Counselor Connection

January, 2025

Senior College Applications

The 2nd marking period will close on January 24th, and report cards will be issued on January 31st. At that time, your guidance counselor will automatically send your midyear transcript to all the colleges to which you’ve applied—there’s no need to submit a request.

As a reminder, please update your college acceptance information in Naviance to help keep everything up to date. If you need assistance with any part of the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to your guidance counselor—we are here to help!

Coming Soon! Local Scholarship Applications

The guidance counselors will meet with seniors during advisory on February 5th to provide a comprehensive overview of the local scholarship application process. During this session, all scholarship information and applications will be made available on Canvas.

Upcoming MEFA Webinars

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) offers a series of online webinars designed to provide students and parents with valuable insights on a variety of topics, including financial aid, college athletics, the Tuition Break Program, and more. Several of these informative sessions are scheduled for January including:

FAFSA Festival

January 15 - 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Learn About Tuition Break, a Program That Can Help You Lower College Costs 2025

January 22 - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Athletics in College Admissions 2025

January 29 - 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

For details and registration, click the link below.

MEFA Webinars

MHS College Admissions Panel Night! All Grades Welcome!

When: Thursday, January 30, 6:30 PM
Where: Marshfield High School Auditorium

Join us for an informative evening as we welcome admissions counselors from:

College of the Holy Cross
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bridgewater State University
University of Vermont
Northeastern University

Learn insider tips on the college admissions process, including:

What colleges look for in applications
How to write a standout essay
Navigating deadlines and financial aid

This is a great opportunity for students and parents to get questions answered and gain insights directly from admissions professionals! Whether you're just beginning your college search or finalizing your applications, this event is for you, all grades are welcome!

Don’t miss it! Bring your questions and a notebook—see you there!

If you have a question you would like the moderator to ask please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.

Junior College & Career Planning

Postsecondary Planning Meetings - Grade 11

The guidance counselors will be visiting the junior English classrooms January 10th - January 16th to discuss postsecondary planning. These meetings will cover the key steps students need to take if they are interested in exploring apprenticeship programs with a Massachusetts union, attending a trade school, joining a branch of the military, or applying to a two or four-year college.

During the classroom meetings counselors will also provide an in-depth overview of the college application process. Students will learn how to use Scoir to research colleges and programs, as well as access scattergrams to identify schools that align with their GPA and academic profile, helping them find the right fit.

Finally, we will follow up with all juniors with a 1-1 meeting to discuss their post-secondary plans in detail. All students and parents are encouraged to view the Junior College Planning Overview and Checklist to have an idea of the timeline and what to expect as they start the college application process.

Junior College Planning Overview & Checklist

Launching Scoir!

Last month, we announced the upcoming launch of Scoir, our new college and career planning platform, and we’re excited to let you know that it’s rolling out next week! Scoir will officially replace Naviance for students starting with the Class of 2026, while seniors will continue using Naviance through the end of this school year.

During advisory on January 8th, all students in grades 9–11 will receive an invitation email from Scoir and will have the opportunity to activate their accounts. During this time, students will also be introduced to the platform’s features, benefits, and resources. For those absent or away on field trips, the activation process can be completed independently, with guidance counselors available to answer any questions.

Students are able to invite their parents/guardians to join, fostering family involvement in the college selection process and providing valuable insights into the cost of attendance at various institutions. In addition, Scoir will serve as a key communication tool throughout the college planning journey and simplify the submission of application materials and recommendation letters to colleges.

We are thrilled to introduce Scoir to our students and families, confident it will become an invaluable, user-friendly resource. For a sneak peek and to explore all that Scoir has to offer, check out this brief video.

Academic Support Options for all Students

Term 2 will be coming to an end soon! This is a good time for students to utilize the academic supports offered at MHS!

Options include:

Math Lab (RM 253) - Available from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm on A days and 8:15 am - 2:15 pm on E days

Writing Conference (RM 338) - Available every block from Monday - Friday
MAST - After school homework help Mon-Thurs, 2:30-4:00 pm in MHS Library
Staying after school with a teacher - Please make appointment with your teacher in advance

2024-2025 MAST Schedule

Community Service Hours

All students are required to complete community service as part of the graduation requirements. Upon completion of their service hours, students must log their hours by accessing the Community Service Hours Tracking Google Form. Please note that students are responsible for logging their own hours using their school email addresses. (Parents are unable to access the form).

What Counts as Community Service Hours?

Community service refers to voluntary work intended to help people in a particular area or contribute to the betterment of the community. This can include a wide range of activities, such as assisting at local shelters, participating in environmental clean-up efforts, tutoring students, or helping at community events. Community service not only benefits those in need but also helps volunteers develop skills, gain experience, and foster a sense of civic responsibility.

Click here to access a list of community resources available for completing your service hours.