SAVE THE DATE!!!
​SDSCA’s 13th Annual Counselor Connections Workshop
Counselor Connections 2021 will take place on Friday, October 29, 2021 on the SDSU campus in Brookings. 

In addition, ​SDSCA is continuing our collaboration with the South Dakota Early Childhood Mental Health Collaborative in providing a professional development event on Thursday, October 28th for individuals involved in the mental health of youth in South Dakota.

Registration information coming soon! Check our PD & Events page for updates!

Just in time to start planning for the upcoming school year, ASCA has released their awareness calendar. This helpful tools helps you plan for celebrations and advocacy throughout the year.
View the calendar by CLICKING HERE.

Wanting to prepare for conversations about race and inclusion that are coming up now or will come up next school year?  We've gathered some resources to help you prepare that area available here:
http://www.sdschoolcounselors.com/diversity-resources.html

If you have any resources you feel like we should add, email them to me at rachael.anderson@k12.sd.us

We are here to help!  Andrea Diehm has done such a great job of compiling supports and resources and you can find them all here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DPx71PMJxnSwFmEaItIK7M9ycDsgKmINVbxif9Rrjfc/edit?usp=sharing
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the SDSCA AWARDS DEADLINE has been EXTENDED!
Please take time to nominate a deserving
school counselor, administrator, or contributor
by March 13th, 2020
 
Use this link for online nominations
https://forms.gle/yNJVzmoaatcipd2i7
 
Three of the five SDSCA awards are specifically geared toward Professional School Counselors:

• the Orv Schmieding Award
• the Outstanding Professional School Counselor Award
• the Rising Star Award

Our other awards include the Special Contributions Award and the Administrator Advocacy Award. 
 
To learn more about the awards, the qualifications for each on our website http://www.sdschoolcounselors.com/awards.html.  All materials from the paper application (attached) or the on-line nomination supplemental recommendation letters can be sent to sdsca.awards@gmail.com. 
 
Nominations are now open with a deadline of March 13th.  
These awards will be presented at the SD Counselor Association conference in April 2020 located in Spearfish.
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2020 National School Counseling Week Photo Challenge – Win a FREE registration Counselor Connections in Brookings Nov 6th. How to enter: take a photo/video of the day’s theme and share on Twitter or Facebook with #SDSCA2020 and #NSCW2020.
 
Theme for each day:
Monday: Happy National School Counseling Week 
Take a picture/video with the new National School Counseling Week sign
 
Tuesday: Lend a Helping Hand
School counselors: Take a photo with the sign  – "I'm helping build better humans by..."
 
Wednesday: Offer Encouragement
School Counselors: Download the "My students help me be a better human by..." sign
Supporters: Download the "My school counselor helps me be better by..." sign
 
Thursday: Show Appreciation
Supporters: Download the "Thank you _____ (insert school counselor's name) for ____ (share something learned/gained from working with your school counselor)" sign

Friday: Be the Change in the World
All: Download the "Better humans are..." sign

Questions? Contact Alyssa Krogstrand by clicking here.

Have fun celebrating the work you do and showing how you make a difference as a school counselor!

SD School Counselor Association Awards 2020:  Nominate the best of the best!!
​
Are you working with an amazing School Counselor who has successfully implemented new programs? 
Do you know a School Counseling colleague who makes their school a better place
by doing the work they are passionate about? 
Would you like to recognize them?
 
Three of the five SDSCA awards are specifically geared toward Professional School Counselors.  Recipients of these awards will receive a SDSCA membership for the 2020-21 membership year.  Our School Counselor specific awards are:

• the Orv Schmieding Award
• the Outstanding Professional School Counselor Award
• the Rising Star Award

Our other awards include the Special Contributions Award and the Administrator Advocacy Award. 
 
Use this link for online nominations https://forms.gle/vvFKncUAYZNYtckRA. To learn more about the following awards, the qualifications for each, and/or to nominate a deserving School Counselor, please click HERE.  All materials from the paper application (attached) or the on-line nomination supplemental recommendation letters can be sent to sdsca.awards@gmail.com. 
 
Nominations are now open with a deadline of March 6th.  
These awards will be presented at the SD Counselor Association conference in April 2020 located in Spearfish.
 
**Also looking for 3-5 individuals to sit on the Awards Selection Committee – duties would include scoring nomination applications per the rubric and assisting in selecting winners.  Let me know if interested**

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Mark your calendars for February 3rd-7th so you can join in the fun of National School Counseling Week 2020!

This yearly event is the perfect opportunity to educate your stakeholders, say thank you to your supporters, and have some fun showcasing the work you do! 

ASCA has resources available, including the NSCW photo challenge, to help you celebrate to advocate for your role as a school counselor. Click here to visit their website and see what all they have to offer. 

SDSCA is once again happy to be offering ASCA publications at reduced rates.

Grow and strengthen your program with the brand new 4th edition of the ASCA National Model, just released this summer. Also available is the new 2nd edition of the ASCA National Model Implementation Guide and 2018's 4th edition of Making Data Work.

Limited numbers of these titles will be available in Brookings during Counselor Connections on October 25th. Please bring cash or check to bring home any of these titles or buy all three for an even bigger discount!

SDCA's Sioux Chapter invites you to participate in an afternoon or professional development.

Kris Miner, who was a keynote speaker at last spring's annual SDCA conference, will be the featured presenter on November 1st from 12:30-4:30 at the USD Community College of Sioux Falls (formerly University Center). For more details or to register, please see the flyer below.