Counselor Connections Newsletter

• Nov 6 - Financial Aid Night: 6:00-8:00 PM, Room 216

• Nov 8 - MSM Fall Fest

• Nov 8 - December ACT Registration Deadline

• Nov 11 - No School (Veterans Day)

• Nov 14-16 - The Little Mermaid Musical

• Nov 22 - Sophomore Retreat

• Nov 22 - December SAT Registration Deadline

• Nov 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences: 4:00-7:00 PM

• Nov 27- 29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

• Dec 5 - Kaleidoscope Christmas Concert

• Dec 6 - MSM Athletics Meat Raffle

• Dec 7 - Junior Ring Mass

• Dec 7 - SAT

On Wednesday November 6th, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Mount St. Mary Academy is pleased to host Katie Kocsis, Director of Financial Aid at Niagara University, for a presentation on the financial aid process and the simplified FAFSA. Come learn about the new financial aid timeline and the simplified FAFSA. Other topics include the New York State TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) and the different types of financial aid.

While we specifically encourage the parents/guardians of our juniors and seniors to attend, all parents are invited.

Agenda

6:00-6:30 - Mrs. Julia Grant-Rooney and Ms. Jordan Osborne will be available to meet with families and answer questions regarding the college application process.

6:30-8:00 - Katie Kocsis, Director of Financial Aid at Niagara University will present on the financial aid process and FAFSA.

Location: MSM - Room 216

Please RSVP using the link provided: https://forms.gle/Bki5E6PassUekrLK9

Report cards will be available to view on your Blackbaud account on Friday, November 8th. If you have a concern about a grade, we encourage you to reach out directly to the teacher directly and/or set up a conference as outlined below.

Per the MSM Handbook, a student who receives a grade average below a 65 in two or more classes at either progress report or quarter close will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics until the next grade checkpoint (about every five weeks). A student may regain their eligibility after two weeks if they chose to participate in eligibility reinstatement. It is the student’s sole responsibility to complete all requirements of eligibility reinstatement. Failure to complete any of the requirements will result in a student remaining ineligible until the next checkpoint.

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 26, from 4:00PM-7:00PM. Teachers, counselors, and administrators will be available for short conferences upon request. In the upcoming Family Connection Newsletter you will find the full list of sign-up links. If you are having any trouble accessing a particular link, please contact that staff member directly.

Please note that these conferences are meant to be approximately 10 minutes in length. If you feel the need for a longer conversation and/or would like multiple staff members included, please reach out to your child’s school counselor (Grades 9/10 Kelli Shepard; Grades 11/12 Julia Grant-Rooney) to facilitate that request. We look forward to seeing you on November 26th.

Based on a new law in NYS, effective 8/15/2024, MSM is now required to ensure verification from parents/guardians of seniors that the student either:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if applicable, the Jose Peralta New York State Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act application;
OR

2. Complete this Waiver Form indicating that the parent or guardian (or student, as applicable), understands the nature of the FAFSA or, if applicable, the DREAM Act application and has chosen not to file such application.

MSM must also notify each high school senior enrolled, no less than two times during each school year, of all state-sponsored scholarships, financial aid, and assistance available to students attending college or post-secondary education.

The FAFSA will be opening in December 2024. For the latest updates, please attend our Nov. 6th Financial Aid Night event!

If your child is applying to one of the schools that requires the CSS Profile, that application is live as of Oct 1. If you are unsure whether or not a school is a CSS Profile one, please check the link to the College Board page for the most current listing of schools that require it for the 2025-2026 school year. Information regarding deadlines can be found on the financial aid web pages of the individual colleges/universities.

Most CSS Profile schools will also require a completed FAFSA. With the change in the opening of the FAFSA, please pay close attention to all deadlines.

Senior families, as a way to prepare for the opening of FAFSA, you will want to create your FSA ID before the opening of the FAFSA application as it may take 1-3 business days for you to be able to use your account. Please visit this link to create your FSA ID.

CUNY is excited to announce that the $65 Freshman Application Fee will be waived for eligible New York State students applying to CUNY for the Fall 2025 semester, if they submit an application from November 4th to November 15th!

Application & Information

On Wednesday, Nov 20th from 6-8 pm interested students and their parent/guardians are invited to visit Buffalo State to learn about the Social Work field and their program. This interactive evening includes:

• A Financial Aid representative to answer questions

• An Admissions counselor discussing how to apply

• A tour of the Social Work department, including meeting faculty and current students

• Time in a social work class

This evening is geared towards students interested in human services or a helping profession. please select the link to register for the event.

You are invited to take part in this unique opportunity to learn more about Business and Entrepreneurship at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. This immersive half-day workshop will provide High School students with practical experience in strategic marketing, business career opportunities, accounting, finance, and artificial intelligence. Tailored for those interested in pursuing business, this unique session will delve into product positioning, key performance indicators, brand design principles, and more.

Where:

Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship

150 Sawgrass Drive

Rochester, NY 14620

When:

Monday, November 11th (Veteran's Day) from 8:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Register Here!

The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States. Anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study, may apply to this non-partisan, need-blind, program.

*Note: current high school seniors are not eligible to apply.

Coolidge Scholarship

The Hagan Scholarship is a unique need-based merit scholarship that provides up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters, workshops to learn important life skills not typically covered in the college curriculum, funds to purchase college essentials, an HSF Schwab Brokerage Account to manage in order to learn how to invest, funds to study and travel abroad, and the opportunity to apply for a Hagan Graduate Scholarship good for up to four additional semesters in college.

Please visit the link for more information! Extra brochures are available in the Career Center.

Elks National Scholarship - Due 11/12/2024
Friends of the BPO Young Musician Scholarship - Due 11/18/2024
NHS Scholarship - Due 11/26/2024

Nov 7 - Niagara University (Criminology & Criminal Justice Open House)

Nov 7 - Niagara University (Holzschuh College of Business Open House)

Nov 7 - SUNY Niagara (Open House - Sanborn Campus)

Nov 8 - University of Rochester (Research Rochester)

Nov 9 - Hilbert College (Fall Open House)

Nov 9 - Houghton University (Highlander Open House)

Nov 9 - Rochester Institute of Technology (Open House)

Nov 9 - SUNY Brockport (Nov Open House)

Nov 9 - SUNY Niagara (Open House - NF Culinary Institute)

Nov 11 - Niagara University (Monday Open House)

Nov 11 - Roberts Wesleyan University (Discovery Day)

Nov 11 - St. Bonaventure University (Holiday Visit Day)

Nov 11 - SUNY Fredonia (Open House)

Nov 11 - SUNY Geneseo (Open House)

Nov 12 - SUNY ECC (Open House - City Campus)

Nov 13 - SUNY ECC (Open House - South Campus)

Nov 14 - SUNY ECC (Open House - North Campus)

Nov 16 - Niagara University (Fall Open House)

Nov 16 - SUNY Buffalo State (Fall Open House)

Nov 23 - Mercyhurst University (Fall Open House)

Nov. 23 - St. Bonaventure University (General Preview Day)

Nov 23 - St. John Fisher University (Nov Open House)

Dec 7 - St. Bonaventure University (General Preview Day)

Dec 7 - Niagara University (December Open House)

Kelli Shepard - School Counselor, Grades 9 & 10 - kshepard@msmacademy.org
Marissa MacTurk - Interim School Counselor, Grades 9 & 10 - mmacturk@msmacademy.org
Julia Grant-Rooney - School Counselor, Grades 11 & 12 - jgrant@msmacademy.org
Jessica Gertz - School Social Worker - jbliss@msmacademy.org
Jordan Osborne - College & Career Associate - josborne@msmacademy.org

Mount St. Mary Academy, founded by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, is a Catholic, private, college preparatory school for young women. Within a nurturing and academically challenging and inclusive environment, the Academy strives to develop the whole person’s gifts and potential. Guided by our Catholic tradition, and rooted in Gospel values, we empower scholars to be leaders dedicated to lifelong learning, moral integrity, social justice, and service to and inclusion of others.

We Believe in You!

Website: msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
Phone: (716) 877-1358
Facebook: facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy

Instagram: @mountcounseling

Sept. 2024

Oct. 2024