Counselor's Corner

How to Give Support to Grieving Students

Talking to Children about Grief Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-1A-Talking-With-Children.pdf

What Not to Say to Children Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-1B-What-to-Say.pdf

Providing Support overtime Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-1C-Providing-Support-Over-Time.pdf

Impact on Learning Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-4A-ImpactLearning.pdf

Grief Triggers Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-4D-GriefTriggers.pdf

Death of a Staff Member  Pamphlet: https://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NYL-6A-Death-and-School-Crisis.pdf

Article from American Psychological Association: "Coping with Loss of a Loved one" https://www.apa.org/topics/grief

Website full of resources for parents and staff: https://grievingstudents.org/

Fort Worth/ Arlington Child Crisis Support line 

In A Crisis: WE'RE AVAILABLE 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Call 817-335-3022
or 1-800-866-2465 or Text Us (817) 335-3022, If you have a medical emergency, call 911

LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

• PFLAG - Coming Out Help for Families, Friends

Community Resources:

• Domestic Violence Resources

More Resources: 

• ADD/ADHD 
• Grief

Parents, we know the transition from middle school to high school can be a little frightening for both parents and students. We are here to help you with that transition. Please call us anytime with questions or concerns you have as you go through this process. We look forward to getting to know you and your student.

FRESHMAN CHECKLIST  |  https://www.collegeraptor.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Freshman_College_Checklist.pdf

Now that you're in 9th grade, it's time to evaluate your career plans. By starting early, you'll be better prepared. (from www.pathwayspse.com) or browse the College and Career tab.

• Don't neglect your study habits! Keep up the good work, and continue to improve your study skills.
• Continue to explore post-secondary credit opportunities including college, technical schools, special purpose schools, apprenticeships, and the military related to your selected career interest.
• Talk to your counselors, advisor, teachers, family members or trusted adults about your plans for college.
• Create a Plan of Study (POS) to keep track of your courses and grades. You may get a copy of your POS or graduation plan from your counselor
• Start thinking about the colleges you want to attend. Find out about college entrance requirements for the schools you're in which you are interested. Browse the college and career tab
• Create a file of the following documents and notes: report cards, lists of awards and honors, school and community activities, and volunteer work. This can be documented in the form of a resume. Very handy!
• Find out about AP and other honors-level courses you can take in high school to help you prepare for college or earn college credit. Explore post-secondary credit opportunities including college, technical schools, special purpose schools, apprenticeships, and the military related to your selected career interest.
• Continue to get involved in campus and community activities.
• Take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), to evaluate your skills in English, math, reading and science reasoning. It's good practice and your scores won't count towards your college application.
• How are you spending your summer? Volunteering and educational programs can help give you a better idea about what kind of training or career would be right for you. Consider a youth apprenticeship, internship or other work-based learning programs.
• Change can be difficult. Try taking some small steps towards independence this year, perhaps with more responsibility around your house.

By the time you’re a sophomore, you may have already realized why preparing for college requires a four-year plan. Your current school work and activities are beginning to pile up, so it’s natural for you not to think about anything but the present. Check back with your counselor and see how you are doing academically and whether you’re on track with your yearly plan. A couple of recommended sophomore tasks include taking the PSAT to familiarize yourself with the ACT and SAT testing format as well as beginning the search for where you might want to go for college and what you might want to do professionally.

SOPHOMORE CHECKLIST  |  https://www.collegeraptor.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Sophomore_College_Checklist.pdf

• Meet with your school counselor for a follow-up on your grades from freshman year
• Implement any advice gained from your school counselor check-in into your yearly plan
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT™ 10 to get familiar with the testing format and time constraints before taking the SAT/ACT your junior year
• Get more involved if you can by adding extracurricular activities to your schedule (Guide to Choosing the Best High School Extracurricular Activities & Electives)
• Research your future career
• Learn its education requirements
• Expecting annual earnings for the next 3-5 years
• Start your college search!
• Decide what you want and need in a college
• Research and develop a list of 20 colleges that offer your major and fit those needs you’d like to attend
• Request information from those colleges
• Review their acceptance/graduation rates, financial aid, scholarships resources, and tuition costs

You made it to your last year of high school! Congratulations are in order, but don’t relax just yet. It’s important that you finish strong without giving in to "senioritis." During your senior year, you can now apply to the colleges you narrowed your choices down to. You can also continue to retake the SAT or ACT. And, of course, make sure you keep in touch with your advisor to ensure you’re on track for graduation.

Senior Checklist  |   https://www.collegeraptor.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Senior_College_Checklist.pdf

• Meet with your school counselor to review your current academic standing and learn if there are any new scholarships available
• Retake the SAT/ACT, if needed
• Research deadlines for the FAFSA and State Financial Aid
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) in October
• Apply for State Financial Aid Before the Deadline (How to Find and Apply for State Financial Aid: A Complete Guide)
• Narrow your college list down to top 5 and find their application forms, deadlines, and enrollment requirements
• Begin applying to colleges
• Ask for letters of recommendations
• Write college application essays
• Finalize your activities resume to submit to colleges (How to Write an Activities Resume for College Applications)
• Complete college applications (A College Applications Guide)
• Find and apply for local and national scholarships ( The Mega List of Scholarships You Should Apply For | Class of 2023-2024)
• Submit college applications
• Review financial aid packages offered by the schools who accepted your application (How to Evaluate Your Financial Aid Award Letter)
• Revisit your top colleges before accepting if needed
• Make your final college choice and enroll (Accepted to Multiple Colleges? Here’s How to Confirm—and Reject—Your Admission)
• Finish high school strong (avoid senioritis)

College Application Deadlines

Early Decision

• If you are applying under “Early Decision Admission,” you are required to commit to that college or university at the time of application.
• You should apply under early admission only if you know that you can make a well-reasoned, first-choice decision.
• You may apply to other colleges but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time.
• Colleges will respond to requests for financial aid at or near the time admission is offered.
• If admitted, you must enroll unless the financial aid award is inadequate.

Apply Texas

https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX

• Click Create Account
• Fill out all the information: Please do not use your school email, use one that you will have access to for a long period of time. WRITE DOWN YOUR PASSWORD AND USERNAME after you complete this step
• From this step, you will see 4 tabs at the top of your page click my applications
• Click on 4 year or 2 year based on your choice
• Choose University example: University of Texas Arlington Click Freshman US. 
• Choose Fall semester 2023 and continue through the application 

Practice ASVAB Tests (Notify me with your practice scores so we can reach out to branches. 

https://asvabpracticetestonline.com/
https://www.asvabpracticetests.com/
https://uniontestprep.com/asvab/practice-test
https://www.asvabtestbank.com/
https://www.4tests.com/asvab
https://www.test-guide.com/free-asvab-practice-test.html

Military Academies  |

Opportunities in education and training are available for men and women in all branches of the Armed Forces. In peacetime, one of the major functions of the armed services is training. All branches of the services now prefer to take high school graduates for specialized training. Training in the armed services can range from a few weeks to a year depending upon the field of specialization. Some of the training is related completely to military service, but much of it is applicable to jobs in civilian life. Your options include the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marines. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, ASVAB, is the most widely used multiple-aptitude test battery in the world. As an aptitude test, the ASVAB measures your strengths, weaknesses, and potential for future success. The ASVAB also provides you with career information for various civilian and military occupations and is an indicator for success in future endeavors whether you choose to go to college, vocational school, or a military career. Tutoring is available for the ASVAB online at www.march2success.com.

United States Service Academies  |

Appointments at the United States Service Academies are few; therefore, it is important to contact your chosen academy by the spring of your junior year. Every student is on a full scholarship in an intense training program to meet the demands of leadership and success.

• Air Force Academy: The Air Force Academy prepares cadets for careers as Air Force officers with a reserve commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force when they graduate. The Academy offers a Bachelor of Science in 26 different majors. www.usafa.af.mil
• Coast Guard Academy: The Coast Guard Academy offers a Bachelor of Science in one of eight technical or professional majors. Included in the curriculum are professional skills necessary to the Coast Guard’s work. www.uscga.edu
• Naval Academy: The United States Naval Academy offers an academic program with tradition and state-of-the-art technology. The Academy offers 25 majors with an emphasis on practical experience in leadership and professional operations. www.usna.edu
• United States Military Academy at West Point: The United States Military Academy at West Point offers an academic program for 36 majors with extensive training and leadership experience.

Scholarship Information

You may have read that “millions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed each year.” Is this true? It may be, but often for very simple reasons such as that the rules for awarding some scholarships are so restrictive that few students are eligible. For example:

• Some eligible students don’t apply, apply late, or make mistakes on their applications.
• The scholarship process requires time, work, and dedication on the part of you and your parents as well as school personnel. Many times those who are the most organized and the most diligent in the application process are the ones who receive scholarships.

• Request FAFSA pin number for online application purposes.
• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1, of your senior year. Forms are available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.