Counselor's Corner

Wow! Can you believe it is 2025? 2024 sure went fast! As we step into the new year, the second semester is already under way, and we are excited for the continued growth and success of your student. With the last half of the school year ahead of us, we remain committed to providing a supportive environment that fosters learning and achievement. As always, please know that we are here for you and your student. If there is anything we can assist with, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Let's make 2025 a great year together!

Ms. Guillory (Intervention Counselor)

Mrs. Kennedy (A-L) &

Mrs. Shields (M-Z)

Counselors met with 8th graders throughout November and December to go over graduation requirements and help them create their "rough draft" of classes they may want to take in high school. February 4th and 5th the RHS counselors will visit Westwood in order to meet with our 8th grade students and help them choose their classes for their 9th grade year. Here is the RHS Pre-Registration Google Site, which contains a wealth of valuable information to help you and your student prepare for the course selection process.. Please keep in mind that course selections can be adjusted later during the designated verification period. You will receive a copy of this to sign and return. Please remember, this is something that can always be changed. You will also receive a second verification letter of the classes your student chose sometime towards the end of March. This is a second opportunity for your child to make changes. Again, please remember, this can be changed. We know this process can be overwhelming at times and are here to help anyway we can. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's alpha counselor.

Mrs. Kennedy (A-L) &

Mrs. Shields (M-Z)

We hope you and your student were able to visit RHS at the Eagle Celebration last week. Please remember the magnet application is open and closes on January 31st. Late applications will not be accepted, so if you are interested in the RHS magnet program please make sure you apply today!

If your student is interested in Pearce High School, Mustang Round Up, is right around the corner!

Next Wednesday night, January 22nd, 2025 the health science program is hosting an open house at the Richardson Healthcare Careers Academy (hospital) campus. It will be an opportunity for 8th grade students and their parents to tour the campus, meet RHCA faculty and staff, and learn about the health science pathways.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time for our 7th-grade students to start planning for their 8th-grade year! During the week of January 27th, we will work with your child to pre-register for their 8th-grade courses. We will visit students during their RLA (Reading Language Arts) classes to walk them through the selection process step by step. Please keep an eye out for a course selection card that will come home with your child that week. This card will need a parent signature and should be returned to your child’s RLA teacher by Monday, February 3rd. In late March, course verification letters will be sent home and students will have another chance to review and make changes to their course selections. If you have any questions or concerns about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s alpha counselor. We’re here to support you and your student every step of the way. Thank you for your partnership as we prepare for another exciting year ahead!

Mrs. Kennedy (A-L) &

Mrs. Shields (M-Z)

If you have an incoming 7th grader please join us on February 4th for Westwood Walks. If you don't have an incoming 7th grader, but know someone who does, please pass along this information. We look forward to welcoming our new Wolf pups!

We wanted to share the book, The Anxious Generation with you as a resource for parenting. It is a Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book, #1 New York Times Bestseller, one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2024 and The Goodreads Choice Award Nonfiction Book of the Year. Read it and let us know what you think!

Website: https://schools.risd.org/WestwoodJH/
Location: 7630 Arapaho Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 469-593-3600
Twitter: @WestwoodJH_RISD