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HPHS COUNSELING
School year 2022-23: Semester 2 | Quarter 3
HELLO SPRING!
This is the third of your counseling newsletters for the 2022-23 school year which will contain pertinent counseling related information. The newsletters can also be found on the Counseling website under the Newsletter tab. Please take a moment to read through the information below.
Letter of Recommendation Meetings for Juniors
All students must meet with their counselor before a recommendation can be written. Prior to this meeting students must complete the Student Questionnaire so that its contents can be discussed during the meeting. There is also an optional Parent Questionnaire. Both forms are accessible as a Google Form. A Spanish version of the Parent Questionnaire is also available. All recommendation forms can be accessed on the Postsecondary Counseling website under Information for Seniors.
Recognizing the importance of the counselor recommendation, it is crucial that the counselor appointment be scheduled a minimum of 15 school days prior to the student’s first application deadline. A recommendation will not be written without the completed student questionnaire and counselor meeting.
Similarly, the time to approach your teacher for a recommendation is approaching. Here are some things to consider for Teacher Recommendations:
Many colleges do not require any teacher recommendations
Most colleges that require a teacher recommendation just need 1
More selective colleges will require 2
More is not necessarily better
Typically required from teachers of academic classes
Preferably from junior year
Teachers who know you as a learner
Usually talk with teachers about recommendations after Spring Break
Most teachers have a process; Know it!
Save your work, so you can refer back to it when completing the student questionnaire required by teachers
Junior Postsecondary Planning Meetings
Attention all juniors! Registration for Postsecondary Counseling appointments for the Class of 2024 opened on Jan. 11th. Initial meetings are 55 minutes in length. Students and families can also have follow-up appointments later in the semester and during senior year. Parents are encouraged to attend.
First step is to find out your assigned Postsecondary Counselor (PSC). To access this information, log in to your MaiaLearning account and click the small “person” icon at the top of the page. There you will find the name of your School Counselor and your PSC. Register for an appointment with the identified PSC: Morrison, Pendergast or Siegel. All students are registered with MaiaLearning through their school email address. Simply click on the Sign in with Google option.
Once you have identified your PSC go to the HPHS Home Page and under the Counseling tab select Postsecondary Counseling to access our homepage. On the right hand side of the page, you will find the name of your PSC under Contacts. Click on their name to access their page where you can schedule an appointment through Calendly.
Course Registration Recap
National Month of Hope
April marks the National Month of Hope, a celebration of the power of hope and helping others see hope on the horizon. With flowers beginning to bloom, the air warming, and the snow melting, we are reminded by nature that hope is an integral part of life. While we look for hope in nature, we can also help bring hope to our families, friends, and communities. Here's how:
- Give your time to support a cause you believe in that helps your community such as organizing a fundraiser or volunteering at a soup kitchen
- Check in with your family members, even if they are located far away, and share gratitude with them
- Share words of hope on social media that are personally inspiring to you and might invoke hope and inspiration in others, whether it is a personal story of overcoming something difficult or an image that sparked hope for you
- Take care of your environment by cleaning up litter, starting a garden, helping your neighbor tend to their lawn, or getting involved with community environmental groups
Help spread hope throughout National Hope Month! You never know who might need an extra ray of hope to keep going.
References:
SAT and PSAT Administration
Looking for free SAT practice? Visit Khan Academy here for official SAT study resources.
FOCUS ON THE ARTS 2023
If you're a student at Highland Park High School, FOCUS is a rare opportunity to see performers and take workshops with professionals in all aspects of the arts. Take an acting class with the casting director of a renowned theatre company, listen to a local television sportscaster talk about his career, or dance with members of a world class dance company. There are writing workshops, music demonstrations, arts classes in every imaginable medium and experts in architecture, film and a myriad of arts careers.
If you're a parent of a student at Highland Park High School, FOCUS can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for your child to discover a new interest or to further develop a current passion for the arts. And you are welcome to partake as well. Attend the special nightly performances and displays of Music, Dance and Art. There are many opportunities to volunteer, as well. Share the Focus experience with your student.
If you're an artist, FOCUS can be an opportunity to expand your audience and inspire the next crop of artists. For alumni artists, it's a unique chance to return home and share your gifts and success.
If you're a member of the community, FOCUS is a world class festival of arts happening right in your neighborhood. And we are grateful to our community volunteers for their time, talent and donations.
If you would like to be involved with FOCUS, click here. If you are able to donate to FOCUS, click here.
2023 Summer School Information
The 2023 Summer School Brochure is now live! You can access the brochure here. A variety of courses will be offered including academic year courses, recovery courses, enrichment courses, and enrichment workshops. Online registration is now open, and it is first come, first serve. Registration will close on May 31st.
Summer School First Semester: June 12th- June 29th
Summer School Second Semester: July 5th- July 25th
Any questions regarding summer school can be directed to your counselor.
IMPORTANT DATES
April 7th: Good Friday (no school)
April 12th: SAT/PSAT for grades 9,10, &11. No school for seniors
April 18th: Genocide Commemoration Day
April 17th-20th: Focus on the Arts
May 15th: Last day for Seniors & Senior Send Off
May 23rd: Class of 2023 Graduation at Ravinia
May 29th: Memorial Day (no school)
May 30th-June 2nd: Final Summative Assessment Week