Counseling Today - April 2024

April 10, 2024

Here is your April CDH Counseling Department newsletter! We encourage you to follow us on Instagram for more regular reminders and updates. 

Our counseling department is a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), with CDH having earned RAMP status this year. We are the only private high school in Minnesota to have this designation. Feel free to read more about this great honor, what it took to earn, and what it means for our students! 

If you need to contact us, please take a look at our contact page on the school website to determine the best person to help address your needs

School Counseling

All CDH Students

Our Student Advocate Kenny Udoibok ‘16 will be completing his school counselor internship here at CDH during the months of April and May. 

Free tele-health counseling is available to both CDH students and parents through a partnership with Phoenix Counseling. Their availability is outside of school hours, including nights and weekends. Read further for more information about this resource and to sign up.

The CDH Peer Tutoring Program is still available for any student to receive individual tutoring during Flex or After School. Sign up here.

11th Grade

Juniors took the ACT during the school day on Tuesday, April 9. Students were pre-registered and tuition will be automatically billed $58 for the exam. If students still haven’t completed their MyACT account, they only have until Friday, April 12, to do so. This is necessary to be able to see and send scores. Contact Katie Shead with any questions.

AP Students

AP Exams begin in May. Registration is now closed. If you have any questions, contact Thay Thao. 

Here are some helpful links to prepare:

What to expect when taking your first AP Exam

Free Resources to Prepare for AP Exams

Here is the AP Exam schedule:

College Counseling

Sophomores and Juniors

CDH Education Fair

Our annual CDH Education Fair will take place on Wednesday, April 17 in the Joe Mauer Fieldhouse. Sophomores, Juniors, and families are invited to come explore college options! This open house event will be held from 6:30 to 8 pm and a list of attending colleges will be emailed prior to the event.

College admissions officers from the schools you are interested in will want your contact information in order to keep in touch. Please register your information ahead of time to create your personal barcode and make sharing your information with colleges quick and easy!

Construction and Trades College/Career Fair

You are invited to learn about great opportunities in the construction industry with on-site exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. There is no cost to attend and food trucks and door prizes will be there! It is on Saturday, May 4 from 10am-1pm at ERX Motor Park in Elk River. Visit www.muca.org for more information.

Juniors

Juniors took the ACT during the school day on Tuesday, April 9. Students were pre-registered and tuition will be automatically billed $58 for the exam. If students still haven’t completed their MyACT account, they only have until Friday, April 12 to do so. This is necessary to be able to see and send scores. Contact Katie Shead with any questions.

Seniors

May 1 - College Decision Day

Seniors can wear college sweatshirts over their uniforms on Wednesday, May 1 to represent the college or university they will be attending this fall!

Chemical Health Counseling

Juniors and Seniors

Speakers from Know the Truth will visit 11th grade on Monday, April 15 and 12th grade on Wednesday, April 24.

Know the Truth™ is the Substance Use Prevention program of Mn Adult & Teen Challenge.Their mission is to prevent teen substance use in Minnesota. They pursue this by partnering  annually with 160+ Minnesota schools to educate nearly 60,000 middle school and high school students, as well as by collaborating with parents, educators, law enforcement, and othercommunity leaders to build awareness of, and provide education regarding, local substance use  issues. Ultimately their goal is to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors that work to  save lives and build safer, stronger communities. 

All Students Chemical Free Corner

THC and your Brain 

Cannabis is now legal in Minnesota for adults and dispensaries are becoming commonplace. Medical Marijuana is a widely used term. According to a CBS news poll last year, a majority of Americans now consider using marijuana openly to be socially acceptable. My observation is that this has led teenagers to think THC use is no big deal. But for the brain of a teen, it is a big deal. 

Our brains develop until age 25. During this growth period, neural pathways are fine tuned and the prefrontal cortex developed. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for assessing situations, making sound decisions and controlling emotions and impulses. Early cannabis use can interrupt this process, causing structural changes to this part of the brain. 

Adolescents have told me that THC aids their focus and study ability. But marijuana also impacts a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for storing new memories. This means it can be more difficult for someone who is using THC to remember information like exam content or schedules. One research study found that heavy users of marijuana had attention, memory, and learning problems even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours. For those who use marijuana daily, impairments of attention, memory, and concentration can last for 28 days after stopping.

If you know someone who would like to reduce their THC use, even if it is casual, here are some first steps:

• Set a limit on the amount of use.
• Keep a record of your use.
• Spend time with friends who don’t use THC.
• Tell someone about your plan to change your use.
• Commit to not buying it.
• Avoid situations where THC is present and you are likely to use.
• Plan alternative activities during times when you might typically use.
• Put paraphernalia out of sight.
• Create a list of things to do when you’re bored.
• Spend more time at the gym.

Let us work towards optimal brain ability!

Laura Esping

Chemical Health Counselor  

Important Dates

April 12

Mid-tri grades due

April 15

Know the Truth - 11th grade

April 17

Juniors class retreats

Education Fair in CDH FieldHouse at 6:30pm

April 18

Parent/Teacher Conferences

April 24

Know the Truth - 12th Grade

Award Ceremony

May 1

College Decision Day - Seniors can wear college sweatshirts over their uniform

May 4

Construction and Trades College/Career Fair in Elk River

May 6

AP US Government and AP Chemistry exams

May 7

AP Human Geography, AP Microeconomics, and AP Statistics exams

May 8

AP Computer Science exam