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Counseling Corner

Welcome to the School Counselor's Webpage!

 
Welcome Hawthorne Families! My name is Amy Dominguez, and I am your school counselor.  I have been working in the Chicago Public Schools since 1995 in the role of both teacher and counselor.  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. 
 
I hope that you find the resources on this site helpful. Please check back periodically for updates on resources, notices and events. If there are further questions, you can always contact me at asodekirk@cps.edu.
 
Regarding Events from January 6th: 
Here is a resource from Common Sense Media, to support families in having developmentally appropriate discussions regarding the recent violence in Washington DC.
 
Resources for Families in Need
During these unique and challenging times many of us could use a little help.  I hope you are able to use the resources below to access support. Pleas let me know if I can help. 
 
Here is a link for Illinois Covid H.E.L.P.(Housing and Economic Loss Prevention). COVID HELP is a free tool for people in Illinois who are facing housing and employment and other economic problems because of COVID-19. It’s help available online, all day and every day, and it’s managed by a team of lawyers from nonprofit legal aid organizations across the state. COVID HELP provides virtual assistance to solve real problems.
 
Here is a link to Food Resources.  Please reach out if you have any questions or need any support in accessing resources.  
Articles
 
Videos
 
Other Resources
Resources for 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
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.

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                    

CNN/Sesame Street Coronavirus Town Hall:  Doctors answer questions from kids with the help of our friends from Sesame Street.

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.
  • Second Step Lessons - Support during COVID-19 Remote Learning
 

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)

 

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.**

 
Students- Click here for the Naviance login page.
 
6th Grade Tasks to Complete:
  • Introduction to Naviance Scavenger Hunt
  • Introduction to Roadtrip Nation
  • Complete the GoCPS Introduction Survey
  • Complete High School and Post Secondary Knowledge
    • Use this link to access the PowerPoint you will need to review to answer these questions.
7th Grade Tasks to Complete:
  • Complete the Career Cluster Finder
  • Add at least 3 Career Clusters to your favorite Career Cluster List
  • Complete the High School Exploration Survey
  • 7th Grade Reflection
    • Use this link to access the GoCPS PowerPoint that provides information regarding the GoCPS high school application system.  If you have questions regarding this information please reach out to me.  
    • You will be asked for your GoCPS activation code which you'll be provided at the end of the school year.  
8th Grade Tasks to Complete:
  • Complete the High School Success Survey
  • Practice using the College Search tool
    • Directions: on Naviance go to "College Home" - Under "Find Your Fit" click on "Advanced Search" - You can filter by Types, Locations, Students, Admissions, etc. (This might be a great tool to explore with your parents as well)
  • Complete Career Exploration
    • You will need to select one of the videos from Road Trip Nation which is located in Naviance.  Road Trip Nation can be found under the "Career" tab at the top right of the screen.  
 
Learn more about you using the assessments below:
High 5 Test - strengths finder

GoCPS Resource Links: 

 

High School Flyers and Materials:

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GROWCommunity:

GROWCommunity is working to support a seamless K-12 system in our community anchored around both Amundsen and Lake View high schools, neighborhood schools that offer exceptional educational opportunities for students. 
Read more about GROWCommunity here.
 See details regarding the application and enrollment policy here.
 
Participating GROWCommunity High Schools:
Amundsen High School
Lakeview High School
 
Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund:
 
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, Cicero or Berwyn and who will be in eighth grade during the 2019-2020 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.
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
 
Family/Children Resources:
Sesame Street for Families: When Families Grieve
 
Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
 
A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret Holmes
 
 
Mary Gende, our school social worker at Hawthorne, has created a website of tools for students and families to support emotional regulation.  If you would like to contact Ms. Gende please feel free to email her at mgende1@cps.edu
 
 
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