STM Counselors
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Welcome
The Rapid City Catholic School System is home to three counselors. The counseling department is responsible for testing, mental health services, scholarship opportunities, and the safe environment program. Feel free to contact us with your questions:
Robert Aberle, Head of Guidance:
raberle@rccss.net
Pam Fritz, Senior advisor:
pfritz@rccss.net
Steph Strand, Counselor/records secretary:
sstrand@rccss.net
Robert and Steph are both available for counseling K-12. Robert has his primary office at SES and Steph at STM. Pam's office is at STM.
Opportunity with RC Fire Department
The Rapid City Fire Department is hosting a High School Fire Ops 101 program this fall. Dates for the program are October 28, November 5 and November 12. The program is for High School students age 16 and older who may have an interest in pursuing a career in Fire and Emergency Services. The application deadline is at 4 pm October 21. If you would like more information please see Mrs. Strand.
Student Opportunities
SCRUBS camp that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at Western Dakota Tech has been rescheduled to Friday, March 30, 2012 due to the conflict with PSAT testing. Students can register to attend by clicking on the following link: www.scrubscamps.sd.gov/Pages/RapidCity.html
Seniors will also have an opportunity to attend the 2012 Summer University Program at Crazy Horse Memorial and earn college credit through June 9th to August 8th . Applications available with Ms. Fritz and deadline is Mar.1.
A one-day workshop for 9th to 12th grade girls will be the Ready SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) program that will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19th. A $10 fee will hold your spot for a dynamic program on the campus of SDSU in Brookings. Applications will be available from science and math teachers or Ms. Fritz. More information at the website:
http://www3.sdstate.edu/engr/camps/ready-set-go.cfm
Test Dates 2011-12
PSAT: Wednesday, October 2, (total testing time 3 hours)
10th and 11th
PLAN: Tuesday, November 16
10th
SAT 10: January 2011
5, 8, and 11
Stanford Writing Assessment: 1 test per semester
Grades 5, 7, and 10 All completed online
Dakota Step: April 2-20
3-8 and 11
Otis-Lennon Student Ability Test: With Dakota Step
3, 6, and 11
Love and Logic Parenting Classes
Steph or Robert would be happy to discuss individual issues with parents on an as needed basis. Stop by or give us a call to arrange an appointment.
SADD Newsletter
Students Against Destructive Decisions
(SADD)
SADD’s Mission: To provide students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving and other destructive decisions.
Originally, the mission of the SADD chapter was to help young people say “No” to drinking and driving. Today, the mission has expanded. Students have told us that positive peer pressure, role modeling and environmental strategies can prevent other destructive decisions and set a healthier, safer course for their lives. And that is why SADD has become a peer-to-peer education, prevention, activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, teen violence, and teen suicide.
SADD is an inclusive, not an exclusive, organization. SADD recognizes that the pressure on young people to drink, use illicit drugs and engages in other unhealthy behaviors. SADD seeks not to punish or alienate those students who make unfortunate choices but rather aims to inform, educate, support and empower young people to make positive decisions in their lives.
Did You Know:
- Teen car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for American teens.
-Teen driver crash rates rise when teen passengers are in the car, putting both drivers and passengers at risk.
-Speeding is a major contributor to teen crash fatalities.
-Alcohol is involved in about 16% of fatal crashes involving 16 and 17-year-old drivers.
-The effects of fatigue on drivers are similar to the effects of drinking and driving.
-A driver who talks on the phone is four times more likely to get into a serious crash, regardless of whether the driver uses a hands-free device.
-Two-thirds of teen occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
-Simple driver error is a factor in two-thirds of fatal teen crashes.
SADD Presents 10 Ways Parents Can Help Teens Be Safe Drivers
1. Supervise driving practice (at least 50 hours before your teen gets a license) on varying roads and in different weather conditions. Help your teen learn how to quickly react to hazards in the road, such as pedestrians.
2. Gradually increase driving privileges during your teen’s first year of licensure as he or she gains driving experience and skills.
3. Insist on no driving while intoxicated for fatigued. Drowsy driving is as risky as drinking and driving.
4. Make seatbelts the rule. Remind your teen that riders also must buckle up.
5. Be firm about no distractions—especially no talking or texting on cell phone while driving.
6. For the first year, limit nighttime driving. Also keep driving in poor weather conditions and on poor roads to a minimum.
7. In the first year of licensure, allow only one teen passenger at a time, unless an adult is present. The risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to how many teens are in the vehicle.
8. Write up an agreement you and your teen both sign, with clear rules for driving and consequences if the rules are broken.
9. Insist that all traffic laws be obeyed, especially speed limits. Speeding is a major cause of teen driver fatalities.
10. Set a good example by always driving safe.