
FCHS Counseling Newsletter
August Edition #Excellene In All We Do
FAYETTE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Wendy Ricker-9th Grade Counselor Tiger Academy
Rachel Booth-10th-12th Grade Counselor Last Name (A-Ga)
Jen Travis-10th-12th Grade Counselor Last Name (Ge-N)
Maria Mack-10th-12th Grade Counselor Last Name (O-Z)
Sheila Garcia- Student Information Systems Specialist
Maria Cauthen- Records Clerk
Isalia Jones- Graduation Coach
Counseling Department Hours 8:00am-3:45pm
REGISTRAR REMINDER
Progress Reports:
4.5 week Progress Reports will be available for viewing on Thursday September 7. If you have any questions regarding your student's progress in a class, you can communicate with your student's teacher.
Tutorial Schedule:
If students need additional assistance, the 2023 - 2024 FCHS Tutorial Schedule is available here.
Exam Exemption Policy:
Academic Final Exam Exemption:
Each semester, as a reward for academic excellence, a student may choose to exempt up to three final exams (if the student is enrolled in seven classes at the home school) or two final exams (if the student is enrolled in six or fewer classes at the home school) provided the student has a grade of 95 or higher in the selected course(s).
Attendance Exam Exemption:
Each semester, as a reward for exemplary attendance, students may exempt one final exam provided the student has five or less unexcused attendance transactions (including tardy to school) that semester and has a grade of 70 or above in the class he/she wants to exempt.
Senior Final Exam Exemption (SECOND SEMESTER ONLY)
A high school senior who will be graduating at the end of the second semester may exempt the final exam in any course(s) provided the senior has a grade of 80 or higher in that course. A senior may use the Attendance Final Exam Exemption in lieu of the Senior Final Exam Exemption if the student chooses.
For all final exam exemptions:
- If a student qualifies for both general and academic final exam exemptions, the student must choose only one type of exemption (academic or attendance). A student may not combine the two types of exemptions.
- A student may not exempt the first or second semester final exams for courses with an End of Course
- Milestones assessment, AP courses
- Final exams in dual enrollment courses are under the jurisdiction of the post-secondary institution. FCPS final exam exemption
- procedures do not apply to dual enrollment courses.
Upcoming Senior College Planning Events
Attention Seniors!
The Counseling Dept. will be kicking off our s3 (Senior Success Strategies) College/Career Planning series with classroom visits to discuss everything having to do with your college application process. These classroom visits will help you understand platforms that you will be using this year such as Naviance, The Common Application, College Board, Ga Futures etc. We will also discuss the etiquette for requesting letters of recommendation. We will begin the next phase of s3 with your "Individual Senior Planning Meetings" which will take place from Aug. 20th - Oct. 31. Please see the info below for important dates!
9th Tiger Academy
Welcome to Tiger Academy at THE Fayette County High School! We have had a great start to the year. Transitioning from Middle School to High School is significant, but it doesn't have to be stressful. Below are some tips to help make your transition easier.
For students:
Get involved! Join a club, try out for a sport, and get connected to our school social media.
Read your email OFTEN. This is how your counselor, teachers, and administrators will communicate with you.
Check your grades in Infinite Campus. Make this a regular habit.
Keep track of events, assignments, tests, etc in Schoology daily.
Ask for help! You can email your teachers or your counselor when you need support.
For Parents:
Create a parent account for Infinite Campus and Schoology. (Click HERE for instructions.) Be sure to check these resources regularly for your student's progress.
Watch for Infinite Campus emails announcing upcoming events.
Follow fchstigers on Instagram.
The 9th grade school counselor is Mrs. Wendy Ricker. You can contact her at ricker.wendy@fcboe.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Credit Recovery
Credit Recovery Tutoring
Fayette LIFE Academy 8th Period Credit Recovery (2023-2024)
8th Period Credit Recovery students must be full time students at a Fayette County high school. Edgenuity courses may be taken for credit recovery or new credit. A course is described as either an A or B portion. PLEASE NOTE THAT 8TH PERIOD COURSES ARE NOT NCAA APPROVED. Students may only be enrolled in one Edgenuity course at a time. Registration is for specific sessions. See below for deadlines and dates. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fall I 2023
Registration: August 7-17
Classes: August 21-October 3
Fall II 2023
Registration: September 25-October 12
Classes: October 16-December 4
Spring I 2024
Registration: January 3-11
Classes: January 16-March 4
Spring II 2024
Registration: February 26-March 7
Classes: March 11-April 29
Students with initial grades of 50 or higher have 6 weeks to complete Edgenuity credit recovery courses.
Students seeking new credit OR with initial grades of less than 50 have 12 weeks to complete courses. Fall 12 week Edgenuity courses include Fall I and Fall II sessions. Spring 12 week courses include Spring I and Spring II sessions. No course extensions are allowed. Students are encouraged to complete courses faster than 6 or 12 weeks.
Students must maintain green (ahead) or blue (on track) progress status to avoid being dropped from the course. Three consecutive weeks off track may result in removal from courses.
Registration for courses will be held at FLA, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with Mrs. Kathy Brooks. Payments must be cash only. The school counselor and principal need to sign-off on the application and send the student with the signed application to FLA to pay for the course.
Virtual Option: The cost is $50 per .5 course. Virtual students must log in and actively work on courses daily Monday - Friday for a minimum of 60 minutes per day and remain on track. All tests and final exams must be taken onsite at Fayette LIFE Academy.
Onsite Option: The cost is $50 per .5 course. Attendance for each course is Monday through Wednesday 4:30pm to 5:45 pm and is mandatory. Students with more than 4 absences will be dropped from the course with no refund. An absence will be recorded for any student arriving after 5:00. Three tardies will be counted as an absence. All tests and final exams must be taken onsite at Fayette LIFE Academy.
New Credit: The cost is $250 per.5 course. New credit courses require principal approval. All tests and final exams must be taken onsite at Fayette LIFE Academy.
No student shall be in possession of a cell phone or any device which can connect to the internet. Cell phone and internet capable devices must be turned in to the teacher upon arrival and may be picked up at the end of the class period.
Please complete the application and bring it to your counselor so that they can sign it.
Click Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wCQUCF0CiXSv5cPbRxNblYZ_bnCfTWjumT_8OhVNEfs/edit?usp=sharingCollege & Career Readiness
Georgia's HOT Careers information provided by the Georiga Department of Labor
The “Hot Careers” chart focuses on projected careers within Georgia with the most annual openings and highest pay in 2030. The chart highlights the wage estimate, education level, skills and abilities required, and work activities frequently found in these in-demand careers.
On-The-Job Training Careers
The “On-the-Job Training Careers” chart focuses on projected 2030 careers within Georgia that require little to no secondary education but instead focus on apprenticeships and on-the-job training. The chart highlights work activities and skills needed, wage estimates, and average annual openings projected.
View On-The-Job Training Careers Chart
STEM Careers
The “STEM Careers” chart focuses on careers centered around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The chart highlights knowledge required, education needed, wage estimates, and annual openings projected for STEM jobs in Georgia through 2030.
State School Superintendent Advisory Council Application
State School Superintendent Richard Woods seeks students in grades 10-12 to serve on his 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council. These students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom and other education-related issues. They will serve as the Superintendent's ambassadors to their respective schools.
Applicants must be enrolled in a Georgia public high school (including charter schools) for the 2023-2024 school year as a sophomore, junior, or senior. Virtual learning students are still considered enrolled. The Student Advisory Council will meet four times in person during the school year; meeting dates are listed in the application.
“The primary goal of my Student Advisory Council is to provide a voice for students across Georgia to share their perceptions and ideas, and every year, they serve as a valuable resource as I make decisions that impact students across the state," Superintendent Woods said. “I enjoy meeting and learning about each council member. Their feedback, opinions, and perspectives provide insight for me and Georgia Department of Education leadership and staff to make the best possible policy choices."
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Click here for the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council application. Applications must be submitted by September 8, 2023, at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
Students in grades 10-12 enrolled in a public high school (including charter schools and virtual students) are eligible to apply.
Selected students will be contacted via email. All students may visit gadoe.org/studentadvisory on September 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. to determine if they have been selected.
Please note that we typically receive hundreds more applications than we can accept. Not being selected for the Student Advisory Council does not mean the student's application did not meet the qualifications.
Test Registration
ACT/SAT test dates and registration: www.act.org & www.sat.org
Kaplan’s free SAT and ACT Study Guide
Upcoming College Visits
Attention Junior & Seniors!
Explore your future and discover exciting educational opportunities at our upcoming college visits in the Career Center. Learn about their programs, campus life, and more! Don't miss out on this opportunity to plan your path towards success! See you there!
Sign up with Ms. Cauthen in the Counseling Department
2023 Peach State Tour
You are invited to the 2023 Peach State Tour information sessions offered in-person and via Zoom Webinars. These sessions will allow you to learn more about Augusta University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. These events are FREE and open to ALL high school students and their families, but space is limited! Register online today to secure your spot. When registering for a session, please sign up for the session that best suits your location. If you are not a Georgia resident, we recommend attending the out-of-state session to ensure content is most relevant to you.
Please feel free to contact meet@uga.edu if you have any questions regarding these events.
Register: https://apply.uga.edu/portal/peachstate
In-Person Sessions
(All times listed are in Eastern Time)
Gainesville – Tuesday, August 29: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Athens – Thursday, August 31: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Savannah – Tuesday, September 5: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Atlanta – Tuesday, September 5: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Augusta – Thursday, September 7: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Norcross – Tuesday, September 12: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Kennesaw – Thursday, September 14: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Valdosta – Thursday, September 14: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Adairsville – Tuesday, September 19: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Americus – Thursday, September 21: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Blue Ridge – Thursday, September 21: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Newnan – Tuesday, September 26: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Hazlehurst – Tuesday, September 26: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Columbus – Thursday, September 28: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Macon – Thursday, September 28: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Georgia Virtual Sessions
(All times listed are in Eastern Time)
Wednesday, August 30: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 6: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 13: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Out-of-State Virtual Sessions
(All times listed are in Eastern Time)
Wednesday, September 20: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Mental Health Corner
Five Tips to Help Teens Cope with Stress
“More than nine in 10 Generation Z adults (ages 15-21) said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed or sad or lacking interest, motivation or energy,” according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
High school teens spend most of their time attending classes, participating in extracurricular activities and doing homework. There is constant pressure to do everything and do it well to prepare for a successful career or higher education after high school. This can cause a lot of stress.
When they do have time, research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that teens most often turn to media and communications activities, including watching TV, using social media and the internet and calling or texting friends. Although these can be helpful ways to relieve stress, the excessive use of technology can lead to lack of human connection and feelings of loneliness.
Use these tips to take a break from the barrage of constant communication and manage your stress in a healthy way.
- Get some sleep.
Getting enough sleep helps you grow and develop normally, pay attention throughout the day and maintain overall health. For teens, this means about 8-10 hours each night. - Focus on your strengths.
Take some time to think about what you’re good at and ways to do more of those things. By focusing on and building your strengths, you can keep your stressors in perspective. - Do things that make you happy.
Find activities or hobbies that make you happy and incorporate them into your daily life. This might be a physical sport, an artistic outlet or spending time with family and friends. - Engage in physical activity.
Exercise takes our mind off stress and releases chemicals in our brain that make us feel better. This can be anything from a stroll in the park to a bike ride or basketball game with friends. - Talk to someone.
It can be hard to manage stress alone. Talk to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult about your problems and they may be able to help you find new ways to manage your stress.
If you’re still looking for ways to manage your stress, take a Mental Health First Aid course today. teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches high school students about common mental health challenges and what they can do to support their own mental health and help their friends who may be struggling. Right now, eight high schools across the country have trained students in tMHFA. We’re looking forward to expanding to more schools across the country in the coming years. Learn more about this new program, run by the National Council and supported by Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.
Scholarship open to all Grade Levels
The 10 winners will be selected by a panel of judges to each receive a $25,000 scholarship for post-secondary education (college or technical/vocational school), entrepreneurial endeavors, or their commitment to serve in the military or law enforcement.
Students (9th - 12th) can submit their two-minutes video here: https://woobox.com/pgw4uc
Deadline is Friday, August 18 at 9PM Eastern
Winners will be announced in late-September 2023 (shortly after the start of the new school year).
Quest Bridge National College Match Scholarship Program
QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship Program for low-income students.
Are you a low-income high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that the nation’s best colleges are financially out of reach? The QuestBridge National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship.
Click HERE for program information and application details!
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Email: johnson.yolanda@fcboe.org
Website: https://www.fcboe.org/fchs
Location: 1 Tiger Trail, Fayetteville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-460-3540
Twitter: @FCHS_Counselors