Embedded Files
Check out the items below to find out more about activities and events organized and promoted through the Double Creek Elementary school counseling program. From awareness campaigns and classroom visits to collaborating with community partners and keeping up with current counseling related trends, school counselors work hard to make positive things happen for students.
National Mounted Warrior Museum Field Trip MAY 8
05/09/25 In honor of their outstanding service to our school, DCES members of media club, safety patrol and student council recently visited the Museum of the Mounted Warrior at Ft. Cavazos. Soldiers from our Adopt-A-School unit were on hand to greet students and participate in the activities. In addition to the museum and stables tours, students got to see live the First Cavalry horse demonstration and meet the riders and horses up close. Access National Mounted Warrior Museum for more information.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
05/06/25 The Texas School Safety Center offers a comprehensive Mental Health Toolkit designed to support school counselors, educators, and families. This resource covers essential topics such as behavioral health, bullying, cyberbullying, suicide prevention, and internet safety. It also provides guidance on Texas laws related to school safety and offers practical tips for discussing behavioral health with students. The toolkit includes links to additional resources, including those from Mental Health Texas and NAMI Texas, to further assist in promoting mental wellness in schools.
Hurtful vs. Helpful Words
(05/01/25) Ms. Lake recently visited PK students with a lesson about helpful vs. hurtful words. Students learned that words are powerful and should not be used to hurt others. Students learned that hurtful words "crumple" hearts and that, even though saying "sorry" can help, it is best not to use hurtful words in the first place. Students also learned that they can respond to someone's hurtful words by calmly stating "Words are not for hurting!"
MAY Core Essentials Value: INITIATIVE
(04/24/25) The Core Essentials value for May is INITIATIVE. Initiative is about being a doer, not just a dreamer. Don’t wait for things to happen – make them happen! Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to get things done by taking initiative.
Dealing with Test Anxiety
(04/23/24) Many students report struggles with test anxiety. Although handling test anxiety in elementary school starts with subject content learning through classroom lessons and applying study strategies, there are some very specific things students and families can do to ease the pressure. Counselors recommend that students make a plan to utilize organization strategies, healthy lifestyle choices, relaxation techniques and positive self-talk messages that work for them as outlined on this "My Plan for Test Success" template. For more tips on how to cope with test anxiety, check out this youtube.com VIDEO from Mylemarks as well as this article from Child Mind Institute at:
https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-beating-test-anxiety/
Military Connected Student Luncheon APR 14
(04/17/25) DCES military connected students were treated to a special luncheon on April 14. Students received a cupcake, and our Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School soldiers were on hand to visit with students during their respective grade level lunchtimes. At DCES, we want our military connected students to feel supported and to know that we understand that they serve, too! For more information about military family resources, check out the HELPFUL RESOURCES/Military Connected section of this webpage.
WilCo Mental Health and Wellness Expo MAY 29
(04/01/25) Williamson County Justice of the Peace, Judge Evelyn McLean, will be hosting the 2025 Mental Health and Wellness Expo on May 29, 2025 at 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown, TX. Vendors will be providing free information, and a variety of fun family activities are planned. For more information, access the flyer below or call 512-943-1501.
April is Month of the Military Child
(03/27/25) Welcome to Month of the Military Child as we celebrate the strength and resilience military kids and families show through life changes like military moves. Moving to a new area or school may bring up feelings of worry. At DCES, we strive to listen, support, and be there for our military connected students during these transitions. To learn more, access https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/pcs-and-military-moves/ and/or https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Month-of-the-Military-Child/
April Core Essentials Value: HOPE
(03/27/25) The Core Essentials value for April is HOPE. Hope is the belief
that no matter how challenging the present may be, there is always the possibility for
positive change and brighter tomorrows. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to have hope for the future.
NCDA State Winner Grades 3-5!
(03/11/25) Jorden V. was the Texas state winner in the National Career Development Assn. (NCDA) annual poster and poetry contest in the Grades K-2 Art 1 poster division. This year's theme was " Creating My Career Path: Embracing Change in My Journey". Jorden's poster will represent Texas in the national competition to be conducted later this year. Access https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information about NCDA.
NCDA State Winner Grades K-2!
(03/11/25) Maddilyn R. was the Texas state winner in the National Career Development Assn. (NCDA) annual poster and poetry contest in the Grades K-2 Art 1 poster division. This year's theme was " Creating My Career Path: Embracing Change in My Journey". Maddilyn's poster will represent Texas in the national competition to be conducted later this year. Access https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information about NCDA.
Communities in Schools Food Giveaway MAR 12
03/04/25) Communities In Schools is coordinating a Spring Break food giveaway for the Jarrell community on March 12 at the Double Creek Elementary School cafeteria from 4:00 to 5:30. Contact Mr. Lane, CIS site coordinator, for more information.
DCES Hosts Touch-A-Truck Event MAR 4
03/05/25) Students at DCES were treated to a live career exploration experience with several amazing trucks at the March 4 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Night event. SAS Towing of Jarrell brought a giant state-of the-art tow truck. Our Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School unit brought an army humvee, and Williamson County EMS was on hand with an ambulance. Students and parents got to sit inside the trucks and visit with the people who work with them every day.
Safe and Supportive Schools Symposium MAR 6
03/07/25) All Jarrell ISD elementary school counselors attended this event that merged the Mental Health Conference with the School Safety Summit. They had the opportunity to learn more about evidence-based practices and collaborate with colleagues, researchers, and leading experts from around the state. Ms. Lake gave a presentation on behavioral threat assessment from a school counseling perspective.
March Core Essentials Value: COOPERATION
(03/01/25) The Core Essentials value for March is COOPERATION. When we join forces and work together towards a common goal, magic happens. Each person brings something valuable to the table, contributing their unique skills and perspectives. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be unique.
Ft. Cavazos Education Summit FEB 21
(02/25/25) Ms. Lake attended the Ft. Cavazos Education Summit on February 21. The day included a keynote address by Florent Groburg, one of only 61 living military Presidential Medal of Honor recipients, and planning time with members of our Adopt-A-School unit.
National Careers Week to Be Observed MAR 3-7
(02/25/25) As K-12 students prepare to someday carry out the work of the future, National Career Week is a time to focus on the many types of job possibilities. The DCES school counseling program promotes career awareness throughout the year with a variety of activities including Extra-Specials Wednesday guidance lessons, career videos via the DCES Morning Meetings calendar, participation in the National Career Development Poster/Poetry contest. For National Careers Week 2025, students and families are invited to check out the "Touch-A-Truck" activity at STEAM Night on March 4.
New Students to Participate in "Lunch Bunches"
(02/18/25) Newcomer Lunch Bunch for Semester 2 involves students meeting for lunch once a week in the school counseling office with other newcomer students in their grade level. In addition to helping them get adjusted, Lunch Bunch is intended to give them a chance to meet other new students and get any questions about school they may have answered with the school counselor. To be eligible, students need to be new enrollees in Grades 1-4 and submit a signed parental permission form.
Thank you, Ms. Howard!
(02/03/25) It is a National School Counseling Week tradition to recognize someone who has demonstrated outstanding support for the campus school counseling program. This year, I would like to recognize Ms. Howard, our DCES librarian for going the extra mile. She makes it a priority to put up cool bulletin boards and feature library books about our character traits each month. Ms. howard, your efforts are very much appreciated!
February Core Essentials Value: UNIQUENESS
(01/31/25) The Core Essentials value for February is UNIQUENESS. Uniqueness is about embracing what makes you you and celebrating the differences in others. Learning from those differences helps us grow and understand the world better. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be unique.
National School Counseling Week FEB 3-7
(01/22/25) National School Counseling Week 2025 (#NSCW25) is Feb. 3-7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. The theme is: School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
MS Course Selection Night FEB 6
(01/22/25) DCES Grade 5 students and parents are invited to attend this meeting on FEB 6, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 in the DCES cafeteria. Middle school counselors will be providing guidance in working through the course selection process as students move on to Grade 6.
NEW! Student Assistance Form (SAF)
(01/22/25) JISD has implemented a new platform (PurpleSense) for students, parents, and staff to request non-emergency assistance from campus school counselors and Communities in Schools staff. Access the form at the link below or scan the QR code pictured. In emergency situations, call 911 or contact a school administrator.
January Core Essentials Value: SERVICE*
(01/06/25) The Core Essentials value for January is SERVICE. Service is about lending a helping hand to someone else whether they are a friend, neighbor or stranger. When we offer our time to serve others, we create a ripple effect of positivity that spreads far and wide. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be resilient.
*Resilience was the focus for December instead of January to accommodate the Resilience Essay Challenge.
COUGAR CHARACTER AWARDS DEC 17
(12/17/24) Second quarter DCES Cougar Character Award medals and certificates were presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding self-control, generosity or resilience. Safety patrol, student council and media club were recognized as well as outstanding students in art club, choir, and stage crew. Students were congratulated on their participation in the UIL program, and the 2024 building level NCDA career development poster contest winners were announced. The DCES resilience Essay Challenge winner was presented with an official invitation to read their essay at the January JISD board meeting.
RESILIENCE ESSAY CHALLENGE Grades 4-5
(11/22/24) Students in Grade 4-5 classrooms are invited to write an essay for the RESILIENCE ESSAY CHALLENGE. One essay from each classroom will be nominated, and then one essay from those nominations will be chosen to be read at the JAN 15 JISD school board meeting. Students will be learning about resilience in December through classroom activities, morning announcements and various visuals from our Core Essentials curriculum.
Grade 5 to Participate in Schoolinks Interest Inventory
(11/22/24) Plans are underway for Grade 5 students to complete the Schoolinks career interest inventory. This inventory is designed to help students learn more about themselves and how their preferences relate to possible career matches for the future. Schoolinks is a college and career readiness platform that has been adopted by JISD to assist Grade 5-12 students with career exploration and post-secondary planning.
Adopt-A-School Soldiers Visit on NOV 21
(11/22/24) Our Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School soldiers were on hand NOV 21 to participate with students in specials classes. They were treated to our school Thanksgiving lunch and then served as judges for the 2024-25 building level National Career Development Week poster contest.
December Core Essentials Value: RESILIENCE*
(11/22/24) The Core Essentials value for December is RESILIENCE Resilience is about getting back up when something gets you down. With resilience, you can face tough times with courage and confidence. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be resilient.
*Resilience will be the focus for December instead of January to accommodate the Resilience Essay Challenge. Service will be the focus for January.
NCDA Poster & Poetry Contest Entries Due NOV 14
(11/1/24) CREATING MY CAREER PATH: EMBRACING CHANGE IN MY JOURNEY is the theme for this year's contest. Anyone (K-2, 3-5 or adult) connected to DCES is invited to create a poem or poster that explores creating your future by overcoming obstacles and adapting to changes at school, home, work or with friends. Entries need to be submitted to Ms. Lake or the DCES front office by NOV 14. View the 59th Annual Poetry & Art Contest Brochure for all the details.
Communities in Schools Food Give-Away
(11/1/24) Communities In Schools is coordinating a Thanksgiving food give-away for the Jarrell community on November 21 at the Double Creek Elementary School cafeteria from 4:00 to 5:30. Contact Mr. Lane, CIS site coordinator, for more information.
Extra-Specials Lesson: Career Awareness
(10/29/24) Ms. Lake will be speaking about career awareness in the next cycle of extra-specials lessons for Grades PK-5. Students will learn that occupations involve a combination of skills in working with people, ideas, data or things. Grades 3-5 will also be introduced to the concept of career clusters and how their personal traits and preferences can be matched to different types of jobs. For this lesson, students will utilize materials made available through the Texas Workforce Commission. To print a copy of the activity/coloring books, access the links in the "Helpful Resources" section of this site.
November Core Essentials Value: GENEROSITY
(10/28/24) The Core Essentials value for November is GENEROSITY. Generosity involves making someone's day by giving something away. Generosity is not just about giving material things; it's also about giving kindness, support and understanding to those around you. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to practice self-control.
Vaping Prevention Presentations Grades 4-5
(10/21/23) Vaping and e-cigarette use is a growing concern among elementary school age children. Presentations utilizing Catch My Breath materials for Grades 4 and 5 will be conducted in the coming weeks to educate students about the dangers and social implications of vaping as well as strategies to help them make healthy choices. Catch My Breath is an evidence-based program developed through the University of Texas Health Science Center. Access https://catch.org/program/vaping-prevention/ or https://www.bevapefree.org/students/ to learn more.
Cougar Character Awards Presented OCT 10
(10/11/24) Thirty (30) DCES students were presented with COUGAR CHARACTER AWARD medals and certificates to go along with our Core Essentials virtues of the month for first quarter. Classroom teachers were asked to nominate a student from their class that demonstrated outstanding wisdom or compassion. Students were also encouraged to get involved in school activities. Safety Patrol, Student Council, UIL, NCDA poster/Poetry Contest and the "Resilience" essay challenge were recognized and highlighted. The next Cougar Character Awards assemblies will be in December and will highlight self-control, generosity and resilience.
October is National Bullying Awareness Month
(10/03/24) Bullying Awareness Month is a timely reminder for organizations to take action at the local level to foster safe and supportive environments. Bullying—whether through hostile comments, discriminatory actions, or other forms of intimidation—should never be tolerated. Access stopbullying.gov for more information and resources.
RED RIBBON WEEK Set for OCT 21-25
(10/02/24) The theme for Red Ribbon Week this year is "Life Is a Movie. Film Drug Free". Access https://www.redribbon.org/ to learn more about this national awareness campaign to promote substance misuse prevention and healthy lifestyle choices and to access resources and activities for students and families. Access Jarrell ISD theme days information in English and Spanish at the link below:
October Core Essentials Value: SELF-CONTROL
(09/30/24) The Core Essentials value for October is SELF-CONTROL. Self-Control involves choosing to do what is best even when you don't want to. Self-control also means making conscious choices about how we respond to different situations. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to practice self-control.
Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School Visit SEPT 24
(09/30/24) Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School soldiers recently participated in art, PE, music and science lab classes and then went to recess and lunch with Grade 1 students. At DCES, we really appreciate our Adopt-A-School soldiers!
Extra-Specials Lesson: The Brain House
(09/30/24) DCES students are learning about what happens in our brains when we experience big emotions. Students construct a model of a "brain house" with an upstairs (thinkers) and a downstairs (feelers) that demonstrates how we can sometimes "flip our lids" when our emotions run high. Students are encouraged to think about ways to calm themselves so they can "hold themselves together" and make better decisions.
Start with Hello Week SEPT 16-20
(09/11/24) Start with Hello Week is a time to focus on creating a culture of kindness and belonging among our staff and students at DCES. It is also a time to show gratitude to others by filling their bucket with kindness, thanking adults that help keep us safe, and showing appreciation to friends or buddies. Access the Start with Hello FLYER for more information about daily activities.
MONDAY - “HEY DAY!” NAMETAGS AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO SOMEONE NEW DAY!
TUESDAY - SMILE AT EVERYONE TODAY!
WEDNESDAY - RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS DAY!
THURSDAY - SAY HELLO AROUND THE WORLD DAY!
FRIDAY - PAY SOMEONE A COMPLIMENT TODAY!
National Career Development Poster Contest: 1st Place!
(09/05/24) Congratulations to Carter Huggett for receiving 1st Place in the nation for the NCDA annual poster and poetry contest! The theme for the competition was " Art of the Mind: The Connection Between Wellness and Career Success. As a national winner in the K-2 art division, Carter's poster is featured on the NCDA website and was on display at the annual Global Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth
September Core Essentials Value: COMPASSION
(09/03/24) The Core Essentials value for September is COMPASSION. Compassion involves caring enough to do something about someone else's needs. If you look around with a compassionate heart, you can find lots of people who need a little of your time and kindness. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be compassionate.
JISD Parent Education Night AUG 27
(08/23/24) JISD Parent Education Night will be held at Igo Elementary School Tuesday, August 27 at 6:00. Presentations by the Williamson County Childrens Advocacy Center will be conducted in English (cafeteria) and Spanish (library). Walmart vouchers will be distributed to families in need. This event is for adults only.
Extra-Specials Rotation Starts AUG 21
(08/21/24) Ms. Lake will be visiting PK-5 classrooms to speak with students about having more a successful school experience by identifying their feelings, thinking about possible coping strategies, and then taking action to practice those strategies. One coping strategy that Grades 3-5 students practiced involved creating a plan for school success like the one at the following link:
Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School Meet and Greet Held AUG 6
(08/06/24) Ft. Cavazos soldiers recently met with Jarrell ISD counselors to start making plans for the Adopt-A-School program for the coming school year. Ms. Lake is pictured with our assigned unit representative, MSG Christopher Benitez at the annual meet and greet. This DCES team took 2nd place in the Kahoot game to test knowledge of the program, but was the only team to get all 20 answers correct!
The Caring Place Offers Children's Clothing Assistance
(08/02/24) The Caring Place is offering assistance to Jarrell families for the purchasing of children's back to school clothing. Parents will need to register and provide proof of residence and child's school ID. See the flyers below for more information.
August Core Essentials Value: WISDOM
(07/30/24) The Core Essentials value for August is WISDOM. Wisdom involves finding out what you should do and then doing it. It is important for us to learn to embrace wisdom in our actions and decisions every day. Look and listen for regularly conducted activities in classrooms, library displays, special morning announcements and social media posts all month long to help us focus on what it means to be wise.
New Teachers Participate in Restorative Circle
(07/30/24) New teachers to DCES participated in a Restorative Practices Circle led by Ms. Lake during new teacher orientation to help them prepare to lead circles with students in their own classrooms. In addition to experiencing the circle, the new teachers learned that restorative practices are about creating an environment that holds students accountable to high expectations while providing them the support they need to achieve those expectations.
2024-25: It's Going to Be a Great Year!
(07/29/24) Welcome to the Double Creek Elementary School counseling webpage! We want to encourage ALL of our staff, students and families to utilize services made available through the school counseling program. Through out the the year, school counselors facilitate a variety of activities to support students' personal, social, academic and career development and to provide easily accessible and up-to-date school counseling related information. We hope you find this webpage helpful, and we look forward to working with you and your child to help ensure their experience at DCES is a positive one. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!
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