BHS Counseling Newsletter:

Feb. 3-7th - National School Counseling Week

Feb. 7th, 11th & 14th - 25-26 Registration Advising w/ Counselors -- Bobcat Time/Study Corner

Feb. 11th - SDSU Admissions Rep., Ryan VandeKieft. in counseling office from 2-2:30 p.m.

Feb. 17th - President's Day, NO SCHOOL

Feb. 18th - 25-26 Registration Course Plans Due Special Schedule 1-7 w/ Advisory

Feb. 25th - Junior Student & Parent Post-Secondary Planning Meeting; 5:30 p.m. | BHS Commons

Feb. 26th - Local Scholarship Application for BHS Seniors is due.

BHS Student Alumni Panel - The Counseling Team welcomed back some of our former BHS graduates, asking them to share their experiences on life, work, school, and personal growth after graduation! These students served on a panel and spoke to our current BHS Seniors about their successes, experiences, struggles, and gave advice on life after graduation. Thank you to these amazing students for returning and sharing their experiences with our current seniors!

With the start of a new semester as well kicking off course registration for the 25-26 school year. Registration information will be given during Advisory periods throughout February.

Please ensure that your learners attend Advisory and, if possible, avoid scheduling conflicts or excusing unnecessary absences.

So far, students have had time to visit with staff and hear more about courses on Teacher Recommendation Day! We're looking forward to advising students on selections this month and visiting MMS learners to help prepare the 8th grade learners for high school.

Learners will finish entering in course selections in Infinite Campus on February 18th. Please take note of the special schedule for the day.

Class of 2026 - You are invited to join us on Tuesday, February 25th for our Junior Meetings in the BHS Commons.

Part-Time or Early Graduate Requests:
Students and their parent/guardian who are requesting to be Part-Time or Early Graduates for the 2025-2026 school year are required to attend a mandatory meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25th in the BHS Commons. Attendance is required to be eligible for consideration for Part-Time or Early Graduation. At the meeting, you will receive instructions on how to acquire and complete the required application.

Junior Student/Parent Post-Secondary Planning Meeting:
This meeting will follow the Part-Time meeting and provide valuable information about planning for life after high school. We will be inviting guest speakers to share insightful information with our students. Whether you’re considering 2-year or 4-year colleges, the military, or entering the workforce, this session will cover all the important details you need to know!

We look forward to seeing you at Junior Night!

.National Youth Science Camp- Applications must be submitted online at apply.nyscamp.org by January 27th, 2025. If you have any questions, please email nyscamp@nysacademy.org.

Humanity Launch Service Leadership Academy- Current juniors are eligible to apply. The goals of the academy held at Augustana are to grow participants’ leadership skills, to nurture their service heart, to connect rising seniors from the region, and to have a lot of fun in the process. There are large group and small group activities, keynotes, panels, field trips, and lots and lots of fun activities. All of our students just had a "The Humanity Launch" retreat this past month, so they are familiar with this program. Students that are interested in attending should complete an application form here.

Scrubs Camps: There are multiple Scrubs Camps coming up in SD. Scrubs Camps, also known as "South Dakota Healthcare Career Camps," are educational programs aimed at high school students who are interested in exploring healthcare careers. These camps provide participants with an opportunity to learn about various healthcare professions, gain hands-on experience, and interact with healthcare professionals. Check out the upcoming opportunities here.

• SDMyLife Career Exploration: Login to your student account and explore the FREE Career assessment tools here! https://sdmylife.com/prepping-for-career

West Point Summer Leaders Experience: High School Juniors are eligible to apply. Led by current cadets, Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) is a week-long immersion into the academic, military, and social life of a West Point cadet. At SLE, you will explore West Point from all angles, including our high-tech educational facilities, team-building athletic activities, and realistic military training.

SLE gives you a taste of the character, determination, commitment to excellence, and leadership required to be a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA).

The teenage years are marked by intense changes—physical, social, emotional, and developmental—that can feel overwhelming at times. With so much going on, it's no surprise conflicts often arise with family, friends, and even within themselves.

Key Conflict Resolution Skills

“Having conflict resolution skills can help teens navigate the turbulent waters of their adolescent experience,” Joseph Laino, PsyD psychologist, assistant director of clinical operations/Sunset Terrace Family Health Center at NYU Langone and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry told Parents.

Key conflict resolution skills can help teens learn to identify their emotions and express themselves without casting blame, which can often make the situation worse. Here are some expert-approved tips:

Give space: Sometimes, it's best to give your teen a few minutes of their own to cool down.

Use “I” statements: Dr. Laino suggests using “I” statements to express how you feel without making your teen defensive.

Practice active listening and empathy: Listen to your teen share their experiences and allow them to feel comfortable and safe with you.

Negotiate and compromise: Once you and your teen have discussed the conflict, you can work together to negotiate and come up with a game plan to move forward. This may take time or multiple conversations, but letting your teen know you are open to compromising is mutually beneficial.

Steps Teenagers Can Take to Resolve Conflict

Here are steps teenagers can take to resolve conflict. Don't be surprised if they seem straightforward, Dr. Laino says some of the most specific skills are often the simplest.

1. Show them how to make sure the situation is safe, and then they can proceed.
2. Help them learn to recognize what their triggers are. For instance, a certain word, tone of voice, or even time of day can be a trigger when someone is not equipped to handle conflict.
3. Teach your teen to notice the physiological signs that occur when a conflict is escalating, and when they feel the “temperature rising” in the room. Tell them to take note of what happens. For example, do they start sweating, feeling their heart race, feel flush, feel it in their chest, head, or stomach? Help them identify what these are so they can be aware the next time a conflict emerges.
4. Once they start to recognize these signs—they should consider taking a break from the situation.
   
   Read the full article here.

● Margos Place Domestic Violence Help: Services - Margo's Place

● Parent Guidance

● Brookings Area Basic Needs Resource Guide

● Brookings Helping Hand Emergency Resource Guide

● Brookings Area Mental Health Resource Guide

● Brookings Helping Hand Guia de Recursos de Emergencia

● Home | South Dakota Quitline

🐾 Continue to plan any additional college visits.

🐾 Keep making memories at high school! Have fun, take care of yourself, spend time with the people you enjoy and care about!

🐾 Check for continuing scholarship opportunities and stay on top of your applications.

🐾 Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive soon. Review these, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices.

🐾 Don’t slack in the classroom. Your post-high plans whether work, college, military, etc. could be impacted by your second-semester decisions and/or transcript.

🐾 If you are wait-listed by a college you can visit, call, and write the admissions office to make your interest clear. Ask how you can strengthen your application.

https://www.aclsmedicaltraining.com/financial-aid-opportunities-for-disabled-individuals/

Financial Aid Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities - ACLS Medical Training

College is an exciting time, but it’s also quite expensive. And while student loans can help you afford your education at the time, repaying these loans can make it extremely complicated to save money and get ahead once you’ve graduated. If you’re an individual with a disability, however, there are multiple scholarships, grants, and awards available.

This scholarship application is for Brookings High School Seniors! Numerous local businesses and organizations utilize this application for their scholarship awards. The deadline is Feb. 26th at 3:30 p.m. Applications must be typed and emailed to bsdfoundation57006@gmail.com. No late applications accepted.

1. Click this link.

2. Download the application to your computer.

3. Save the application as your first and last name.

4. Complete application.

5. Send your completed application to the bsdfoundation57006@gmail.com.

The First-Generation Scholarship is a generous opportunity designed to support graduating seniors who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Funded by a caring family in the community, this scholarship aims to eliminate financial barriers and provide deserving students with the resources they need to succeed in their academic journeys.

The scholarship is intended to empower young individuals to follow their dreams, encouraging continued success and academic growth in college or vocational training programs. By easing the financial burdens of tuition and related expenses, this scholarship helps pave the way for first-generation students to achieve their educational goals and make a lasting impact in their communities.

First-Generation Scholarship Form (English)

First-Generation Scholarship Form (Spanish)

Below are current scholarships that have been brought to the attention of our office. The date next to the scholarship is the deadline for the application. Any scholarship with an asterisk next to it denotes a Brookings or South Dakota Scholarship.

*Feb. 9th - Optimist Club of Brookings

*Feb 14th - Kingbrook Rural Water System Scholarship

*Feb. 15th - Ty Eschenbaum Foundation Scholarship

*Feb. 15th - SD American Legion Education Scholarship

*Feb. 15th - Ramia Boersma Scholarship

*Feb. 24th - Pheasants Forever Scholarship

Feb. 28th - Better Business Bureau Students of Integrity Scholarship

*Mar. 1st - Michael J. Entringer Scholarship

*Mar. 1st - Junior Achievement of South Dakota $500 Leo Crawford Scholarship

*Mar. 1st - South Dakota Farm Bureau Scholarship

*Mar. 3rd - Dacotah Bank Scholarship

Mar. 14th - Mediacom World Class Scholarship Program

Mar. 14th - Missouri River Scholarships

Mar. 15th - UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program
Mar. 26th - The Bellator Titans Motorcycle Club

*Mar. 31st - Build Dakota Scholarship

* Mar. 31st - Ally Dakota Development

* Mar. 31st - SD Association of Conservation Scholarship

*Apr. 1st - SD Association of Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation Scholarship

*Apr. 1st - SDACTE Scholarship

*Apr. 1st - Day County Coyote Hunt Scholarship

*Apr. 1st - USA Softball of South Dakota

*Apr. 1st - Donald H. Quimby Memorial Scholarship

Apr. 30th - ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship

This new portal is a game-changer, simplifying the process and opening doors to countless opportunities. Stay tuned for more details as we count down to the January 2, 2025, launch!

Students can also visit our website at https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/scholarships and click on the Scholarship Tab to view a list of all available SDCF scholarships.

Requesting Your Transcript (Parchment):

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPT!

Counseling Office Assistant:

Mrs. Victoria Brockel victoria.brockel@k12.sd.us, Phone Number: 605-696-4124

BHS School Counselors:

Mrs. Linda Johnson: linda.johnson@k12.sd.us

Mr. Gary Mork: gary.mork@k12.sd.us

Mrs. Angela Bucholz: angela.bucholz@k12.sd.us

Other Ways To Get Information From Us!

BHS Counseling Facebook Link

BHS Counseling Website

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