September+7,+2011

** September 7, 2011 ** ** HS 7:30 – 11:30, MS 9:30 – 1:00 ** ** AGENDA **
 * Secondary Counselors’ Meetin **** g **

Lynette asked all counselors to review school websites to compare what information is available to students regarding counseling issues. Examples: College timelines, SAT/ACT dates and prep, counseling resources such as MAM. 10 minute table discussion to answer the following: 1. What needs to be on each website? 2. Do we need a centralized site as well? 3. What can administration do to facilitate and help the building of a counseling website?
 * 7:30 Web review and discussion **

__Comments__: Who has done "eleven tools"? Not many people.... The program is an independent study on technology applications that teachers can use in their classrooms. It is something you can do at your own pace. Lynette will set up a time for counselors to access the teaching.

__What do you want on the website__: MHS has all on one page: They have a Counselor's Corner. If you want help getting one counselors' website we can do that. Central Website: Links to registration or important registration sites Tabs to keep it clean~ Chunked and categorized Kid friendly Free counseling resources link; it is in the CYS book, but they would like it posted online. Dee Ann Franklin reported that we could build off the sped./LSSP resource website District counseling calendar Link to scholarships website: how can that be redone to make it more user friendly. One person reported that a good way to organize is by due date. Also a brief description of the scholarship. One person found that paper copies were taken and applied for more than going to the website

Class Rank Talking Points rev.pdf Class Rank Talking Points Spanish rev.pdf Class Rank Chart rev.pdf Class Rank Chart Spanish rev.pdf [|Class Rank Scholarship Chart 091211.pdf] NEW [|Class Rank Scholarship Chart Spanish 091211.pdf] NEW
 * 8:00 Update on class rank **

Class Rank Forums - There is no exchange, only parent comments. **Texas A&M has decided that we are a ranking district since we have given choice and therefore every student who applies to A&M must report rank or they will not even review the application if no rank is present.** The district has called every parent who has already applied to A&M and the district will supply class rank to A&M only. The problem is the choice. Going forward, anyone who applies to A&M must opt. in on all transcripts.

Open up the packet and distribute contents. We are doing our district audit to determine who has/hasn't done GT training. Make sure gifted kids are coded into GT sections by subject area. If a student qualifies for all but opt to not to take a particular GT class, they must sign a decline of services form. A furlough is for a year and is different that a decline of services form. You should have a list of all of the students identified GT and what areas they are identified GT. The report is in data mining. GT students new for 11-12 school year/done by Trudy. If there are things that need to be corrected, we need to know. We will run another report in a week or so. Teachers who need to do their training: Information should have been sent out regarding training that is available. If teachers do not do or have their required hours gt students will not be allowed to sit in their class next semester.
 * 8:15 GT rosters **

Flyer for NHS & SWHS (9th & 10th graders welcome) Optional PSAT 9th 10th FALL 2011 August.pdf Flyer for WAIS, SHS, MHS (10th graders welcome) Optional PSAT FALL 2011 August.pdf Registration Form PSAT Application Letter 2011.pdf
 * 8:30 Optional PSAT Administration **

350 spots are available/ students must fill out the application and send a check along with the application to Advanced Studies. We are required to allow homeschooled juniors to take the PSAT for free. They will take it on the Saturday with Advanced Studies so that they are not coming on your campus to take the test. The question was asked: Are we doing Birkman with 9th graders? Hortencia reported that Birkman offered the test to last years' ninth graders for free because they are tracking those students who took it in 7th grade. Birkman will also offer the test for free to next years' eleventh graders for free as part of that tracking information. If the district gives it this year to ninth graders, there will be a cost.

HB2909 **requires information on higher education options, admission requirements, and scores necessary on recognized assessments be included** in the information provided to students. Helpful information and resources are available on the College for All Texans website ( [] ) and Generation TX website ( [] ). Link to TEA Correspondence.
 * 8:35 GenTX Week Brainstorming (November 7-11) **

What have you done on your campus in the past? We used to have a speaker? Can we do an advisory lesson? Answer: YES We will do a 9-12 advisory lesson. We wear college shirts We do announcements highlighting college We have parent meetings; Q&A with counselors, coffee with counselors College field trip during that week We had the HARN representatives come Door decorating contest highlighting teachers' colleges

**9:00 Guidance Accountability Plan** GAP Share Folder No longer the college counselor's responsibility so it is now Campus activity~ keep a log of sorts documenting action plan, monthly events and post secondary monthly report along with participants in the activities. Hortencia has given us a template for each month to use. Everyone needs to evaluate what is effective on their campus. We are required to report. We want it to be in a less cumbersome way, but in a way that reflects what is happening on your campus. You have flexibility to add and or delete activities on individual campuses. Let Hortencia know whether you want all counselors to have access or just the lead counselor to have access to the folder.

Message Center - Message Center.pdf Generating reports - Activity Reports.pdf - Grade Reports.pdf
 * 9:30 Skyward (guest, Dan Casteel) **

**10:30 Pregnancy Related Services** PRS Contacts.pdf Please refer to handout. Question? Could we have a list from Skyward of students who need services?

They are changing the format. It will be in Constant Contact. There is a need for two separate things. Scholarship information needs to be able to go to kids. Parents should be able to sign up for the scholarship newsletter via email. But you should be able to print as well, for those parents who do no have email. The other newsletter would be information for counselors. The scholarship newsletter will be every other week and the counselors' corner will be every week.
 * 10:40 Counselors’ Corner & Scholarships Newsletters **

Prioritize topics:
 * 10:55 Secondary Counselors’ Meeting Calendar **
 * ** Community resources (social service) **
 * ** College applications and senior advisory How is senior advisory working on your campus; how is the college application process working on your campus. Apply TX.org~ Lynette has given all senior and college counselors access to this so that counselors can check the progress of students' applications. **
 * ** Advisory and advisory monitoring **
 * College awareness
 * District counseling philosophy
 * Psychiatry update
 * Duke TIP
 * Graduation
 * Financial Aide
 * GT
 * Speakers
 * At-risk Updates
 * Test prep programs (SureScore)
 * Services counselors need to provide due to RIF
 * STAT/504 Questions? Dyslexia has to be 504 in order to receive oral accommodations.

Several handouts were given out. These outline occupation certification programs, scholarship opportunities for those without a social security numbers. Scott also talked about credits transferring to four year university. He then talked about the "for profit" schools, that don't necessarily offer courses that are transferable or the student is so deep in debt they are no longer eligible for federal aide. HCC has late start, short term offerings,(8 week sessions), and online courses to better compete with these "for profit" schools. Their associates degrees are half the cost in the same amount of time. CTE is the same way. CTE can help you get into a new career, operate as professional development to diversify or strengthen existing skills, or help you get started on your own business. HCC has two programs geared for high school dropouts. Transitions to Training: 26+ year-olds and Connections to College: 17-25 year-olds. Please refer to Varalie Mckenzie at 713-718-2312 for TTT or Elizabeth Johnson at 713-718-5972 for the CTC program. HCC also has ESL classes available via the Adult Education dept. (713-718-5400) and the School of Continuing Education (713-718-5257). Scott talked about Apprenticeship opportunities. Contact Scott anytime! 713-718-8651 scott.godley@hccs.edu He is available to go to campuses to talk to parents or students. Handouts from HCC: - HCC Cheat Sheet.pdf - HCC Financial Aide.pdf - HCC Zip Codes.pdf - HCC Programs Spreadsheet.pdf - HCC Apprenticeship Programs.pdf - Scholarships for Stu without SSN.pdf
 * 11:00 HCC’s Certification Programs (guest, Scott Godley) **

**11:45 Duke TIP** 7th grade counselors. In our five year plan we are supposed to be increasing the participation of students in the Duke TIP. Diana reported that as she read the brochure she did see that there is now a drop-down menu that allows anyone to take the test. Lynette asked if we wanted a letter generated through file maker pro. YES, and she is having Joe Zerbe is creating lists of qualifying scores so that the letter will be generated with scores. Another letter will be created for those students who don't meet qualifying scores but would like to take a test.

Open up the packet and distribute contents. We are doing our district audit to determine who has/hasn't done GT training. Make sure gifted kids are coded into GT sections by subject area. If a student qualifies for all or LA/SS but opt to not to take a particular GT class, they must sign a decline of services form. A furlough is for a year and is different that a decline of services form. A furlough is when a student is not taking any GT courses in their identified area. You should have a list of all of the students identified GT and what areas they are identified GT. The report is in data mining. GT students new for 11-12 school year/done by Trudy. If there are things that need to be corrected, we need to know. We will run another report in a week or so. Teachers who need to do their training: Information should have been sent out regarding training that is available. If teachers do not do or have their required hours gt students will not be allowed to sit in their class next semester. - Sec Decline Furlough Exit Procedures.doc - Sec Decline Service Options Form.doc - Sec Furlough Form.doc - Sec Exit Form.doc
 * 11:50 GT Rosters **

Parent U is this same week and so the district decided to use this week. What we did? Teachers made announcements telling their college stories Teachers went into LA classrooms and answered questions about college experiences Door decorations Speakers: Alumni comes in to speak to students College advisory lessons/ Lynette will help this Could we have TX scholars in November? College field trip to UH and to the college fair Scavenger hunt: School wide game where students had to ask staff questions to complete the list Wear your college shirt Virtual College tours on the active board College Week LIVE Teachers who went to the same college: they took their picture and made a bulletin board with them
 * 12:05 GenTX Week Brainstorming (November 7-11) **
 * http:/gentx.org **

School websites and district website What do you want on the website? Programs: GT information, DUKE TIP, tutoring list, resources, study tips section, organization, time management, goal setting, things in English and Spanish.
 * 12:30 Web review and discussion **

What are your plans after high school?
SBISD 2-2-4 HB2909 **requires information on higher education options, admission requirements, and scores necessary on recognized assessments be included** in the information provided to students. Helpful information and resources are available on the College for All Texans website ( [] ) and Generation TX website ( [] ).