GPCI Counseling Services Department

• Important Dates
• Important Resources and Links for College and Career Planning
• Scholarships
• Fairs and Workshop Information
• FAFSA/TASFA Information
• Dual Credit
• Social and Emotional Learning Information
• Contact Information

• Suicide Prevention Month
• HBCU Week Sept. 7th - Sept. 10th
• GPISD College Fair- Sept. 23rd @ 7:00pm-8:30pm, Grand Prairie High School

Financial Aid Checklists

• Middle School Financial Aid Checklist
• 9th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 10th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 11th Grade Financial Aid Checklist
• 12th Grade Financial Aid Checklist

College Preparation Checklists

• Middle School College Planning Checklist
• 9th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 10th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 11th Grade College Planning Checklist
• 12th Grade College Planning Checklist

SENIORS

• Complete applications for colleges/universities through Xello.
• Link your Common App. to your Xello Account
• All Transcript requests must be done through Xello. If college/university does not accept through Xello, go to your College Portal and request the transcript get sent that way.
• Have copies of your most recent GPISD (Skyward), Dallas College and University of Texas-Austin Transcript.

Dallas College- https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/transcripts/pages/electronic.aspx

UT-Austin- https://onestop.utexas.edu/student-records/transcripts-other-records/official-transcripts/

SEPTEMBER SCHOLARSHIPS

Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship

Description: US Citizens who have an unweighted GPA of a 3.7 or higher are eligible

to apply. The Foundation is specifically looking for candidates who have displayed

strong evidence of leadership, involvement in extracurriculars and community service,

and who want to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Amount: four-year, full-tuition, merit-based undergraduate scholarship

Closing Date: September 11

https://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/scholarship

Gates Scholarship

Description: The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship

for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year,

the scholarship is awarded to 300 of these student leaders, with the intent of helping

them realize their maximum potential.

Amount: Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already

covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by

FAFSA, or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.

Closing Date: September 15

https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/

GoSkills Scholarship

Description: Any female high-school or college student, who wants to start her own

online business.

Amount: $2,000

Closing Date: September 15

https://www.goskills.com/scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Scholarship

Description: Up to $10,000 to apply toward instrument purchases, summer camp

tuition, college audition travel expenses, private lessons, or other music-related needs.

Appearance on NPR’s From the Top. Participation in From the Top’s Arts Leadership

and Community Engagement training.

Amount: Up to $10,000

Closing Date: September 15

https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/college-scholarship-program/

We the Future Scholarship

Description: Students may submit: Essay, Song, STEM project, Short film or PSA.

Refer to website for High School category to learn more.

Amount: $1,000

Closing Date: September 17

http://constitutingamerica.org/contest-categories

Sleeknote Scholarship

Description: Create a video of between one and two minutes explaining your purpose

for applying and why you feel you should receive the scholarship.

Amount: $1,000

Closing Date: September 20

https://sleeknote.com/scholarship

QuestBridge

Description: National College Match program. Targeted to low income high school

senior who have outstanding academic achievements.

Closing Date: September 29

Amount: College scholarship

https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match

Links

• GPISD College Access Resources Hub
• GPISD Scholarships

FAFSA OPENS OCTOBER 1ST

Steps for completing FAFSA

What do I need to bring for FAFSA?

Student Information

• Social Security Number, Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Number, or DACA Number.
• IF you don’t have one that’s okay, you only need this if you have one.
• An email you have access to.
• A valid phone number.
• If you did taxes in 2020, bring the forms (1040,W2’s)
• Know your home address, birth date, other basic information.

Parent/Guardian Information

• Their 2020 tax 1040 and W-2 if they have them (examples on the back).
• IF they don’t file taxes, find out how much they make every 2 weeks or every month.
• Their Social Security numbers OR ITIN numbers
• These should be on the taxes
• Their email address they have access to.
• Their birthday
• NOT on the Taxes
• If they are married or divorced, the month and year it happened.
• NOT on the Taxes

TASFA

TASFA Website

Scholars, be successful in your dual credit courses. Please make sure you do not procrastinate and ask for help from the professor when needed.

Your dual credit grades are in blackboard, so a good practice is to look at them everytime you go into blackboard.

Here is the presentation from our recent dual credit parent night.

Xello is an engaging, fun-to-use software that students can access online, at school or at home. Students can even access Xello from their mobile devices. Using Xello, students plan their journeys toward the future by creating their very own unique roadmap for future success.

The program is implemented through the GPISD Counseling Services Department at every elementary and secondary campus. The mission of the Counseling Service Department is to guide students from cradle to career, making every student future-ready!

Scholars Sign in link for Xello. (Do not use old login information)

See Canvas for specific login information

https://auth.xello.world/SAML/Student/d2046896-095a-4acd-919e-28dca02b9564

Xello Resource Website

How Students Request Transcripts in Xello

• Access the College Planning Tools

• To begin with, go to College Planning from the Goals & Plans link in the top menu of on the Dashboard.
• This page is a central hub to view all the applications you're tracking, and local scholarships available. Or check our the Knowledge Hub with topics to help you plan for college.
• Create an Application to Track
• Click Create Your First Application to choose the college you want to track your application with.
• If this isn't your first one, this page will be a list of your previous applications.
• Use the search bar to enter the school name and click Select, then click Next.
• On the next page, add details such as your application Admission Type and Deadline. Then click Create to begin tracking your application for this college.
• Send a Transcript
• In the application tracker for the college, you'll see the Applications Checklist. Use this checklist to track the things you need to complete for the application.
• From the list, where it says Transcript, click Request to request your high school send your transcript to the school.
• If you don't see Transcript listed under the requirements, this college may not require it. You can still make a request by clicking Add Task and selecting Transcript.
• View the Progress
• View the status of your sent Transcript by opening the Application Tracker of the college you want to view.
• From under Application Checklist, click the drop-down next to Transcript and select Track Transcript.
• View the chronological updates of your transcript request.

Guidance Lessons for September

• Suicide Prevention Guidance Lesson
• Communicating your Needs

• Online Disinhibition and Cyberbullying Guidance Lesson

  Creating a Healthy Routine
  

Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention month. Part of my job is to make sure your scholars are safe. I do this by educating students and providing resources for families.

Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between 10 to 24.

Did you know- Scholars have several Hotline numbers on the back of their student ID (see picture)

Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics of a person or his or her environment that increase the likelihood that he or she will die by suicide (i.e., suicide risk).

Major risk factors for suicide include:

• Prior suicide attempt(s)
• Misuse and abuse of alcohol or other drugs
• Mental disorders, particularly depression and other mood disorders
• Access to lethal means
• Knowing someone who died by suicide, particularly a family member
• Social isolation
• Chronic disease and disability
• Lack of access to behavioral health care

Protective Factors

Protective factors are personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide.

Major protective factors for suicide include:

• Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
• Life skills (including problem solving skills and coping skills, ability to adapt to change)
• Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life
• Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide

Resources for Parents, Guardians, and Families

Resources provided by Suicide Prevention Resource Center Web: http://www.sprc.org | E-mail: info@sprc.org | Phone: 877-GET-SPRC (438–7772):

Suicide Prevention

http://www.sprc.org. Comprehensive information on education and prevention.

Increased Hours Online Correlate with Uptick in Teen Depression, Suicidal Thoughts. Michigan Radio NPR article.

goo.gl/Vr3WzA

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide Parent Section: http://www.sptsusa.org/parents/

This website’s parent section provides information to help you talk with your teens about suicide or the death of a friend by suicide.

Jason Foundation Parent Resource Program

http://jasonfoundation.com/get-involved/parent/parent-resource-program/

This website contains basic information about suicide and how you as a parent or guardian can help prevent youth suicide.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1–800–273-TALK (8255) The Lifeline is a 24-hour toll-free phone line for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. An online chat option is available at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx

For more resources, please see the GPCI Counseling Services website.

Unsure of what you want to do as a career, what you want to study in college, where to apply? Come see Mrs. Robb or Ms. Burns to help you get started.

Mimi Robb

Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute

School Counselor

Mimi.robb@gpisd.org

972.343.3151(Office)

972-885-9741(Google Voice-Call & Text Enabled)

Schedule Appointment Here

GPCI Counseling Services Department Website

Rebecca Burns

GPCI Campus Hours: 8:15am-3:45pm, M/W/TH

rebecca.burns@gpisd.org

Google Voice Phone: 404-926-6829

Appointy Link: https://booking.appointy.com/msburns

Vision Statement

The Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute Counseling Services Department will support students so they can reach their maximum potential personally and academically, by using a comprehensive program that addresses personal/mental/social, academic and college/career readiness goals so scholars can establish a solid foundation that they can build upon through post-secondary goals and through adulthood. The counseling services department also aligns with GPCI in that we will promote a rigorous academic and College/University going culture.

Mission Statement

The Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute Counseling Services Department's mission is to give scholars in grades 6-12 lifelong personal/mental health/social resources and strategies. Counseling Services will implement a comprehensive counseling program that aligns with GPCI in that we will promote a rigorous academic and college going culture while partnering with families, staff, and community members to provide social/emotional/academic and career resources.