Counseling Corner – February 2010

Whew! What a crazy January – ended first semester with multiple schedule changes and started second semester with a minimum of changes. It was great to visit with many students to plan the rest of the year – but counselors should be meeting with many more… call to set up an appointment.  The Second Semester Timeline is being developed and will be posted to the actual website in short order – maybe by the time you get this newsletter.  Below are the things you should plan on:

All Students – be sure you are taking the right classes and plan to take summer school to make up for any failed classes from first (or second) semester. If you short of credits from last year, plan on summer school also. All students should be utilizing Naviance at www.dphs.org , click on Students; click on Naviance link – their code is their six digit student ID. They need an active website address. This information was on the back of their schedule they received the first day of school. This is a powerful website. If your student is not a legal resident of California, but will have attended California schools at least three years by graduation, please attend the AB540 Conference at SBHS Cafeteria from 6:30-8:30.

Seniors – Use Naviance. It will be a required part of the check-out system for end of the year. They need to list their post high school plans minimally, but can also use the Resume Builder, financial aide, scholarship and college search and application process. Seniors must be sure to pass all required classes and the correct amount of credits. SBCC application process will begin on March 5 and Senior Parent Night is March 3. Don’t get senioritis. There’s a Family Financial Aid Night at SMHS on February 10 from 6:00-8:00 in their cafeteria – we encourage families to get their FAFSA done by February 15 if possible, although March 2 is the deadline. Get those taxes done ASAP to help with this process. Read your students’ packet they got in their government/econ class.

Juniors – they should have picked up the PSAT results and be using them to study for the March and May SAT tests if college bound. February 4 is the deadline for the March 13 SAT test. March 5 is deadline for April ACT. Do this right away – spaces fill up fast. Naviance Online Test Prep is awesome – and it’s FREE. Same online test prep elsewhere would normally cost $500. There’s a 5 hour ACT test prep on campus through R-Mass for $89 on April 5 & 6 – get you ready for April 10 ACT – look for mailers. Subject Exams (1 hour in length) are required by UC’s and most privates. This should be done on June 6. AP’s are coming up in May.  Juniors will also need to do their best in grades for college purposes also – D’s don’t count for college.  In order to stay in work ed you must maintain a 2.0 GPA – activities require it too!

Sophomores – Your grades count for college for first time…be sure your second semester grades are even better than first semester. If you are interested in IB (International Baccalaureate Program), go to the lunch Meeting on Feb 10 in H-30; Parent Meeting on February 17 at 6:30 in Library. If you took the PSAT, use it and Naviance to study. Be ready to take your first Subject exam in June if you are enrolled in AP World History; chemistry, biology or Pre-Calculus. Make a one hour meeting with your counselor and parent. Use Naviance for college and career search.

Freshmen –  you must be sure your grades are good as well as attendance. If you failed a first semester class, plan on summer school. Be sure to talk with teachers, counselor and parents if you need help with classes – if you say nothing, you will get nothing in return! Keep using your agenda and keep track of all dates. Tryout deadlines for sports is important. Remember, you must have a 2.0 GPA to qualify for sports and activities.