School Counselor Update

Counselors have been busy this month meeting with students to complete registration forms for the 2023-2024 school year. We are still catching up with some students who had to be rescheduled for a variety of reasons- this will not negatively impact their chances for getting those classes.

Please be sure signed forms get turned in by the deadline written on your child's form. All students who turn in their signed form by the deadline will get a random priority number for scheduling. If forms are turned in late then they will be moved to the end of their grade level.

Next steps include: tally course request numbers, making staffing decisions and building next year's schedules. Students will receive their courses this summer. Current juniors will meet with school counselors one-on-one to finalize senior schedules in April or May. It's important that juniors research potential college admission requirements so we can ensure they will be enrolled in needed courses.

There are lots of opportunities for students to get money to help pay for college. Applications are available in the School Counselors office. FTT/Homeroom is a great time to pop in and see what's available.

It is the STUDENT'S responsibility to research scholarships they are eligible for and complete the applications on time.

Use this link to find the scholarship database:

https://sites.google.com/highlandcusd5.org/hhs-school-counselors/scholarships

https://ilcis.intocareers.org is a great website to start your career and college search.

1. Select the IL Resident Folder on the bottom right

2. Click "CIS HS/COLLEGE"

2. Enter your city and zipcode under IL residents

3. Hover over the "Assessments" folder and use any of the tools under "how do my interests relate to occupations" on the right hand side

There are a lot of fun tools including a reality check and skills inventories available on this website.

Class of 2024- Start researching college options so you are ready to apply at the beginning of your senior year.

Current Juniors will be participating in the IL State Funded SAT test in April. This is a graduation requirement and will be given at HHS during the school day. Students may utilize Khan Academy for test prep. Colleges will accept SAT scores from this test date as part of your college application.

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat

Freshman and Sophomores will be participating in the IL State Funded PSAT (practice SAT test) in April. Students may wish to utilize Khan Academy for additional study prep.

Seniors- Don't forget the FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid is required for graduation.

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Contact our ISAC rep for help: https://sites.google.com/highlandcusd5.org/hhs-school-counselors/financial-aid

Students currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement Course may choose to take the exam given in May.

Check out https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies for more info about scores and how they transfer to different colleges and universities.

Students may want to consider taking the ACT on a National Test date. They must sign up for a National Test date so scores are ready when students apply for college their senior year. For testing dates, registration deadlines, more information and to sign up visit http://www.actstudent.org

If you can't afford the registration fee for the ACT or ACT with writing, you may be eligible for an ACT fee waiver. See your school counselor for additional information.

Link for Local College Admission Reps: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LpK0ypqleTs77ZDfMkx_9g-_U_vRVJRfv8SGpji4vsQ/present?slide=id.p

Trades and Technical Education info: https://sites.google.com/highlandcusd5.org/hhs-school-counselors/collegecareer/the-trades

Career info: https://sites.google.com/highlandcusd5.org/hhs-school-counselors/collegecareer/career-clusters

Students interested in participating in SWIC Running Start program for the 2023-2024 School Year- please let Mrs. Jackson know by March 1st. You are required to complete your ACCUPLACER testing by March 1st at SWIC.

Highland Juniors and Seniors interested in starting their college experience early may participate in SWIC's Running Start Program. Students must meet placement test requirements, have successfully completed Algebra 2, and earned a cumulative GPA of 4.2. More info about the program: http://www.swic.edu/running-start/

National School Counseling Week is Feb. 6-10, 2023

Thanks to all the parents, staff and administration for supporting us and our efforts to build a comprehensive program.

Mrs. Amber Spaeth- last names A-G

Mrs. Mary Jackson- last names H-M

Mrs. Carrie Lieberman- last names N-Z

Website: https://sites.google.com/highlandcusd5.org/hhs-school-counselors
Location: 12760 Troxler Ave, Highland, IL, United States
Phone: 618-654-7131