March is here and many of us are ready to welcome the first day of spring and the upcoming warmer days. We hope this season you find yourself energized and inspired.

As a school counselor, we know that you may sometimes wear many hats and each month brings a new focus and a new challenge to find creative ways to serve and impact your students. The work you do is significant every month and we want to thank you for everything you do!

As always, we are here to support you.

You truly are the heart of your schools.

The Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids project are free videos that help students learn relaxation techniques and coping skills that they can use when experiencing intense or uncomfortable emotions. All videos and print resources are available in English and Spanish for parents, educators and students.

“While kids are back to school and many other activities, this is far from ‘business as usual.’ We believe these new resources will offer effective tools — and ignite new hope — to make this and future school years more positive, productive and healthy for everyone.”

— Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, President, Child Mind Institute

Check out these easy, FREE activities from CharacterStrong curriculum! We hope that these tools assist in planning in order to support you and your students.

Exploring Pathways- Expanding Opportunities

March 31, 2022
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Workshop # 199945
Register online at www.esc1.net/staffdevelopment

Intended Audience:
District and Campus Administrators, Counselors, Teachers, Industry and IHE Partners

This year, the focus of the one-day learning event will be on preparing students for college, careers, and life readiness in an evolving educational setting. Representatives from higher education, industry, and military personnel will share their insights, expertise, and provide information about what opportunities are available for students.

You shouldn't miss the very targeted message by our Keynote Speaker, Brooks Harper, who will address "Why Should We Hire Your Students? Turning Learning in Earning!"

Do you know a student interested in making your school and community a safer place?

The camp team application for 2022 is now open. This year, Texas School Safety is offering camp to incoming 9th grade to incoming 12th grade students from June 12-16, 2022 here at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Applications are due by April 15, 2022 and those selected will be notified by April 29, 2022. Please note that meals and lodging will be provided. Teams will be responsible for transportation to and from camp, as well as any meals on their commute to and from San Marcos.

https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/youth-preparedness-camp/

https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/youth-preparedness-camp/application.html

High school is an important time for students to develop the personal finance skills they will need as they enter adulthood. High school students may be familiar with basic money management terms like credit and loans but this is the time to dive deeper and teach them about real-world applications of their financial choices. Join this webinar to learn the need-to-know financial concepts that high school students should learn before entering the real world.

Date: March 8, 2022

Time: 10:00 a.m. (CT)

Click here to register

Check out the Texas OnCourse Academy, a free professional development resource for Texas school professionals. The Academy offers self-paced learning modules on both the FAFSA and TASFA. They’re designed to help you support students as they complete and submit their financial aid applications.

Texas OnCourse Financial Aid Resources

Equitable Excellence Scholarship – for US Citizens/Residents

Dream.US National Scholarship – for DACA/undocumented students

What You Need To Know: 22-23 FASFA Updates and Troubleshooting

Have you been experiencing issues with the 22-23 FAFSA? Catch up on the 22-23 FAFSA changes and ways to troubleshoot common issues that you may come across in TxCAN's latest blog post.

FINANCIAL AID TOOKKIT FOR FAMILIES

Available in English and Spanish

FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENT-TEA WEBSITE

FAFSA/TASFA PROOF & REPORTING GUIDANCE

Each district and charter school must require a method of proof that a student completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for Student Financial Aid (TASFA).

MyACT

ACT Counselor Toolkit

ACT Online Reporting

Updates to the SAT College Board website are here:

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/

Look under the MORE tab for the changes made to the Help Center.

The SAT Suite of Assessments is going digital. This will begin rolling out in the U.S. in Fall 2023 with the PSAT.

Here is a link to the website about the digital SAT, which includes an FAQ page: sat.org/digital.

Here is a link to the official press release: https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/digital-sat-brings-student-friendly-changes-test-experience.