Want to attend the 2009 ASCA Annual Conference in Dallas, June 28-July 1 but can't pay the registration fee? ASCA and Naviance, the leading provider of online tools for designing and implementing comprehensive school counseling programs, are proud to announce the availability of 100 grants to attend the 2009 ASCA Annual Conference, the finest school counseling professional development in the world. Grant recipients will receive complimentary registration to the conference. Deadline for application: Jan. 15, 2009. Online registration for the conference opens Jan. 2, 2009.

Just how do Facebook and MySpace affect college applications? And what about the new Common Application? Should you encourage your students to use it? This month's ASCAway podcast, "Trends in College Admissions," an interview with Bob Bardwell, ASCA secondary level vice president, serves as a companion piece to Bardwell's article in the most recent ASCA School Counselor magazine.

Recent discussions on the SCENE include:
· National Board Professional Teaching Standards school counseling certification - tips for completing your portfolio
· Advantages of the NCSC certification
· Elementary-level lessons on friendship
· Scholarship opportunities
· Dealing with "cutters"

Not a member of the SCENE yet? Join today for access to file sharing, discussion groups, upcoming events and more.

President-elect Obama has announced that Arne Duncan, the current superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, is his pick to be the next secretary of education. The position requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate before Duncan is allowed to serve. Duncan, 44, has been superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools, the country's third-largest school district, since 2001. He is seen as an aggressive education reformer who has done impressive work with underperforming schools, while maintaining positive relationships with the teachers union and the community. Read ASCA executive director Richard Wong's blog post about the appointment. (Note, if you aren't already a SCENE member, you'll need to join before reading the blog.)

Don't let National School Counseling Week, Feb. 2-6, 2009, sneak up on you. Start planning your activities now. Order your National School Counseling Week kit today. The 2009 National School Counseling Week kit contains a poster, stickers, pencils, doorhanger, certificate of appreciate, proclamation and a countdown calendar.
New this year we've also include a CD with electronic copies of the certificate of appreciation and proclamation, sample press release in Word, morning announcements in Word, links to online resources for promoting your program and a PDF copy of "School Counselor Resource Series: PR and Advocacy." Learn more. Kits are $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers.

No Name Calling Week: ASCA is once again a partner in No Name-Calling Week. NNCW was inspired by the young adult novel "The Misfits" created by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, This year, No Name-Calling Week is Jan. 26-30, 2009. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities. Get resources and information.

Consider Job Corps: Are some of your students not quite ready for college or lacking the resources to enroll in a technical school? Job Corps can help. Job Corps is a federal program allowing students to finish high school, prepare for college or technical school or receive certification in a technical trade. And best of all, it's free for those who are eligible. Job Corps is the nation's largest career technical training and education program for students ages 16 through 24. A voluntary program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps provides income-eligible young men and women with an opportunity to gain the experience they need to begin a career or advance to higher education. Learn more.

How Does Your School Compare? The National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research recently launched a new Web-based map comparing high school graduation requirements and minimum state university entrance requirements for all states and the District of Columbia. The online database includes 51 profiles with state-specific high school graduation requisites in English, mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, art and electives. The site compares the data points with state university entrance requirements and profiles national high school improvement initiatives.

Learn About Males and Eating Disorders: The National Association for Males with Eating Disorders Inc. (N.A.M.E.D.) is dedicated to offering support to and public awareness about males with eating disorders. Visit N.A.M.E.D. or request brochures Chris at Chris@NAMEDinc.org.

Scholarships for Students with Parents in Financial Services: Each year, the Gordon A. Rich Memorial Foundation awards college scholarships worth $50,000 over four years to five students whose parents or guardians work in the financial services industry. The foundation has recently expanded its criteria to encompass students whose parents or guardians have, or had, a career in finance. The foundation is now accepting applications from high school seniors for grants beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year. The need-based scholarship supports the higher education goals of five students each year who are awarded $12,500/year for four years. Scholars must demonstrate high academic achievement, integrity of character, potential leadership and financial need. The application deadline is Feb. 28, 2009. More info.

Help Teens and Parents: Want to help parents of teens in your school system? Offer them ParentingTeensOnline, a free resource. ParentingTeensOnline is a monthly publication that offers cutting-edge information on all topics you discuss with parents, from risk-taking behaviors to family relationships and more. This month, check out "Stress Management to help Teens Cope." Or sign up for a free subscription.