GPISD Counseling Services ROCKS!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Get Fit Grand Prairie and Grand Prairie Libraries hosted a Yoga for Mental Wellness event May 24th. GPISD School Social Worker Stacia Barrett, LCSW worked with the children doing story time, calming jar craft and therapeutic dance. Former GPISD School Counselor Diana Ham discussed mental health with the adults prior to the yoga session.

Travis World Language Academy administrators and counselors provided Amazing Root Beer Floats to staff in celebration of a very successful year.

 

Eisenhower fifth graders had a fun-filled Friday as they shadowed school professionals on field day. They had a great time helping younger students, working with parents, and working with the school teachers and staff.

We Love Our Students!!!!!

Counselor Tamara Collins is proud of the Whitt Stallions who applied for various jobs including principal, assistant principal, counselor, theater arts teacher, PE teacher and kindergarten teachers. Students who applied were also interviewed and served in these positions. Way to go, Whitt Stallions!

Students at De Zavala received prizes for participating in the Stand 4 Kind Challenge. School counselors Mrs. Glover and Ms. McGriff challenged students to complete as many random acts of kindness as they could. They received some awesome prizes. Way to go, Lions!

Moseley third graders had a spectacular time participating in job shadowing. One student commented, "Whew! You guys sure do a lot of work!"

GPISD Counselors ROCK!

 

Mrs. Francis' first grade class at Moseley enjoyed a delicious lunch from Olive Garden for raising the most money for Pennies for Patients. Moseley raised a total of $2,296.07. Way to go, Thunderbirds!

 

Counselors, students and staff from Travis World Language Academy enjoyed a great morning of outdoor activities and great snow cones during the End-of-the-Year Splash Party sponsored by our wonderful art teacher, Ms. Palmatier.

 

Moseley Elementary staff capturing kids' hearts through a friendly, competitive game of dodge ball.

Random acts of kindness

Wonderful Williams students showed kindness to others and won prizes.  Students chose to commit random acts of kindness to others.  As a result, they received kindness unicorns and awesome prizes.  Prizes included bikes, games, gift cards, and money cards.  The contest created many positive vibes around the school.  

GPISD Pride

Fannin Middle School's Rachel's Club members and School Counselor Mrs. Sanders planted a garden for their community service project.

 

Parents at Grand Prairie High School, John Adams Middle School and Young Women's Leadership Academy received a special delivery today. School social workers paid a visit to families to give additional support prior to the end of the school year.

 

Grand Prairie HS graduates Marisol Garcia, Brandon Henry, and Roel Mondragon, and South Grand Prairie HS graduate Deanna Blackburn walked the halls of their former elementary school, De Zavala, on Friday. Led by our Ambassadors, the graduates were greeted with cheers from the students and staff, and had an opportunity to see some of their former teachers. This first-time event was coordinated by De Zavala Counselors Nedin Glover and Evetta McGriff, Grand Prairie HS Lead Counselor Phillip Burks, and South Grand Prairie Senior Class Sponsor Marco Armijo.  Congratulations to all of the graduates.

 

GPISD Counselor News

Florence Hill students applied, interviewed and were selected to be the assistant principal, art teacher and PE teacher for job shadowing. 
 

Middle school students at TWLA experienced a "Journey Around the World" on Passport Day from a variety of speakers from China, Mexico, Algeria, Vietnam, and Pakistan. Counselors and staff members were excited to host such a wonderful event. A very special thank you to Mrs. Manterola for coordinating this very memorable experience for our students.

Job Shadowing

Students at TWLA are excited to participate in the Job Shadowing Experience sponsored by their elementary counselor as they focus on their future careers as counselors, teachers and administrators.

GPCI Senior Breakfast

GPCI "Senior Breakfast" was a success. Scholars were able to eat with friends, family and reflect on their high school experience.  

Kindness is a Superpower!

Congratulations to these Moseley students for winning these awesome prizes for showing random acts of kindness. These students, along with many others, were nominated by teachers when they were caught showing kindness. They were recognized and celebrated during announcements, received kindness unicorns, and their names were entered into a raffle for prizes such as board games, headphones, gift cards, and bikes.

Travis counselors and admin staff encourage their students to use their superpowers to master the STAAR. 

Counseling Services News

Congratulations to these Moseley third graders who will have the opportunity to job shadow the principal, assistant principal, nurse, custodian, and counselor. Moseley's counselor would like to thank all third graders who applied for the job shadowing opportunity and participated in the interview process. 

GPISD social workers give back to the local community. Social workers Ms. Barrett and Mrs. Maxwell-Hedger wanted to share in their passion for reading. They purchased and delivered books to a local nursing home for its residents library. 

Staff and counselors at TWLA celebrate double thinking power for STAAR.

Counselor News

Lee Cleanup

The Kindness Club from Lovely Lee Elementary, along with their counselors and sponsors, helped clean up a few areas around the school for April's Month of Service.

GPFAA Cleanup
The GPFAA Friends of Rachel Club cleaned up around the GP Wetland Preserve and Outdoor Learning Area to help Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful. Thank you to the students, Laura Mungia (counselor), Rich Laffey (Dean of Fine Arts) and Cheryl Golden (At-Risk Counseling Services Facilitator) for helping to organize this event and providing supplies necessary.

Reagan Student of Character
Amacia Horne received the Student of Character award for her school at last night's Board Meeting. Amacia is an Honor Roll student, athlete, and has excellent character and leadership skills. Mom is Felica Horne (Austin).  Godmother is Tonya Womack Campbell (Hobbs Williams).

Jackson Recycles
The Counselors and Rachel's Challenge Club at Jackson are excited to kick off their campus-wide recycling contest. The contest ends next week with their April Day of Service project, where they will join other clubs on campus to pick up trash around Jackson. These Eagles have pride in their nest and want to keep Grand Prairie beautiful!

All Pro Dad's Ice-Cream with Dad
Bonham's school counselor and family engagement specialist hosted "Ice-Cream with Dad." Dads got an opportunity to spend time with their child eating ice-cream while listening to Mrs. Hernandez's presentation on influence.

Counselors at Last Night's School Board Meeting

Counseling director Dana Jackson presented Bullying Prevention Interventions and so much more at last night's Board Meeting. Counselors from elementary, middle, and high schools were in attendance to show the Board all the ways they combat bullying and implement social/emotional counseling components. GPISD counselors remove social/emotional barriers to success, guide students from cradle to career, and promote and advocate for their counseling programs. Woohoo!
Video.

Service & Kindness

Crockett EES students celebrated Earth Day by making bird feeders. Students placed bird feeders in special places throughout our community. Watch a video showing Crockett and other schools participating in April Month of Service. 

Students at De Zavala are still implementing the kindness trait. Counselors Evetta McGriff and Nedin Glover taught kindness lessons a few months ago. Our awesome music teacher Mrs. Tucker continues to encourage students and give out stickers to those who continue to show this trait. Way to go, De Zavala Lions!

Signing Day & Mentoring Program

School counselor Mrs. Swanigan organized GPCI's first Senior Signing Day. All of the seniors will be attending their top university choice. They surpassed their goal this year with $1.9 million in scholarship money. We are so proud of GPCI's first senior class.  More pics...

Counselors at TWLA host another successful Handprints on Hearts celebration.

Putting on Thinking Hats for STAAR.

Counselors and staff at TWLA are promoting Spirit Week to celebrate students and their hard work and upcoming success. Today they are putting on their thinking hats for STAAR.

Counselor News

David Daniels Principal Norman Jones along with the Counselor Mrs. Mays and GT teacher Mrs. Woods reward 4th grade students who were recently inducted into the David Daniels Chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society with free dress passes.

Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy celebrated the class of 2018's accomplishments by having its 2nd Annual Decision Day. The 90 students in the senior class were accepted to over 300 universities and received over $5.3 million in scholarships. Among this graduating class, Joshua Riddick will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and two students, Joshua Hoggard and Zoe Arroyo, will be attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. 

Counselor Tamara Collins would like to thank the Whitt student body and staff for participating in a week-long recycling drive.  All 5th-grade students also served by picking up litter, weeding in the garden or picking up recycling items.

 

Counselors and staff at Travis World Language Academy celebrate students as they encourage and inspire students to do their very best by "putting the STAAR to sleep." As they wear their most comfy pajamas.

Leading & Serving

 

The counselors and Kindness and Compassion Club at TWLA made goodie bags for their wonderful teachers.

Capturing Kids' Hearts Western Theme Career Day was held at Adams Middle School. Members of the community came out to inspire and capture the hearts of students. 

 

Teachers at TWLA were served a delicious breakfast by counselors and the administrative team for Teachers Appreciation Week.

Counselors Making A Difference

The counselor Tonya Womack Campbell at Wonderful Williams helped her students aim for success. Students learned the ins and outs of career preparation. Students learned about careers in schools, how to have a successful handshake, the importance of a clean and fresh smile, dressing for success, and how to introduce themselves. Students shadowed various jobs on the school campus. Students were paid in full at the conclusion of their job shadow experience with Paydays and other prizes.

Moseley's counselor supports fourth graders Josiah Beaver-Lucas and Jaxon Sneed outside of the school environment by attending their baseball game where they walked away victorious.

We Love Our Students!!

Fannin MS students bring about awareness during April Child Abuse Awareness Month by being informed, knowing the importance of standing up and speaking up.

Garcia Elementary's Toros participate in the day of service by cleaning the garden and recycling.

Garcia students in 4th and 5th grade showed courage by interviewing for the opportunity to job shadow the principal.