LIFE-Line Counselor Newsletter

November might bring some existential anxiety. We're nearing the end of the year, college application season is in full force, and parent/teacher conferences are in full swing. But never fear! TUSD counseling teams are also here! School Counselors are key agents in the school community that help students work through and answer 3 critical development questions:

-Who Am I?

-Where Am I Going?

-Why?

A main domain that falls under school counseling is Career. In honor of Career Development Month, please share out any cool career exploration activities you may be implementing. This is also a good time to help students connect careers to their post secondary plans.

Also, see ASCA's "Career Conversations". The resource is available for Elementary, Middle, and High School levels.

ES: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Publications/ESCareerConversations.pdf

MS: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Publications/MSCareerConversations.pdf

HS: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Publications/HSCareerConversations.pdf

Grade level lessons are available at California Career Zone for grades 5-12. These resources are completely free.

For High Schools, don't forget you also have career lessons embedded into Naviance that can be used. Please refer to the Naviance Scope and Sequence document to see specific career lessons by grade level.

CalCRN

Naviance Scope and Sequence

Society of Women Engineers: SWE is an organization for current professionals in the STEM field. SWE has initiatives to mentor and outreach to secondary female students who aspire to work in STEM fields. Check out the website to see the full list of events available for high school students.

UC For You/UC For Everyone:

The UC for Everyone: UC wants YOU! final event is for students and their families who are considering UC in future years.

10/24/20: 10AM-12PM- Students, parents, UC faculty and staff will share their experiences and insight on opportunities and options for students in the African-America, Native American, and ChicanX/LatinX communities on UC campuses. The session will end with a live Q&A. This session is intended for students and their parents interested in learning about individual UC campus' academic and affinity resource centers support and strengthen the history, culture, and well-being of students of color. Please email ucforyou@ucop.edu for more information. Registration is now open for both events

College Coalition Videos: Check out videos made by coalition colleges on topics such as college planning, college affordability, creating college lists, etc. These videos can be incorporated into counseling lessons or as a resource.

SEL has been a focal point for our students. However Adult SEL is also an important part of supporting students effectively. Please see below for some ideas for SEL for adults.

Panorama's Adult SEL Measures: Guidelines and strategies for implementing Adult SEL. Geared for administrators to guide professional development and resource development.

Adult SEL Playbook: Professional learning library of evidence based SEL practices.

OCDE Integrating SEL through Distance Learning: CASEL based SEL resources for distance learning compiled by OCDE.

Staff Virtual Check In Form: Sample check in form that can be used to check in with staff members.

First 5 Printable First Aid Toolkit: A workbook for children to cope with the pandemic at home.

Social Skills Lessons: Please see link for social skills building lesson that focuses on empathy. Geared for ES and MS students.

Virtual Student Check in Form: Sample check-in form for students.

Mindful Mornings: Template that can be used to start the day to set the tone for mindfulness in morning meetings.

Western Youth Services is excited to announce that, for a limited time, can provide financial assistance through CARES Act funding to qualifying families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. The funding can be used for expenses such as rent, utilities, childcare, basic needs, groceries, gas/transportation, and medical-related costs. Please feel free to share these flyers with your families and partners. Resources are available until December 30, 2020. Flyers are available in English and Spanish.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

Smiling Mind App: App designed for students to practice stress management.

A full list of apps and resources can be found at Teach.com.

MTMDSS: Full list of Trish Hatch's videos explaining Multi-Tiered, Multi-Domain Systems of Support.

Data Dive & Intervention Strategies: Developed by "Hatching Results", see this list of data elements and possible Tier 2 and 3 intervention strategies for all 3 domains. Resource is for counselors serving students K-12.

PBIS: This resource provides academic and behavioral tiered intervention strategies.

Mental Health Specialists: We are fortunate to have our Mental Health Specialists to our Student Support Teams at TUSD. We have a lot of new faces! Please see list for contact information and referral links for MHS by school.

CHOC School Consult Line: CHOC is offering a consult phone line for school personnel to call when needing mental health or behavioral guidance for a student. Please see the flyer here for contact information and operating hours.

Latino Health Health Access Children and Youth Engagement: This organization provides events for students (K-12) to promote social interaction via zoom. Mental health awareness training for staff, parents, and students is also available. Please see link for more information. To schedule events and support for your school please contact:

Luz María González, MSW, ACSW, PPSC

Program Coordinator Children & Youth Engagement Department Latino Health Access

luzgonzalez@latinohealthaccess.org

Interested in creating a Bitmoji Classroom? Take a look at Panorama's guide to creating a Bitmoji classroom here. This is a great way to create virtual calm spaces, house lessons, and create an interactive virtual space for students. Or check out the video below for a short tutorial.

OCDE Counselor Collaboration Meetings: Join counselors from across the county to engage and learn from one another.

Elementary & Middle School Counselor Collaboration – Facilitators: Kyle Sivcovich, Jacqueline Gallardo-Hoffmaster & Luz Arellano

10/27/20: 8:15AM-10AM registration link

2/18/21: 8:15AM-10AM registration link

High School Counselor Collaboration - Facilitators: Darwin Vega & Luz Arellano

10/28/20: 8:15AM-10AM registration link

2/11/20: 8:15AM-10AM registration link

OC 2020 Counselor Symposium: 11/10/20 from 8:00AM-11:30AM. It's not too late to register!

Panorama's Weekly Mindful Practices: Mindfulness Strategies for Adult and Student Wellness. Mindfulness is the practice of observing and accepting the present moment. Mindfulness offers a wide range of potential benefits, from improving physical and mental health to promoting prosocial behavior. Join us for 30 minutes of mindfulness and calm-breathing techniques as we explore moves from our Social Emotional Learning Playbook. You’ll learn strategies to cultivate self-awareness and support anxiety and stress.

Register for webinars here.

CHOC Trainings: Free menu of trainings geared for parents and teachers. Please feel free to share.

CHOC Foundation's Mental Health Advocacy Committee: Will be offering free 30 minute webinars on mental health topics identified as needs by educators.

10/27 @ 4:00PM: Educators: Taking Care of Yourself During these Trying Times

Join Zoom Meeting Link: https://chocchildrens.zoom.us/j/63597953127?pwd=c3laY29IM25ieGFRd1oyWEJIbmZYZz09

Meeting ID: 635 9795 3127 Passcode: 689214

Dial +1 866 222 2737 US Toll-free +1 866 373 5357 US Toll-free

Conference code: 7083915788

Recording of "Staying Mentally Healthy in Today's Educational Environment" webinar: https://youtu.be/1u93Vqj-p4I

Supporting Foster Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: 3 virtual trainings designed for a range of student support personnel including mental health professionals, counselors, and Behavior Analysts. Flyer with registration information and details is here.

The Boys and Girls Club is hosting a Parent Empowerment Series. Please see link for flyer.