BASH School Counseling News

Don't forget to check out our School Counseling Webpage. It can be found at this LINK. This webpage is full of important information and helpful resources for you to explore. We recommend you check our site for important updates/information weekly.

Here are some highlights of our webpage that we would like you to check out:

·College Visit Information- You may contact Mrs. Bright at mbright@boyertownasd.org with any college visit questions or for a pass to attend. Please click HERE to view the updated calendar.

· Announcements & Upcoming Events- We will be adding to this page frequently with important counseling department announcements and events. Please click HERE to view the upcoming events!

· Job Opportunities- Are you looking for a job? This page will provide you with local job opportunities! This is updated weekly with information from businesses in and surrounding Boyertown looking for High School students! Click HERE to view this page.

·BCTC- If this is something you are interested in, please see this page to learn how to apply. Click HERE for more information.

This webpage is filled with many more resources such as; our counseling office staff information, recent/past recorded presentations, forms, scholarship information, SAT/ACT information, Internship Information, etc. We encourage you to please take time to look at our site!

Also, please make sure you are checking your school e-mail daily. We also push out information to students through e-mail!

All of this information can be found on our School Counseling Webpage

• Students- You can re-watch/listen to our Course Selection Presentation by clicking on this link. If you scroll to 7:34min. in the video, that is where the course selection card information is explained. If you feel that you have received the wrong grade-level course card or need a new course card, you can pick one up in the main office. You can also print one out yourself by going to this link.

• Please remember, the School Counselors will be meeting with you soon and pushing into your social studies class for our initial course selection meeting. After that first meeting in your social studies class, you will then be able to schedule a second follow-up meeting to discuss your course selection should you have more questions.

• Course Selection Cards- 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, Virtual
• BCTC Course Selection Cards- 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade
• If you are a Senior and interested in gaining experience in the field/career you are interested in, please make sure to check out our BASH Internship Program.
• It's not too late to apply to BCTC. Please click here for more information.
• Questions about your courses or course requirements? Please review our Program of Studies.
• Graduation Requirements listed below.

• Seniors- Applications for an Electrical Apprenticeship through the Reading Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee are being accepted starting December 1st through March 31st. *The apprentices have to complete a 5 year program that consists of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 1,000 hours minimum of classroom training. The cost of this training is funded by a job effort from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The selected apprentices receive this training at little or no cost to them while receiving excellent wages and benefits.* They do not require prior electrical experience and feel that the apprenticeship program might be an excellent career opportunity for all students! Please see the attached flyer for the application information.

• Please see the attached flyer for information on the LVHN Emergency Medicine Institute 2024 Spring Semester EMT Program.

  The LVHN EMT program is geared towards high schoolers to gain knowledge and skills to pursue an EMT job or to assist with gaining foundational knowledge and skills in preparation for a variety of health careers.

  Payment plans are also available for this course. Students with questions regarding the program can reach out to Chris Peischl at Christopher.Peischl@lvhn.org
  

• The National Student Leadership Conference provides an immersive pre-college experience that prepares students for life beyond middle and high school, allowing them to study in university classrooms, learn to navigate a campus, and experience living with roommates. Students are able to explore a career concentration they are interested in before going into college and declaring a major. Each NSLC program also contains a leadership curriculum designed to teach skills that can apply to all areas of life. The NSLC was created to provide high school students with a space for academic and career exploration outside of the normal classroom. Through this program you will: Test drive a future career, Develop critical leadership skills, Meet leading experts, Experience life on a college campus. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please go to this link for more information. You can also view the programs cost, dates, and locations at this link.
  

• Sophomores and Juniors,

  Please see the information below and attached documents about Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW).

  What is PFEW?

  Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week is an intensive program that educates high school students about the American free enterprise system. Bringing motivated students together with business people from throughout the state. During PFEW, participants not only learn to appreciate our free enterprise system, but they also see from a practitioner's perspective what it takes to be successful in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Student companies simulate the actual operation of their own business for the equivalent of three years. Facing all of the decisions that real executives are confronted by, the student companies are mentored by dedicated business volunteers who serve as Company Advisors. Sharing their knowledge and expertise, Company Advisors address the most significant issues facing business today in straightforward, informal discussions with students.

  Accented with motivational speakers and interactive learning exercises, this one-of-a-kind program furnishes a real-life educational experience for eager students. Sponsorship winners grasp the value of teamwork, cooperation and leadership, and are provided with an invaluable opportunity to develop communication skills.

  What does PFEW accomplish?

  By the end of each student's week-long PFEW journey they will:

  1. Understand the vital importance of the American free enterprise system and their role in it.
  2. Experience all facets of business operations, marketing, and finance as they unlock hidden strengths and talents and forge a path for the future.
  3. Develop marketable skills that prepare them for the workforce or post-secondary education.
  4. Learn the value of teamwork, compromise, ethics, communication, and more.
  5. Develop oral and written presentation skills.
  6. Interact with a wide variety of business and motivational speakers who will inspire them to greatness.
  7. Leave with an improved perception of business and its role in our economy.
  8. Meet and work with a diverse group of peers and develop a network of future colleagues and mentors.
  9. Realize that no matter what career path they choose, everything relates to business.

  Please see the attached Flyer for more information. You can also click on this link to view their website: https://www.pfew.org/about-pfew

  To apply, please click here: https://www.pfew.org/student-application
  

  They reached out to us about a special offer being offered to Boyertown Senior High School students!

  Any student who attends PFEW 2024 is eligible to attend at a reduced rate! The standard registration fee is $295. However, you can attend for only $150. Please note, in order for you to receive this special offer, you MUST enter BERKS in the referral section when submitting your application.

• Missed the Financial Aid Night Presentation? No worries! Here is the link to a recorded copy of the presentation: https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/1332

• Your school counselors just pushed in to all social studies classes to present on Junior Year Next Steps! Click here: Next Steps for Juniors to see a list of some items you should begin to tackle now!

• This is just a reminder that local scholarships will be due February 15th. If you are applying to any of our local scholarships, please have them to our counseling office by February 15th no later than 4 pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
• All applications may be found on the counseling page under the scholarship tab. Here is the direct link.

• Please be sure to read over the requirements for the applications. BASH local scholarship applications are available from December 22nd – February 15th. All completed applications are due to the counseling office no later than February 15th at 4:00 pm. Late applications will not be accepted for any reason. Please stop by the counseling office with any questions.

• Also found on our counseling page are scholarships that are not local, as well as scholarship search engines. Be on the lookout for any that may apply to you.

• Please see below the response from BCCF regarding scholarships and the FAFSA delays. BCCF is now not requiring students to provide FAFSA documentation as part of this year’s scholarship process. The deadline for local scholarships is approaching fast!
• If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. McArthur

• Attention Senior Families: The U.S. Department of Education just announced that schools will not begin receiving FAFSA information until “the first half of March.” Until that time, colleges and universities have no access to their students’ FAFSA information. As a result of this unexpected postponement, financial aid award letters for the 2024-2025 school year will be further delayed. Additionally, students who need to make corrections to their FAFSA will also be unable to do so until sometime in March. The U.S. Department of Education made a late change to the formula used to calculate financial aid eligibility, which will make more students eligible for more financial aid. Unfortunately, the change also delays the delivery of FASFA information to schools. If you have any questions, please contact the financial aid office at the institution to which you applied.

• FAFSA Resources for Parents provided by the School Counseling Department: Click on this link.

• A few additional details to remember:
  

• • Submit your ACT or SAT scores directly to the colleges through the ACT or the College Board (for SAT) websites.
    
  • If your school/s request Mid-Year senior year grades to be sent, you will need to bring a stamped envelope to the counseling office per each school. Even if you applied via the common application, you need to bring an envelope. We do not process midyear reports in common app unless the college reaches out directly to us indicating they do not accept mailed copies.

• Be conscientious in pursuing housing accommodations as soon as the colleges will allow so you have a better chance of getting your first choice in housing.

• Missed the Financial Aid Night Presentation? No worries! Here is the link to a recorded copy of the presentation: https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/1332

• Please review this Senior Letter which includes important information to help your post-secondary applications and planning for the upcoming year.

• Would you like a weekly email regarding available scholarships you could apply to? Click HERE and sign up. StudentScholarships.org can send you weekly scholarship information on programs that are accepting applications.

  Be sure to check our School Counselor Webpage for any scholarship updates. Click HERE to go to the BASH Counselor webpage.

• Kutztown University is offering a fee waiver code that works on the Common Application and Kutztown’s application. The fee waiver code is: GOLDEN.

• Do you need help with The Common App?! Check out these YouTube videos, featuring members of the Common App team! Topics include a full application overview of first-year students, how to approach each essay prompt, and the most popular questions we hear about the application process. You can view more information and helpful videos/resources at the Common App’s YouTube Channel. They will be posting more videos throughout the season.

• Please click HERE for FREE upcoming Financial Aid Webinars presented by PHEAA

• Here are also some helpful websites while you begin your college application process:

• BRAG SHEET
• Updated Transcript Release Form
• SAT Dates
• Send your SAT scores
• ACT information
• Scholarships
• NCAA

• Please read if you are enrolled or ever were enrolled in a Dual Enrollment course. If you have applied to a post-secondary school (college, trade-school), they may be requesting your official transcript from your Dual Enrollment course(s). BASH does not provide college transcripts. You will need to request the transcript from the college (MCCC or HU). Attached to this email is a document including Dual Enrollment courses offered at BASH, credits earned through the college and the name of the college issuing the credits (MCCC or HU).

  Example: DE Spanish III is through Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) earning 6 credits in SPA 101 & SPA 102.

  Please see below for the information on how to request an official transcript from either MCCC or HU:

  • For Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) transcript
  • To request an official transcript from MCCC, please click on this link.
  • There is a $5.00 transcript fee when sending electronically.
  • MCCC uses the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Services. When you click on the link above, it will take you to the website to order transcripts. You will then follow the instructions on their website. At the very bottom of the page is “Order Transcripts” which will take you to the actual Ordering Center.
  • For Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) transcript
  • To request an official transcript from HU, please click on this link.
  • Harrisburg University uses the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Services. When you click on the link above, it will take you to the website to order transcripts. You will then follow the instructions on their website.

2023 -2024 SAT Test Dates

March 9th, 2024

May 4th, 2024

June 1, 2024

2023 -2024 ACT Test Dates

April 13th, 2024

June 8th, 2024

July 13th, 2024

SAT registration -Link to the SAT registration page

ACT registration -Link to the ACT registration page

• Applications for first-round were due on December 1st. However, you can STILL apply for second-round!

• Click here for the full BCTC application packet.

  The directions to apply to BCTC can be found on the high school website under Resources- School Counseling- BCTC or you can click here: BCTC Application. Please be sure to READ ALL DIRECTIONS on the front page of the packet. Once you submit the online portion of the BCTC application, you are required to follow the application checklist, complete the essay, admissions agreement, and you must secure 2 teacher recommendations. Again, all directions are on the website and the application checklist.

  You must return all documents to your school counselor to be considered as an applicant. Be sure that all completed materials are attached prior to your submission to the counseling office (the application checklist, the essay, and the admissions agreement).

All of this information can be found on our Job Opportunities page

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania- Multiple jobs open at the camp. Click here for more information.
• Please click here for an entire list of local job opportunities.

10th-12th Grade Students

A-Det- Mrs. McArthur, cmcarthur@boyertownasd.org

Deu-Her- Miss Webb, jwebb@boyertownasd.org

Hes-McC- Ms. Gallagher, sgallagher@boyertownasd.org

McD-Sal- Mrs. Mazzie, cmazzie@boyertownasd.org

Sam-Z- Ms. Greener, cgreener@boyertownasd.org

Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Hiryak, khiryak@boyertownasd.org

Career Portfolio Assistant

Mrs. Bright, mbright@boyertownasd.org

Office Assistant

Ms. Moyer, bmoyer1@boyertownasd.org

Transcript Request- transcripts@boyertownasd.org