Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

Another Year Has Come and Gone

By: Shelly Lammers, SDSCA President

The year has flown by and it is hard to believe we are wrapping up another school year. It has been an exciting year for the South Dakota School Counseling Association. The theme for SDSCA this year was “Go Light Your World.” As school counselors we have the opportunity to make such a difference in the lives of those we work with. We really are seen as a beacon of light for not only the students we work with but also the parents, community, school staff and administration. SDSCA has provided some opportunities this year which helped many professional school counselors Light Their World.

Leadership activities were available as always throughout the year. SDSCA Past President, Andree Johnson and President Elect, Jenny Noteboom attended ASCA Delegate Assembly in Chicago in June 2006. In July, SDSCA President, Shelly Lammers and President Elect, Jenny Noteboom attended ASCA Leadership Development Institute in Boston. The SDSCA Board retreat was held at the Circle H Ranch near Gregory SD in June. This is a two day retreat for all board members to make plans for the upcoming year. The SDSCA Board members worked very hard in the two days we were there. The setting was awesome, and allowed for some great interaction. Four board meetings were called to order throughout the year, of which one was held by videoconferencing system (DDN). Kim Goebel served as our secretary again this year, she is a very efficient individual and does a great job getting board minutes out promptly. Marlys Schmidt took on the task of treasurer this year. She has been a great asset to SDSCA with her expertise and knowledge of business.

Technology Coordinator, Stacy Solsaa did an excellent job of maintaining the SDSCA webpage, managing the SDSCA members only listserve and publishing the electronic newsletter. Thank you to all of our board members and other SDSCA members, did a such a great job of submitting articles for the newsletter.

Membership coordinator, Levi Reindl, did a great job or coordinating membership pitches for SDSCA during Fall Guidance Workshops in September. Gary Johnson served as the mentoring chair and kept in contact with many new counselors to assist with questions they had throughout the year. Becca Wharton, our graduate student liason, spoke to graduate students about the opportunities available in SDSCA. Kim Huffman has served as our public relations chair on the board this year, and Phil Breed, our bylaws chairperson, offered some of his expertise in updating our bylaws.

Jay Trenhaile coordinated a very successful 2 Day Ethics/Play Therapy workshop in Brookings, SD in November. Jean Blonigen, our ethics chairperson, assisted by writing articles about event and served as our “expert” on ethic issues throughout the year. Sue Olson, coordinated a very fun, “Bag of Tricks” workshop opportunity for school counselors working with groups in March in Custer, SD Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

SDSCA members continued to collaborate with personnel at the state level to incorporate the ASCA National Model into the SD Comprehensive model. Florence Womeldorf, Anthony Raaphorst, Sue Olson and Valerie Horacek, did a great job this year of representing the different levels of school counselors throughout the state. Bill Smith has offered his expertise as our counselor supervisor chairperson.

The Day on the Hill was very successful again this year. Jill Stephenson collaborated with SD Counseling Association to coordinate this great opportunity to visit with legislators about issues concerning school counselors. We were very excited to have several legislators indicate support for future legislation mandating professional school counselors in all districts.

Andree Johnson did such a great job organizing the preconference which was cosponsored with SD Mental Health Association. Dr. Ed Jacobs is such a great speaker with his abundance of information and techniques for school counselors to utilize in their practices. Andree also worked with John Hegg to coordinate “fun run/walk” during the SDCA conference. We are proud to have so many participate as it was a great fundraising opportunity for SDSCA and the Lutheran Social Services Mentoring Program.

It has been a pleasure to serve as your president this past year. Having such a fantastic board really has made my job easy as president. I would like to ask that you please continue to support professional school counselors in South Dakota through your membership in SDSCA. Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

SDSCA Award Winners By Jenny Noteboom, President Elect

(l to r: Gary Johnson, Marge Mathers’ daughter, Dorothy Kiyukan, Valerie Horacek, Jill Stephenson, Sue Olson, Linda Witt) The South Dakota School Counseling Association’s 2007 counseling awards were awarded on April 13th during the SDCA Conference at the Convention Center in Sioux Falls.

The Walt Flannery Award, given in memory of Walt Flannery, a long time counselor at Riggs High School in Pierre, honors counselors who have dedicated themselves to the school counseling profession for 15 or more years. Linda Witt, from the Doland/Webster/Roslyn School District, was the Walt Flannery recipient this year.

The Special Contributions Award, given to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to the school counseling profession, was awarded to Marge Mathers. Marge was unable to attend the luncheon, but her daughter was there to accept the award and to pass on some words of gratitude from her mother.

Four Counselor of the Year Awards were presented. These awards recognize outstanding service and achievement at the elementary, middle school/junior high, secondary and multi-levels. Following are the Counselor of the Year recipients: Elementary: Valerie Horacek, Hawthorne Elementary School Middle School/Junior High: Sue Olson, Axtell and Patrick Henry Middle Schools Secondary: Dorothy Kiyukan, Marty Indian School Multi-level: Jill Stephenson, Aberdeen School District

Finally, the Orv Schmeiding Award, which is considered SDSCA’s top award was given to Gary Johnson, Lennox High School. The Orv Schmeiding Award is to recognize outstanding service in the area of school counseling, contributions to SDSCA and other professional organizations, and civic and local contributions that have stood the test of time.

Congratulations to our award winners! Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

Being A School Counselor

By Florence Womeldorf, K-12 VP

At the state conference in Sioux Falls this past April, we presented a session on this very topic. While discussing the responsibilities, a “normal day”, likes and dislikes, along with tips for future school counselors, a lively discussion ensued which covered a wide range of topics.

During the presentation, I took notes as others spoke and came up with a list of “dos” in the school counseling business:

1. Define your role – make sure you know what you are trying to do; have a plan. 2. Advocate for your kids – create an atmosphere of cooperation with your staff. 3. Know your colleagues and their personalities – help them. 4. Prepare for grief counseling. 5. Confidentiality is the only product you are selling. 6. Network with other counselors –SDSCA,SDCA, listserves, conferences. 7. Be organized – have a plan A, backed up with a plan B. 8. Have a crisis plan. 9. Be visible to kids. 10. Plant the seeds. Use humor and have fun.

We discovered that we have a lengthy list of responsibilities and adapt as we go along. As long as we are flexible and positive, we continue to do our best job and to make progress. Each year, we can evaluate, making changes and Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

Fun Walk/Run

By: John Hegg, Special Projects Chair

The early morning of Friday, April 13, was sunny and cool after days of snow and cloudy weather in Sioux Falls. It was a great morning to be out running or walking the two mile course around the Sheraton Hotel during the 2007 spring conference. There was much talk and energized bodies as we all were treated to breakfast in the Sheraton lobby after the event. What a great way to begin the day!!

One hundred eighty two people registered for this event which was held as a fund raiser for the Sioux Falls School-Based Mentor Program and the South Dakota School Counselors Association.

Once again a huge thank you is extended to the South Dakota National Guard for funding all the t-shirts, to the Sheraton Hotel for donating the breakfast and to Hegg Companies for their special donation.

And a thank you to all who registered for this event. You support was greatly appreciated.

The next fund raising event will be the rummage sale to be held the first part of June in Sioux Falls. Items are still be solicited for this event.

John D. Hegg Special Project’s Chair SDSCA [email protected] Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

Technology and School Counseling??

By: Stacy Solsaa, Technology Chair How can counselors use technology when working with students? Often a computer seems to very impersonal, so why or how would a counselor use it as a tool? Below are several ways counselors can use technology during individual or group counseling as well as during classroom guidance.

Classroom Guidance: This is the most obvious and maybe the easiest setting for counselors to use technology. It is almost impossible for me to imagine the classroom without computers. This year my high school was one of the pilot school for the lab top initiative. This provided me with the opportunity to use technology in new ways. Here are a couple of ways to utilizes technology in the classroom.

Elementary: Use your digital camera whenever possible. Take photos of students dressed up as they learn about careers. Take photos as they work together in teams. Send photos home or use them in a newsletter or on a bulletin board.

Use a video camera to record students doing skits or plays. They love to watch themselves, sometimes even years latter.

Middle School/Jr. High: Have students use the internet to research drugs or alcohol. (Make sure to have specific sites selected and always pre-view web sites carefully before using them in the classroom.)

Use a video camera to record students doing skits or plays. They love to watch themselves, sometimes even years latter.

Use Guidance Central to explore careers. Have students choose a career, gather info about it and create a power point presentation about that career.

High School: Have students select a college they are interested in, gather specific information about that college and put it into a power point to be shared with the class.

Use Guidance Central to explore colleges or careers. Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

Begin a lesson by having the students do an on-line scavenger hunt. (Be careful on the topic. Topics that work well are employability skills, colleges ext.) I have students go to a college web site and then find specific information. This helps them become familiar with college web sites.

Individual Counseling: It is more difficult to think about how one would use technology in individual counseling, but here are a few ideas.

The computer works great when meeting with students individually for college planning. You have all the information you need at your finger tips. College web sites, loan information, career information, NCAA information and much more.

Resource information: The internet is a great place to look up information about medications that students may be on. Sometimes you can also find information about how to help populations you have not worked much with. There is a wealth of information out there, just be careful that your information comes from a credible site.

Helping students understand that they are not alone. I have a student with trichotilomania and I found a web site that a young women had created for people with trich to share their stories. My student found comfort in reading the stories others had written and finding other young people with trich. She is even thinking that someday she would like to right her own story. ( Of course I read over the site very well before showing it to my student)

Group Counseling: There are also some creative ways to use technology when conducting small group counseling. Of course the topic of the group will make a difference in how much you can use technology.

Digital cameras can be used for fun group activities. While doing a group about community service, group members could take photos of their volunteer work and a photo album could be created about the groups volunteer activities.

Use of a smart board in place of an overhead or power point.

Use of a Tablet PC and One Note

When using technology in counseling it is important to remember that you should not use technology, just to do so. You should use technology when it enhances what you are doing or makes the project more fun for students. Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

ACA e-News

By: ACA

Reliable Resources - Information for Counselors Helping the College- Bound ~

The most recent newsletter from the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) features information on Individual Development Accounts, facts about college costs and enrollment, counselor resources and recent publications by the Center that examine access issues for college-bound students. School counselors should check out this newsletter and consider becoming a subscriber. To access the current edition, go to: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chepa/pdf/Navigator_Spring_07.pdf

~ FYI - Information on Student Aid Fraud and Identity Theft ~

A new resource from the Office of Student Aid of the US Department of Education may be just in time for college- bound students about to graduate. The new brochure, a blend of several existing tools, examines financial aid fraud and identity theft. Students and counselors can take a look at the first draft at: www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov/newpubs

~ Tell a Professional Colleague about ACAeNews ~

ACAeNews is disseminated by subscription only. If you believe a colleague would like to receive this newsletter, they can send an email to [email protected] and leave the subject blank. In the body of the email type the following: Subscribe aca-enews First Name Last Name

Copyright 2006, American Counseling Association, All Rights Reserved.

For more information on ACAeNews, please visit the ACA website. Go LightGo Light YourYour World World

SDSCA May 2007 Newsletter

SDSCA Shirts Now Available

By Andrea Johnson, Past President:

The National Guard was generous and donated shirts for the SDSCA board members earlier this year. Board Members wore these shirts to the SDCA Conference last month. Many people asked about the shirts, so Andrea Johnson, Past President, did a little work and now they are available to purchase.

For more information check out the order form. Shirts must be ordered by May 22nd and will be handed out during the Fall Guidance workshops in early September. Cannot wait that long, pay an extra $3.00 and your shirt will be shipped directly to you.

Shirt Order Form