Counselor Connections Newsletter

Newsletter from the MSM Counseling & Wellness Department

January 8, 2025

Calendar📆

Jan. 10 - Dress Down - Model UN
Jan. 15 - Spirit Wear
Jan 20 - No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Jan 24. - Dress Down - SASI
Jan. 24 - End of 2nd Quarter
Jan. 27 - 3rd Quarter Begins
Jan. 29 - No School for Students
Jan. 31 - Dress Down - NHS

📝 A Message From Our Counselors

University at Buffalo School of Law Field Trip Opportunity

Mrs. Shepard & Ms. Osborne are hosting a field trip to the University at Buffalo School of Law on Wednesday, February 5th from 9:30am - 12:30pm. This trip is open to any interested sophomore, junior, or senior. This field trip includes a tour of the law school and a Q&A session with law faculty and admissions officers. Interested students can sign up using the form in Google Classroom. Students must also pick up a permission form outside of Guidance and return to Mrs. Adam no later than Thursday, January 30th. Please note that space is limited. Any questions regarding this field trip can be directed to Kelli Shepard at kshepard@msmacademy.org.

Senior Seminar

This month in Senior Seminar, we are excited to host guest speaker and alumna Melinda Janik '74, who will discuss financial literacy across two sessions. In Session 1, she will focus on Credit Scores and Loan Applications, while Session 2 will cover Building Your Financial Strength and Budgeting. We are grateful for the chance to welcome Melinda to engage with the Class of 2025, answer questions, and share valuable insights into the realm of finance!

Quarter 2 Report Cards

Report cards will be available to view on your Blackbaud account on Wednesday, January 29th. If you have a concern about a grade, we encourage you to reach out directly to the teacher directly.

Per the MSM Handbook, a student who receives a grade average below a 65 in two or more classes at either progress report or quarter close will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics until the next grade checkpoint (about every five weeks). A student may regain their eligibility after two weeks if they chose to participate in eligibility reinstatement. It is the student’s sole responsibility to complete all requirements of eligibility reinstatement. Failure to complete any of the requirements will result in a student remaining ineligible until the next checkpoint.

Ms. Osborne's College & Career Corner🎓

FAFSA Reminder

This is a friendly reminder that the 2025-2026 FAFSA launched in December. Seniors are strongly encouraged to complete this form. MSM must obtain verification from parents or guardians of seniors that the student either:

Completes the FAFSA or DREAM Act application; OR
Submits a Waiver Form to the counseling office, indicating an understanding of the FAFSA/DREAM Act and the choice not to file.

Please contact the counseling office if you have any questions about FAFSA!

Acceptances, Scholarships, Grants & Awards

Dear Class of 2025,

To help the Mount St. Mary Counseling Department collect the most accurate scholarship data,

we kindly ask every senior to upload their acceptance, scholarship, grant and award information offered by colleges/universities. Remember, this information is confidential and will only be viewed by the Counseling Department. Don’t forget, you’ll need to fill out a form (found below) for each school! 🎓✨

If you have any questions, please see Ms. Osborne!

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24-25 State & Local Scholarships

State & local scholarships are sent to the counseling office throughout the school year. Students and families should regularly check the Google Sheet to see scholarships that are available. Be sure to read scholarship requirements and deadlines carefully. Don't forget, you must report all scholarships earned to your schools respective Financial Aid Office.

Counseling & Wellness Staff

Kelli Shepard - School Counselor, Grades 9 & 10 - kshepard@msmacademy.org

Julia Grant-Rooney - School Counselor, Grades 11 & 12 - jgrant@msmacademy.org
Jessica Gertz - School Social Worker - jbliss@msmacademy.org
Jordan Osborne - College & Career Associate - josborne@msmacademy.org

Mount St. Mary Academy

Mount St. Mary Academy, founded by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, is a Catholic, private, college preparatory school for young women. Within a nurturing and academically challenging and inclusive environment, the Academy strives to develop the whole person’s gifts and potential. Guided by our Catholic tradition, and rooted in Gospel values, we empower scholars to be leaders dedicated to lifelong learning, moral integrity, social justice, and service to and inclusion of others.

We Believe in You!

Website: msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
Phone: (716) 877-1358
Facebook: facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy