Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is available to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.

Our amazing Counseling Administrative Assistant Hannah Cuevas was presented with the GHS Outstanding Classified Employee award on May 1st at the GUHSD Honoring Excellence awards night. Anyone who has been greeted by her when they arrive in the counseling office knows how much we count on her friendly customer service and professionalism. Other honorees included our Peer Listening Advisors (read below), GUHSD Teacher of the Year Kristen LoPrell, GHS Golden Apple Teacher Kevin Bradley, GUHSD Golden Apple Special Education Teacher Kendra Whitt and GHS Gold Star Volunteer Mike Simpson! We are all proud to be part of such an incredible GHS community!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Caring for your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health. On May 7th, we will have different activities and resource tables during lunch to support student mental health. Students can stop by to talk to counselors or peer listeners, and collect information from community partners.

In order to continue the discussion during the month, our peer listeners will be posting wellness messages on our InstaGram in addition to promoting “Be Seen in Green” on May 16th. Students wearing green on this day will receive a Mental Health Awareness ribbon to further support the cause. And finally, at the end of the month, students will participate in a Pride Lesson in 2nd period to further understand the significance of mental health. Please click below for important resources:

Teen Guide to Mental Health and Wellness (SDCOE)

GHS Virtual Wellness Center

GUHSD Mental Health Resources Videos with English, Spanish and Arabic subtitles

Grossmont Counseling team members Laura Dawson, Julianna Manuel, Deborah Aguila and Krista Santoro were presented with the 2024 Superintendent's Core Values Award in recognition of our Peer Listening Program that "has become a model program for other schools to follow." The Peer Listening program was established at GHS over 20 years ago and has grown to become an essential part of our school's culture of caring and support. Peer Listeners are available in the Grossmont Wellness Center each period of the day for any student who would like to talk with an empathetic senior who has been trained in active listening skills and conflict mediation. Students who would like to become peer listeners may apply and interview during the fall of their junior year to participate in training throughout the spring.

"A rise in child trafficking, suicide rates, body dysmorphia, and the sexualization of adolescents have been linked to apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram...Together, Let's change the social media narrative and find better ways to protect the future of today's youth." Click here for the full article from Grossmont student Jaeden Roy in the La Mesa Courier.

Interested in going to college and need assistance? Drop by room 505 (to the right of the library and around the corner) during lunch on May 8th or 23rd to learn more about the Upward Bound program! The program is currently accepting applications from 9th - 12th grade GHS students who are low-income and/or will be the first generation in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. This is an incredible opportunity for students to benefit from free tutoring, mentoring, college fieldtrips, test prep, academic advising, career exploration, scholarship info, and assistance with college and financial aid applications. Please click here for the flyer and check out the GHS Upward Bound website here.

The Western Association of College Admissions Counselors is offering a FREE six session virtual boot camp for students. All sessions will be on Wednesday afternoons at 4pm Pacific, beginning on May 15th.

Student Registration Link: https://tcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRG5N599SQWVw2nxIxePSA#/registration

May 15: Building a college list

June 12: How college application decisions are made

June 19: Getting starting on your app: essays and activities

August 7: Personal Writing for the Common App and UC app

August 14: Avoiding Missed Opportunities on the Common app / UC app

August 21: Ask the Experts: Q & A for Common App & UC

We will be on a Final Exam Schedule from Monday, June 3rd through Wednesday, June 5th. Click here for details.

Summer school will be held on the GHS campus on Mon. through Fri. from June 10th - 28th with a holiday on June 19th. Students will have the opportunity to repeat a D or F grade in one or two classes. Classes will be held from 8am - 11am and 11:45am - 2:45pm. Counselors reviewed progress with students in March and signed them up for summer school if they indicated they are able to attend. Any student who still needs to sign up for summer school, perhaps to repeat a current course, should contact their counselor as soon as possible. Space is limited.

Many students have asked us how to enroll in community college classes during the summer, for example, to challenge themselves with a course we do not offer at GHS. Local community colleges have posted their summer schedules online and courses will fill up quickly. Click here for more information on concurrent enrollment and links to the college websites. Students are responsible for completing all of the steps to enroll and should let their counselor know if they successfully enroll in a course that might affect classes planned for next year.

If you need a work permit for a summer job, please see our Registrar, Kimberly Dillard, in the office. The form will need to be signed by your employer, parent/guardian, and approved by our Assistant Principal, so start this process as soon as you are offered the job! Click here for more information.

On May 23rd, counselors will share valuable information with juniors as they plan for their post-secondary goals. Students will be able to choose which session to attend. One session will cover community colleges, military, trade schools and apprenticeships. The other session will cover four-year universities. Getting ready and starting the college application process this summer will make senior year less stressful and more enjoyable!

Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. In fact, nearly 80% of US colleges do not require them. However, some universities may require one of these exams, or they may have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may also be required by specific programs or scholarships.

Seniors who are on target to complete their "A-G" college eligibility requirements received invitations last week to celebrate Senior Decision Day with us during lunch on May 15th! Let's have fun announcing your plans for next year and find out where other students are headed, whether it's community college, a university, trade school, or the military. Lunch will be served and photos will be posted on our InstaGram @foothiller_counseling. If you have questions, see your counselor. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

We will be celebrating our seniors who have earned awards, scholarships, and graduation cords on May 21st. This special evening is for students and families by invitation only. Please be sure you have completed the Senior Exit Survey on our website so we know about your accomplishments!