Guidance Newsletter

We strongly encourage all students to start reviewing the Program of Studies now and make a list of potential courses that they hope to sign up for. The Program of Studies can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZccxO8lE73Ejq-8i9gkKJ3BUdTbFUenn/view

We hope you join us for our upcoming school and district-wide events. Any information we have pertaining to the events is linked further below in the newsletter in the corresponding section.

• NYS Parent Speaker Series "Let's Talk About Anxiety" | December 5th 7:00pm
• NHS Environmental Open House | December 17th during Clipper Block
• GAP Year Fair | January 13th 6:00-8:30pm
• Get College Ready: Your Roadmap to Success | January 23th 6:00-8:00pm
• Program of Studies Night | February 4th
• ASVAB Career Exploration Evaluation | February 13th 7:30-11am
• Greater Essex County College and Career Fair | April 3rd 6:00-7:30pm

Spring and summer registration for dual enrollment courses through NECC is now open. Dates for those sessions are listed below. Available classes can be found here: https://cst.necc.mass.edu/. Once at the course catalog, select the appropriate term in the Select a Term drop down menu. Students should complete the application, assessment, and registration process ASAP for Spring Session courses and by May 12th for Summer Session courses.

Session Dates

Spring (January 22 through May 10)

Summer 1 (May 19 through June 27) accelerated courses

Summer 2 (June 30 through August 8) accelerated courses

Please note, Dual Enrollment courses count as 2.5 credits at the AP level. You may not take a course that we offer here at NHS unless you are attending NECC on a full time basis to achieve your Associate’s Degree. The NECC Dual Enrollment application is linked below. If you are interested in taking a dual enrollment course, please bring the completed application to Mrs. Phelps before the corresponding due date listed above. If you have any questions about dual enrollment, please contact Mrs. Phelps at sphelps@newburyport.k12.ma.us or Ms. Gee at lgee@newburyport.k12.ma.us or refer to our dual enrollment page on our school website: Dual Enrollment Programs.

The Spring class, "Social Media Theory and Practice," will commence on January 31st. This course offers a comprehensive overview of social media's role in society, employing a research-based approach to analyze the internet and digital communication technologies and their intersection with various facets of communication. Students will explore the historical, cultural, and theoretical dimensions of social media, while also evaluating effective strategies for its use. Additionally, participants will engage with social media platforms and take part in online communities.

Please note, moving forward Endicott dual-enrollment courses will be in an asynchronous, accelerated, 100% online model. | Course registration is now open, and closes on December 20th. Courses are offered to all NHS students (current grades 9-12) on a “first come, first serve” basis. This class has a 25 student maximum enrollment. If registration reaches its maximum capacity before December 20th, Mrs. Phelps will notify all students and families via email. Please thoroughly read through the course information linked below.

Seeking a tutor? We have compiled a list of NHS teachers who offer private tutoring outside of school along with non-NHS staff that have reached out to offer their tutoring services. Please note, Newburyport Public Schools does not complete background checks or review academic credentials of non-employees who wish to be listed as tutors. Take a peek at the list linked here.

Are you interested in a paid virtual internship or a paid virtual industry project experience this year? If so, please explore the available opportunities here: Internship Link & Industry Project Experience Link. If you interested in signing up, please complete this form: Interest Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Gee.

From exploring Machu Picchu and all that Peru has to offer, to sight seeing and college exploration around the picturesque England and Scotland, there are various upcoming school-based trips that students can sign up for during the 2025-2026 school year. If you would like to learn more about the upcoming trips, we encourage you to join the travel teams for a zoom meeting on December 12th at 7:00pm. See the linked flyer below for information on this meeting. Spots for each trip are limited; Email the corresponding group leader with any questions or for sign-up information.

Exploring Colleges in England and Scotland - Mr. Ribaudo-Smith

February 2026 | https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2829326XS

Peru - Dr. Hobbs

April 2026 | https://theglobalcitizenprogram.com/nbpt-peru

Future Careers: Agriculture in Belgium & the Netherlands - Ms. Maconi

June 2026 | https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2837200RB

It is extremely important to keep a log of the hours completed as this can be added to your high school transcript. For the first 75 hours completed, students will receive 2.5 credits on their transcript. An additional 2.5 credits can be earned for 75 more hours of service. Any additional hours after the 150 hours will be noted on their transcript. The Service Learning Log is where students should record their hours; This should be turned into Mrs. Vicki Dyer in the main office at the start of each semester.

We have reached a very exciting time of the year as many of our seniors are starting to receive decisions back from colleges and universities. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for seniors to update Naviance with college admissions decisions as this helps populate our Scattergrams (which many of you utilized in the college search process) and informs your counselor on where to send your final transcript later this year. As you start to hear back, please head into your Colleges I'm Applying to list and mark whether you were accepted, denied, deferred, waitlisted, etc. Additionally, if you have decided to no longer apply to a college, please send your counselor an email so we can keep your Naviance up to date. Don't hesitate to pop by and share the exciting news with your counselor!

Mrs. Alice Nelson is our Scholarship Coordinator, and she will send out all information pertaining to scholarships in the new year. Please be on the look out for that information and the scholarship booklet which is usually emailed home at the beginning of March. In the meantime, students can view available scholarships and their corresponding due dates in Naviance. These will be updated as information is received from the scholarship organizations.

It is never too early to start ordering your cap and gown!! The ordering window closes on January 12. Please review the attached flyer for ordering information. All ordering is done through Balfour - if you have any questions, refer to the contact information on the flyer.

Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Families:

We are excited to announce that this school year, we have transitioned from our previous college and career platform, Naviance, to our new platform SchooLinks.

SchooLinks is a modern and intuitive platform designed to support college and career readiness, helping students explore their interests and strengths as they prepare for life after graduation. Accessible to students, parents, guardians, and school staff, SchooLinks offers a range of features specifically tailored to empower students on their journey to becoming career-, college-, and life-ready. The platform is user-friendly, and its content is presented in a way that is easily understood by high school students.

We look forward to your engagement with SchooLinks as we work together to support our students’ futures. For more information on Schoolinks and how to login, please visit this page: School Links Overview and Student/Parent Login

Students --Join the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards (ACES) for an Environmental Open House during Clipper Block on December 17th from 1:30-3:00pm. Please be sure to sign up beforehand using the QR code on the linked flyer below. The event will include a series of short, meaningful talks from community leaders and industry experts, table discussions hosted by various organizations to discuss internship opportunities and career pathways, and networking opportunities for students. ACES offers many project-based internships addressing real environmental challenges. They will help connect you with tools and mentors to make a meaningful impact in climate action, conservation, or environmental justice.

Are you interested in learning about options for a potential GAP Year after high school? Don't miss the opportunity to meet gap year program providers, counselors, and alumni from all over the world. Join us to get the most up-to-date information about exploring gap year options. Whether you're dreaming of Spanish language immersion in Costa Rica, rock climbing in the American Southwest, or pursuing a virtual internship from the comfort of your living room, there are so many gap year options to choose from! Both gap year program providers and counselors will be available to speak with you directly and answer any questions you might have.

GAP Year Fair

Monday, January 13th | 6:00-8:30pm

Newburyport High School

Click here to register

We welcome students and families to join us for our Get College Ready: Your Roadmap to Success event. Students and families will learn about all NHS resources available for the college readiness process, learn about Financial Aid from our partners at College Affordable, hear about how CGN’s RoadMap will support you, and listen to and ask questions of an expert panel of College Admissions Professionals. Although this event is geared towards juniors, all students and families are encouraged to attend!

Get College Ready: Your Roadmap to Success

Thursday, January 23th 6-8pm

Newburyport High School Auditorium

Newburyport High School will host our annual Greater Essex County College and Career Fair this spring on April 3rd, 6:00pm-7:30pm in the NHS Gymnasium. More information will be sent out at after the December break surrounding which colleges and universities will be in attendance. All students and families are welcome and encouraged to join us.

The College and Career Center will host the ASVAB Career Exploration Program Evaluation on February 13th from 7:30-11:00am. Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 are eligible to register for this evaluation. This is NOT only for the Military, although scores can be used for military testing; The ASVAB is much more! Students will be given a designed post-secondary plan that meets their goals, abilities, and career aspirations for where they are currently in the process. The evaluation will be given in the College and Career Center on Thursday, February 13th, from 7:30am - 11:00am. Registration information will come from Mr. Smith in the near future.

What are the current trends in college admissions? How do admissions officers review applications? What do they pay attention to? Join Newburyport High School and Campus Bound on Thursday, January 30th at 6:30pm as we demystify the college admissions process by conducting mock application reviews for three example students. If you are interested in attending this webinar, please register here!

Don't forget that juniors and seniors are allowed 3 excused absences per semester for any college or career related visit they might have during a school day. They must provide documentation as proof that they were at the college to Mrs. Dyer in the main office to have the visit be excused.

Our friends at Revolution Prep are supporting our families by offering a SAT experience that accurately reflects the official College Board test in format, user experience, adaptivity, and content. They have carefully modeled their testing experience after the official test, so that students feel confident in navigating the intricacies of the digital format—the closest experience to the real thing that you can get!

SAT Practice Exam:

When: Saturday, February 8, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM EST

Where: Proctored online via Zoom

Step 1: Register here.

Step 2: Schedule a free 30-minute score report review with a Revolution Prep testing expert to help you interpret the results and develop a customized plan to prepare. Please schedule this appointment for the few days after the exam. You can pre-schedule this Score Report Review here.

Step 3: Attend the mock exam and instantly receive our best-in-class score report, illustrating three high-impact areas to focus on for each section of the test.

Questions? If you have questions or want to learn more about Revolution Prep, you can reach out to David Zimbalist at (617) 640-0744 or by email at david.zimbalist@revolutionprep.com.

ACT compiled a webpage of amazing resources to help you prepare for an upcoming ACT exam. Resources include an overview of the ACT test and what to expect on test day, a full-length practice ACT test (including writing prompt), a breakdown of the content covered in each test section, general test-taking strategies and ways to approach each section of the ACT, and so much more. Take a peek at their resources linked here.

Newburyport Adult and Continuing Education is hosting their winter SAT Prep Course to help students prepare for the March 8th SAT test. The cost per student per course is $280 or $530 for both Math and English courses. All classes will run for 6 weeks from 6-8pm at NHS. The fee includes a study book. When registering on their website, you must enter the student’s name in the NOTES section. Please note, classes are not held during February school vacation week. Both classes begin the week of January 21st. Head over to their website to register!

Do you need assistance completing the FAFSA, the form required to apply for college financial aid? Join MEFA for a virtual FAFSA Festival. You can log in anytime and you will be paired with an expert who can answer your FAFSA questions and help you complete the online application. Before you join us, we encourage you to start filling out the FAFSA at fafsa.gov.

Join our friends at Revolution Prep for their upcoming Demystifying the College Financial Aid Process webinar, on Thursday, December 11th 8:00pm. Revolution Prep will take you through a live action experience step-by-step of the FAFSA, CSS Profile, Net Price Calculator, and Scholarship Resources. This presentation will help make the overwhelming nature of college financing a little less stressful for parents and students. If you are interested in attending or learning more, please register on their website.

This MEFA webinar provides information and clarity on the entire college financial aid application process. Learn about financial aid applications and types of financial aid, the factors that determine your aid eligibility, how colleges determine the amount of aid to offer, and the details of financial aid offers. Families can view the full webinar linked below, OR view webinar dates and times and register for a live event at mefa.org/events/financial-aid-101.

Just like the webinars linked above, MEFA offers various other webinars for students and families with detailed and timely information on a range of college planning topics. They've recorded each one they've held this year. Families can visit the webinars page, where they can find all upcoming webinars listed at the top, with registration links, and all recorded webinars listed at the bottom. Recent topics include Financial Aid 101, What to Know about the CSS Profile, and College Admissions. Link to the MEFA Family Webinars: Family Webinars

Newburyport High School is partnering with College Guidance Network (CGN) to provide students and families with even more resources surrounding the college search and application process. Students and parents can create a free account to access the following content:

• Individualized student plan with a virtual librarian search assistant
• Year-round live access to experts: College & Career TV Channel (6-8 events per month during the school year)
• CGN Library: Comprehensive resource library of content
• Customizable content to NHS's specific college planning content and events

To create your account head to this link. Students will log in with their school google information. Parents, watch This video for steps on how to create your free parent account. When it asks for a student or parent pin, please use the following: Student PIN: 486966 || Parent PIN: 352380

Newburyport High School is partnering with College Affordable to offer your family the personalized support necessary to understand the entire financial aid process. College Affordable will be your ally helping you navigate this process throughout the year. Some of the services they offer:

• Create a realistic family budget to measure affordability
• Optimize scholarship and grant opportunities at target colleges
• Assist with completion of aid and grant applications
• Review and interpret financial aid offers to allow for fully informed decisions
• Review potential lenders to select the best opportunity

In addition to the above, they will host a monthly webinar series to provide you timely information throughout the academic year. To register your information with College Affordable and sign up for their webinar series, please complete the form on the page linked below. Please note all responses will be kept confidential.

Newburyport High School is partnering with College Aid Pro so our families can save money, time, and stress during the overwhelming college application and funding process. We have invested in CAP's all-in-one financial aid and scholarship platform so our students and families can get free access to:

• An instant (and accurate) net price calculator for every college, so you know approximately what financial aid package each school will give you
• Every scholarship at every college and which ones your students are likely to receive
• $9.1 billion searchable private scholarship database
• Customized guidance on when and how to appeal your financial aid packages at colleges

Head to the website linked HERE to register your account and get started with these awesome resources. The Coupon Code for our school is NEWBURYPORT100

Join Newburyport Youth Services for the next installment of their Parent Speaker Series. Jon Mattleman will discuss "Let's Talk About Anxiety" on December 5th at 7:00pm at the Nock Auditorium. Anxiety is more than stress. Severe and uncontrolled anxiety can prevent youth from taking in new information, engaging in social activities or trying new experiences. Anxiety is a treatable disorder and implementing new strategies can have a positive impact. Jon Mattleman, MS has over 30 years of experience as a mental health counselor and presenter. With insight, humor and compassion, Jon provides families with tools they can implement immediately and strategies that work.

Join us, Thursday, December 5th at 7 PM in the Nock Auditorium to hear Jon speak!

Free childcare available. Message Renee at rmiciek@newburyportma.gov to register for childcare.

The holiday season can be a time of joy and gratitude, but it can also often contribute to increased stress and anxiety for many. Fortunately, there are effective strategies for managing these added pressures. Join InStride Health therapist Brian Richter, PhD, ABPP for a webinar discussing practical tips and tools to deal with holiday stress, and get ready to embrace the season with resilience. Register here for this webinar hosted in collaboration with the ADAA.

Back-to-school season can stir up a range of emotions – from excitement to anxiety – for the whole family. It also presents a valuable opportunity to recognize the signs of perfectionism early and establish new habits that can set your children up for success for the rest of the school year. We often see increases in anxiety presenting as perfectionism. InStride psychologist Mariana Nicholls, PhD, recently wrote a blog post discussing tools to set students up for success for the rest of the school year.

At Newburyport, we are committed to the mental health and well-being of all of our students. All outside programs and services listed on the NHS website are listed as potential resources only. No programs or services are promoted nor vetted by the school. As always, while we are here to help and support our students, we encourage you to also speak with your pediatrician if you have concerns. Please use this link to access our mental health resources page: https://www.newburyport.k12.ma.us/domain/111

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new MPY Parenting Solutions Library. The MPY Parenting Solutions Library is offered at no charge, in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families, and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The trainings are presented by experts with advanced degrees and the trainings focus on child and adolescent development, including difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, racism, and grief. These trainings present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.