Counselor's Corner at JCHS

To my JCHS families,

It is with great pleasure that we bring you greetings from the Jefferson County High School counselor's office! In this newsletter you will find information for promoting student achievement by focusing on academic development, social/emotional development, and college and career readiness. FAFSA representatives will be at the high school on March 9th at 9:00 a.m. to assist in completing the FAFSA. Parents are invited to attend.

We look forward to continuing to provide pertinent information throughout this school year for students, parents, school staff, and community stakeholders.

The minimum REQUIRED CPC for full admission into a Mississippi public university is as follows: English: 4 Carnegie units

• All must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading and Writing may not be included.

Mathematics: 3 Carnegie units

• Algebra I or its equivalent
• Math higher than Algebra I (2 units)

Science: 3 Carnegie units

• Biology I or its equivalent
• Science higher than Biology I (2 units)

Social Studies: 3 Carnegie units

• U.S. History
• World History
• U.S. Government (½ unit)
• Economics (½ unit) or Introduction to World Geography (½ unit)

Arts: 1 Carnegie unit

• Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two . units) of visual and performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high school graduation.

Advanced Electives: 2 Carnegie units

• Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II
• Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced World Geography
• Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higher than Algebra I, Science higher than Biology I, Advanced Elective category, any AP course, any IB course

Technology: ½ Carnegie unit

• A course that emphasizes the use of technology as a productivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. The application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course.

Total Carnegie units: 16½

At this point, your child should have at least 3 colleges in mind. You may apply on-line. Once the application process is complete, the student should notify me and I will send his or her transcript. You may receive a correspondence from the college telling you that the application process is incomplete and they are missing a transcript. This usually means the Final transcript.

What are Relationship Skills?
Relationship skills are an important component of Social Emotional Learning. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), relationship skills pertain to “the ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups.” To demonstrate appropriate relationship skills, students must learn to:

• Communicate clearly: Effective communication requires the use of “verbal and nonverbal skills to express oneself” (CASEL). Communication involves not only speaking clearly and conveying ideas appropriately, but also understanding body language, facial expressions, and gestures that can contribute to accurate delivery and perception. A strong sense of self-awareness can assist in building communication skills.
• Listen well: Active listening depends on the ability to consciously make the effort to hear and comprehend what the other person is saying and respond appropriately. Some foundational skills involved in active listening include appropriate eye contact, regulating thoughts to limit distractions, utilizing facial expressions, and providing oral responses.
• Cooperate with others: When students cooperate, they each become active members working toward a common goal. Cooperation requires that students be flexible, have an awareness of self and others, take turns, respect each other’s thoughts and opinions, listen well, and practice effective problem-solving.
• Resist inappropriate social pressure: Strong self-management skills can help students to communicate and commit to their “decision not to engage in unwanted, unsafe, unethical behavior” (CASEL). This type of behavior could range from academic integrity issues to self-destructive patterns.
• Negotiate conflict constructively: Conflict resolution involves “achieving mutually satisfactory resolutions to conflict by addressing the needs of all concerned” (CASEL). In order to resolve an issue in a relationship, students must know how to calmly discuss the problem, brainstorm solutions, and come to an appropriate decision.
• Seek and offer help when needed: Students should be encouraged to check their understanding in both academic and social situations. If students hit a roadblock while working to achieve a goal, they need to know how and when to ask for help. For both the student and the educator, assessing whether or not it is appropriate to offer assistance is a delicate skill as well; place, tone, and response are all factors in offering useful support.

I understand this can be a very stressful time for many of you and I am available to talk by offering tele-counseling services. If you are in need of counseling services (mental health needs, college planning, etc.) please email me to set up a time for a phone or Zoom conference. I want to know how you’re doing and how I can help!

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of harming themselves or someone else, please contact a trusted adult immediately or dial 911 if they are threatening to harm themselves at the present moment. If you have concerns about a friend but they are not in immediate danger, you can email me to share your concerns and I will reach out to that individual. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available by calling 1-800-273-8255.

Email: cmitchell@jcpsd.net
Website: www.jcpsd.net
Location: 2277 Main Street, Fayette, MS, USA
Phone: 601-786-3919

Email: kwilson@jcpsd.net
Website: www.jcpsd.net
Location: 2277 Main Street, Fayette, MS, USA
Phone: 601-786-3919