DC Counseling Update

April 22, 2020

Good Afternoon Douglas County High School Community,

I hope this communication finds you and your family well. I have just a few updates to share with you at this time.

Reminder, as we receive information from the CDC and the Governor’s office, we will gladly pass any pertinent information on to you.

Senior Finals and Last Day

There will be NO Senior Finals this year. The last official day for seniors will be Friday May 8th, 2020.

• NOTE: if the senior is scheduled to take an AP Exam, then their ‘last day’ will vary.

AP Exams

Reminder that AP Exams run from Monday May 11th through Friday May 22nd. AP Exams will be given online and consist of a 45-minute Free Response exam in each area. The AP exam format consists of three exams a day: 10:00am, noon and 2:00pm. The complete schedule can be found HERE.

ACC Students

Please remember you must successfully complete 80% of the course material in order for your grade to stay the same on both DCHS and ACC transcripts and receive college credit. The "hold harmless" grading we have in place right now does not apply to ACC. Please contact your teacher if you have any questions regarding this.

End of Year Dates

As stated in an earlier communication, we are advocating to adhere to our current end of year date with underclassman (juniors through freshman) finishing on Friday May 22nd, 2020. There will be NO finals taken by the underclassman. Our last week and days will continue as remote learning.

Return of Belongings/Access to School

To date, we do not have answers regarding this but we will do everything we can to develop a process to get items that belong to DCHS returned to us and items within DCHS that belong to our students and staff returned to them. This includes the distribution of Yearbooks for those who purchased one.

There continues to be absolutely no access to our building by any staff, students or community members.

As always, I thank all of you for your continued support. I could not be prouder of our faculty and student body for their actions and responses to such a challenging situation.

Please be safe and we all look forward to getting back to some sort of normalcy soon.

Best Regards,

Anthony Kappas, Principal

Douglas County High School

How to Prepare Your Students for the 2020 AP Exams

Additional information is now available to help guide you and your students through the exam day experience.

New Resources

2020 AP Testing Guide (.pdf/10.9 MB): The guide, designed for educators to walk their students through test day, provides information about:

◦ The AP Exam e-ticket

◦ Five steps to take before test day

◦ Understanding the test day experience

◦ Exam scores, credit, and placement

2020 AP Exam Day Checklist (.pdf/526 KB): Teachers should have their students complete this checklist for each exam they take and keep it next to them while testing.

Explainer Videos: New videos are available to give students quick, easily accessible information about their test day experience, what they need to do to prepare, exam security, and more. Explore the playlist.

Other Reminders

AP Exam Demo (available May 4): AP students should use the clickable exam demo to practice the different ways to submit their exam responses. The demo will help students confirm that their testing device will be able to access and run the online exam. If they can’t access the demo, the final slide of the Testing Guide can help them troubleshoot. The sample content in the demo will be the same for all users and isn't a practice exam. We’ll send educators and students an email to remind them when the demo is available. Please encourage your students to take this important preparation step.

Online AP Classes and Review Sessions prep week: The week before exams, online AP classes will focus on the exam day experience and sample exam questions.

Student Outreach: If any of your students are having difficulty receiving College Board emails, walk them through the steps on the "Confirm your email address" page.

Information for AP Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish Language and Culture Exams:

The above exams will be administered using a new dedicated app, the AP World Languages Exam App. Students taking these exams must use this app on smartphones or tablets. This free app will be available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store the week of May 11. We’ll email students and their teachers to let them know when the app is available to download. Visit our site for more details.

A video walk-through of the test-taking experience will be available the week of May 4.

Details on accommodations for the above exams are also now available.

If your students are unsure about accessing the app, or if they don’t have a device, they can fill out this survey (or you can complete it on their behalf) as soon as possible so we can help support them (applicable to U.S. and U.S. territories).

Information for AP Music Theory Exams:

Before exam day, students will need to print or hand copy the 2020 Music Theory Answer Sheet and gain access to an audio recording app or software before exam day. Please see more information on the website.

AP® Exams begin on Monday, May 11. We've outlined steps you should take to ensure your students are prepared to test.

Now

•

Share the 2020 AP Testing Guide (.pdf/10.37 MB) and watch the overview video. The comprehensive guide will help you walk your students through exam preparation, and the video gives a high-level overview of this year's exams.

•

Encourage your students to practice with the exam demo. You and your students now have access to an exam demo. Students should use the demo to practice the different ways to submit exam responses. World language students will be able to practice with the AP World Languages Exam App beginning the week of May 11.

•

Share the required and recommended resource list with your students. Make sure your students know what resources they can use during their exams and how they can access them.

Two Days Before Each Exam

•

Confirm that registered students have located their e-ticket. Two days before each exam, students will receive an email with their unique exam e-ticket that includes their AP ID. On exam day, students will use their e-ticket to access the exam. If a student hasn't received their exam e-ticket by email, they can access it through their student account on My AP. E-tickets are nontransferable and shouldn't be shared with anyone. Students who haven't been receiving College Board emails still have time to confirm their contact information.

•

Remind your students to complete the AP Exam Day Checklist (.pdf/513.39 KB) for each exam they're taking. Students should complete this checklist and keep a printed or handwritten copy with them for reference during testing. Completing the checklist will help students feel confident they're set up for success.

On Exam Day

•

Remind students to click their e-ticket to check in 30 minutes before exam start time. Students should allot 80 minutes for each exam—30 minutes to enter their AP ID, name, and other information, and 50 minutes to draft and submit their responses. Make sure your students know their local testing time, since each subject's exam will be taken simultaneously worldwide.

•

Ensure your students know what to do if something goes wrong. If a student accidentally closes the browser, their device crashes, or they temporarily lose internet access, they can quickly click their exam e-ticket again to return to the exam. They should continue the exam, and if they feel at the end of the exam that the temporary disruption negatively impacted their performance, they can request approval to take the makeup exam at cb.org/requestmakeup. Students can also request a makeup exam if they've lost too much time due to a technical problem, can't connect to their exam, or experienced some other serious disruption.

Additional Information

This week, Online AP Classes and Review Sessions will focus on the exam day experience and review new sample questions for all nonportfolio courses. These sample questions are available on each subject's course page.

If you have additional questions, please check our in-depth FAQ page for educators. We have developed, and are regularly updating, this comprehensive list of answers to questions we're hearing from students and educators. Other resources are available on cb.org/ap2020.

To register for summer school please fill out the registration and student expectation forms.

Payment may be made Online:
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home

Please remember summer school is for CREDIT RECOVERY ONLY (This means you need to have failed a past or current class). You cannot take a summer school class to get ahead for graduation credits. All courses are online. Virtual tutors will be on hand during prescribed times.
Summer school is also a great opportunity to increase knowledge in courses that your student may have fallen behind, due to aspects of remote learning.

Summer School Session:
June 1st to June 26th
A Possible July session may also be available.

Cost:
$225 per semester course before June 1 st $250 per course after June 1st.

Course Offerings:
All core courses are offered in Math, Science, Social Studies, foreign language and English. Most elective courses are also offered.

Contact Lon Smith if you have questions
lwsmith@dcsdk12.org
303-868-9364

Counselors at Douglas County and Mesa Middle school held an online Question and Answer for incoming 8th graders. Students from Mesa Middle School and peer counselors from Douglas County High School got a chance to speak about any questions, concerns, and nerves they might be feeling as they make their transition into High School.

The Healthy Schools team has created a Virtual Calming Corner thanks to the inspiration from District 196 in Minnesota, and our own Kimmy Romine! There are truly beautiful and inspirational links to help heads and hearts, especially during this stressful time.

You can easily find the link on the front page of our DCSD Healthy Schools webpage.

Please share this with everyone and be sure to try it out yourself!! Any questions, reach out to Laurie LaComb at lllacomb@dcsdk12.org or Kimmy Romine at kcromine@dcsdk12.org

As we continue to navigate our new normal, we have expanded the visibility of virtual college events and added virtual college tours, as well as more comprehensive information within college profiles.

College Application Series: Editing Colleges I'm Applying To

College Application Series: Building a List of Colleges I'm Applying To

College Application Series: Requesting a Final Transcript

College Application Series: Setting Your Attending College

Request Transcripts in Naviance Student

Letter of Recommendation Requests

A few scholarships that are open for students looking for opportunities for the upcoming academic year.

Alexander Brown Memorial Scholarship - Deadline 5/8/2020 - Open to any student who is a solid organ transplant recipient who aspire to better themselves through higher education. High school seniors who will be graduating from high school in the upcoming spring term and who plan to attend an accredited technical, 2-year, or 4-year institutions *OR *students who are currently enrolled in an accredited technical, 2-year, or 4-year institution are eligible to apply.

Excelsior Scholarship (High School Students) - Deadline 6/15/2020 - For graduating high school seniors excel academically and plan to enter into an accredited vocational/technical school, community college, or college/university (public or private) in the upcoming academic year. Students identified as emancipated and/or foster care youth are highly encouraged to apply.

Helen M. McLoraine Scholarship Program for Foster Care and Emancipating Youth - Deadline 6/15/2020 - This scholarship program provides educational scholarships for foster care youth who are emancipated or are in the process of preparing to emancipate from the foster care system in Colorado. Awards can be up to $10,000 per year with an average award size of $5,000.

Tom Herman Memorial Scholarship- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XIFgM9tqbGb3BSHy4Tiu1uzd701si2XxrVhAJVr9IN8/edit?usp=sharing $1,000.

B.Davis Scholarship -The deadline is approaching for the 2020 B.Davis Scholarship.Please visit our website at http://www.studentawardsearch.com/scholarships.htm to read about us and to provide your students with an opportunity to apply for our scholarship. Applications must be received by May 22, 2020. Amount of Scholarship: $1,000 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at awards@studentawardsearch.com

Looking at Trade School?

Follow the link below for scholarships for students looking towards trades training.

https://www.imagine-america.org/high-school-scholarships-colorado-trade-schools/

American Indian Graduate Center supports Native students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in the United States. We offer more than 20 scholarship opportunities, not to mention a comprehensive array of academic and support services for students to utilize throughout their entire academic journey. From completing financial aid applications to creating a study plan to thriving on campus, students can rely on us as a guide every step of the way. The deadline for our undergraduate scholarship is Friday, May 22. We invite your seniors to apply.

We invite you to explore our scholarships- https://www.aigcs.org/scholarships-fellowships/?SFMC_cid=EM305038-&rid=47339737 - as well as our student resource page to learn more. If you have any questions, please contact our Scholarship Operations Team by calling 505-881-4584 or emailing fellowships@aigcs.org.

The College Board is committed to helping you ensure your students don't lose college planning momentum while they're at home. With the College Board Opportunity Scholarships, class of 2021 students can take important steps on the path to college while earning scholarship opportunities along the way.

These scholarships are now open for your juniors:

Build Your College List: $500

Practice for the SAT®: $1,000

These steps will assist your students as they head into summer and work on plans for college while they prepare for senior year. Access the College Board Opportunity Scholarships Resources and Handouts for Counselors booklet (.pdf/5.68 MB) for lesson plans that can be modified for virtual delivery. You can also share this 3 Ways to Plan for College and Earn Scholarships from Home This Spring (.pdf/566.87 KB) flyer with your students while they're working remotely. We encourage you and your students to take advantage of the College Board Opportunity Scholarships program and its resources to stay on track during these challenging times.

*Connecting talent with Opportunity. Website for Job Seekers. https://www.connectingcolorado.com/

*STRIDE Community Health Center now offering Teledentistry to both NEW and established patients! Visit https://stridechc.org/telehealth for more information.

*Do you need materials for learning? Things like paper, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, etc) if so, please reply to me directly and I will follow up accordingly.

Stay at Home Colorado Guide is an evolving resource page, released by the Governers office designed to provide free support, resources, and activities for Coloradans who are staying at home. It comprises wellness classes, education and entertainment for your family along with other relevant resources.

*Updated feeding sites for free breakfast and lunch provided by DCSD. https://dcsd.nutrislice.com/menu

*How to file for unemployment online go to www.https//www.colorado.gov/cdle/unemployment

* There are many options available to you to apply for Food Assistance benefits. Try to provide as much information as you can on the application to make the process faster.

● By Phone: Call Hunger Free Colorado Hotline at 1-855-855-4626

● Online: Visit the Colorado PEAK website at https://colorado.gov/PEAK from a computer or tablet to complete an application online.

* The IRS just launched a second web tool to expedite stimulus payments. Get My Payment tool will allow taxpayers to give the IRS with direct deposit information, ( if they didn’t include it on their 2018 or 2019 returns) thereby expediting the issuance. More details can be found here.

Buenos días,

Aquí está su lista actualizada de apoyos de la comunidad e información útil. ¡Mantente saludable y feliz! Jill

* Conectando talento con oportunidad. Sitio web para solicitantes de empleo. https://www.connectingcolorado.com/

* ¡STRIDE Community Health Center ahora ofrece Teledentistry a pacientes NUEVOS y ya establecidos! Visite https://stridechc.org/telehealth para obtener más información.

* ¿Necesitas materiales para aprender? Cosas como papel, crayones, marcadores, bolígrafos, lápices, etc.) en caso afirmativo, responda directamente y lo haré un seguimiento en consecuencia.

Stay at Home Colorado Guide es una página de recursos en evolución, lanzada por la oficina de Gobernadores diseñada para proporcionar apoyo, recursos y actividades gratuitas para los residentes que se quedan en casa. Comprende clases de bienestar, educación y entretenimiento para su familia junto con otros recursos relevantes.

* Sitios de alimentación actualizados para desayuno y almuerzo gratuitos proporcionados por DCSD. https://dcsd.nutrislice.com/menu

* Cómo presentar por desempleo en línea vaya a www.https//www.colorado.gov/cdle/unemployment

* Hay muchas opciones disponibles para usted para solicitar los beneficios de asistencia alimentaria. Intente proporcionar tanta información como sea posible sobre la aplicación para acelerar el proceso.

● Por teléfono: llame a Hunger Free Colorado Hotline al 1-855-855-4626

● En línea: visite el sitio web de Colorado PEAK en https://colorado.gov/PEAK desde una computadora o tableta para completar una solicitud en línea.

* El IRS acaba de lanzar una segunda herramienta web para acelerar los pagos de estímulo. Obtener Mi Pago herramienta permitirá a los contribuyentes proporcionar al IRS información sobre el depósito directo (si no la incluyeron en sus declaraciones de 2018 o 2019), agilizando así la emisión. Más detalles se pueden encontrar aquí.

Jill Savage

McKinney-Vento Coordinator

Douglas County School District

303)387-0142

Are you finding yourself in a hard place? If so, there is hope. Faith Lutheran Church wants to stand by your side during this time of hardship through prayer and service. We are providing families in need with a week worth of groceries on Saturdays from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. To guarantee your groceries, please sign up at https://faithcrco.org/announcement/drive-by-food-bank/. Otherwise, groceries will be on a first-come basis.

Judi’s House is the only free-standing organization in the Metro Denver area devoted solely to providing research-based care to grieving children and their families.

Since 2002, Judi’s House has supported more than 10,000 youth and caregivers, toward our vision that no child should be alone in grief.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and investors, there is no cost to families participating in Judi’s House services and programs.

We know High School Seniors have a LOT on their plate right now and may be unfamiliar with the resources available to them right here in Colorado. We wanted to share this information with you so that you can review and share with your students.
As an affordable education resource and a vital part of the community for over 50 years, ACC offers for-credit certificate and degree programs as well as professional and personal development options.

We would invite you or your students to learn more about ACC through one of our NEW Virtual Career & Transfer Sessions (look for the Discover Events) or Virtual Admissions Information Sessions. Chat live with ACC Faculty, Career Advisors and Admissions Counselors.

ACC also has great NEW information on our website including:

• Student Orientation
• Degrees and Certificates
• Tuition and Financial Aid
• ACC’s response to COVID-19

Registration for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 is still open! Feel free to contact your Admissions Counselor or any of our Campus Locations to learn more or ask questions.

The Douglas County Counseling office has first-hand experience with the impacts of this virus. We are sending all prayers and positive vibes to Mrs. Mancuso's husband, Eric, as he fights and recovers from COVID.

Denver Counseling Solutions is here for you in the midst of this pandemic. We are offering counseling services and resources for our community to help those struggling with fear and anxiety due to the quick and vast shift in our daily routine and lives.

• Tele-Therapy Appointments – schedule a counseling session by phone or video with one of our therapists today.
• Free Online Support Group for Teachers
• Free Online Support Group for Younger Adults (20-40)
• Free Online Parenting Group
• COVID-19 Response Letter from our Director
• Articles and Others Resources

For further information, please contact the Douglas County School District Homeless Student Liaison: Jill Savage - 303.387.0142 - homelessliaison@dcsdk12.org

https://www.dcsdk12.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=220484&pageId=5760403

*Comcast is offering 2 months free internet if you apply by May 13, 2020. After promotion, regular rates apply. https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19

*Xcel Energy – Energy assistance funds may be available to assist you with your energy bill or provide weatherization service for your home. https://www.xcelenergy.com/billing_and_payment/understanding_your_bill/energy_assistance_options/energy_assistance?fbclid=IwAR1-DajGOu_dK-QVJk9k2w_5wR2Z3sygLc9lrOLNVOQK_UmLlRzyWwUOgaM

*Seek out a variety of resources. Colorado’s COVID-19 Resources. https://onwardco.org/resources/?state=Colorado&lang=en

*Now is a great time to join one of our 4 to 6 week telehealth groups at AllHealth Network. To learn more call 303-730-8858 and ask about groups for children, adolescents, and adults.

*AllHealth Network's new Depression Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) opened on April 3rd, temporarily as an online program, and is currently accepting referrals. Information and Appointments: 303-730-8858. Emergency & Crisis Intervention: 303-730-3303. Available 24/7, 365 days a year.

*Porter Adventist Hospital has opened an Assessment Center offering in-person and virtual level of care assessments without going to the Emergency Department. Call 303-715-2300 to schedule an appointment.

*If your household makes less than $66,000, Tax Help Colorado has a Remote Drop-Off free service. https://taxhelpco.org/ways-you-can-still-file-your-taxes-during-self-isolation-covid-19/

*The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Seek help via the CDC daily life/managing stress website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html

*King Soopers Announces Partnership with Colorado State Emergency Operations Center for FREE COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing. https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/king-soopers-announces-partnership-with-colorado-state-emergency-operations-center

*Safer at Home Facts and Best Practices. https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home

*COVID line -Clinica Colorado Launches CovidLine, Free COVID-19 Screening & Telehealth Service for Uninsured in Colorado. Call 720-902-9449 or toll free 1-855-963-3721.

*STRIDE Community Health Center is now offering IgG Antibody Testing at two drive-thru testing locations. For additional information or visit https://stridechc.org/covid-19

Hola y feliz lunes. A continuación se encuentran sus actualizaciones de Soporte Comunitario. ¡Mantente saludable y feliz! Jill

* Comcast ofrece 2 meses de Internet gratis si solicita antes del 13 de mayo de 2020. Después de la promoción, se aplican tarifas regulares. https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19

* Xcel Energy: Los fondos de asistencia de energía pueden estar disponibles para ayudarle con su factura de energía o proporcionar un servicio de climatización para su hogar. https://www.xcelenergy.com/billing_and_payment/understanding_your_bill/energy_assistance_options/energy_assistance?fbclid=IwAR1-DajGOu_dK-QVJk9k2w_5wR2Z3sygLc9lrOLNVOQK_UmLlRzyW

. Recursos COVID-19 de Colorado. https://onwardco.org/resources/?state=Colorado&lang=en

* Ahora es un buen momento para unirse a un grupo de telesalud de 4 a 6 semanas en AllHealth Network. Para obtener más información, llame al 303-730-8858 y pregunte sobre grupos para niños, adolescentes y adultos.

* El nuevo Programa Ambulatorio Intensivo de Depresión (PIO) de AllHealth Network abrió el 3 de abril, temporalmente como un programa en línea, y actualmente está aceptando referencias. Información y citas: 303-730-8858. Intervención de emergencia y crisis: 303-730-3303. Disponible 24/7, 365 días al año.

* Porter Adventist Hospital ha abierto un Centro de evaluación que ofrece evaluaciones de nivel de atención en persona y virtuales sin tener que acudir al Departamento de emergencias. Llame al 303-715-2300 para programar una cita.

* Si su hogar gana menos de $66,000, Tax Help Colorado tiene un servicio gratuito de devolución remota. https://taxhelpco.org/ways-you-can-still-file-your-taxes-during-self-isolation-covid-19/

* El brote de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) puede ser estresante para las personas. El miedo y la ansiedad por una enfermedad pueden ser abrumadores y causar emociones fuertes en adultos y niños. Busque ayuda en el sitio web de la vida diaria/manejo del estrés de los CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov% 2Fprepare% 2Fmanaging-stress-ansiedad.html

* King Soopers anuncia asociación con el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Estado de Colorado para la prueba COVID-19 Drive-Thru GRATIS. https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/king-soopers-announces-partnership-with-colorado-state-emergency-operations-center

* Datos y mejores prácticas más seguros en el hogar. https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home

* Línea COVID -Clinica Colorado lanza CovidLine, Servicio Gratuito de Detección y Telemedicina COVID-19 para personas sin Seguro en Colorado. Llame al 720-902-9449 o al número gratuito 1-855-963-3721.

* STRIDE Community Health Center ahora ofrece Pruebas de Anticuerpos IgG en dos ubicaciones de pruebas con acceso directo. Para obtener información adicional o visite https://stridechc.org/covid-19