance and grades

Twilight School is for credit recovery of core content courses (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies).

• Students can only take ONE semester of a course per Twilight School session. You may participate in multiple sessions if you need to recover more credits
• The highest grade you can make in credit recovery courses is 70
• Students will use the online program, Edgenuity, to complete their course(s)
• Contact your counselor to register

Twilight Sessions:

• Session 3 - Jan. 12 - Feb. 11 (DEADLINE to Register: Jan. 4)
• Session 4 - Feb. 16 - Mar. 25 (DEADLINE to Register: Feb. 8)

Students are expected to complete 30 hours of community service before graduation. Due to COVID-19, the district is deferring the requirement until the spring and will make adjustments to the required number of hours. If the infection rate continues to be high in the spring, the requirement may be removed and a virtual plan may be released. Please continue to check your emails from Dr. Hudson and Mr. Miller for updates on the plan.

You may use the Community Service Log to document your hours. Return the form to your counselor. Click here to learn more about community service.

Mission

The mission of Cedar Hill ISD Counseling Department is to provide a proactive, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate program to address students' academic and career goals in addition to supporting their personal and social needs to enable all students to become successful, productive citizens and lifelong learners in a diverse and changing world.

Vision

The Cedar Hill ISD l Counseling Department will empower all students to reach their maximum potential by using a comprehensive program that addresses academic, personal/social, and career goals. We will promote an environment to encourage personal inquiry and growth, social responsibility, and academic excellence.

Beliefs

• Every student can succeed through the collaborative efforts of school, home, and community leading to responsible and productive citizenship
• The diverse needs of all students must be addressed through the school counseling program
• Every student needs appropriate personal, social, and emotional skills to achieve optimum benefits from the educational program

Guidance Lessons (Core Curriculum):

This curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students attain the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills appropriate for their development level. The school counseling core curriculum is delivered throughout the school's overall curriculum and is systematically presented by school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities.

Individual student planning:
School counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans

Responsive services:
Responsive services are activities designed to meet students' immediate needs and concerns. Responsive services may include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response.

Indirect student services:

Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors' interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration.

For more information about the CHHS Counseling Department, please visit our website.

Counselor is assigned by student's last name:

A-Ed - Ms. Vaughn, Lead Counselor

Eg-Ka - Mrs. Burns

Ke-Roe - Ms. Baker

Rog-Z - Ms. Gray

Ms. Matthews - College, Career & Military Readiness Counselor

Ms. Mercy - Special Populations

Ms. Horton - Secretary

Vacancy - Registrar

Helpful Websites:

CHHS Counseling

College, Career & Military Readiness

Virtual Counseling

Website: https://www.chisd.net/Page/1905
Location: 1 Longhorn Boulevard, Cedar Hill, TX, USA
Phone: 469-272-2000