Counselor Connections
VHS Counseling Department Newsletter, 2024-25 (Quarter 1)
Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year!
It seems amazing that we are already a month into the school year. The Counseling Department is settling into the year and we hope you are too!
This year, Mrs. Enders will be the counselor for all freshmen (Class of 2028). Students (grades 10 - 12) will stay with the counselor they previously had, but if they had Mrs. Enders or are new to Verrado, they may need to check to see who their counselor is. Students can view their assigned counselor in StudentVue under the Course Request tab. Need help? Stop by the main Counseling Center in the center mall area of the school.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
College & Career Specialist
Ms. Smith
x4131
Counseling Center Clerk
Ms. Groves
x4009
Counseling Center Clerk
Ms. Reyes
x4027
Data Information Specialist
Ms. Zavala
x4028
Registrar
Ms. Williams
x4029
School Counselor (A-wing)
Ms. Schepker
x4047
School Counselor (B-wing)
Ms. Palmgren
x4065
School Counselor (C-wing)
Ms. Enders
x4083
School Counselor (D-wing)
Mr. Pratt
x4101
School Counselor (E-wing)
Ms. Hink
x4016
Academic Success
Here are a few things that you (or your student) can do to be successful in each of your classes:
Attend
Be engaged in your class
Take good notes and study your notes and information regularly
Get organized
Manage your time
Complete and turn in assignments on time
Ask for help and work with your teacher
Attend tutoring (Viper Connect and/or after school)
Make-up work when you have been absent
Prioritize your education
Be positive!
ACE & Hoop of Learning Programs
ACE Program
Who: Available for sophomores to apply for their Junior and Senior year of high school. Additional criteria on the flyer below.
What: Scholarship and success program. Students can earn up to 24 college credits during their time in the program.
Where: Students take classes on the EMCC Main Campus on Saturday during the school year and during the week in the summer. EMCC is a fully IN-PERSON Program. Rio Salado's ACE program is our online ACE option for Maricopa.
When: Applications will likely open mid-October and are usually due in December. Accepted students begin the program in Summer 2025.
Interest Form: Interested students who would like information prior to October, should complete the following interest form: https://bit.ly/EMCCACEINFO
HOL Program
Who: Available for all Native American students who are enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. Additional criteria on the flyer below.
What: Scholarship and success program. Students can earn college credits during their time in the program.
Where: Students take classes on the EMCC Main Campus.
When: Applications are accepted year-round as space becomes available in the program. Students may submit their application to be placed on a waiting list for the upcoming semester by visiting: https://bit.ly/EMCCHOLAPP
ACT & SAT
The ACT and/or SAT are tests used by many 4-year colleges/universities for admissions purposes. Seniors are encouraged to check admission requirements for each college/university to which they are applying. If you need to test, you will register directly with the testing agency. Check out the websites listed below for more information and test date options.
- ACT (www.act.org)
- SAT (https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat)
AFUHSD College & Career Fair
Verrado High School will host this year's AFUHSD College & Career Fair on Thursday, September 26th. Check out the flyer below to learn more! See Mrs. Smith in the Career Center if you have any questions.
Attendance
While the counselors do not handle Student Attendance, we do want to remind you that students can lose credit in a class (even if they are passing), if you are not attending the class. Talk with one of our administrators to learn more about the attendance policy and process. Stay focused and stay on-track to graduate!
Career Center
Mrs. Smith, our College & Career Specialist, is here to assist you with your college and career readiness. She meets individually with students, offers workshops during Viper Connect, arranges lunch visits for college and military reps, as well as plans many of our department's CCR events. If you have questions or need help with the college selection or admissions process, scholarship applications, the FAFSA, building a resume' or another college/career topic, stop by the Career Center (located at the front of the school, across from the Attendance Desk) and speak with Ms. Smith.
College Admission Plans
Every college offers a type of admission plan which outlines how they are going to admit applicants. Some colleges offer more than one admission plan. It is important to understand the parameters of the college admission plan(s) for the college(s) you are applying to. Examples of admission plans include but are not limited to rolling admissions, regular admissions, early action, or early decision. Check out your college's admission website for their specific options. For a general overview, you might find this site helpful: https://counselors.collegeboard.org/college-application/early-decision-action.
College Applications: Self Reporting Grades, Transcript Requests, GPA, Rank
Do you need to self-report your grades on a college application? You can use “Course History” in StudentVue.
Do you need an official or unofficial copy of your transcript? You can utilize Parchment.com and/or reach out to our Registrar, Ms. Williams at swilliams@aguafria.org, as she handles all transcript requests.
If you need to know your GPA and/or rank, you may go to the main Counseling Center for assistance. Mrs. Smith, in the Career Center, may also help with this.
College Athletics
Want to compete in college athletics? You need to know the eligibility requirements. Check out the following sites:
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) - https ://www.njcaa.org
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) - https://www.playnaia.org
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) - https://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future
On a related note, Edgenuity (online platform) classes are not NCAA approved. Please see your counselor if you have any questions.
Contacts/Resources
Have a question but not sure who to contact? Here is a list of some topics and your best contact/resource at VHS:
- Absences = Attendance Office
- Appointment with teacher = Teacher
- Attendance policy & concern re: loss of credit = Administrator
- Athletics = Ms. Barnes (Athletic Office) or Mr. Cromer (Athletic Director)
- Bullying/harassment = Administrator
- Civics Test = Mr. Maier, Assistant Principal
- Class/Teacher concern = Teacher or Administrator
- Clubs = https://www.aguafria.org/domain/1735
- College/Career Exploration & Scholarships = Ms. Smith (Career Specialist) or Counselor
- Enrollment/withdraws = main Counseling Center
- Fines/Fees = Bookstore
- Grade & class questions = Teacher of the class
- Graduation: Cap & Gown = https://www.jostens.com/
- Graduation ceremonies (general info) = Ms. Goodwin
- Graduation status = Counselor
- Homework request (when school is missed) = Teachers
- Illness/health issue = Health Center
- Lost & Found = Ms. Montgomery
- Medical information/updates = Health Center
- ParentVue or StudentVue Assistance = Ms. Zavala, Data Specialist
- Report Cards = ParentVue or main Counseling Center
- Schedule Change process within change window (start of year) = Counseling Center or Counselors
- Schedule Change outside the change window (after start of year) = Administrator
- Social/Emotional Support = Counselor
- State Testing = Ms. Bonessi, Assistant Principal
- Technology Assistance = Library
- Transcript / Rank = Ms. Williams, Registrar
- Yearbook = Ms. Studts
If your topic isn’t listed or you need help connecting with the person/office listed above, you can always call the main school number, 623-932-7400, for assistance.
Cumulative versus Core GPA
A cumulative grade point average (GPA) uses grades from all classes taken during the regular school day. Your cumulative weighted and unweighted GPA are reported on your transcript. You can request an official transcript to send to a college throught Parchment.com or with our Registrar, Ms. Williams, in the main Counseling Center.
A core GPA uses only the grades of courses required by the college/university for admissions to their school.
We encourage students to research what type of GPA is used for admission and scholarships at the schools they plan to apply to.
Did you know?
ECAP & Major Clarity
Arizona believes all students should have an ECAP (Education and Career Action Plan). The ECAP process should help students clarify their career goals and narrow their initial plans after high school. It can also help shape students’ course selections and involvement throughout high school. The ECAP can be seen as having two components: plan/portfolio and extended learning opportunities.
This year, our district will continue to use Major Clarity, a career exploration platform, to assist students with their ECAP plan/portfolio. This college and career readiness program offers exploration tools, lessons, and information on:
Careers
Programs of study
Specific colleges/universities
Financial aid
Resume’ writing
And more!
In addition to community events, Ms. Smith and the School Counselors coordinate many extended learning opportunities to assist students with their ECAP. An example of some of those opportunities are:
ASVAB
Scholarship Marathon
College & Career Night
Application Workshops
FSA ID - Seniors & Contributors
1st Quarter Progress Grades
Quarter progress grades will be published in Student/Parent Vue. You can view the grades by logging into StudentVue/ParentVue and clicking on the Report Card tab. It is important you work with your teacher regarding what you need to do to bring up your grade by the end of the semester, especially if you have a D or F. If you have any questions about the posted grade, students are encouraged to speak with their teacher; parents are also welcome to reach out to the teacher. If you need help accessing Student/ParentVue, please reach out to Ms. Zavala, our Data Specialist, in the main Counseling Center.
Journaling
Journaling is a process in which you write your thoughts, feelings, and insights. It can help reduce anxiety, allow us to let things go, create awareness/insights, provide a safe way to open up, and regulate our emotions. Here are some prompts that might help you get started with journaling:
- Write a letter to your present, past, or future self.
- Write a letter to someone in your family or someone special to you.
- Write a note to someone you admire.
- Write about something special about you, a happy memory, or a problem you solved.
- Write a poem, song, or story.
ParentVue Notifications
Did you know that you can set notifications in ParentVue so you receive alerts about your student's attendance, discipline, grades, and grade book. You can set up the grade book notifications to be weekly or only when your student's grade drops below a certain percentage. You do need your email to be up-to-date in ParentVue for the notifications to be sent. See the following attachment for directions on accessing this part of ParentVue.
PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT will be given this October at VHS.
The test is open to current juniors and sophomores. Sign ups will open in September. Seats are limited so do not delay in signing up.
Reasons to take the PSAT/NMSQT include:
Practice for the SAT
Qualify for scholarship programs (11th graders)
Insight into AP courses you may be ready to tak
Learn more about the PSAT at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt.
Free, individualized practice for the SAT through Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/sat).
Stay Connected!
Students can make an appointment with their counselor by clicking here; this link is also posted in their grade level's (cohort's) Google Classroom.
Please keep in mind that we may reach out to you through your student email account so be sure you are checking it daily.
Counselor Connections is our quarterly newsletter that is posted on our webpage, www.aguafria.org/vhscounseling > Counselor Connections (Quarterly Newsletter).
Every grade level (or cohort) has a Google Classroom managed by the counseling department. We post academic, career/college, and social/emotional information and resources. This year our department will not be using Remind messaging but instead will post information in the Google Classrooms so be sure you are checking your emails for updates or going to the Google Classroom each week for updates.
We also have Instagram (vhscounseling) account.
And last, but not least, is our Counseling & Career Center website that is located at www.aguafria.org/VHSCounseling.
Student2Student (S2S)
Student to Student (S2S) is a program designed to welcome new students and help them transition to our school. S2S was originally established to bring military and civilian students together. The program was adapted on our campus to welcome all new students using the same original program concepts: creating a positive environment, support and academic excellence, and easing the transition process.
If you are a new student or family to Verrado High School, our S2S officers are available to provide extra support through monthly group meetings and a special Google Classroom to help simplify the communication process. Please reach out to Ms. Smith or Ms. Palmgren should you or your student have any questions or need additional support in the transition to Verrado High School.
Suicide Prevention Month and 988 Day
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and September 8th is 988 Day. The goal of 988 Day is to recognize the importance of mental health and suicide prevention, as well as increase awareness for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline). Learn more about the 988 Lifeline at https://988lifeline.org/ and mental health & suicide prevention at https://www.samhsa.gov/.
Upcoming Events
Wednesdays
College/Career Wear Day
all day
Fridays
Dash - Therapy Dog
Before School
Cafeteria
Subject to change due to schedule and availability
September 8, 2024
Tri-University (ASU, NAU, UofA) Event
2:00 p.m.
@ ASU West
https://collegereadyaz.com/high-school-student-programming/
September 8, 2024
September 15, 2024
October 6, 2024
Harvard, Princeton, the University of Virginia, Wellesley, and Yale (HPUWY) Virtual Events
7:00 pm
https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy (to register)
September 12, 2024
University of Arizona
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
September 15, 2024
NACAC National College Fair - Greater Phoenix
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
@ The Phoenix Convention Center
https://www.nacacattend.org/24GreaterPhoenix
September 16, 2024
Glendale Community College
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
September 18, 2024
Six Colleges Event (Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Swarthmore, & Williams) - Phoenix Event
7:00 pm
https://www.sixcolleges.org/rsvp/rsvp-sep18-2024-phoenix.html (to register)
September 19, 2024
ASU and NAU
Viper Connect
Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
September 19, 2024
Exploring College Options (Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, Stanford) - Phoenix Event
7:00 pm
https://www.exploringcollegeoptions.org/
https://uapply.georgetown.edu/register/PhoenixECOFA24 (to register)
September 19, 2024
West Point Admissions Meeting
6:30 pm
https://apply.westpoint.edu/register/TempeAZ24 (to register)
September 23, 2024
ASU Barrett Honors College
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
September 26, 2024
Columbia University
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
September 26, 2024
AFUHSD College & Career Night
5:30 pm
@ VHS
Contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center, if you have any questions.
October 11, 2024
2025-26 West-MEC Application Opens
Pick up information about their Open House events in the main Counseling Center or Career Center.
October 17, 2024
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC)
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
October 21, 2024
ASU Ira A Fulton School of Engineering
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
October 22 - 24, 2024
ASVAB
@ VHS
*See Mrs. Smith in the Career Center if you have any questions.
November 14, 2024
Glendale Community College
Viper Connect
VHS Reading Room
Sign up throught the RTI system or contact Mrs. Smith in the Career Center.
West-MEC
The 2025-26 West-MEC program application is projected to open on October 11th.
Check out their website at www.west-mec.edu and attend one of their Open House events to learn more about their programs and requirements.
Students will apply online at www.west-mec.edu, then print the Application Verification Form (AVF). Once you and your guardian(s) have signed the verification form, you must turn it in to your VHS counselor by December 20, 2024 for consideration in the primary round of allocations.
Sophomores and/or juniors can apply to attend a West-MEC program; however, completion of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Be sure to watch for announcements in your grade level GOOGLE CLASSROOM for information and updates between our quarterly Counselor Connections newsletters!