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High School Counseling Department Newsletter | February Edition

Celebrating School Counselors Week!
This month kicked off with a special celebration for National School Counselors Week. This annual event highlights school counselors' significant role in supporting students' academic, personal, and social development. It’s a time to reflect on our impact in guiding students through critical life choices and transitions. Our counselors enjoyed celebrating each other with uplifting words of affirmation and plenty of snacks! A heartfelt thank you goes to our school leadership for recognizing our work with thoughtful gifts of coffee vouchers, karak, and chapati. We are truly grateful for the love, support, and privilege of being part of this exceptional community.

Black History Month
February also marks Black History Month, a time to honor the vital contributions and enduring legacy of Black and African American individuals in shaping history, education, and society. Within school counseling, we celebrate trailblazers who advocated for equal access to education and mental health services for underrepresented students. Their work reminds us of the importance of equity, inclusion, and advocacy in our daily practice.

Program Highlights
We’ve had a busy month with key programs designed to support students and families:

• 8th Grade Transition Night: We welcomed rising high school students and their families to learn about what to expect in Grade 9. (Link to Slidedeck and link to Zoom recording)

• AP & IB Night: In collaboration with the Curriculum and IB Coordinators, we hosted an event to provide in-depth information about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, helping students make informed choices for their academic pathways.

Course Selection Season Approaching
The course selection process for the 2025-2026 academic year officially begins after the break! We’ll start with grade-level assemblies to remind students about graduation and equivalence requirements, new course offerings, and any prerequisite changes. These assemblies will also outline the step-by-step procedures for course selection. The course selection window will be open for a few weeks, so we strongly encourage students and parents to schedule appointments with their counselors as soon as possible to discuss individual goals and plans.

Upcoming Event: CIS Global Regional Forum College Fair - 22 February @ 2 pm
We’re excited to invite students and parents to the CIS Global Regional Forum College Fair, featuring representatives from nearly 100 universities worldwide. This free event will be held at Northwestern University in Qatar, offering a unique opportunity to explore post-secondary options, ask questions, and connect with admissions officers. More details here

Professional Learning Updates
Our counseling team continues to engage in professional development opportunities to serve our students better:

• Dr. Jones presented at the IC3 Conference in Doha on “Leveraging Your Professional Network” alongside Melissa Deschamps from Education USA.

• Looking ahead, Dr. Jones will co-present at the CIS Regional Forum with Mike Fakih, Senior Director of Enrollment & Admissions at Parsons Paris, The New School. Their session, “Supporting Creative Students: Navigating the Path to Art and Design Schools,” will explore how to guide students pursuing creative careers in art and design.

Thank you for your continued support of the High School Counseling Department. As always, we are here to guide, support, and celebrate your students' journeys to success.