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Sunday, February 03, 2013

FSCA eNews Update - February 3, 2013


FSCA eNews Update - February 3, 2013

Advocacy for FSCA
Our bill, SB 0154, Student Failure Prevention Act,  has been filed again in Florida’s Senate by our Champion Senator Nancy Detert.  Sen. Detert talks about our issue and this bill in every venue and to all legislators as much as possible.  It is being drafted in the House and we expect filing before the deadline in early March.  Rep. Adkins who filed our bill last year and is still a staunch supporter cannot file for us this year due to changes in her committee assignments.  However, she is chair of an important committee to us and is working hard with FSCA to ensure that the bill gets filed and has support.
                What you can do? 
                1.  Write a note to Senator Detert thanking her for her tireless support. 
                2.  Write a note to Rep Adkins and thank her for helping us help students.
3. Contact your own legislators (and others who may cover your school district in neighboring jurisdictions) and let each know that you want their support.  (You can find your own and neighboring legislator names and contact information at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find.   Florida’s groupings of legislative delegations can be found here.  
Tell them that you support SB 154 and any companion legislation filed in the House to increase school counselors in every school, improve student access to counselors, and to ensure that every student has adequate and sufficient school counseling programs.  Florida’s poor graduation rate would be improved by continuous and appropriate school counseling programs that focus on career and academic development.  Furthermore, school counselors provide programs and skilled understanding of student’s personal and behavioral development to help be a first line of defense to promote student safety.  ASCA’s recommendation of a ratio of 1 school counselor to 250 students coupled with ensuring that school counselors engaging in the jobs for which they are best trained and suited, is imperative to achieve our achievement, economic, and safety goals as a state.
Join FSCA in Tallahassee for FSCA legislative days on March 11 (for training) and 12 to see state lawmakers about school counseling.
                What you do?
1.  See if your spring break or school schedule will allow you to be in Tallahassee to join us.  If you are on the clock on either of those days, make sure you have noted personal leave to Tallahassee.
2.  If you can join us, please to arrive in the afternoon of March 11 for an update and training with our Advocacy consultant Carole Green.
3.  Start contacting your legislators now to let them know who you are, what you are interested in, and that you will be contacting them for a brief appointment to see them on March 12 when you are in town. 
4.  Some tips: Do make arrangements for travel and lodging early as Tallahassee fills up quickly during session.  Organize a group to carpool from your area.  Invite school counseling students to join you if you have room in your car.  
 
Brand New Website!
FSCA has been upgrading it's entire online operations including the website at www.fla-schoolcounselor.org. Lots of new content will be added over the next few days and weeks ... stay tuned.  
Upcoming Webinar
Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent MindFebruary 27th 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Recent discoveries in neuroscience offer exciting insights into how the brains of our teens really work and the special “brain-based” challenges facing adolescents as they mature. This webinar will provide a basic review of brain ‘geography’ and function, reveal why teens are especially vulnerable to drug use, high-risk peer influences and depression as well as the proactive measures adults can take to minimize a teen’s exposure to these dangers. This webinar also addresses the often mystifying role of hormones on adolescent development and focuses on the key roles that stress and sleep have on teen learning processes. In addition, the workshop offers strategies compatible with the many strengths and opportunities available during this miraculous developmental period. If you’ve ever thought that the adolescent mind could not be understood, this workshop will arm you with the latest insights and information on knowing and empowering the teenage brain, and ways you can integrate it into your school counseling program.
Current FSCA Members: Free
Non-Members: $45

Register Now by Clicking HERE.
Presenter: Alwynne Lamp, M.Ed. has more than 26 years of experience as an educator and in 2010 was named as the Middle School Counselor of the Year by the Florida School Counseling Association and is a 2013 Semi-Finalist for the American School Counselor Association, School Counselor of the Year Award. Alwynne is a certified trainer for The Upside Down Organization and works as a school counselor at Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Palm Beach County. Other educational roles Alwynne has held include seven years as a Science Teacher and four years as an outdoor/experiential educator with Outward Bound in both Australia and Minnesota. Alwynne has developed in-service training for educators in her school, in the School District of Palm Beach County and at FSCA conventions. She has worked closely with her own students to help them understand how their brain develops and functions and most importantly, how to care for it! As part of this effort, she developed a test anxiety reduction program and implemented Dr. Carol Dweck’s Brainology. Alwynne also coordinates anti-bullying and alcohol prevention programs at her school and works closely with students to improve motivation and achievement. Alwynne earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from the Australian National University, Diploma of Education from Canberra University and her Master’s in Counselor Education from Florida Atlantic University. 
SAVE the DATE for Other Upcoming Webinars:
March 20th @ 2:00PM • Stephanie Carter-Larson: Autism Spectrum Disorder
April 9th @ 11:30AM • Dr. Rosine McGhee (Argosy): Compassion Fatigue
May 8th @ 6:00PM • Kendra Shealy: Packaging Your School Counseling Program
 
Nominate a School Counselor or Stakeholder for a Professional Recognition Award
FSCA is committed to recognizing the outstanding work done by School Counselors, Administrators, and Advocates of the School Counseling profession. FSCA recognizes School Counselors and other individuals who excel in promoting and facilitating the role of School Counselors in Florida. Awards will be presented during an Awards Banquet on Friday, November 1, 2013, at the Hilton Bayfront in St. Petersburg, FL during the FSCA Annual Convention, October 31-November 2, 2013.
  • The nomination and application packet deadline is August 16, 2013.
  • Award applicants will be notified on or before September 20, 2013.
  • To submit a nomination, e-mail the completed application (available for download (Word or PDF) and accompanying documents to Terry Kalten at terrakalt@gmail.com
Award Categories (a description of each of these is available here):
  • School Counselor
  • School Administrator
  • Advocate Award
  • Administrator/Supervisor
  • Community Service
  • School Board Advocacy Award
  • Legislator Award
Important Reminder: Professional Recognition at the State Level (SCA) is required for Professional Recognition at the National Level (ASCA). In addition, all ASCA Nominations for Counselor of the Year must come from the State School Counselor Associations. Only the SCA can submit nominations for the ASCA School Counselor of the Year!
 
National School Counseling Week
Download a ZIP file filled with promotional materials, resources, and ideas to help you celebrate NSCW 2013. Click here to download. Visit the ASCA NSCW page here.
 
Student Scholarship
Essay Topic: How Has Your School Counselor Impacted You? Eligibility & General Guidelines:
  • Participants should be high school seniors.
  • Essays should not exceed one page providing detailed information on the impact your school counselor has had on you.
  • ALL Essays must be submitted with a FSCA Essay Competition Entry Form
Deadlines:
  • March 4, 2013 - Launch of the Essay Competition
  • April 5, 2013 - Deadline for submissions (post mark Date)
  • May 1, 2013- Finalists announced
Download the application here.
 
FSCA eNewsletter
Florida School Counselor Online
Submission Guidelines
Articles should provide practical information or advice for school counselors, school counseling graduate students, counselor educators, district-level school counseling professionals, and school and district leaders who work directly with school counselors.  While research can certainly be integrated into articles, our publication is not an academic journal.   Articles must contain original content and any outside sources must be credited appropriately.  There is no minimum or maximum word requirement, though most articles are between 750 and 1000 words.  All submissions must include the following information: author’s name, professional title and location (graduate student at XYZ University, Miami; counselor educator at ABC University, Orlando; school counselor at ABC Middle School, Jacksonville; etc.), FSCA title (member or board/committee position), and e-mail address.  All submissions must be sent via e-mail to fscaeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the deadline date.
Themes & Deadlines
Issue
Theme
Deadline
Spring 2013
Transitioning with Success
February 15, 2013
As the springtime approaches, schools and school counselors are beginning to prepare to send their senior students to middle school/high school/college while also considering the best way to set up their incoming students for a successful transition.  This is a great opportunity to share special programs or activities that prepare students to be academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the next level.
Summer 2013
Taking Your Program to the Next Level
May 1, 2013
Help school counselors take their programs to new heights— whether they are looking to rebuild a struggling program, transition their guidance program to a transformed school counseling program, begin the RAMP process, or determine the next directions for an already successful program.
Fall 2013
Graduate Student Issue
August 1, 2013
Share your insight on navigating field experiences/internships, balancing multiple demands (school, work, family, etc.), making the most of assistantships/research opportunities, the job-search process, and other topics pertinent to students and recent graduates from Master’s, Specialist, and Doctoral programs.
Winter  2013
Counseling Diverse Populations
November 1, 2013
Florida’s students and educators are privileged to study and work in increasingly diverse settings.  However, working with diverse populations can often present challenges to school counselors.  Share your insight and advice for working with students from various backgrounds and their families.  This may include LGBTQ students, ESE/special education students, ELLs, immigrant students and families, students from various racial/ethnic/cultural backgrounds, and more.
Contact
Shannon Romagnolo, Editor
fscaeditors@gmail.com (for submissions)
shannon.romagnolo@gmail.com (inquiries)
 
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