Individual Planning: Activities

• Academic counselors met individually with all 11th and 12th grade students in the Fall semester for Academic Advisement. Topics include: Graduation Plan, STAAR, Recognitions, Performance Acknowledgments, Colleges of Interest, College Exams, and Extracurricular Activities.

• Beginning at the Middle School level, Academic and CTE Counselors met with all students (8th-11th) individually to review their Personal Graduation Plan and select classes, endorsements or career pathways. (Spring Semester)

• All students were presented a lesson on different types of career pathways by the CTE Counselor .

• The academic counselor provided input for 504 and Response To Intervention meetings to best support students.

• Graduation Specialist met individually with students and parents who are at risk of drop-out (grades 9th-12th).

• The CTE counselor coordinated the use of the Xello, a career exploration program, for student's in 10th grade.

• Academic Counselors met individually with all students with over 9 absences to set up an action plan to improve attendance.

• Academic Counselors met individually with students with low grades to provide resources, interventions and advisement.

• Academic Counselors worked with all 10th graders to complete the Apply Texas for dual enrollment

• Our College and Admissions Counselors and Specialists, provided students with workshops, guidance and support with College Applications, Financial Aid, Scholarships, NCAA, TSI, College Entrance Exams, Resume Writing and College Essays to help them reach their educational and career goals. This is done through classroom presentations, Leap Day, PUP Academy, individual meetings, parent presentations and Career/College Fairs.

Core Counseling (Guidance) Curriculum Activities

• Academic/CTE Counselor provided a guidance lesson every six weeks to grade 9th-12th. Lessons addressing graduation requirements, motivation (college and career readiness), self-regulation , self-awareness, empathy, substance use and prevention, personal safety, social skills, and bullying prevention.

• Counselors identified students not involved in extracurricular activities and hosted a Campus "Extracurricular Sign Up Day". Students were able to hear presentations on various clubs and organizations and "sign up" for one

• College Admissions Counselor hosted yearly Senior Leap Day for all 12th graders. Topics included: Scholarships, FAFSA/TAFSA, Military Options and Police Officer Interaction/CPR Instruction

• The social worker conducted a weekly small group through a United Way mentorship program with freshman and juniors.

• College Specialist hosted the 1st P.U.P (Pre-University Prep) program for 9th grade students to prepare early for College. Topics included: resume prep, Xello Career Match, Entrance Exams Overview and Military Options

• EQ Specialist hosted the 1st District Emotional Quotient Symposium for all 9th graders. Topics included: How to motivate yourself and others, how to self regulate, understanding strengths and weaknesses and empathizing with others.

• EQ Specialist created weekly Emotional Intelligence lessons to be delivered by HS transition and PREP teachers. These lessons targeted all 9th and 10th graders at McAllen HS.

• Counselors conducted Apply Texas Drives for all 10th graders

Responsive Services Activities

• Counselors provided backpacks and school supplies to students as needed.

• Counselors provided clothing assistance, toiletries, food and basic needs to students through coordination with campus social worker.

• Counselors coordinated services with McAllen ISD Family Treatment Program for students who needed additional counseling.

• Counselors coordinated services with the campus Social Worker for students who are unaccompanied, homeless, and/or teen parents.

• The Campus Crisis Team (composed of academic counselors, Social Worker and Intervention Prevention Specialist) provided grief counseling for students, as needed.

System Support Activities

• Counselors trained all staff members on Trauma Informed Care and ASK+ Suicide Prevention by December 2021.

• Counselors provided relevant parent education collaborating with the school's Parent Involvement Specialist. Topics included: Graduation Requirements, Emotional Intelligence Initiative and Dual Enrollment

• Counselors reviewed the Campus Crisis Plan with the Crisis Leadership Team.

• Counselors consulted with teachers, parents, and administrators regarding programs, interventions, needs, and counselor role and responsibilities throughout the year.

• Counselors created "Counselor Corner" Website with various resources that are easily accessible to students, parents, teachers and the community

Emotional Intelligence Activity

Lesson: Social Skills-Where I am from

Social Skills: The ability to build positive relationships & trust with others by communication & interactions, and able to mobilize them for collective good.

Content Objective: Reflect & Explore how my childhood experiences made me who I am.

Language Objective: Write an "I am from poem" & practice my social skills by sharing my poem with my classmates

AVID teacher, Mrs. James, reviewed the content & language objectives with 11th and 12th grade students while discussing the day's agenda. Students were then shown a video where a teenager, from another country, is talking about her life, culture, experiences, and daily routines and lifestyle. Students were asked about what they thought they had in common with the young girl, while students reflected and responded with a positive outlook. Students were then asked to reflect, by writing a poem, on their own story, exploring their own background, home, childhood, upbringing and family culture. The poem was to be titled, Where I'm From. To make students focus on the lesson at hand, they were all given a poem template to fill in, with their own specific description words. Once their poem was completed, students were placed in small groups and given the following instructions: Each student will read their poem out loud in their group, the group will then take turns describing how they can relate to each other's poems and then they will name something interesting they learned from it.

100% of the students were actively engaged during the entire lesson, with 100% of students also showing appreciation, during the group work, for each others work and self reflections. The lesson objectives were reached, students practiced their social skills and shared their individual poems. 15% of students appeared a little hesitant prior to sharing their reflection poems, but after one person shared and positive comments were made, those 15% of students appeared a lot more comfortable about sharing.