CHS Counseling Office Updates

January 2021

Hello Cavalier Family!

Happy New Year! It's a new year, and we are looking forward to a fresh start for 2021.

In the coming weeks, we have some very exciting things happening at CHS - counselors will be meeting with 11th grade students to plan for senior year and beyond, semester classes will change on January 28, and we will begin to work with students to choose their courses for next school year! Not to mention, we are all awaiting the move to Hybrid Instruction in Calvert County.

If there's every anything that we can do to support you or your student, please let us know. We are here to help!

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Student Grades and Progress

The second quarter (and first semester) ends on January 27. Please continue to work with your student to make sure they are passing all classes. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student's teacher.

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Registration Update

It's hard to believe, but it's time to begin choosing courses for next year! Registration at CHS will officially begin on February 17, when students will be getting more information about Registration in Advisory. We will be sharing more information as the date gets closer!

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Attention 10th Grade Students!

The CTA (Career & Technology Academy) is looking for current 10th grade students who are interested in taking classes at CTA next year!

CTA will be presenting information to current 10th grade students during Advisory on January 20. Students will receive the link to join this presentation in their CCPS email.

In the meanwhile, if you would like to get more information about the CTA, Mrs. Akins, principle of CTA, has put together a website. You can view it here: http://bit.ly/CTA_Info2021.

Any 10th grade student who wants to start a program at CTA next year must complete an Enrollment Form. The PRIORITY DEADLINE to complete this form is February 26, but students can complete it now: http://bit.ly/CTAENROLLMENT2021. Student forms received after the deadline will be added to a waiting list and contacted only if spaces become available.

Optimist Club Essay Contest

The Optimist Club of Calvert is sponsoring an essay contest. This is open to any student who was under the age of 19 by October 1, 2020. Completed applications are due by Friday, February 5. To apply, log on to 20-21_Essay_Application.pdf (optimist.org). If you have any questions about the essay contest, please contact Kimberly Imel at kni5024@psu.edu.

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Dual Enrollment at CSM

Also, paperwork is now available for those students who are currently enrolled in Honors Pre-Calculus, Accelerated Algebra 2/Pre-Calc, and Honors Composition & Rhetoric (Senior English) at CHS and who want to receive CSM credit. Completed paperwork must be received by CSM on January 15 for Math classes and January 27 for English classes. Please contact your student's school counselor to obtain the paperwork or if you have any questions.

Junior Breakfasts

Are you the parent of a junior who is planning to attend college after graduation? Are you already feeling overwhelmed just THINKING about how to help your child apply to college? Get in to college?? Pay for college??? CHS counselors are here to save the day and make your journey to college easier! The counselors are planning virtual Junior Breakfasts on the 2nd Thursday of each month, starting in December to present information to help you and your child get ready for college. The following topics will be covered:

Thursday, December 10: College Search Process (if you were unable to attend this session, you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/MyN8EPMjK-U)
Thursday, January 14: SAT/ACT & Standardized Tests
Thursday, February 11: College Application Process
Thursday, March 11: Financial Aid & Scholarships

Registration is required to receive the link to join the virtual meeting. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/CHSJuniorBreakfastRSVP. We will send out the links to the meetings the day before. Open to parents/guardians of 11th grade students ONLY!

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Junior Information for the Class of 2022

Counselors will be meeting individually with juniors over the next few weeks to discuss graduation requirements and planning for life after high school. We can't wait to see our 11th grade students and help them continue to plan for their future!

Students who take English at CHS (with Mr. Morgan or Mrs. Milton) will meet with their counselor during English class time. Students who take English at CTA have been emailed instructions (on their CCPS student email) on how to set up an individual meeting with their counselor.

We have created a video that shares important information for 11th grade students and their families. You can view it here: https://youtu.be/dyXM17Z2doc. Please talk with your student and encourage them to ask any questions that they may have. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s counselor.

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Senior Information for the Class of 2021

FAFSA

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a form that both seniors and their parents will need to complete in order for students to receive financial aid at most colleges (including CSM – this is how you apply to get the Promise Scholarship aka FREE community college!) and trade/technical schools. We recommend that ALL seniors complete the FAFSA! The Maryland State deadline to file the FAFSA is March 1, but some colleges may have earlier deadlines. There’s limited availability of some grants/scholarships, so it’s important to complete this quickly. You can complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Attached are three documents that may be helpful to you as you complete the FAFSA – one covers things you’ll need to complete the FAFSA, one covers the step-by-step process of how to complete the FAFSA and one explains the Promise Scholarship program.

If you need help with this or have questions, please reach out to your child's school counselor. Mrs. Kidwell, CHS’s representative from Chesapeake College Plan, is also available to answer any questions you may have about the FAFSA. She can also schedule one-on-one virtual appointments to help you complete the FAFSA. She can be reached at collegeplan.mk@gmail.com.

Wall of Acceptance

Don’t forget to share your acceptance letters with your school counselor! We love hearing your good news! 😊 Check out where the Class of 2021 has been accepted so far: https://bit.ly/CHSclassof2021wallofacceptance.

Application Deadlines

College application deadlines are quickly approaching! We ask that students submit transcript request forms and recommendation request forms to their counselor AT LEAST 10 SCHOOL DAYS in advance of any deadlines! If students turn the forms in later than that, we cannot guarantee that the documents will be sent to the college on time. The transcript request form and recommendation request form can be found on the CHS Counselor Schoology page.

Calvert LSA will be available soon!

ATTENTION SENIORS - Apply to over 40 local scholarships with one application! Completed applications are due March 1. Click here for more info!

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SAT and ACT

The SAT and ACT are tests that students take in order to prepare for college applications. Typically, we recommend that JUNIORS take the SAT and ACT. Fee waivers are available for students who have financial difficulty; please reach out to your child's counselor for more information. Below is a list of all test dates and registration deadlines for the SAT and ACT this school year.

The CHS PTSO is also sponsoring a virtual SAT and ACT prep class. Details are below!

Click here to view CHS Virtual College Visit Schedule

During virtual learning, many colleges have signed up to meet virtually with CHS students. These visits are a great opportunity for students to meet with representatives from colleges & make connections.

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Chesapeake College Plan

Chesapeake College Plan is a great resource for our juniors and seniors and their families. Our representative, Michelle Kidwell, is available to meet with students and their families to help with all the aspects of the journey to college, like applications, scholarships, and financial aid.

Mrs. Kidwell offers weekly virtual meetings (on Google Meet) every Friday from 12 - 1 PM for students. To request an invitation, email Mrs. Kidwell at collegeplan.mk@gmail.com.

Mrs. Kidwell is also available to meet with students or families via an individual virtual appointment. To request a meeting, email Mrs. Kidwell at collegeplan.mk@gmail.com.