Welcome back to another great school year!
Can you believe that we have reached 8th grade already! I am feeling
sentimental this fall, remembering many of them as nervous little 5th graders
transitioning in to middle school. Now we are preparing for High School! I've
told the students that our goal this year is to get them both academically
and mentally prepared for High School. Parents, please remember that whereas
the transition to middle school tends to be the hardest on parents, for many
students, the transition to high school is the hardest one for them.
The start of the school year has gone very well. I am so proud to hear the
8th grade teachers tell me how wonderful they think this class of students
are. I always thought I might be a little biased, but they really are such a
great group and such fine leaders of Deerpark!
Thank you to all 85 Ranger Leaders who without you, we would not have made
Ranger RoundUp as successful as it was. Be looking forward to more mentoring
opportunities soon.
The counseling offices have moved! We are now located in the back of the
front office. Hopefully, this will give students and parents a better sense
of confidentiality and privacy when coming to see us. Students may still
access us by picking up a "request to see the counselor slip" from just
inside the front office. Place requests in your grade level counselor's box
outside our office door. We have a student aide every period who can assist
you. Parents, our doors are always open. However, between new students
registering, classroom guidance lessons, individual and group counseling, as
well as various trainings, team meetings, etc. we are not always available
for a drop in visit. Please call or email me for an appointment, that way I
can give you my undivided attention! #464-6611 or
Laura_Cathcart@roundrockisd.org
Schedule change request deadline has passed. Please contact your student's
teacher first with any concerns regarding a class. Administrative approval
must be obtained for class changes at this point in the school year.
"Education Go Get It" Week is coming soon, Oct. 5th - 9th. We have various
activities, contests and information planned that week, to kick off an
important year long district theme of College and Career preparation.
Counselors will be preparing college and career lessons through advisory.
There will also be a district wide College & Career Nite at McNeil HS on the
evening of Oct. 5th.
Mark your calendars for the Parent Summit on Saturday, Sept. 26th at the PAC,
Performing Arts Center, with break out sessions at McNeil HS next door.
Counselors are also preparing advisory teachers to begin Project Alert, a
research based drug and alcohol awareness and prevention program being
implemented at all middle schools in the district. We will be training
advisory teachers on the first of several lessons to start during Red Ribbon
Week, the last week of October.
PAS, Prejudice Awareness Summit, is coming soon, October 28th. The Leadership
teacher, Ms. Cordova, and myself will be taking a group of students to the
conference at the State Capitol this year. Students will come back and
implement a minimum of three projects to address awareness and diversity
issues, so that Deerpark can be honored as a No Place For Hate school for the
third year in a row.
The counselors will also be doing staff development in the next week,
training our faculty at Deerpark with Love & Logic techniques. I highly
recommend checking out Love & Logic for parents! (Especially parents of
teenagers!) I use Love & Logic with my own child and with many of the
students at Deerpark. Love & Logic provides some easy one-liners and simple
guidelines on how to help our kids learn to think for themselves and avoid
power struggles when giving consequences. They have a whole series of great
books and humerous audio books to listen to in the car.
I look forward to a great year! As always, please don't hesitate to contact
me with any questions or concerns. Take care!
Laura Cathcart
8th grade Counselor
