Counseling Corner

Welcome to the School Counselor's Webpage!

Welcome Hawthorne Families!

I am Amy Dominguez and I am one of your Hawthorne counselors.

I have over 30 years of educational experience within Chicago Public Schools. I love being a part of the Hawthorne community and enjoy partnering with staff and families to help our students succeed academically, socially and emotionally throughout the year. My focus is building meaningful relationships with all stakeholders in order to provide the support and opportunities that all of our students deserve.

This school year I will be supporting students and teachers in the following ways:

K-3 - Monthly counseling lessons regarding SEL, career exploration and academic skill building.
8th grade: bi-weekly Success Bound lessons - This is a curriculum that encompasses lessons related to college and career exploration as well as high school selection support. Students will complete Individual Learn Plan (ILP) tasks that align with the CPS platform, School Links (see below)
4th and 5th: Homeroom SEL support - Second Step, team building and circles.
K-8th: Restorative conversations based on individual need.
K-8th: Crisis intervention and support
8th: High School application process

I hope that you find the resources on this site helpful. Please check back periodically for updates. If there are further questions, you can always contact me at [email protected] or utilize the referrals below to request support.

Hawthorne Staff/Parent Counseling Referral

3rd-8th Student Counseling Request

Resources for Families in Need

Social & Emotional Resources for Students

^{Resources for Students:}

Mind Yeti: For all students

Kids for Peace: Uplifting Our World Through Love and Action: For all students

Sesame Street: Online SEL activities for students Grades PreK-1

Cosmic Kids: Yoga and mindfulness (3+)

Daniel Tiger (PBS Kids): Interactive picture books read aloud, songs, interactive games for students Prek-1.

Howard B. Wigglebottom: Online pictures books read aloud, songs for students Grades K-2

Storyline Online: Online SEL activities; ex: Empty Pot (Honesty), Someone Loves You Mr. Hatch (Kindness), Enemy Pie (Friendship), A Bad Case of the Stripes (Self-Confidence) for students Grades Pre-K to 3

Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions: For students Grades 4-8

The Adolescent Brain: For students Grades 6-8

Centervention Social Emotional Activities

BrainPop Digital Etiquette: For students Grades 3-8, take the quiz after watching the video and related readings.

BrainPop Online Safety: For students Grade 3-8, take the quiz after watching the video and related readings.

Growth Mindset: ES and MS Activities (Khan Academy): For students Grades 4-8

Bedtime FM: Peace Out: Stories for calming down and relaxation.

Virtual Calming Room: A resource for students and families that supports mindfulness and meditation.

Dove Self-Esteem Project Calendar: This thirty-one day calendar is designed to help build body confidence and self-esteem by increasing student knowledge and skills related to health and wellness through the lens of body image and acceptance. Under the guidance of educators, parents, or adult caregivers, we encourage you to use this calendar as a tool to engage students in conversations about confidence and self-esteem as activities within their daily learning

Parent Resources

Parents, please never hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. I am here to collaborate with you regarding your child's educational and social and emotional learning.

Quick Links:

Aspen Parent Portal
- Access your child's academic data.
ParenTeen Connect
- Parent Teen Connect is a free resource from the Committee for Children. It is designed by social-emotional learning experts as an at-home, family-engagement resource. This online experience is loaded with videos, resources, and useful advice to help teens and the adults in their lives address hot-button topics. The site complements the Second Step^® Middle School Program both as a stand-alone parent resource and in connection with Middle School Program classroom activities.
Character Lab
- Character Lab is a non profit organization that discovers and promotes conditions that promote children's social, emotional, academic and physical well being.
The Family Dinner Project
- The Family Dinner Project, a nonprofit initiative started in 2010, champions family dinner as an opportunity for family members to connect with each other through food, fun and conversation about things that matter. Read more about The Family Dinner Project here.
Center for Parent and Teen Communication
- CPTC offers practical, science-based strategies for strengthening family connections and building youth prepared to thrive.
Child Mind
- The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
Parent Support Centers
- The Parent Support Center works in collaboration with the CPS staff members across the district, including network chiefs and leadership, to ensure all CPS families have equitable access to high-quality services and resources.
Centervention - Social Skills Resources for Parents
- According to research funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, social and emotional competence is one of the most important predictors of success in life. This site provides articles regarding social and emotional learning and resources to support your child's development of social skills.
Kids for Peace - Uplifting Our World Through Love and Action
- This site offers many different activities for children and families to take part in during our current quarantine and throughout the year.
Action for Happiness
- Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.
Coping Skills for Kids - Calming Anxiety
- Kid tested strategies used by child therapists for calming anxiety, including ideas to calm down, books to read and videos that can help.
Coping Skills for Kids - Managing Anger
- Kid-friendly coping skills used to help manage anger, including safe ways to express anger, books to read and videos that can help.

Mental Health Resources

My State of Mind

The mission of MSOM is to be a resource that helps you find wellness programs that leave you feeling informed, empowered and validated. This is a free resource that will connect you with various providers in many different areas of wellness.

Call4Calm :

This is a free emotional-support text line that was created to serve Illinois residents. To connect with a counselor, people can text “TALK” to 5-5-2-0-2-0 or text “HABLAR” to the same number for counseling in Spanish. Users will remain anonymous, and the state has partnered with mental health organizations to have counselors respond. Once a resident texts the hotline, they’ll get a call from a licensed counselor within 24 hours.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1- 800-273-TALK (8255)

National Crisis Text Line

Text "HOME" from anywhere in the U.S. to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support from a trained Crisis Counselor.

National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Mental Health America - Self Help Tools

This MHA site provides resources and tools to support your mental health.

Rogers Behavioral Health Resources

Mental health resources for parents and families (ie. videos, blogs, webinars, podcasts, quizzes, etc).

^{Please don't hesitate to reach out. I am here to support you.}

High School Planning

GoCPS Resource Links:

GoCPS Website

This site provides information regarding all phases of the high school application process.

HERE is the link for the GoCPS application site, EnrollWise, which can also be found at the top of the GoCPS webpage.

High School Flyers and Materials:

HIGH SCHOOL RESEARCH VIRTUAL BULLETIN BOARD

Flyers
School info
Open House Dates

Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund:

^{**The application window is open for 8th grade students.}

^{The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund gives high school scholarship assistance and educational support to Chicago students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who will attend a private, college preparatory high school. There are currently over 460 DMSF Scholars attending 65 partner high schools, including many parochial, independent and boarding schools. Since 1990 more than 2,200 students have been awarded scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, academic ability and leadership potential. Applications are accepted from students who reside in Chicago and who will be in eighth grade during the 2025-2026 school year.}

^{Students who are interested in applying can access the application online here. Families will complete the application online, and can create an account so that they do not need to complete the application in one sitting. Teacher and school counselor/principal recommendations will be emailed to the recommenders via a link once the student’s application has been submitted electronically. This year, applicants will also have the opportunity to submit an optional recommendation from a non-teacher/special interest educator.}

^{Principal Discretion Process}

The Principal Discretion process allows Selective Enrollment High School Principals to fill a designated number of seats, outside of the regular selection process, based on information provided through application packages submitted by students. HERE is a link to the PD handbook.

College and Career Exploration with SchooLinks

SchooLinks is a modern, student-centric college and career planning platform that helps CPS students in grades 6-12 and families align personal interests and aspirations with preparation for life beyond high school.

Over time, students will build a personalized portfolio, complete career interest inventories, set goals, search for and apply to colleges and other postsecondary options, find scholarships, track earned certificates and credentials, tap into internship opportunities, develop a robust resume, and much, much more.

Students- Click here for the SchooLinks login page.

Parents can use can also use the link above to learn about the different features of School Links and create your own account.

Learn more about you using the assessments below:

True Colors Personality Test

Myers Briggs Personality Test

Career Personality Profile

High 5 Test - strengths finder

Grief and Loss Resources

Online Resources for Parents and Families:

Coalition to Support Grieving Students: Family and Community Resources

National Alliance for Grieving Children: FAQ's from Parents and Families

Navigating the Winter Holidays with Grief and Covid-19