Spider-Man has always been a favorite superhero among fans of all ages. When Peter Parker, a high school teen, learns he has superhuman powers, there is a connection we innately feel as he learns how to navigate new obstacles and overcome unexpected mental and physical challenges through his pursuit of saving the neighborhood. We relate to his character because although he is gifted with superpowers, he has flaws and he makes mistakes, but he continues to do what's best for those he serves. School counselors are very similar to our web-slinging superhero. We are community servants who fly beneath the radar, masked and unseen, and we do not seek accolades or awards for our work.

One of Spider-Man's most powerful abilities is a tingling sensation in his head that alerts him of potentially dangerous situations, known as his "Spidey Sense," or rather his internal warning light that something isn't right. As school counselors, how many times has your Spidey Sense been activated? How often do you see presenting facts, such as an unexpected drop in a student's grades or a pattern in unattended classes, and sense that there is more to the story that needs to be uncovered? These senses are a skill set that school counselors have been trained to tap into, and although they might seem subjective and unmeasurable, they are a powerful asset in our profession.

During NSCW22, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is offering the following professional learning opportunities.

Discuss ways you can collaborate with your mental wellness/health teams to create a more robust student support system, to extend your reach and assist more students who may need more Tier II or III supports under the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) model in creative ways.

Last November, I was invited to a taping of the television game show, "The Price Is Right." It was an unbelievable experience and through incredible luck, I won a new car and the final showcase! After two months of maintaining confidentiality about the results of my episode, it finally aired on Jan. 11. This is one of my favorite moments of the day. Happy National School Counseling Week!

Make plans to attend a new event hosted by SDCOE, Honoring Excellence in School Counseling Leadership, which will be held at the beautiful Kona Kai Resort and Spa on Shelter Island. Participants will have the opportunity to network and collaborate in person with colleagues and friends, learn important county and state updates regarding our profession, enjoy a three-course plated lunch, and be inspired as we honor and celebrate our 2022 SDCOE school counseling award recipients:

Additional program ideas and awards are being planned to make this an event you do not want to miss. Save the date and register early! Seating is limited.

Planning for the 2022 Spring Refresh Series is underway and we are looking for input. To ensure that we are providing workshops on topics that are relevant and of interest to school counselors, we invite you to share your suggestions by Feb. 11. The Spring Refresh series is free and will be held virtually, April 28 to May 12. The calendar of workshops will be available in the March newsletter.

Are you interested in earning a California credential, authorization, certificate, master’s degree, or doctoral degree? The SDCOE Teacher Effectiveness and Preparation team in collaboration with partners in educator preparation, present Level Up! a free online series offering prospective and current educators information sessions to learn more about careers and educational opportunities. New this year are sessions just for high school students and those interested in working as substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, or in expanded learning (after-school) programs!

SDCOE has built an online training to help universities and districts satisfy the most recent Pupil Personnel Services Standards in California. Completion of this course satisfies the Commission on Teaching Credentialing (CTC) requirement of training to serve as a university supervisor or site supervisor to a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential candidate during their clinical practice, internship, or fieldwork requirement, earning you a badge of certification which will be required for the 2022-23 school year. The training covers eight hours of content completed at your own pace over four weeks, completely online managed by a facilitator/instructor, and delivered in four distinct modules. Each participant receives a badge of completion that is portable as evidence of having been trained (for future service as a site counseling supervisor, master counselor, fieldwork supervisor, or counseling support counselor). Additional program information is available on the SDCOE website.

Supplement your learning with additional workshops and conferences.

View an updated list of professional learning offerings throughout the county and state.

This multi-day conference is designed to support development and enhancement

of middle school CTE programs, as well as foster connections to high school

programs.

The National College Resource Foundation in partnership with SDCOE presents the 5th annual San Diego Black College Expo. Program leaders pride themselves in connecting students to positive post-secondary pursuits by providing resources and services to help students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from a degree and/or certificate program. Students from 8th to 12th grade are encouraged to attend. Meet one on one with more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. There will be engaging seminars for participants and students should be prepared with their transcripts (if available) and GPAs when meeting with college representatives, as many students get accepted to college on the spot.

What do we mean when we say "college and career readiness?" Helping students and families understand readiness and whether they're on the path to achieve it is a crucial step in preparing them for the future. The College and Career Readiness Guide is free to download and will help you:

CSAC is providing new training webinars and virtual workshops to high school staff, college financial aid professionals, Cash for College hosts, as well as students and parents. Currently the commission is hosting statewide financial aid workshops in a virtual format. The workshops are offered through Zoom live webinars and are available to high school counselors, advisors, student advocacy groups, outreach specialists, and community education partners.

Cal-SOAP offers a series of free webinars about paying for college. All webinars are held on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Click on a workshop title to register.

With only one month until the March 2 CalGrant deadline, the San Diego County Race to Submit campaign for high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) continues in full force. Although the campaign runs through May, school counselors understand the importance of ensuring that seniors meet the March deadline in order to qualify for state-funded grants.

There are now five categories based on the number of seniors in the class of 2022 who are enrolled at each school. We have split Category I into two categories based on program and school size (Category IA, enrollment of 49 seniors or less. Category IB, enrollment of 50-99 seniors). The data for our current leaderboard was last updated Jan. 23 on the California Race to Submit Dashboard. Click on the links below to view the top 10 schools on each leaderboard and where your school ranks in the race.

#1 83% Completion - America's Finest Charter San Diego

#2 72% Completion - iHigh Virtual Academy, San Diego Unified School District

#3 62% Completion - San Pasqual Academy, San Diego County Office of Education

#4 50% Completion - Warner Junior/Senior High, Warner Unified School District

#1 65% Completion - Kearny School of Biomedical Science and Technology, San Diego Unified School District

#2 63% Completion - High Tech High International

#3 55% Completion - High Tech High North County

#4 45% Completion - Bonsall High, Bonsall Unified School District

#4 45% Completion - Kearny College Connections, San Diego Unified School District

#1 84% Completion - Preuss School UCSD

#2 61% Completion - High Tech High Media Arts

#3 55% Completion - San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, San Diego Unified School District

#4 53% Completion - High Tech High Chula Vista

#1 57% Completion - Mission Vista High, Vista Unified School District

#2 45% Completion - Southwest High, Sweetwater Union High School District

#3 43% Completion - San Dieguito High School Academy, San Dieguito Union High School District

#4 41% Completion - Santana High, Grossmont Union High School District

#4 41% Completion - University City High, San Diego Unified School District

#1 64% Completion - San Marcos High, San Marcos Unified School District

#2 55% Completion - Helix High, Grossmont Union High School District

#3 51% Completion - Del Norte High, Poway Unified High School District

#4 50% Completion - Escondido High, Escondido Union High School District

#1 50% Completion - San Marcos Unified School District

#2 45% Completion - Bonsall Unified School District

#3 32% Completion - Carlsbad Unified School District

#3 32% Completion - Coronado Unified School District

#1 38% Completion - Escondido Union High School District

#1 38% Completion - Poway Unified School District

#3 37% Completion - San Dieguito Union High School District

Anxiety disorders are the most common adult mental health condition in America. Feeling anxious is a common reaction during times of uncertainty, or when there is a perception of danger, and COVID-19 qualifies as such a time. This one-hour training will offer coping strategies to support yourself and those around you who might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious.

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder among children and adolescents, affecting one in four youth over their lifetime. Being physically back in school for the 2021-22 school year may help some students feel more secure, but for others the anxiety and fear can be overwhelming. It is important for caregivers to know how to help. This one-hour webinar will offer coping strategies, tools and resources to support your children/teens who might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. View the flyer in English and Spanish to share with your school staff and parents.

The first line of defense against bullying is to build activities and discussions that create awareness and enhance resiliency. This workshop helps bullyproof children by

implementing the seven C’s of resiliency. It also shares tips on creating agents of change and addresses bully-banning behaviors on bullyproofing children. This webinar will not be recorded, nor will it be offered with Spanish interpretation. View the flyer in English and Spanish to share with your school staff and parents.

The pandemic has left many people feeling stressed, drained, and burned out. Being mindful of caring for our mind, body, and soul helps us to cope with stress, regulate emotions, and enhance our wellness. With the challenges of reopening schools, it is more important than ever to cultivate habits that promote wellness and reduce vulnerability to exhaustion and burnout. With increased emotional resilience, we have more energy to serve others.

SDCOE and the San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective will be offering a no-cost Virtual Educator Academy on Human Trafficking Prevention, Interventions, and Supports. This professional development opportunity will provide human trafficking information which is part of the new 2019 Health Curriculum Framework. Additionally, this training offers an opportunity for 2.0 units of graduate-level education credits at no cost. The program flyer contains additional participant information, details, and learning objectives. 

Mental Health Resources

The SDCOE Student Wellness and School Culture team has compiled mental health resources for educators, students, and families. The document is organized into three sections: support lines; mental health websites; and mental health handouts and brochures. The document includes links to resources in both English and Spanish.

This webinar provides an overview of trauma and its effects on youth in school. Attendees will learn about the intersection of trauma-informed, anti-racism, and equity work in schools and will leave with practical tools and strategies for building caring relationships and trauma sensitive classrooms.

Join the board chair of CASC, president of the California Association of School Psychologists, and president of California Association of School Social Workers as they embark on defining the complimentary roles and responsibilities of the three professions in meeting the needs of California's students. After attending, conference participants will be able to describe what each profession does and define the strategic and collaborative approach to supporting California's schools. Come with questions as this is a rare opportunity to engage with the leaders of all three organizations in one setting.