Counseling Today - January 2024
January 17, 2024
Here is your January 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.
Registration
All CDH Students
Information distribution
Wednesday, January 17:10th and 11th Grade students will receive registration instructions during Flex in the theater.
Thursday, January 18: 9th Grade students will receive registration instructions during Flex in theater
January 19-29: Students should meet with their parents, counselor and teachers to discuss level/class recommendations.10th Grade students MUST have their counselor sign off on their registration plan during this time.
Registration
Tuesday, January 30: 11th grade students will register during Flex in the Theater.
Thursday, February 1: 10th grade students will register during Flex in the Theater.
Thursday, February 1: 9th Grade students will register during Values.
Friday, February 2: 9-11 Make-up registration with counselor or Ms. Carroll
Thursday, February 29: Incoming 9th grade registration at CDH
10th Grade
10th grade students will not be able to register until they meet with their school counselor.
School Counseling
All CDH Students
The grief group is still up and running, meeting on Tuesdays during Lunch/Flex. Walk-ins are welcome. Please contact Brother Michael Phipps with any questions.
The CDH Peer Tutoring Program is available for any student to receive individual tutoring during Flex or After School. Here is the peer-tutoring link.
Tele-health counseling is available to both CDH students and parents (for free!) 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.
9th Grade
School counselors went to classrooms on January 11 to present a lesson about time management. More specific topics include procrastination, prioritization, and using calendars and planners. Resources related to these topics are available in counseling.
10th Grade
10th grade students will not be able to register for 24-25 classes until they meet with their school counselor. Students should see their counselor regarding this between Jan 17 and Jan 30. The purpose of this meeting is to look over the student’s registration plan and approve it or make changes, not to create a plan. Students should come to the meeting with their proposed classes for next year ready to present to their counselor.
10th grade retreats are on January 30. Students will have the opportunity to choose from multiple topics which retreat they would like to attend. Some school counselors are leading or assisting in two of the retreat options.
9th Grade, 10th Grade and Transfer Students
9th graders,10th graders and transfer students of any grade are able to sign up to have a “PFP” mentor. PFP stands for People Finding People and is a mentorship class that 16 seniors were selected to be a part of. Students who sign up for a PFP will match with one of the16 seniors and have weekly to bi-weekly, one-on-one meetings. From difficult struggles to everyday life, students have the opportunity to talk to their mentor about anything they’d like! There’s still room: read more here and email Ms. Shead to sign up!
11th Grade -ACT
Parents who received an email from their child’s school counselor regarding accommodations for the ACT Exam must respond to the email, making a request for accommodations, by Friday, January 19th. The ACT exams will occur at CDH on April 9.
College Counseling
Seniors
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid 2024-2025) opened Dec. 31. Start at www.fafsa.gov to create an account. This FAFSA uses your 2022 tax information. Feel welcome to contact Ms. Nelson or Mr. Reynolds with questions.
“Mid-Year” Reports
Colleges often require you to send a “mid-year” report of senior year grades. For CDH, our mid-year report is your first trimester senior year grades. If your colleges require this, you must email Mrs. Mansur in the Counseling Office and let her know that you want your first trimester grades sent to your colleges. The University of Minnesota will not take first tri grades sent from Cretin-Derham Hall. You have to "self report" them in your application tracker. For more details, please see the email from Mrs. Mansur with the subject line “Mid-Year Grade Reports for College Applications Class of 2024.”
Private Scholarships for College
Many private organizations offer scholarships (sometimes called “community” or “outside” scholarships) to students intending to go to college. CDH seniors can find private scholarship information on their Naviance accounts. When logged in, click on “Colleges”, then under “Scholarships & Money” you can click to search National Scholarships, College Specific Scholarships, and Scholarships that match your interests and qualifications.
Juniors
Junior Meetings
Last week individual meetings began with juniors and their parents to discuss post-secondary planning. These meetings will continue through March. Be sure to sign up if you haven’t yet scheduled your meeting.
Students with last names A-K see Mitchell Reynolds: Sign up here
Students with last names L-Z see Laura Nelson: Sign up here
ACT
All juniors will take the ACT on April 9 unless choosing to opt out. While many colleges are now test-optional, we recommend having at least one score in case you end up needing it for a college, a specific major, or a scholarship. In order for a student to opt out, parents or guardians must email their approval to Ms. Shead. Students who do not take the exam will be expected to attend classes that day.
Chemical Health Counseling
All Students
As the chemical health counselor for the school, Laura Esping meets with students who have received a violation to do an assessment of their current use and a plan moving forward. She is also available to talk and strategize a plan of action with students who are concerned about their chemical use or the use of a friend or family member. Her hours are normally Mondays and Fridays 9 am - 1 pm.
Ms. Esping also partners with professional agencies for chemical health programming each spring.Here is a list looking forward:
9th grade: Prevention Solutions by Hazelden on March 11 and 12
10th grade: Know the Truth by MN Teen Challenge on March 19
11th grade: Know the Truth by MN Teen Challenge on April 15
12th grade: Step Up Program by Augsburg College on April 24
Chemical Free Corner
Our chemical health counselor will continue to write articles regarding different topics each month. This month is about change. Check out past newsletters for articles regarding addiction factors, dopamine, and vaping.
Change
A new year often inspires thoughts of change. My experience and observation is that no one can make anyone change, it must come from within. So what makes people change?
According to Marty Nemko, PH.D, it could be one or more life changing factors like loss of a job or a loved one, an unfortunate event due to substance use or having an insight or random thought that “now” is the time. This is actually a great question to ponder: what led you to make a change?
Whatever the reason we are willing to change, here are some ways to make change easier according to a self.com blog I came across:
1) Know exactly what you want and where you want to go: Make sure to be realistic. Unrealistic goals increase fear.
2) Set forth a plan: Without a plan a goal is only a wish.
3) Start small: Baby steps.
4) Change your environment: Surround yourself with people you want to follow.
5) Have a buddy or better yet a group: We are more likely to enact behavior when we do it with others.
6) Create accountability: When we are accountable we are more likely to stick with the new behavior.
7) Make it fun:To make the change easier, try if possible to have fun doing it.
8) Replace the negative behavior: If the negative behavior is a solution, replace the behavior with an alternative, more beneficial solution.
On we go into 2024! I welcome you to share with me any changes you are trying to make or have made. We can all encourage and support each other in our efforts!
- Laura Esping
Important Dates
January 19
Mid-Tri grades are due
January 25
Parent/teacher conferences. Counselors are available for conferences.
January 26
No school
January 30
10th grade retreats - some counselors are leading options!
January 17 - February 2
Class registration for 24-25 school year (see above for details)