Connections Newsletter

TCA

Upcoming Events in Connections

September 3, 6:00-8:00: Junior/Senior/Financial Aid Family Night

• 6:00-6:40 Junior Connections Family Night - Overview of Junior year, and resources

• 6:45-7:10 Financial Aid (open to all grades) - Financial Aid, Scholarships, and FAFSA

• 7:15-8:00 Senior Connections Family Night - Overview of Senior year, calendar, and resources

September 4, 6:00-7:00: Freshmen & Sophomore Connections Family Night - overview of 9/10 curriculum

September 12: Southern Colorado Construction Career Days Field Trip hosted by Connections. Deadline to register is September 5

September 13: Deadline to pay mandatory AP Exam fee(s) in IC

Deadline to pay optional PSAT/NMSQT (10/11 only) fee in IC

September 23: Mini-College Fair during Flex in the Forum

September 30: Mini-College Fair during Flex in the Forum

October 10: Optional PSAT/NMSQT Exam. 10th/11th only (Deadline to register to pay the fee in IC is September 13)

October 15-17 - Colorado Free Application Days - see college websites for directions on how to apply, each college will have specific directions for their school

In the Community

September 3 – Denver Jesuit College Fair

September 23 - Christian College Fair

September 23 - Southern Colorado College Fair

September 29 - NACAC College Fair Click here for the list of colleges attending

October 5 – Explore Johns Hopkins: Denver

Our team supports every family. We strive to always be aware of opportunities as we advise our families. We want to partner with you and your teen. We have created a form to complete that WILL STAY CONFIDENTIAL in Connections.

Connections is hosting a field trip for interested juniors and seniors to attend the Southern Colorado Construction Career Days. Students will have an opportunity to perform actual trade skills and jobs while interfacing with expert contractors throughout the region. Students should be at school by 7:30 with the van leaving at 7:45 and returning by 2:30; lunch provided. See Connections for sign-up, permission slips are required. Deadline to return permission slips to Connections is September 5.

IF YOU HAVE OCTOBER 1 or 15 deadlines, come and set up a time with Ms. Peters before Sept 7. As you are applying, remember that any email sent with a request MUST be followed up with an in-person moment with Ms. Peters. That way she can verify that you (and she) have what is needed for an application form or letter of recommendation and uncover any emails that were sent to spam. Ms. Peters will walk through the application process in Rhetoric classes on the 19th or 20th of September.

If you are a Sophomore or Junior and choose to take the optional PSAT/NMSQT exam on October 10 am, the deadline to pay is September 13. The $18 fee is payable in Infinite Campus OPTIONAL fees. For Sophomores, the PSAT/NMSQT is great practice for the SAT and preparation for the qualifying Junior year PSAT/NMSQT. Juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other program entry requirements can compete for recognition and scholarships conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Families, check if your employer is listed as a scholarship sponsor. These sponsor scholarships are often awarded to children of employees who are NOT in semi-finalist or finalist standing.

I look forward to continuing where we left off last year. I will be in your classes starting in early September to continue exploring the many possibilities for your life after TCA. See you soon!

I visited all Freshmen English classes this past week to discuss their Learning and Productivity Preferences by completing a follow-up survey. The Learning and Productivity inventory results they received on the first day of school can help our students think about their environment, sensory, and mindset preferences. Each preference recommends learning during instruction or activities, working on assignments or independent tasks, and preparing for tests or presentations. Reviewing the results of this survey may help you brainstorm with your freshman about ways to prepare for school this year. You can see a similar lesson by going into Naviance, selecting Planner, and then choosing Curriculum and My Learning Style.

The AP Exam is REQUIRED for all AP courses. The fee for EACH exam is $99, payable in Infinite Campus fees. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

The PSAT/NMSQT Exam at TCA will be Thursday, October 10 from 8:00 -11:45, arrive by 7:45. This is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying exam for juniors and is a PSAT/NMSQT practice exam for sophomores. Register by paying the optional fee in Infinite Campus by the September 13 deadline. Note: this is on the Thursday morning of Parent/Teacher Conferences BEFORE Fall Break.

The 2024-25 PSAT/NMSQT exam will be digital. Currently, you can complete full-length practice tests. Per College Board: PSAT/NMSQT practice tests will be available in Bluebook (the digital platform) you can Download the Bluebook App and Practice.

Free test prep resources:

Official SAT Practice Tests (College Board)

Khan Academy (SAT Free Official SAT Practice Tests | College Board)

ACT Academy with Practice Tests

How to Improve Your ACT Score by 2 Points in 20 Minutes

Free SAT Tutoring and Prep | Schoolhouse SAT Bootcamp

More test prep resources are on the Connections webpage.

If you qualify, here are avenues to waive college admission testing (SAT, ACT, AP) or college application fees. If you qualify for an SAT fee waiver, or the ACT fee waiver, you can be approved for a fee waiver to most colleges. Another route is the NACAC College Application Fee Waiver. Please connect with your junior/senior advisor in Connections Ms. Peters tcacollege@asd20.org for assistance.

Here is a Naviance Quick Guide on how to set up a parent/guardian account and use Naviance tools. Registration codes were sent to new users this week. If you did not receive the email or need help setting up your account, email tcavisits@asd20.org.

Many sections of Naviance can be translated into 75 languages for your convenience, please click “Translation Switcher” in the upper right-hand corner of the home screen.

The Boettcher Foundation is hosting webinars on “Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships.” During these webinars, they will discuss how students can “ACE” their college and scholarship applications, including tips on how to help your applications stand out. You can register to attend one of the webinars by clicking on the date you wish to attend (please note that you only need to attend one, as the same information will be presented during each webinar)

• September 10th from 5-6pm

• September 26th from 12-1pm

• October 9th from 5-6pm

An abbreviated version of the presentation is also available here

The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's top four-year colleges and universities. Deadline to apply is November 14.

Boston University offers the Trustee Scholarship to approximately 20 outstanding students. The scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition plus orientation and mandatory undergraduate student fees for four years. Deadline to apply is December 1.

The Colorado Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Colorado Community College System and CDHE, has launched two new career pathways in the My Colorado Journey (MCJ) platform: Aerospace and Public Safety. MCJ is an innovative state effort to expand access to education and career data to help students and job seekers accomplish their career goals. It provides user-friendly, personalized information to find pathways to good jobs and upgrade skills and credentials.

Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded - Beginning in Fall 2024, students who attend public institutions and have family incomes of $90,000 or less are eligible for a complete reimbursement of any out-of-pocket tuition and fees paid for their education. The program expands on individual institutional promise programs and extends financial support to middle-income Colorado residents.

Student-athletes wanting to study and compete at an NCAA school are encouraged to register with the Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. More information here.

Are you thinking about applying to a highly selective college? Johns Hopkins University Admissions has published a College Planning Guide and Workshops to help with the application process.

Elon University is hosting its fall diversity and access program, ElonYOU: An Overnight Experience, on October 25-26. This program helps students from underrepresented identities connect with various campus resources and current Elon students. Elon University funds travel and provides transportation to and from campus. Additionally, students may receive a stipend of up to $250 to help cover the cost of travel for one parent, guardian, or mentor. Let Ms. Peters know if you are interested no later than September 2.

Maryville University’s Rawlings Sport Business Management program can turn a student’s passion for sports into a career they will love. Through this program, students will understand the sports industry through the lens of business, economics, finance, and communications, all while receiving a strong foundation in business management. Students also can gain hands-on experience through volunteer opportunities and internships with organizations such as Rawlings Sporting Goods, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Missouri Valley Conference.

Mississippi State Scholars Recognition Days are invitation-only events for academically talented students and their families. Students will meet faculty and current students, tour campus, enjoy a catered lunch, and learn about the Shackouls Honors College.

If you are interested in Columbia College, Connections can recommend high-achieving seniors from low-income backgrounds who demonstrate a strong interest in engineering, science, math, and technology to explore engineering education at Columbia. This year EPC is taking place on Sunday, October 13, through Tuesday, October 15, 2024. If you are interested contact the Connections Center.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) careers are high-paying and in demand due to a nationwide shortage. At Rutgers University, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences has an accredited undergraduate program and combined graduate program/dietetic internship. These programs, in which students learn in state-of-the-art food and nutrition laboratories and clinical simulation labs, lead students seamlessly to the RDN.

Energy is one of Colorado's fastest-growing industries. Energy jobs can be found in skyscrapers, laboratories, the field, and nearly every county in the state. Within the Utilities Generation Industry, Generation uses natural resources like the sun, wind, water, coal, or natural gas to create energy, which is then transformed for delivery to a “grid” for transmission and load management. Grid security unites cybersecurity with physical facility stability. In Colorado, entry-level Engineers and Boiler Operators average $58,000, while Energy Engineers average $111,000 annually.

Freshmen Checklist

Sophomore Checklist

Junior Checklist

Senior Checklist

Back-to-School Checklist

Joanna Peters, Director - Junior, Senior

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

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

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