Counseling Department Newsletter

1. Do A Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Teens love a good scavenger hunt, and there are several ways to incorporate this fun activity into your holiday planning.

Holiday Scavenger Hunt

2. Host A Holiday Party

Nothing screams Christmas activities for teenagers like a PARTY! There are some really fun ways to host a simple, no-stress holiday party for teens.

• A sock exchange

• A white elephant exchange

• Christmas karaoke

• Cookie baking

3. Watch Holiday Movies

Christmas activities for teenagers have to include some movies. And there are SO many good Christmas movies. Teens love re-watching childhood favorites like Rudolph, Christmas Story or Elf.

4. Play Board Games

Playing board games can be a great way to spend quality time as a family over the holiday

5. Make Gingerbread Houses

Use a kit or make them from scratch. With a few supplies, teens can make a pretty spectacular (or spectacularly disastrous) gingerbread house.

6. Go Look At Christmas Lights In Your PJs

This has been a holiday tradition in our family for years, and it didn’t end when kids began hitting the teenage years. You’re never too old to drive around in PJs with a mug of hot chocolate and Christmas carols on the radio.

7. Create Some New Edible Traditions

Pull out family recipes or create a new holiday recipe board on Pinterest. Then get cooking. You might discover a new holiday must-have for your family.

8. Volunteer

Many nonprofits and other organizations need extra hands over the holiday season. Groups that collect food, clothes and coats need help organizing and distributing. Nursing home residents appreciate extra visits.

9. Decorate Cookies

Make your own cookies or buy the pre-cut sugar cookies from the grocery store and focus all of your energy on creating masterpieces.

10. Go Sledding

Christmas break is a great time to hit the sledding hills because kids have weekdays off school and a break from sports and other activities.

11. Go Ice Skating

Indoor skating rinks usually open up additional public skate times over the holidays when kids have days off school. Some areas open outdoor skating rinks or even iceless skating rinks around the holidays.

12. Have A Hot Chocolate Bar

Make your own hot chocolate as a special twist. Then grab some fun extras like whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips, candy canes, chocolate or caramel to drizzle on top, sprinkles or cinnamon.

The Canon-Mac Counseling Department coordinated a field trip to the Builders Guild Move On event held at the Convention Center on November 4. The students in attendance were able to participate in hands-on activities in the trades. For more information about the Builders Guild and all of the career opportunities in the skilled building trades right here at home, click here.

Click on the link below to watch a recording of the presentation.

FAFSA Toolkit

Check out our FAFSA toolkit and resources page https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/parents-students/index.shtml to help educate parents and students about financial aid opportunities. Our toolkit includes social media posts, FAFSA-themed images, and links to help you promote the FAFSA to your students and families. Additional resources are also available for our counselors and partners.

PA State Work-Study Awards

The maximum award amounts for the PA State Work-Study Program have gone up! Effective for the 2022-23 Academic Year, students may be eligible for a maximum academic year award of $10,000 and a maximum summer term award of $7,500. This program is a great way for undergraduate and graduate students to earn while they learn.

PHEAA.org/SWSP

Planning for After High School with PA Forward

Even though it’s only the beginning of the school year, seniors are already planning for their postsecondary education and one of the topics is how to pay for it. After FAFSA aid, scholarships, and savings, PHEAA’s PA Forward Student Loan can be an affordable option for the gap. Ask your Access Partner for brochures!

Industry News:

Families With Assets Will Receive Less Financial Aid Next Year

The asset protection allowance for parents is changing. In years past, a 48-year-old parent could expect to shield a little over $46,000 in asset protection. That allowance has now dwindled to $0 in the current school year.

As of December 2, 265 seniors (representing 68% of the Class of 2023) have requested 1253 transcripts via Xello!

According to Form Your Future, 295 FAFSAs have been completed by Canon-McMillan students and parents. There is still time to finalize postsecondary plans and apply-if your student needs assistance, please reach out to your student's counselor.

Students who need to obtain transcripts for college applications or scholarships may use this form to give permission to the counselors to share it. This form needs to be filled out one time by a parent/guardian or the student if over the age of 18.

Remember, students will still have to communicate where transcripts should be sent. This will occur in Xello.

Senior students may request both transcripts from counselors and letters of recommendation from counselors and/or teachers. Xello integrates with the Common Application. Underclassmen were assigned lessons in Xello to complete either in Freshman Seminar or Social Studies classes. Click here to learn more about Xello. Students are reminded to ask teachers and others for recommendations before assigning them in Xello.

Once a student has begun to track a college application in Xello, they have the option to request a referrer write a recommendation letter to be sent to the institution if it's required for the application.Students are reminded to provide a resume to the referrer, as well as to ask them to write a letter before requesting in Xello. Click here to read more.Source www.help.xello.world

Click here for how to link your Common App and Xello accounts and begin requesting documents. Students will be asked to select their counselor from the drop down menu-this prompts a request for the secondary school report, which includes the transcript and the high school schedule, as well as a counselor recommendation. Teacher evaluation requests should not be sent to a counselor or a principal.

Students are encouraged to develop resumes. A resume template is available in Xello. Your counselor and teacher(s) will need a copy of your resume in order to write letters of recommendation as needed next year. To learn more recommendations and their importance in the admissions process, click here.

Research local and nationwide trade schools in your area of interest and apply to the best fit for you right here at www.ApplyToTradeSchool.com.

7 Benefits of Going to Trade School

• Lower Cost.
• Faster Graduation Timeline.
• Fewer Admission Requirements.
• Small Class Sizes.
• Real-World Experience.
• Job Assistance.
• Preparation for In-Demand Careers.

Choosing where to go to college is not an easy decision, often because it feels so important. Kids are told that where they go after high school will define how the rest of their life turns out. But writer Kelly Corrigan says that's the big lie society must stop telling. Click here to read more. source:NPR.com

Community colleges are primarily public higher education institutions that strive to provide affordable education that's accessible to all.

An associate degree, which takes about two years to complete full time, is usually the highest degree available, but community college students can also receive certificates and job training. Many students begin their postsecondary studies at community colleges before transferring to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor's degree. Click here to learn more. source:USNews.com

College may be a few years away for high school juniors, but it’s never too early to start planning. Here’s a college planning timeline for juniors. Click here to learn more. source:Xello.com

College application season is here, and you might be sweating about how to stand out to a stranger reviewing hundreds or even thousands of applications. (Or maybe you’re not sweating enough, according to your parents.) Click here to read more. Source:money.com

The college admissions process puts a great deal of pressure on students, but parents can lighten the load by getting involved in some critical ways.

Here are five key things parents should know about the college admissions timeline, what it entails and how they can help. Click here to read more. Source:usnews.com

Preparation is key for all college-bound students, but thinking through what you’ll need to be successful is especially important for students with disabilities.

Here are some ideas and insights to help you settle into college. source.admitted.nacacnet.org

The impression that you make on a college admission officer may involve more than just an essay, a transcript, and some test scores. According to new data, colleges and universities do pay attention to what prospective students post on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. In addition, potential employers for internships or permanent positions may also review your public social sites. Click here to read more. Source:collegeboard.org

As the volume of college applications continues to increase, admissions officers have tough decisions to make when it comes to filling limited seats.

In a competitive admissions environment, students may be rejected from schools where they could thrive, says Eddie Pickett III, senior associate dean and director of recruitment at Pomona College in California. Click here to learn more. source: USnews.com

Scholarships are added to the Scholarships folder in the School Counseling Resources group regularly throughout the year. Students are encouraged to peruse the folder. The newest scholarships are at the bottom of the page in Schoology.

Got questions? Get live answers! Join special events on 12/5-12/8 to learn how to find your dream career, college, and scholarships to pay for it. Click here to learn more. source:collegeboard.org

Tuition Reward Points accrue like frequent flyer miles and are typically earned through an affiliated financial institution, health insurance, or employer. These include 529 plans, banks, brokerage firms, companies, credit unions, mutual funds, non-profits and diverse financial service companies involved in life insurance, health insurance or retirement plans. Your Tuition Rewards Points represent guaranteed minimum discounts off the "list price" of tuition at many of America's best private colleges. Click here to learn more. source:tuitionrewards.com

If you have a student in grades 9-11, consider signing up for RaiseMe. It is a micro-scholarship program. Completing a RaiseMe portfolio and following colleges could earn you scholarships for your achievements. If you attend a college that has committed to rewarding you, you will get that sum when you attend that college. Click here for more information.

The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. This program is voluntary and confidential; if you are interested in your student being referred to SAP, please contact your school counselor.

If your teenage child is dealing with anxiety, depression or any other mental health concern right now, you're not alone. More than a year after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joined with other organizations to declare a national emergency in youth mental health, many teens are still struggling. Click here to learn more. source: healthychildren.org

Everyone has bad days. Do yours last longer than most? Click here for a screener that can help to determine if you need help managing your mental health.

If your child is exhibiting any warning signs (that are not medical emergencies; if they are, get them to the ER), or if you just want more in-depth mental health check-ins, consider these questions to ask, courtesy of Dr. Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D., director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. Click here to read more.

Any time a student changes residences, an Inter-district transfer form accompanied by two pieces of evidence (driver's licence, lease/mortage agreement, utility bill, etc.) must be submitted to the Counseling Department. For more information or to facilitate this process, please contact Ms. Wrubleski, Counseling Secretary, at wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us. If you are moving out of District, contacting your new school right away to enroll your student ensures that there is no delay with records being obtained.

Every high school student is encouraged to join the School Counseling Resources group in Schoology! Resources including academic development, career development, employment, community service opportunities, scholarships and more can be found there! Students can join the group by using the following access code: DB7QW-K4WWP

Selective Service registration is required by law as the first part of a fair and equitable system that, if authorized by the President and Congress, would rapidly provide personnel to the Department of Defense while at the same time providing for an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors. By registering, a young man remains eligible for jobs, Federal student aid, State-based student aid in 31 states, Federally-funded job training, and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men. Registration begins at age 18. Click here to learn more and register.

Work Permits are available in the main office; contact Mrs. Bickmeier at bickmeierd@cmsd.k12.pa.us. Students will need to obtain an application that needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and provide a copy of the student's birth certificate.

Bullying Facts

Bullying Statistics

Cyberbullying

Teens Against Bullying

https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/press-releases/nacac-update-coronavirus/#factors

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings

PA 529 Accounts

Keystone Scholars Program

CFPB Paying for College Tools

Student Aid Guide
Scholarship Tips

FAFSA Tipsheet

FSA ID Bookmark

https://www.nasfaa.org/covid19

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/financial-aid-toolkit.shtml

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/fafsa-toolkit.shtml

https://www.gwcfb.org/food-pantry-locations

https://foodcommunitybenefit.noharm.org/resources/implementation-strategy/connecting-food-insecure-individuals-resources

https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/food-assistance-programs

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://www.sphs.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

How parents can talk to their kids about suicide

Risk-of-Suicide

Risk and Protective Factors

Preventing Suicide Fact Sheet

Washington County Crisis Resources

A-Dea Karen Rubican rubicank@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5022

Deb-Hog Susan Humbertson humbertsons@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5020

Hoh--Mik Nadia Abbondanza abbondanzan@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5027

Mil-Set Julie Hughes hughesj@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5023 (starting 10/17)

Seu-Z Molly Nuri nurim@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5021

Ms. Michelle Wrubleski wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us

(724) 745-1400 X 5019

Fax (724) 873-5173