page background

Folks Counselor Connection

2024-2025 SECOND NINE WEEKS

Folks CounselorConnection2024-2025 SECOND NINE WEEKS

CREST COUNSELING AWARD WINNER 2024-2025

We are honored to be part of an elite group of schools from across the state to win the CREST Award for Counseling Excellence for a 3rd consecutive year! It is such a privilege to work with our amazing students, staff, parents, and community! Our counselors strive to uphold Dr. John Folks' legacy of excellence.
The CREST awards recognize schools across Texas that appropriately utilize their Professional School Counselors and demonstrate a continuous commitment to building a campus team and programs based on the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, endorsed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

6th & 7th Grade Virtual Advanced Academic Course Selection Parent Night

Parents of current 6th & 7th graders can join us through zoom on January 14, 2025, at 6 pm for information on assisting your student in selecting courses for the 2025-2026 school year.


Zoom Link: https://nisd-net.zoom.us/j/96688194532


Our Academic Dean and Folks counselors will be reviewing advanced academics and the course selection/planning guide process to help you, and your student select courses for next year. Please join us through zoom to get all your questions answered!

Counselors will be visiting with our 6th & 7th Graders in January and February through ELA classes to discuss course selection options, and we will meet with your child individually to assist them in entering their course selections into HAC.


Counselors will be visiting with our 8th Graders during their COMM APPS, Innovative Thinkers, or AVID classes to assist them with a draft copy of their high school planning guide before they meet individually with their high school counselor on January 21, 2025 to enter courses into HAC.


A copy of your child's planning guide will be sent home with your child after their guidance date for parent review.


Attendance is critical for your child on their scheduled guidance date.

High School Counselor Visits Rescheduled:

O’Connor-Wednesday, Jan.22nd during 8th period



Sotomayor-Wednesday, Jan. 29th

Course Selection Guidance Schedule

2025-2026 Transition Information
Click here for more information about the course selection process for next school year!

6th Planning Guide 25-26

7th Planning Guide 25-26

8th Planning Guide 25-26

Classroom Guidance Focus

Our classroom counseling lessons will focus on post-secondary college, career, and military readiness! We will be preparing our students for transition to the next grade level and discussing course selection options. 8th graders will be focusing on programs of study and endorsements in preparation for high school counselor visits. Counselors will meet with students to assist them in selecting courses for next school year!

Unity Day

Students and staff wore orange on October 16th to send a visible message of building community through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.

Red Ribbon Week

The Annual Drug Prevention and Awareness campaign took place on October 28-November 1. Students and staff helped to raise awareness of the importance of living drug free by participating in our theme days, sharing their "Natural Highs", and receiving drug awareness guidance lessons from their counselors!

Staff "Natural Highs"- Shared on Morning Announcements

Folks Veteran's Day Celebration

Thank you to all who have served or are currently serving in the military! We appreciate your selfless commitment to our country! 💜

Generation Texas Month

Each November, Generation Texas is recognized by the state of Texas as a month to educate students and highlight the importance of higher education and other post-secondary options. We celebrated Generation Texas Month by having students guess the college mascot to win fabulous prizes! Our staff also participated by posting their first job(s) and college door sign which led them to their present career.

Folks Staff College & Career Door Sign

Stallion Staff: A Highly Educated Team- Wall Display Outside the Cafeteria

"Guess the College Mascot" Student Award Winners!

Incoming 6th Grade Electives Showcase Night

It was great meeting our Future Stallions!!! Thank you, parents, for attending our Electives Showcase Night and supporting your student as they transition to Folks Middle School!

Welcome to Folks!!!💙

Incoming 6th Grade Transition Camp

Our future Stallions enjoyed a Folks Pep Rally, watching performances from our various electives, touring the campus, and visiting with their middle school counselors to learn about course selection choices and opportunities for next year. We enjoyed planning with them and discussing the importance of choosing one elective for the entire year--always choosing wisely, based on future goals and not friends!!! We can't wait for next year!!!

We Love Our Future Stallions!

Small Group Counseling

Small groups have begun in the counseling office! The purpose of group is to help students attain more success academically and socially by focusing on the following skills: Positive student self concept, appropriate behavior, effective communication skills and conflict resolution, healthy relationships, positive coping skills and personal boundaries. Students who completed a needs assessment indicating that they may be interested in a group, or parents and/or teachers who referred a student as benefiting from a group were screened by a counselor leading a specific group.

Emotions and Beyond

Emotions and Beyond is a community dedicated to emotional intelligence, offering tools and support to overcome emotional obstacles and achieve greater well-being.

Boyz Wurld

Boyz Wurld provides a safe and confidential space for boys to enhance communication skills, build self-esteem, and cultivate empathy and respect for others.

Healing Hearts

Healing Hearts is an upcoming group for students experiencing loss or grief. Together, we'll explore feelings, learn healthy coping strategies, and find support from others who understand.

New Kids on the Block

New Kids on the Block is a group for boys who are new to Folks this year. We discuss the challenges of being the "new kid," share tips for making friends, and learn how to manage stress and emotions.

Strong and Beautiful

Strong and Beautiful is an upcoming group for girls who want to feel confident, strong, and beautiful. Together, we'll explore topics like body image, self-esteem, and social media. We'll learn to love ourselves for who we are, set healthy goals, and build positive relationships.

Gurlz Wurld

Is it hard being a teenager? Do you feel like no one understands you? Being a middle schooler can be challenging! Gurlz Wurld will help students discover ways to tackle everyday obstacles teenagers face today.

January Begins our Second Semester

Attendance Recovery

The end of the semester is soon approaching!


Attendance Recovery can be a resource for students that are taking high school credits and have had more than 8 absences for the semester.


Check your child's absences and make plans for them to attend Attendance Recovery if needed. If your child qualifies, you should have received an email from Ms. Hall with further information.


As we begin the 2nd semester, please take a moment to check your child's grades in HAC. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher. Teachers are able to provide tutoring to their students.

Folks Counseling Department!

Please reach out to your child's counselor with any questions or concerns.

Allison Gibson, Counselor (A-E)

allison.gibson@nisd.net

(210) 398-1626

Angie Perez, Head Counselor (F-H)

angelica.perez@nisd.net

(210) 398-1627

Sheena Martinez, Counselor (I-P)

sheena.martinez@nisd.net

(210) 398-1625

Diana Hernandez, Counselor (Q-Z)

diana.hernandez@nisd.net

(210) 398-1628

CREST Award for Counseling Excellence Recipients in 2022, 2023 and 2024

The Folks Counseling Department is honored to be recipients of the CREST (Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas) Award for our school counseling program for three consecutive years in a row! It is so rewarding to work with our amazing staff, students, parents, and community!

Purple Star Campus Designation

We are excited to announce that Folks Middle School has been named a 2024-2025 Purple Star Campus! Our campus will retain the Purple Star Campus Designation for school years 2024-25 and 2025-26.



This special recognition from the Texas Education Agency highlights schools that go above and beyond to support military connected students and families. 💜💜💜

Military Families Connection

Our NISD Military Families webpage has many resources for you. Click on the link below to see more information. ⬇


https://www.nisd.net/district/counseling/military-families

Angie Perez
Angie is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters