Catching Up

It has been awhile.  Looking back, I should have expected my blogging to fall off when the school year started.  I mean, I started my first position as a school counselor, in a new school, in a new state.  It is okay though- while a ton has happened since I last wrote, personally and professionally, I am back on the figurative "blogging horse" and will catch you up on some of the stuff I've been up to.  No real tips here today, more of a re-introduction:

Professionally-

I count my lucky stars each day I get to work with the fantastic student services team at my school.  In total, there are ten (I KNOW, TEN!!!) school counselors within my high school.  Nine of us have caseloads of a few hundred students while one works as the "transition counselor"- a very important individual who gives extra, extra support to students who may be struggling academically.  We have two school psychologists and one social worker.  Want to talk about spoiled, we have a host of other professionals that specialize in specific areas of serving students, a registrar, transcript assistant, assessment coach and student information assistant.  In combination, this group works like a well-oiled machine and, thankfully, when I've had questions I always have somebody available to ask.  

Of the ten counselors, four of us were new to the building this year.  Another and I were total greenhorns, while two others transferred from other schools within the county.  I have a mentor who is one of the most organized, productive and kind individuals I have ever met- best of all, her office is right across the hall.  Pretty convenient while acclimating to the regulations and little details of working in one of the largest school districts in the country!  

Speaking of offices!  Here is a short Vine of mine.  Be warned, I took this video back in August- I promise my desk is neater now (don't worry, mom!)  I've also hung my diplomas on the wall, right next to some of my Wienermobile memorabilia...

One of the best parts of being a new school counselor is integrating the fresh knowledge I have, just out of graduate school, to the tried and true methodology of a productive team.  Did I mention that my mentor is our American School Counselor Association RAMP coordinator?  I love me some data and ASCA-aligned comprehensive school counseling!  We don't apply again until next spring, but, as a team, we have already begun editing our department's vision and mission statements.

The first year as a School Counselor is a bit like trial by fire.  I wrote 50-ish letters of recommendation and advised students through the college application process. I hold 504 Plan meetings, attend IEPs, complete academic advising meetings with each student, plan conferences, crisis counseling, goal setting, classroom lessons, lunch duty, register new students, field parent phone calls, answer emails upon emails, and on and on and on.  Other school counselors out there know how far that list extends... After the challenge of graduate school, it is nice to know it is real.

Personally-
I mentioned at the end of my previous post that I got a dog.  Maple is a Pointer/Pitbull (I pronounce it: pibble) mix.  Here is a Vine I took after she won a dog cookie in a Howl-o-ween costume contest:

On another personal note, my Music Teacher Lady and I are engaged.

It has been a crazy but very rewarding year.  I hope to continue blogging and have a few posts with some tips and personal practices brewing in my mind.  Til then.