SGPHS Counseling Department

The Counseling Department welcomes all new and returning students and families to South Grand Prairie High for the 2024-2025 school year. We look forward to a positive and productive year. For freshmen coming from middle school, we look forward to getting to know you and helping you make a successful transition to South.

We feel that in a large metropolitan high school, it is important to communicate information in a timely and effective manner. This newsletter is intended to give you a summary of important grade level counseling information which should be useful in making plans and navigating high school as well as life after graduation.

If you have questions please contact your assigned counselor.

2024-2025 Schedule Changes

Requests for schedule changes are allowed through the first 10 days of school. The schedule change window is open from Tuesday, August 6 through Monday, August 26 at 3:00 pm.

Link to Schedule Change Request Form:

https://forms.gle/Z8H38XvtTtSvSbXT8

Please be specific as possible in your request. Completion of this request DOES NOT GUARANTEE a schedule change. Please FOLLOW YOUR CURRENT SCHEDULE until you are notified of an update in Skyward.

If your schedule change request is approved, please understand additional changes can occur to accommodate your request and to maintain balanced class sizes.

SGP Counseling Services are not able to complete teacher change requests, requests for a specific lunch, or requests to swap class periods.

Schedule changes will ONLY be made for the following reasons:

• Incomplete schedule (you are missing a period on your schedule)

• Academic misplacement - placed in wrong level of class (Advanced vs On-Level)

• Placed in a class without meeting pre-requisite (ex. Animation II before Animation I)

• Placed in a class that you’ve earned credits for in a prior year, summer school, credit recovery, or CBE

• Program Change – you were accepted into a Program of Study

• Missing a core academic class (ex. English, Math, Science, Social Studies)

• Course balancing - to avoid overcrowded classes.

*PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT FORM IF YOUR REQUEST DOES NOT MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA*

SGP Counseling Services would like to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete our Beginning of the Year Needs Assessment. The feedback we receive helps us improve our program here at South Grand Prairie High School. We appreciate your time and valuable input.

• Embrace change
• Develop a routine
• Set goals for the new school year
• Build strong relationships
• Stay organized
• Self Care

5 ways parents can impact student success

Engaging in a self-care routine is clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, and increase happiness. It can help students adapt to change, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. We encourage students to take personal time for practicing self-care.

Self-Care Website & Resources

We want to emphasize that your mental health is of utmost importance to us. We understand that navigating the challenges of school, life, and personal growth can be overwhelming at times. It is okay to struggle, and it is okay to seek help when you need it.

We want to be here for you, not just as academic advisors, but as a source of support for your emotional well-being. We understand that everyone faces unique challenges, and no concern is too small or too big to discuss. Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, academic pressure, or any other personal matter, please remember that we are here to lend a helping hand.

Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. We are here to help you thrive academically, emotionally, and personally. Your well-being matters, and we are committed to helping you achieve it.

Please reach out to us via email, phone, or by visiting our office. Each classroom will have a poster with QR Scans where you will be able to request to see your counselor.

Let's work together to make your school experience as positive and successful as possible. Take care of yourselves and each other.

SGPHS Counseling Services💛

Students can scan the QR codes below to request to see their counselor. This poster is located in classrooms and near the Main /Alex cafeterias.

A school social worker provides counseling and support services to students inside a school setting. They work with children, parents, teachers, school administrators and the wider community to support the mental and emotional health needs of students and their families. We have two social workers on campus that will serve all students. You can contact them by email, phone, or visiting the office.

The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized assessment cosponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The NMSQT can lead to college scholarships if a student scores high enough marks. Juniors are welcome to sign up/pay ($39) and take the assessment during the school day on October 8. There are no vouchers available for this exam.

Any Junior who wants to take the assessment MUST register and pay for the assessment no later than Friday, August 30. The cost is $39. Please pay through MySchoolBucks - www.myschoolbucks.com

MySchoolBucks

Pay for school meals and fees securely online! With MySchoolBucks, parents can also view cafeteria purchases, access meal balances, register for activities, purchase event tickets, browse school items, and more.

www.myschoolbucks.com

If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Butterfield, Testing Coordinator: cheryl.butterfield@gpisd.org; 972-343-7609.

College On The Go is coming to Grand Prairie! Everything you need to begin planning for college, including financial aid, scholarships, college and career choices, will be covered! RSVP here to choose a session https://forms.gle/ZyiqNerKhqUe97qW7.

• Warrior Palooza Community Pep Rally - Wednesday, August 21st @6:00pm in the Coliseum
• Senior Parent Meeting - Monday, August 26th at 6:30pm in the SGP main cafeteria
• Labor Day - No School - Monday, September 2nd (all GPISD schools and offices will be closed)
• High School Meet the Teacher Night - Thursday, September 5th from 6:00-7:30pm
• Senior Chats- Monday, September 9th through Friday, September 20th during Government and Economics classes
• GPISD College Night - Thursday, September 19th from 6-8pm @GPHS (all are welcome)

SGP Counseling Services will provide an all-inclusive counseling program that offers every student the opportunity to attain exceptional results in academia, support of their social and emotional development, and elevate them on a path towards college and career exploration.

SGP Counseling Services will ensure student success by providing the tools necessary to navigate an ever-changing global society by fostering their desire to pursue lifelong academic, cultural, social-emotional, and technological awareness that extends far beyond the high school experience.