​Happy National School Counselor’s Week!
 
This month’s meeting took place at Lancaster Bible College’s Trust Performing Arts Center in the heart of downtown Lancaster. We enjoyed a delicious spread from Panera Bread, contributed by our community partners. A huge thank you goes out to Kevin Gero and Josh Nixon, our local contact, from Universal Technical Institute. Kevin presented on the benefit of a technical education at UTI and provided useful information for school counselors working with students deciding on a career path.
 
Thank you also to Mila Pilz, from Conflict Resolution Services (formerly Lancaster Mediation Center), who shared information about continuing education credits through Bryn Mawr college as well as the mediation services provided by the organization. You can access more information about these services at http://conflictservicespa.org/
 
Additionally, as a wonderful “treat”, Wynne Kinder and Christen Cosia of Wellness Works led us through a mindfulness workshop. By understanding what it means to be mindful and how we can tap into our mindfulness resources, we can achieve less stress and learn how to reset ourselves. More information on Wellness Works can be found at http://www.mindfulyoga.com/programs/index.htm.
 
Announcements from PSCA:

• The 60th Annual PSCA Conference is less than two weeks away! This year’s theme is School Counselors: Leading with Purpose and Passion. Pre-Conference starts on Wednesday, February 17th. The Conference runs from Thursday, February 18th to Saturday, February 20th at the Hershey Lodge.
  • Lancaster County’s own, Mike Resch, will be recognized as Pennsylvania’s School Counselor of the Year. 

 
Announcements from LCSCA:

• The LCSCA board will be seeking new candidates for the President and Treasurer positions. This could be an opportunity for you to take on a new leadership role! Please email Steve Sharp if you are interested in joining the board [email protected] 
• Potential new program for LCSCA members: "Invite, Invest, Inspire", where school counselors will have an opportunity to discuss situations of concern and share resources.  Everything will be confidential – just an opportunity to get ideas and helpful suggestions.  We are inviting you to become invested and inspire each other!   Participation can help meet Domain 4 of the school counselor evaluation and a leadership opportunity for LCSCA Members. Look out in email for more information. 
  *Idea adopted from Central Virginia School Counselors Association
• Millersville University will be hosting a 6 credit graduate course in Switzerland this summer. The topic is the Psychology of Sustainability and Building Resilient Communities. Consider the opportunity for continuing education credits.
• Leadership Summit: Dialogues on Racism Capital Region Thursday, March 10th 2016
  Lancaster-Lebanon Region Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at Millersville University, Student Memorial Center. 5-10 Students from each district invited. 

 
Thank you to all who participated in our February Meeting. The next LCSCA meeting will be held on May 3, 2016 at 8:00am. The meeting will take place at Pathways Center for Grief and Loss. Dr. Latinia M. Shell, LPC, Diversity Works Counseling, LLC will present.
See you all again in warmer weather!

- Janet Henninger, School Counseling Graduate Student 

It was great to see everyone at Millersville University for the December Meeting. Thank you to Millersville for providing the dinner and the warm welcome given by the Admissions Director, Katy Ferrier. After dinner we had a few announcements and  a presentation from Matt Wintersteen, PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative.  If you were not able to make the meeting, I highly recommend that you review the training videos available from PAYSPI online at http://payspi.org/news-and-events/gls/schools/act71/, located on the bottom of the ACT 71 page. 
Announcements from PSCA: 

• If you renew or join ASCA before January 31st, you will receive a free "School Counselor, not Guidance" t-shirt from ASCA. Even if you are a summer renewal cycle, renewal now will count next year.  
• PSCA Conference rates will go up after December 30th. Register now! 

 Announcements from LCSCA

• Leadership Summit: Dialogues on Racism will be in Lancaster County on April 7th, 2016 at Millersville University open to all IU 13 schools to send 10 students from their district. There will also be a Capital Region Leadership Summit: Dialogues on Racism on March 10th, 2016 at Penn State Harrisburg. 

Thank you for those who could attend this month! Below is the powerpoint from the presentation. 
Happy Holidays!    
                - Dana Wile

We had a great time at our February Meeting.  In celebration of National School Counselors Week, attendees indulged in refreshments, could received a hand massage from local wellness center, and participated in the ASCA photo challenge #NSCW15. 

The Lancaster County School Counselors Association in conjunction with the Lebanon County School Counselors Association will be hosting a virtual book club on using data in our School Counseling Programs.  The format of the book club is designed to accommodate our busy schedules as counselors by having each participant choose a chapter lead discussion on so that we are all leaders in our own learning experience. 

The Use of Data in School Counseling: Hatching Results for Students, Programs, and the Profession 
by Patricia (Trish) A. Hatch ISBN-13: 978-1452290256
Book Price is about $35
Link to purchase through amazon: http://amzn.com/1452290253

We will utilize the online book club, my-bookclub.com ( http://www.my-bookclub.com/bookclub/school-counselors-book-club/ ) for our group text chats.
The first session of the book study begins at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 5th. It will run every Thursday at 7:30pm until May 7th.  

If you are interested in joining the book club, please create an account at My-bookclub.com and join the 'school counselors book club'. Please peruse the book prior to the 27th so you have an idea of which chapter you might want to lead. 

Tuesday, January 27th Agenda:

• Introductions
• Participants choose chapters to present
• Discuss date for following virtual meetings