What's New?
Check out the items below to find out more about activities and events organized 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.
Jarrell Police to Provide Bicycle Safety Training
(05/14/24) Jarrell police are partnering with the Jarrell ISD police department to provide bicycle safety training at local elementary schools in June. Participants will learn about important bicycle laws and tips to stay safe. All participants will also receive a set of front and rear bike lights! Access the link below for more details:
JISD Students to Receive Free Dental Services
(05/08/24) Jarrell ISD is partnering with St. David's Foundation to provide free dental services to JISD students over the summer. Services are for Jarrell ISD students only entering grades K-12 for the 2024/2025 school year. For more information, you can see the "Helpful Resources" section of this site, watch for posts on social media or contact your child's school.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
(04/29/24) The world is constantly changing – for better or for worse – and it can be overwhelming to deal with everything going on around you. While society is getting more comfortable discussing mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when it comes to taking care of your own well-being. For more information, contact your child's school counselor and/or access Mental Health America at: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month
Dealing with Test Anxiety
(04/10/24) 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. Contact your child's school counselor for a "My Plan for School Success" template. Also, be sure to see this informative resource about dealing with test anxiety from the Child Mind Institute at:
https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-beating-test-anxiety/
April is Month of the Military Child
(04/03/24) 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. Access https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/pcs-and-military-moves/ to find out more.
"Galaxy of Careers" Showcases STEAM Occupations
(04/03/24) Students and parents had a chance to win a sweet treat at the STEAM Night "Galaxy of Careers" space themed cupcake walk if their STEAM career was drawn. Put together through the school counseling program, the activity featured 30 science, technology, engineering, arts and math careers.
APRIL Core Essentials Value: PATIENCE
(03/27/24) The Core Essentials value for March is PATIENCE. Patience is the ability to wait for wait you want now. Learning to be patient can help improve our emotional, social, and physical health. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to be patient.
FRC Family Resource Guide Now Accessible
(03/25/24) This resource guide was developed by the Williamson County Family Recovery Court team and is designed to aid in identifying entities in the community who can provide assistance in a variety of areas. Check out the guide at the link posted under the HELPFUL RESOURCES section of this website.
Kindergarteners Learn About Being Respectful Citizens
(03/25/24) Ms. Lake has been working with Ms. Sanchez' class on how to be respectful citizens. Students learned to identify what respect looks like and feels like and that there are many ways we can show respect to ourselves, others, and property. They also learned about how disrespect "crumples" our hearts and can keep us from achieving our goals.
Mental Health & Wellness Expo Set for MAY 6
(03/21/24) The Williamson County Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 is hosting a mental health and wellness community fun event on Monday, May 6 from 6:00-8:00 pm at 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown. The event is free and is for all ages. Access more information at the link below.
STEAM Night Set for MAR 26
(03/18/24) DCES students and families are invited to attend the first annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) night. on Tuesday, March 26 from 6:00-7:30 pm. In addition to a variety of fun activities hosted by DCES teachers, be sure to check out the counselor's space themed STEAM careers exploration activity to learn about career possibilities AND a chance to win a cupcake!
DCES Conducts Career Day MAR 8
(03/08/24) Community members graciously showcased their occupations at DCES with various presentations and demonstrations throughout the day. A big thank you goes to Ms. Woolsey for putting this activity together.
NCDA State Winner Grades K-2!
(03/07/24) Carter H. was the Texas state winner in the National Career Development Assn. annual poster and poetry contest in the Grades K-2 Art 1 poster division. Carter's poster will represent Texas in the national competition to be conducted later this year. Ms. Laura Bicknell, Jarrell ISD Coordinator of Counseling Services, was on hand to present her awards. Access https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information about NCDA.
NCDA State Winner Grades 3-5!
(03/07/24) Aurora L. was the Texas state winner in the National Career Development Assn. annual poster and poetry contest in the Grades 3-5 Art 1 poster division. Aurora's poster will represent Texas in the national competition to be conducted later this year. Ms. Laura Bicknell, Jarrell ISD Coordinator of Counseling Services, was on hand to present her awards. Access https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information about NCDA.
MARCH Core Essentials Value: PEACE
(02/27/24) The Core Essentials value for February is PEACE. There are many definitions of peace, but all of them are rooted in notions of individual flourishing, cooperation, mutual respect, and justice. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what peace means.
National Career Week Theme Days Set for MAR 4-8
(02/27/24) The Double Creek Elementary School theme days for National Career Week have been set as follows:
MONDAY: Dress the Part - Wear the uniform or gear of a job.
TUESDAY: Military Colors - Wear camo/khaki or navy blue or white to honor military careers.
WEDNESDAY: In the Business - Wear the logo of a favored brand or business (school appropriate).
THURSDAY: Think About College - Wear the logo or colors of a college, university or tech school.
FRIDAY: Career Day Activity- Meet with community members in various career fields.
CIS Spring Break Food Give-Away MAR 7
(02/14/24) Communities In Schools is coordinating a Spring Break food give-away for the Jarrell community on MAR 7 at the Double Creek Elementary School cafeteria from 4:00 to 5:30. Contact Mr. Lane, CIS site coordinator, for more information.
Thank you, Ms. Adams!
(02/08/24) It is a National School Counseling Week tradition to recognize someone who has demonstrated outstanding support for the campus school counseling program. The DCES school counselors honored Ms. Karina Adams, DCES art teacher, for her part in supporting our "Start with Hello" campaign with student artwork and her efforts in making our National Career Development Month poster contest a great success. Ms. Adams, we appreciate you so much!
National Career Week MAR 4-8
(02/06/24) 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. DCES students and staff will be dressing up for career awareness theme days, and a special "Career Day" activity is planned in which students will have opportunities to meet with people of the community who work in various career fields.
DCES Kindness Challenge
(02/06/24) To help students learn more about what it means to be kind and to encourage sincere acts of kindness, "Kindness Challenge" cards will be distributed to students on Wednesday's in February. Also, teachers have been provided with "Kindness Kudo" tickets to recognize acts of kindness among students during the month. Students who receive a "Kindness Kudo" can turn it in to the office for a prize drawing.
STEM Girl Day at UT Austin FEB 24
02/05/24) STEM Girl Day at UT Austin is a FREE event for any K-8th grade students and their families, educators, and other adults. Presented by Women in STEM (WiSTEM) at The University of Texas at Austin, UT Austin hosts the largest Girl Day program of its kind in the world! Access https://girlday.utexas.edu/ for more information on how to register and participate in this amazing career exploration activity. Please note that all genders are welcome, and registration is open through the day of the event for STEM Girl Day 2024!
FEBRUARY Core Essentials Value: KINDNESS
(01/25/24) The Core Essentials value for February is KINDNESS. Kindness involves showing others they are valuable by how you treat them. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to kind.
National School Counseling Week FEB 5-9
(01/16/24) "Standards-Based, Student-Focused" is the theme for National School Counseling Week. Listen for special morning announcements each day of the week that address how school counselors use standards to help students build skills to achieve personal, social and educational success. Also, individuals will be recognized for their outstanding support for the DCES school counseling program. View Announcements
Middle School Course Selection
(01/16/24) The Jarrell Middle School counselors will be on hand at DCES to discuss course selection for middle school with Grade 5 students in the coming weeks. They will be presenting on middle school expectations, course descriptions and the course selection process. A meeting for Grade 5 parents is also set for FEB 6 at Jarrell Middle School. JMS Presentation
Grade 5 to Participate in Schoolinks Interest Inventory
(01/16/24) 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.
JANUARY Core Essentials Value: REPSONSIBILITY
(01/08/24) The Core Essentials value for January is RESPONSIBILITY. Responsibility involves being dependable, making good decisions and being accountable for your actions. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to be responsible.
DCES Students Participate in NCDA Poster Contest
01/08/24) DCES students recently had the opportunity to participate in the NCDA Poster and Poetry contest. Overall winners of the local contest will represent DCES in the Texas state competition. A special thanks goes out to Ms. Adams for supporting this opportunity through DCES art classes and to our Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School soldiers for serving as the judges for our local competition. Access https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information about NCDA.
DCES Students Demonstrate Generosity
(12/19/23) DCES students demonstrated generosity by creating holiday greeting cards in "extra specials" classes led by school counselors for our Adopt-A-School soldiers as well as residents of area nursing homes. Generosity is the Core Essentials virtue for December.
DCES Welcomes Education Connection Volunteers
(12/04/23) Education Connection volunteers sit with elementary students each week to read one-on-one. The goal of the program is to have every child reading by Grade 3 by helping to improve literacy skills including reading confidence and word comprehension. Currently, five Education Connection volunteers are reading with Grade 3 students at DCES. For more information about the program, contact Ms. Woolsey
PTO Candy-Grams on Pre-Order DEC 4-8
(11/30/23) Here is a chance to put your generosity into practice! The DCES Parent/Teacher Organization is taking online orders for holiday candy-grams. For $1, students, staff and parents can purchase a peppermint candy cane and message to be delivered on December 19to a student or staff member at DCES. Access the online order form on the DCES homepage or see on the flyer for details. PRINTABLE FLYER
DECEMBER Core Essentials Value: GENEROSITY
(11/30/23) The Core Essentials value for December is GENEROSITY. Generosity involves making someone's day by giving something away. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to practice generosity.
Advisory Council Meeting Postponed
(11/16/23) The first ever DCES school counseling program advisory council meeting set for November 16 has been postponed. Details will be posted when available
Ft. Cavazos Soldiers Visit DCES
(11/16/23) Our Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School soldiers joined DCES students for Thanksgiving dinner on November 14 and were a part of the Veterans Day afternoon music program put on by Grade 4. Also, Ms. Nicholes has expressed her sincere appreciation to our visiting soldiers for their assistance in setting up the cafeteria before and after the performance.
TABLE TALK: National Career Development Day NOV 15
(11/15/23) DCES students observed National Career Development Day on November 15 by discussing a wide variety of career and job possibilities over lunchtime "Table Talk." With each "Table Talk" card, students were challenged to choose one of the careers presented and explain why. Dr. Wilson even got in on the activity and seemed to be impressed with the conversations generated!
CIS Thanksgiving Food Give-Away NOV 16
(11/10/23) Communities In Schools is coordinating a Thanksgiving food give-away for the Jarrell community on November 16 at the Double Creek Elementary School cafeteria from 4:00 to 5:30. Contact Mr. Lane, CIS site coordinator, for more information.
World Kindness Day NOV 13
(11/10/23) World Kindness Day is an international observance on November 13. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, and it is observed in many countries. Access the links below to access fun resources from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and schoolofkindness.org to start making kindness the norm in your daily life at school, at home or in the community.
National Career Development Week NOV 13-17
(10/30/23) The theme for the 2023 NCDA Poster and Poetry contest is: "Art of the Mind: The Connection Between Wellness and Career Success." Students and staff are encouraged to use artistic expression to reflect on their personal journey, career goals, and aspirations while promoting well-being, self-awareness, and resilience, which are essential as they progress through their careers. Access https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth for more information.
Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School Soldiers Visit DCES
(10/27/23) Soldiers representing the Ft. Cavazos Adopt-A-School program greeted students Wednesday morning and participated in art, science lab, music and PE classes throughout the morning. The soldiers also ate lunch with students and assisted with the Red Ribbon Week prize drawings.
NOVEMBER Core Essentials Value: GRATITUDE
(10/26/23) The Core Essentials value for November is GRATITUDE. Gratitude involves letting others know you see how they have helped you. Teachers may share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to have gratitude.
Austin Sunshine Camps Registration Open
(10/24/23) Austin Sunshine Camps is a 100% free and nationally accredited nonprofit, overnight summer camp for students ages 8-15, who either qualify for free/reduced lunch or are part of the foster-care system. Each summer, over 500 campers get to participate in a 10-day, 9-night traditional summer camp completely for free, which includes activities like hiking, arts & crafts, s'mores, a high ropes course, canoeing, and many other great activities. Registration the free day camps for First Time Campers is NOW open. The summer camp application will open on Monday, Oct. 30th. Access the underlined link above for more information.
Unity Day OCT 18
(10/11/23) Unity Day, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and has been recognized in the United States since 2011. On October 18, students, staff and members of the the community are encouraged to wear or share orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent students from being bullied. Access www.stopbullying.gov for more information.
Red Ribbon Week OCT 23-27
(10/02/23) The theme for Red Ribbon Week this year is "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free". Access https://www.redribbon.org/ to learn more about this national awareness campaign as well as resources and activities for students and families.
OCTOBER Core Essentials Value: INTEGRITY
(09/27/23) The Core Essentials value for October is INTEGRITY. Integrity involves being truthful in everything you say and do. Teachers will share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to have integrity.
Start With Hello Week Recap
(09/25/23) DCES school counselors would like to send a big "thank you" to every DCES student who took the Start With Hello pledge to reach out to peers who may be alone, left out or isolated AND to use their voices when something seems wrong. Students' individual pledges are displayed in the DCES cafeteria in the form of a tree to symbolize connection, growth and friendship. Students also got to know classmates better by participating in lunchtime Table Talk. They learned some “Hello” words in different languages and were challenged to make new connections with staff and students.
Red Ribbon Week Theme Days
(09/22/23) To help promote the substance abuse prevention message, DCES students and staff are invited to participate in Jarrell ISD Red Ribbon theme days for the week of October 23-27 as follows:
Monday: Neon Day - WE are too Bright to Use Drugs
Tuesday: Hat Day -Hats Off to Being Healthy!
Wednesday: MisMatch Day - Don't Get Mixed up with Drugs
Thursday: Hero Day - Superheros Don't Use Drugs
Friday: Cougar Blue Day - Show You are a Cougar Against Drugs!
Start with Hello Week Kick Off
(09/18/23) Today at DCES, we kickoff Start With Hello Week, a national call-to-action awareness campaign dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among youth. When you see someone lonely or being mistreated, reach out and help by being nice, being an upstander or by getting help from a trusted adult if needed; and then, just start with "Hello" in your own hello style. When we practice these steps, we have the power to make our school a happier, friendlier, and safer place for everyone. All students are invited to take the Start With Hello pledge by signing pledge cards that have been provided to classroom teachers. Ms. Lake and Ms. Woolsey will be collecting the signed pledge cards later today.
Catch My Breath: Vaping Prevention
(09/07/23) Vaping and e-cigarette use is a growing concern among elementary school age children. DCES counselors will be conducting Catch My Breath presentations for Grades 4 and 5 in the coming weeks to educate students about the dangers and legal 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/ to learn more.
DCES Extra Specials: Classroom Guidance Lessons
(09/07/23) As part of the DCES Thursday "extra specials" rotation, counselors meet with a set of classes in their respective grade levels each week to address various personal, social, educational and career related topics.
Start with Hello Week SEPT 18-22
(09/05/23) Start With Hello Week is a national call-to-action week dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among youth. Be sure to watch for the DCES homecoming parade float Wednesday evening! Other DCES activities for the week include:
Monday: Make the Hello Pledge (during morning minute)
Tuesday: Table Talk (lunchtime conversation starter cards at the tables)
Wednesday: Hello Around the World (say hello in different languages)
Thursday: Start With Hello Challenge (say "Hello!" to five new people in your "hello style")
Friday: Cougar Spirit Day (Spirit shirts; district personnel to greet students before school)
SEPTEMBER Core Essentials Value: FRIENDSHIP
(09/05/23) The Core Essentials value for September is FRIENDSHIP. Friendship involves using your words and actions to show others you care. Teachers will share weekly classroom activities, and Dr. Wilson will present special morning announcements all month long to help us focus on what it means to be a friend.
Angel Tree Applications Open SEPT 5-30
(08/31/23) DCES counselors have been asked to help spread the word. Each holiday season, The Salvation Army Austin Area Command helps provide Christmas gifts to more than 8,000 children in Travis and Williamson counties through the Angel Tree Program. When help is needed, eligible parents/guardians may request that their child become an "angel" and be adopted by the community. Access the brochure below or visit Doingmostgood.org/angel to see an overview of the program and learn more about the requirements and application process. Printable Brochure
August Core Essentials Value: CREATIVITY
(08/24/23) The Core Essentials value for August is CREATIVITY. Creativity involves using your imagination to do something unique.
It's Going to Be a Great Year!
(07/24/23) 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!