The Weekly Update
In This Week's Newsletter
- 📢Placing Value in CTE
- DOL: Streamlining Registered Apprenticeships
- Extracurriculars and College Applications 🎷🏈🏆⛳
- 💰💰The new FAFSA
- MSU Adulting 101 Classes
- Factory Two January calendar
- Xello for Families & Xello for Students
- Positivity Project- OPTIMISM
- Scholarship Information & Opportunities 💸🎓
- Employment/Volunteer Opportunities
- Useful Links
- Simon Says...
- Past Newsletters
Placing Value in Career & Technical Education
Dive Brief:
For students who don’t see college as their best pathway, career and technical education opportunities can offer training that allows them access to competitive, potentially higher-paying positions right after high school.
The Virginia Board of Education, for example, recently adopted new state CTE requirements that give more flexibility to districts by allowing them to defer to state standards over national ones.
“Over the past 5 to 10 years, we’ve seen tremendous interest in CTE programs,” Alisha Hyslop, chief policy, research, and content officer for the Association for Career & Technical Education, said of state legislatures’ prioritizing of these opportunities.
DOL: Strengthen & Streamline Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule Dec. 14 that seeks to modernize the registered apprenticeship program. The rule intends to strengthen labor standards and worker protections as well as better promote apprenticeship pathways, among other things.
- The rule also includes a program called the “registered career and technical education apprenticeship” that is designed to make it “more seamless” for full-time high school and community college students to enroll in the apprenticeship system.
- “Equity and job quality have marked the most successful Registered Apprenticeship programs for workers and employers alike. This proposed rule codifies the Department of Labor’s strong commitment to these principles,” Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su said in a statement. “Importantly, the proposed changes will also provide strong worker protections, improved employer experiences and greater clarity about the roles of federal and state governments and their partners in the National Apprenticeship System.”
Extracurriculars and College Applications
Sports, clubs, and other out-of-school activities can be important factors in college admissions. What do colleges want to see? We asked NoVA experts.
The Northern Virginia area is well-known for having great school systems, and that means a lot of competition when it comes to college applications. On top of academic endeavors, ambitious high school students join sports teams, student councils, art and special interest clubs, and pour hours of their time into volunteering throughout the community, in part to stand out on college applications.
But what do colleges really want to see when it comes to extracurriculars?
Ultimately, these activities are a way for colleges to gain a holistic understanding of each applicant. Click here to read more!
The 2024 FAFSA is ready!
We’ve been waiting for the “new and improved” Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a long time and it’s officially been released within the last two weeks.
Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for need-based aid, there is no downside to filling out the form. And you just may be surprised with a gift of aid. I strongly recommend that all my high school senior families complete the FAFSA form. I also strongly encourage families to check out each college’s Net Price Calculator – required by law to be available on every college’s website. Go to the search box on any college’s homepage and type “Net Price Calculator” into the Search Box and you’ll be taken to that college’s specific form.
Click here to learn more about what's new with the 2024 FAFSA.
What Can I Add to My Xello Profile?
Xello provides students with a platform to save all sorts of information. From winning a competition to researching a career field or college, and to saving important research paper, Xello offers students the opportunity to save all of the important events, memories, and assignments in one place.
- Did you have a job over the summer? Add it to your Xello profile!
- Are applying for colleges? Apprenticeships or trade schools? Check out the resources in the Xello program (and addit to your profile!).
- Have you completed a class assignment that you're particularly proud of? Add it your Xello profile!
- Thinking about a certain career field but want to know more? Check out career fields in depth in the Xello program!
- Xello is an amazing resource that contains LOTS of information for career & college readiness- CHECK IT OUT!
Positivity Project- OPTIMISM
Optimism represents a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future-oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. Despite setbacks, they keep a positive attitude and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieving their goals.
Optimism is not about wearing rose-colored glasses and rolling over when the going gets tough. It’s about staying focused on the good in any situation -- allowing you to be aware of opportunities and accountable for your emotions. Optimists are strong leaders. They find meaning in hardship and can create a vision for the future. Optimists are inspiring; their example is contagious. And, by sharing and achieving their vision -- despite setbacks -- they help us all achieve more.
See Mrs. Grady in the Counseling Office for More Information
- Sovita Credit Union-customer service member (drop off a copy of your resume to Mrs. Grady in the counseling office to apply)
- Local childcare center is looking for individuals interested in working with children
- Lucky's Steakhouse- host, bussing, to-go staff needed (paid hourly + tips)
- Visiting Angels (click on the flyer below)
- Creative Foam Products- light assembly work, 2 to 4 hour shifts available
