Connections Newsletter

Does your college require a mid-year transcript? Check your college portals to see if they require it. If required, go to Naviance, then Manage Transcripts, and request it. As you requested the initial transcript, you are now clicking the mid-year transcript box. Come to Connections with any questions.

FAFSA

• Filing the FAFSA is essential for accessing federal financial aid, including grants and work-study programs. Plus, many scholarships and state aid programs require a completed FAFSA. Don't miss out and maximize your opportunity by submitting your FAFSA before the February 15 priority deadline!
• Students, when COMPLETING the FAFSA, you MUST read each question and scroll DOWN the page.
• The mailing address entered must match the address entered for taxes (i.e. St. or Street).
• Remember, the FAFSA application ties to taxes with prior-prior info. 2025-26 pulls from 2023 tax information. If you have any special financial circumstances AFTER 2023, follow up with the financial aid office for professional judgment. They will require additional proof but remember, they work in financial aid to help students go to college!
• FAFSA Contributor Questions? Click here for more information.
• Federal Student Aid has new resources for the 2025-26 FAFSA, including Pro Tips for Completing the FAFSA Form, Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel: FAFSA Videos, and FAFSA guides for non-English speakers. Most college FAFSA deadlines are February 15.

Last month a new Common App program launched called Direct Admissions; this is a proactive admissions process that offers college admission to qualified students before they apply. Offers are based on data – like GPA – that students have entered in their Common App. This is one of their efforts to simplify and streamline the admissions process. Students who receive direct admissions offers feel relieved and more confident because a college extended an offer based on their Common App responses. This offer lets students learn more about the college, decide if it’s a good fit, and then submit their Common App. Learn how it works here.

Letter of Recommendations If you have a February 15 deadline for a college or scholarship application, you will need to complete these four steps by January 31 for teachers and January 25 for Connections.

1. Ask the letter writer in person
2. Update your resume in Naviance
3. Complete the Letter of Rec/Form Profile in Naviance
4. Add the teacher request into Naviance (this permits us to release information and you the opportunity to clarify what you need in the letter. Fill out green form for Ms. Peters.

We work while you work so your application does not need to be completed by these dates, only by the app deadline. Stop by Connections if you need any help with these steps.

Scholarship reminder: Some colleges automatically give you merit scholarships based on your GPA/test scores. Some colleges have a scholarship application that sends your information to multiple scholarships. Some colleges provide links to outside scholarships. Even though you have been admitted (congrats!), there are still more steps to go. Apply for the money. You don’t know if you don’t apply! Read your emails.

Our Connections team will be in the classrooms over the next few weeks, working with students to create and/or modify their four-year plan for course registration. This lesson is not course registration; it is a rough draft that can be changed. Materials will come from Melinda Norman, Scheduler, on February 15 when course registration opens. As we discuss course planning, we prioritize focusing on student goals. What do they want after TCA? Yes, there are graduation requirements, but options also fit those requirements. Connections is the first step as we take students from what they need to learn for specific career pathways, training programs, or college admissions to what courses might be available. Please take the time to chat as a family before course registration.

At TCA

Thursday, February 6, 8:40: Career Talk – Jennifer Bixler, Biopharma/Biotech

Thursday, February 6, 1:15: Prescott College

Monday, March 10, 10:30: Mini-College Fair

Tuesday, April 1, 10:30: Gap Year Fair

Application Deadlines

Application Due: 2/15/25; Connections Rec Ltr Request: 1/25; Teacher Rec Ltr Request: 1/31

In the Community

Friday, February 7, 7:00-2:00: UNC Future Teacher Conference, Greeley. Spots fill quickly.

Saturday, March 8, 9:00-11:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Pine Creek HS

Saturday, March 9, 1:00-4:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Cherokee Trail HS

March 11, 13, 18, 21: Young Adult Job Fairs

Virtual

Thursday, February 20, 12:00-1:00: PPSC Virtual Behavioral Health Information Session

Thursday, February 20, 12:00-1:00: PPSC Virtual Physical Therapist Assistant Information Session

Scholarships play an important role in paying for college. There are many scholarships available for merit, leadership, community service, academics, athletics, many fields of study, and for students who demonstrate financial need. Here are some scholarship resources for juniors and seniors along with tips for winning college scholarships.

Gazette Charities Best and Brightest Scholarship Program application is open for high school seniors with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, demonstrated community service, and vision for the future. Winners will receive a monetary scholarship, be featured in an article in The Gazette and on gazette.com and be invited to an in-person award ceremony at Weidner Field. Apply by Wednesday, March 19.

Kit Faragher Foundation Scholarship up to $12,000 for have a minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Apply by April 18, 2025.

Colorado Girls State for high school juniors going into their senior year interested in government and leadership with high moral character and scholastic achievement will be held June 9-15, 2025 in Sterling, Colorado. Apply at Girls State – American Legion Auxiliary Department Of Colorado.

Colorado Boys State for high school juniors going into their senior year interested in learning about city, county, and state government will be held June 1-7, 2025 in Sterling, Colorado. Apply at Home - Colorado Boys State.

What is an apprenticeship and do you have any examples? Are there scholarships? Yes and Yes!! Read here for more resources. Colorado offers a Registered Apprenticeship Program Directory to help you find apprenticeship opportunities.

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the United States. A student is eligible if they enroll in or are eligible to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or their family's annual income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Be sure to look at the current year's guidelines to verify.

The next SAT testing date is March 8, 2025. Register by February 21, 2025.

Additional test dates: May 3, 2025

Schoolhouse offers freeSAT Tutoring Bootcamp

March2Success offers free online SAT, ACT and ASVAB test prep

More test prep resources available on our Connections page

The next ACT testing date is April 13, 2025. Register by March 8, 2025.

Additional test dates: March 8, May 3, and June 7, 2025

Katina Dahl, Advisor - Freshmen, Sophomore, AP, PSAT/NMSQT

Jodi Hoffman, Office Manager - College & Career Visits, Community Service

Email: tcavisits@asd20.org
Website: tcatitans.org/Connections
Location: 975 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO
Phone: 719-484-0091 1104