Counselor Corner

November 1- ACT for Seniors

November 2- National Stress Awareness Day

November 6-16th: 9th and 10th grade one to one conferences with Counselors

November 8- National Tongue Twister Day

Try one out:

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

November 11-18- Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

November 13- World Kindness Day

November 20-24: Thanksgiving Break

November 20- Transgender Day of Remembrance

Native American Month

Our Mighty Hurricanes will soon participate in the EOC exams. We have included some strategies to help your student be successful.

Strategies for Test Prep:

1. Cultivate good study habits

2. Get a good night's sleep

3. Eat a healthy breakfast

4. Arrive Early

5. Develop positive habits

We hope you are entering the 2nd 9wks with a fresh mindset! We are quickly approaching our Thanksgiving break, so stay focused! Here are some helpful tips on how you can be successful in school:

7 Tips for Academic Success in High School

Explore and Find Your Passions.

Complete your assignments.

Work On Time Management Skills.

Get Involved in Your Community.

Utilize Your Resources.

Prioritize Your Health.

Attend your classes.

Be on time.

ALWAYS ATTENDING! Everyday Counts!

Your Child’s Success Begins With Attendance.

When it comes to school, students who miss school... miss out. Attendance boosts student achievement, improves the quality of your child's educational experience, and it prepares them for college, good careers, and successful adulthood.

For every day of school missed, it takes two or more days for a student to catch up.

Compulsory Attendance Law
The State of Texas requires that all students at least 6 years of age and not yet 19 attend school until they obtain a diploma. It is important that students attend school each day. There is a very strong connection between student attendance and academic performance in school. When students miss class, they miss out on learning.

90% Rule
In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law, there is the 90% law. In order to receive credit for a final grade for a class, a student is required to attend class 90 percent of the days a class is offered regardless of whether the student’s absences are excused [see FEA] or unexcused.

If the student does not meet this requirement, the student must go through the Attendance Recovery Process.

If the student drops below 90% but attends class at least at 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class by completing a plan approved by the principal.

Should a parent and student choose to appeal the student’s denial of credit due to attendance, submission of the attendance appeal must occur within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. The campus attendance committee will then meet and render a decision based on the circumstances as presented by the student and parent within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. See SAISD ISD Board Policies FEC (LEGAL) and FEC (LOCAL).

Course Credit Loss Defined

When students do not meet the 90% attendance rate in a class, it is reflected on their report cards as course credit denial.

• Arrive to school and all of your classes on time every day.
• Come to school each day ready to learn with homework and materials in hand.
• Actively participate in class and ask questions.
• Notify the attendance office of your absence in a timely manner.
• Review your attendance regularly, as well as your grades so you are not in jeopardy of getting denied credit.
• Assume responsibilities for behaviors which support regular attendance.
• Find at least one adult, other than a parent, who will support your success in school.
• If you are working after school, make sure your work hours do not interfere with your homework time.

• Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning.
• Seek support from school staff or community groups to help with transportation, health and safety, food bank distribution and more .
• Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
• Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, neighbor or another parent for help.
• Follow the proper school guidelines for reporting excused absences in a timely manner.
• Allow your child to stay home only when he/she has a contagious illness or is too sick to be comfortable.
• Make sure your child exercises, eats a balanced diet, and gets plenty of sleep. This will help him/her to be mentally and physically ready to learn, and strengthen the immune system.
• Read all information sent home by the school. Post important dates on a family bulletin board or on the refrigerator.
• Give your child enough time to get ready for school in the morning. Prepare lunches, pack school bags, and lay out clothing the night before.
• Monitor your child's attendance through Parent Portal.
• Talk about the importance of regular attendance and about how your child feels about school.

• Make students and their families feel welcome. Greet them when they arrive.
• Let students know when they are not in school, they are missed. Talk to them about why they were gone, and if there is anything you or the school can do to help.
• When a student is absent, immediately talk to a family member by personal phone call during the day or evening.
• Create an environment of mutual respect in which students are comfortable speaking up.
• Make assignments and schedule tests on Mondays and Fridays to encourage attendance on those days.
• Seek referrals to other agencies or district support when students face challenging family problems or connect them with the campus counselor / social worker.
• Provide high expectations for all students. Help them focus on their strengths, and challenge all children to work to their full potential.
• Create learning opportunities for students to work together-either during whole-group or small-group lessons, or with peer tutoring.
• Re-engage students through mentoring.
• Limit hall passes and period absences.

The Mighty Hurricanes participated in Bully Prevention and Red Ribbon Week during the month of October. At Sam Houston we believe in providing a safe and healthy place for ALL students to learn.

Bullying prevention takes a united effort of students and adults. It also takes an individual effort. It is about each person taking responsibility. The end of bullying begins with teachers, the end of bullying begins with all school personnel, and the end of bullying also begins with you--with each student being willing to say that bullying will not be accepted and that everyone has a right to be safe at school. At Sam Houston we all share responsibility in working together to ensure that all students feel welcome and safe.

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. It's a holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, on the anniversary of the end of World War I. To all those who have served, and those who continue to serve… Happy Veterans Day!

The Mighty Hurricanes participated in Unity Day to share a message of hope and support by wearing Orange.

Congratulations to Sam Houston’s 2023 College Board National Recognition Program Awardees. The honor recognizes their academic excellence and hard work in high school, and that’s a cause for celebration.

Two students at Sam Houston High School earned this honor.

Congratulations to Jose Combs. Jose received the National Hispanic Recognition, and he plans to attend a four-year university in Texas.

Zariah Ford received the National African American Recognition, and she plans to attend a four-year university in Texas.

Please help congratulate our outstanding students

These are the main ideas that apply to the pillar of Responsibility:

• Accountability: This means that you accept responsibility for the consequences of your choices. It is taking responsibility for the things you choose to do and the things you choose not to do.
• Self-control: Set realistic goals. Have a positive attitude. Act out of reason, not anger or revenge. Be self-reliant.
• Duty: Doing your duty means doing what you should do. Duties can come from rules, laws, agreements, or ethical obligations.
• Excellence: Pursuing excellence means doing your best. It means persevering and not giving up. Be prepared, organized and work hard.

Ways to Model Responsibility and Self-discipline

• Return things on time and in the condition you borrowed them.
• Talk about your responsibilities and those of others around you. Discuss what would happen in different situations if you or others were not responsible.
• Set firm, but fair rules. Let the children participate in deciding on the rules and consequences. Be consistent, praise good behavior, and try not to overreact when rules are broken.
• Don’t blame or make excuses; take responsibility for what you do and what you say.
• If you make a mistake, apologize and make it right.
• Change behaviors that are ineffective or destructive.
• Follow through on commitments and keep your promises. Do what you say you will do and be where you say you will be.

Generation Texas Guidance lesson will begin November 7th. All over Texas, students are stepping up, finding their voices, and fueling the movement called Generation TX. Equal parts inspiration and information, Generation TX (spoken “Generation Texas”) connects us to each other and clarifies the steps we need to take on the path to college and career education, from taking the right classes and tests, to applying to colleges, and then finding the money to pay for school.

Parents,

Your voice matters! We value your opinion and encourage you to complete this short survey. Your anonymous opinion gives us feedback to improve our school, identifies things that are working well, and helps us plan for the future to better support your student.

It is the policy of San Antonio ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and SAISD's board policies DIA, FFH, and FFI.

Es norma del distrito de San Antonio no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, religión, origen nacional, sexo, identidad de género, expresión de género, orientación sexual o discapacidad, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Título IX de las Enmiendas en la Educación, de 1972, la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según enmienda, y las pólizas DIA, FFH, y FFI de la mesa directiva de SAISD