Welcome back to school! On behalf of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, we are excited to release the Junior Leadership Jackson 2022-2023 program and nomination process for current Juniors and Seniors at your high school.
 
Junior Leadership Jackson (JLJ) is a community based, 8-month leadership program for high school students who live in Jackson County. JLJ aims to support the development of young leaders through structured events and educational programs in partnership with the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Jackson program. Participants will have the opportunity to interact and learn from representatives of various industries and organizations in and around Jackson County.
 
The timeline for student nominations begins now and the deadline for nominated students is September 9, 2022.  Any person may refer an eligible student and nominations may be directly submitted from the JLJ's website at the following link:  https://sites.google.com/bgcjcga.org/junior-leadership-jackson/home

Welcome to a brand new school year! Student Services is working very hard to ensure you have all the academic, career and social/emotional support you need this year!  Communicating with your Counselor is so important in order for you receive the tools you need. Effective emails that are polite, clear in what you are asking for, and professional can results in you receive quicker response time and resolution to your concerns. Below is a quick reference sheet that explains how to create effective emails for great communication!

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In response to the Robb Elementary's tragedy, there are many valuable resources available for parents and students that may help with processing this horrific event as well as assisting in initiating conversation starters. The American School Counseling Association posted a webpage full of resources. The link is below:

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Publications-Research/Publications/Free-ASCA-Resources/After-a-School-Shooting

Below is a cut/paste of the page:
Helping Students After a School ShootingASCA Statement on Robb Elementary School Shooting

• Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
• Limit exposure to television and the news.

• Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
• Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
• Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
• Families and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
• Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.

ASCA Resources

• Position Statement: The School Counselor and Prevention of School-Related Gun Violence
• Webinar: Effective Crisis/Trauma Response
• Webinar: Counseling Kids in Crisis
• Webinar: Infusing a Caring Climate in Your School
• Webinar: Supporting Students After Crisis and Loss
• ASCA U: Trauma and Crisis Specialist
• Magazine article: Common Crisis 
• Magazine article: Armed Assailant Drills 
• Magazine article: Resilience in the Aftermath 
• Magazine article: Student Threat Assessment 
• Magazine article: Plans, Processes and Procedures

Documents and PublicationsNational Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Guidelines for Responding to the Death of a Student or School Staff
Talking to Children About School Shootings
Talking to Children About Terrorist Attacks and School and Community Shootings in the News

National Education Association: School Crisis Guide
National Association of School Psychologists: Culturally Competent Crisis Response: Information for Crisis Teams
National Association of School Boards of Education: Student Safety and Wellness 
Kid Peace: Ways to Help Your Child Through Crisis
Perceptions of School Counselors Surviving a School Shooting
School Shootings and Counselor Leadership: Four Lessons from the Field 
Additional ResourcesAmerican Psychological Association
Managing Traumatic Stress
Building Your Resilience
Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting
Helping Your Child Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting
American Red Cross: Recovering Emotionally
Coalition to Support Grieving Students (videos)
Death and School Crisis
Talking With Children
Department of Education
Tips for Helping Students Recovering From Traumatic Events
Creating Emergency Management Plans
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center
Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence
National PTA: Discussing Hate and Violence with Your Children
National Center for PTSD
The Impact of Disaster and Mass Violence Events on Mental Health

The Child Mind Institute
How to Help Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
Going Back to School After a Tragedy
PBS Kids
Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
SAMHSA
Coping with Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Save the Children
How to Talk to Children About School Shootings

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Talking to Children about Community Violence
National School Safety Center

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Office for Victims of Crime

Please visit the Dual Enrollment page under academic planning to view the recent updates on how to begin to Summer/Fall 2022 enrollment.

I will be assisting with Summer Dual Enrollment, and your School Counselors will be assisting with Fall requests. Please view the video before reaching out for an appointment.

Our event has been rescheduled for March 3rd from 11:30-1 p.m. on the media center!  The UNG deadlines have been extended due to capacity availability! Please sign up to attend by clicking on the google form link below.

​https://forms.gle/1GMewTf78muM5Egz6

     Underclassmen: you may begin to receive noticed and emails from colleges about pre-college experiences. Tenth graders that took the PSAT or students that have already taken either SAT or ACT are the ones who receive the most information. These are great opportunities to build your experiences during the summer along with getting insight in what is feels like to attend a college setting and maybe even stay in the dorms.
     Some of these opportunities are like a camp in which you pay a tuition cost to attend, while some offer scholarships, it all depends on the program.  Please feel free to check these opportunities out!  Keep in mind, it does not give you an advantage if you choose to apply yo attend the college after you graduate high school, but it can be a great learning opportunity.

Jefferson High School Seniors!!

On Wednesday, November 10th, Seniors can receive help in applying to colleges and MANY Georgia colleges are waiving the application fee during this time!  

PLEASE click the link below to sign up for your session this WEDNESDAY!  The link will share what you need to bring and what to expect during the session. You will have people present to answer questions and make sure you have uploaded all documents needed to complete your application. 

** Lanier Technical College Applicants**. There will be a seperate session held for this college next Wednesday, November 17th, in the Seminar Room. A sign up link will be released later this week.  You can actually apply to Lanier free the whole week of November 15-19th, but JHS will provide assistance on the 17th.
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Link to sign up!
https://forms.gle/FtBk3rccimYrohJD9

Seniors: Be prepared by knowing which colleges you intend to apply to and what documents you should have ready. This should include the following:
* Your Social Security number
* Your Driver's License or other acceptable proof you are a Georgia resident.
* Know your physical home address
* Make SURE you already have your www.gafutures.org account set up with the correct 
  social security number. You will need this to request transcripts and apply to colleges.

     Take a deep breath, and imagine this year will be better than the ones before it! We are all a little tired of hearing how we are living in historic times, (you know, the global pandemic and all..) but we are HERE and we are taking steps to move forward to creating a new normalcy. 

     I admire your courage in how you are willing to enter this year with an open mind and heart, while still adjusting to the last few semesters. Many of you have endured huge losses in the form of losing loved ones, struggling with your own health issues, feeling lost with online schooling and missing the relationships formed in the school setting. We educators feel that in our soul too, and are here for you!

   How do you want this school year to look and feel like?  What types of learning experiences do you want to create?  What activities do you want to either try or resume that are meaningful to you in meeting your personal goals?  If you imagine it is already May of 2022 and you are reflecting back on this past year, what will you be glad you accomplished?

     Questions like these help you set your "intentions" or goals for the year. If you know what you want to do, you have a better chance of making the day to day decisions that will keep you on track.

     You will have lots of support in this process. School Counselors, as a collective group, are in your school settings to help you succeed academically, emotionally & socially, while helping you plan for your future career success. Let us know how we can help!

     One way you can feel supported in your academic and career planning in high school is to check this website frequently. Updates on college and career opportunities will be posted here and on the other pages, giving you resources to help you plan your goals.


     Welcome back and again, I hope this is your BEST year yet!!