Counseling Today - November 2023

November 7, 2023

Welcome to your one stop shop for all news regarding counseling. 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

Course change requests are now done. Level changes may still occur, as advised by counselors or teachers. 

Counseling small groups have begun. Academic small groups are up and running. If your student needs/wants support, have them check in with their counselor. The grief group is also up and running, meeting on Tuesdays during Lunch/Flex. Walk-ins are welcome. If interested, please contact Brother Michael Phipps.

A peer tutoring program has begun. Tutors are senior National Honors Society members. They are available before and after school, as well as during lunch/flex. Read further if you have any questions or would like to sign up.

Importance of Attendance.

School attendance has historically been correlated with improved academic progress, increased social connectedness, and overall well-being. Understandably, the COVID-19 pandemic skewed attendance into an unstable state that we are currently trying to right. At CDH, we work as a team (students, teachers, staff, and families) to support students in attending school each day and arriving on time. Using up-to-date student data, the counseling department collaborates to offer resources and interventions for families. Here is a link to a study conducted by the Baltimore Education Research Consortium about the importance of attendance. 

All CDH Students in AP Classes

For students enrolled in year-long or Trimesters 1 and 2 classes, registration was due by November 3. Students are automatically registered to take the exam when they use the AP Classroom “Join Code” provided by their AP teacher. If students want to drop or add an exam at this point, there will be a $40 fee. Please contact Thay Thao with any questions or to drop/add an exam. AP exams will occur the first two weeks of May. Please note, registration for classes that begin Trimester 2 does not occur until February.

9th Grade and Transfer Students

School counselors are finishing up with their one-on-one meetings. All 9th graders and transfer students will have a one-on-one meeting with their designated school counselor during the first trimester. These short meet-and-greet appointments are an opportunity for students to meet their counselor and share anything they may want their counselor to know about them right away. It also allows counselors to get to know a little about their new students and ensure students know when, why, and how they can come see their counselor. 

9th Grade, 10th Grade and Transfer Students

9th graders, 10th graders, and transfer students of any grade are still 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 the 16 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 and sign up here!

College Counseling

Junior Students

There will be a Post High School Planning meeting for Juniors and their parents/guardians to go over what services the college counselors offer and what to expect for the next year in terms of planning for post-graduation. The meeting will take place on December 5 in the Commons. Please note there are two sessions (5pm - 6pm and 6:30pm - 7:30pm), but both will have the same information. Families should just choose one to attend. 

Juniors and Seniors

We continue to host in-person visits from college admissions officers. These visits provide an opportunity for junior and senior students to get personal attention and up-to-date information on schools that interest them. It also gets students connected to the colleges’ mailing lists for updates and information. Students can register for visits in Naviance or see Mrs. Mansur, the counseling assistant. CDH teachers give final approval for missing a class period. Check this page or our Instagram account for the college visit schedule. Making an individual connection with the admissions officer is an important step to show interest in the school and to get individual questions answered. 

Seniors

There will be a Financial Aid Information night for senior students and parents/guardians in the Commons on November 29, 7 pm. Please note, the FAFSA does not become available until December this year, which is later than usual.  

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 9am - 1pm.

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 addiction factors. If you missed last month’s, click here to read about dopamine!

Addiction Factors:

Not everyone becomes addicted to substances. Genetics plays an important part. You may have protective genes which means your brain is not changed as readily by substances. Therefore they have less impact on you. Or you may have less protective genes and therefore run a higher risk of becoming addicted. 

Social factors may also play a role such as: family challenges, peer pressure, traumatic experiences, personal belief systems about substance use and availability of a substance. 

Primary factors that can lower the risk of addiction include: connecting with others, healthy lifestyle habits (ie. enough sleep, eating well, exercise), remaining in healthy environments with sober people and addressing mental health concerns. 

Several factors can contribute to developing an addiction but that does not mean we can’t take action to reduce the risks. If you or a loved one is showing signs of substance abuse, know there is hope and supportive environments to help with the recovery process.

- Laura Esping

Important Dates

November 8 - November 14

College admissions rep visits are wrapping up. Click here to see the full schedule. The schedule is also available on Naviance and will be shared weekly on Instagram.

November 20 - November 21

Trimester 1 exams.

November 22 - 24

No school - Thanksgiving break.

November 27

Trimester 2 begins.

November 29

Applying for College Aid - Financial Aid Information Night for Seniors and parents/guardians in the Commons at 7 pm.

December 5

Post High School Planning meeting for Juniors and parents/guardians in the Commons at 5 pm OR 6:30pm.