It's hard to believe 2024 and first semester are winding down! We hope each of you has a wonderful end to the semester and enjoy ringing in a new year!

Finals are coming!! The end of the semester is quickly approaching. The final exam schedule can be found here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/13902

Semester 2 begins on Tuesday, January 7th.

CCSD Night School Registration opens December 9th. Registration for Night School Semester 2 will be open from Monday, December 9th-Friday, January 17, 2025 at 4:00pm. Night School is a great opportunity for credit recovery for a fee of $50 ($25 for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch). Fees are refunded upon completion/passing the class. Transportation will be provided to and from homeschools. Contact your students' counselor for course offerings and to register for a class.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now open!

• Visit the FAFSA WEBSITE to begin the application process.
• Need help filling out the FAFSA? Save the Date: FAFSA Workshop, January 13th @ GHS (Reservations required). Sign up at : GHS Post Grad: FAFSA SIGN UP 2025

Letters of Recommendation: Students MUST give teachers at least 10 school days notice before a letter of recommendation is due. Teacher letters are due two weeks prior to transcript request deadlines. We have a four step process for ensuring that letters of recommendation are completed correctly.

• Step 1- Student completes Teacher/Counselor Conversation Starter in Naviance. Students should waive rights to see letters of recommendation. Print off the survey once it is completed. (About Me > Survey > Surveys From Your School)
• Step 2- Student schedules time to meet with teacher/counselor and go over the request. Print out and deliver survey from Step 1.
• Step 3- Student confirms with TEACHER that the letter has been written and uploaded in Naviance.
• Step 4- Once Teacher Letters of Recommendation are uploaded to Naviance by the teacher, students can submit the Transcript Request Form to the post grad office. Transcripts must be requested two weeks prior to application deadlines. (Be aware of Winter Break. We DO NOT work during school breaks).

Transcript Deadlines: Transcript request forms MUST be submitted to Ms. Wilson in the post grad center no later than 10 school days/2 weeks prior to the College/University deadline. Pay attention to school breaks as we do not work during these times!

Seniors: The college application and post-secondary planning process continues!

• Students should know how to request official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and understand the college application process. This presentation can be found on Schoology (under Materials).
• Students should continue to work with their counselors to get support in meeting their graduation and post-secondary goals.
• Applications for the RECCS Scholarships, sponsored by retired employees of Cherry Creek Schools, opens on 12/16 and closes on 2/19/25 by 5:00pm. Application must be completed online at https://www.reccs.org/scholarships.

Juniors: Counselors visited US History classes on 11/18 and 11/19. This presentation can be found on Schoology (under Materials). Juniors should be researching post-secondary options! The main seminar task that juniors will be working on for the remainder of the school year is exploring a variety of career, college, and/or military options.

Sophomores: Sophomores should continue to explore career and post grad options as they work on their seminar tasks in Naviance.

Freshmen: Freshmen should continue to work on their seminar tasks in Naviance and four-year course planning.

• Save the Date: CCSD will be hosting a college fair for students interested in HSI, HBCU, NASNTI Colleges March 6th at 6:30pm hosted by Smoky Hill HS - This is a college fair for students and parents interested in researching Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Native American - Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI).

• Interested in a Free Year of College Tuition?

  Colorado has two programs in which students can qualify for a free year (or two) of college tuition at participating institutions. Expenses covered include tuition, books and fees (Housing is not covered)

  Participating colleges include (student must attend one of these colleges immediately following high school): All community colleges in Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Northern Colorado.

  How to qualify:

  For ASCENT (1st year of college tuition free), students must complete 9 college credits before high school graduation. These credits can come from Concurrent Enrollment classes taken at Grandview/CCIC with a grade of C or higher or AP courses taken prior to Senior year with a passing test score. Most Concurrent Enrollment classes and AP tests count for 3 college credits so this equates to 3 classes taken in high school. Students must also meet minimum test scores on SAT or ACT to be college ready.

  
  

  For TREP (2 years of college tuition free), students must want to major in something in the education field (teacher, school counselor, school psychologist, etc) and must take 1 concurrent enrollment class during their senior year from the approved list.

  
  

  
  

  If you are a senior and think you may qualify, make an appointment to talk to your counselor. For 9th-11th graders, keep this in mind when signing up for classes so that you get the required 9 credits and feel free to see your counselor for questions!

Grandview offers academic support in all core areas. Please see the attached schedule.

If you have questions or concerns about any of your child's grades or courses, please reach out to the teacher directly via email. You can easily access teacher emails by clicking on the teacher's name in Powerschool. You can also access the staff directory here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/domain/2404