Student Services Newsletter

It may be hard to believe, but we are only a few months away from scheduling for next year! When selecting your courses, both your academics and electives, it is important to consider the potential workload attached and your responsibilities outside of school.

Below are some items to consider when reviewing your course selections:

• What courses interest you?

• What subjects do you want to learn more about?

• What courses will better prepare you for college?

• What courses will offer me more of a challenge?

• What courses could / would you use as alternates?**
  **This is important. Do not select courses, just because. These should be classes you are interested in.

Once the course selection sheets are available, review the offerings and mark off what you are interested in. If you are unsure about a topic, talk to your teachers and your school counselor, research the classes so you can make informed choices based on the information both available to you and what you asked.

Key Scheduling Dates:

• Feb. 17 - 20: Genesis Portal Open for All Grades - Counselors will visit student classrooms to review courses and the process. **It is important for students to utilize this time to select their courses so they are better prepared for their meeting with their School Counselor to review.

• Feb. 24-28 - 16: 9th - 10th Graders to meet individually with counselors and review choices

• March 3 - March 10: 11th Graders to meet individually with counselors to review choices and future plans

School Counselors will be available during unit lunch prior to individual appointments to help you make course selections. We encourage you to review your selections with your parent and/or guardian. We also stress that you have a conversation with your current teacher regarding recommendations.

Scheduling appointments with School Counselors will be posted on the bulletin board in front of guidance as well as emailed. During these meetings, the following items will be reviewed:

• Graduation Requirements and Credits

• Interests and future plans (to better select course electives)

• Other matters specific to the student and the scheduling process

• Appeal of Teacher Recommendations. If you do not agree with a teacher recommendation, you can review with your School Counselor during your appointment. You can file an Appeal of Placement form. The forms must be submitted to your School Counselor on March 11th.

We want you to be happy and feel good about your course selections. We want you to have a schedule that both meets graduation requirements but also motivates you to create and learn. We want you to have a schedule that helps shape your ideas on a career path for after high school.

January 2 – School Resumes

January 15 – 8th Grade Open House at 6:00 pm (01/23/2025 Snow Date)

January 16 – Lincoln Tech Presetation - Unit Lunch

January 17 – Wellness Fair - Unit Lunch

January 20 – MLK Jr. Day - School Closed; Staff In-Service

January 21-24 – Midterm Exams - Early Dismissal for Students

January 24 – End of MP 2

January 30 – Junior College Planning Night at 6:30 pm

February 3-7 – National School Counseling Week

February 5 – Early Dismissal; Staff In-Service

February 17 – Presidents Day; School Closed

February 20 – Guidance Field Trip to Universal Technical Institute

February 28 – Midpoint of MP 3

With Junior year well on its way, the school counselors will soon begin to meet individually with 11th grade students. Several topics are discussed in these postsecondary planning meetings, so please come with an open mind and any questions you may have. Typically, your meeting will begin with a review of your transcript to determine what courses will be needed for senior year to ensure you graduate on time! Then, the counselor will let the student lead the rest of the conversation, as these meetings depend on the student’s plan. Are you interested in college or a trade school? The military? Considering going directly into the workforce? These are questions that drive the conversation and each meeting.

For those considering college, you are going to want to register for the SAT and/or the ACT this spring. We will also review your Scoir account, your one-stop-shop for postsecondary planning. Through Scoir, you can complete college and career searches, save schools, and so much more. Scoir will also eventually be used to send transcripts, recommendation letters, and all other necessary documents to college during senior year.

All of this and more will also be reviewed at the Junior College Planning Night, scheduled for January 30, 2025 at 6:30pm here at High Point. This year, we are excited to announce that we will have Joseph Niclas, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Montclair State University presenting with us. All juniors and their families are invited to attend. As always, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school counselor!

Hello Class of 2026! We’re looking at you, juniors! As you begin thinking about and preparing for your final high school course schedule, there are a couple of options for you to consider.

Your senior year class schedule is comprised of remaining graduation requirements and courses that support your interests and help prepare you for the future. Below are a couple of options for you to consider in preparation for your last year of high school.

Work Study and the College Experience are two programs available to seniors. In order to be considered for both, students must be in good academic standing and can complete the remainder of their required courses within half a day.

Both programs enable students to split their day between high school and employment or high school and college classes. Work Study students attend classes at High Point in the morning, including a work-based class. Students are then dismissed from High Point at noon so they may begin their work-shift. Participants in this program are expected to have secured employment at the start of the school year and are required to work a minimum of fifteen hours a week. There is an application process that students will be required to complete and be considered for this program.

Students who participate in the College Experience are enrolled in a half day of classes at High Point and a minimum of two college courses at SCCC in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Participation in this program enables college bound students to take courses at a discounted rate. Through this program, students could potentially earn a minimum of six college credits prior to earning their high school diploma. *The credit total can vary according to the courses taken. College Experience students may take courses at SCCC’s main campus or can be enrolled in the diesel/engines program.

This program differs from Concurrent Enrollment in that participating students have a wider range of courses available to them and the courses are physically taken on the college campus. Enrolling in virtual classes is considered on a case by case basis. Interested students will first need to apply to SCCC and then follow a specific registration process.

Juniors who are interested in either of these programs can review their options with their counselor during their individual scheduling meeting.

As you may know, students in the class of 2025 (our current seniors!) will be required to submit a FAFSA in order to be eligible for graduation in June. We encourage all students who are college and trade school-bound to submit their FAFSA’s, as there is a great deal of federal and state money that you may qualify for. The FAFSA is now open, and you can begin to complete and submit your applications. If you were unable to attend our virtual financial aid night on December 9th, here is the recording. The state of New Jersey does allow an alternative to completing the FAFSA, and that would be a FAFSA Completion Waiver. If this scenario pertains to you, please complete the FAFSA Waiver Form ASAP. The form is located on the Genesis Parent Portal under ‘Forms’. We ask that you kindly complete the FAFSA or the FAFSA Waiver Form by May 1st. By not doing so, seniors will not be eligible for graduation.

Attention 8th Grade Parents! Come take a look at everything that High Point has to offer on January 15 with doors opening at 5:45 pm. This is a great night to ask questions and learn new information about our school. We look forward to seeing you then!

Scheduling is among us! 8th Grade Scheduling will take place at each middle school in February and March, dates TBD. You will be receiving a packet of information including the date, time and paperwork that you need to complete and bring with you on the day of scheduling. We are looking forward to having you as a part of the Wildcat Family!

The Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) is a partnership between High Point Regional High School and Sussex County Community College. To qualify, students must be in one or more of the pre-approved classes and must have a minimum of a B average to register. Tuition is $225 for a 3 credit college course and $300 for a 4 credit college course.

During the first two weeks of January, School Counselors will visit and provide registration information to each approved CEP class. Below are some highlights of CEP:

• Participation is voluntary

• Students are not required to attend SCCC after graduation

• CEP offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credits at a lower cost than full-time college students

• These credits may waive students from required general education courses required by colleges/unversities regardless of major

• Students must have a final minimum average of a C or higher to earn credits

Completed registration forms should be returned to Ms. Jaccodine in Guidance by February 5th.

Hey Seniors, You’ve Made It (Halfway)! Graduation is getting closer, but there’s still work to do. For those who applied to four-year colleges, many schools require a Mid-Year Report. This report includes your updated class rank and cumulative weighted GPA, incorporating grades from the first half of your senior year.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Check Requirements: Review the admissions pages for each college you applied to and see if a Mid-Year Report is required. Not all schools request this.
• Notify Your Counselor: If a Mid-Year Report is required, let your counselor know. Reports will be submitted via Scoir once second marking period grades are finalized.
• If you haven’t applied yet or have deadlines later this year (e.g., February 15th or later), your mid-year grades will automatically be included with your initial transcript.

Already Accepted? Congratulations! Keep up the hard work—colleges still expect strong performance, as final transcripts are sent at year’s end.

Questions? Reach out to your counselor for guidance!

Seniors -- The decisions have and will continue to roll in! We want to hear about it!! You may not know this, but, more times than not, college admissions officials do not share acceptance decisions with School Counselors. We rely on you to share this information with us! So, please let us know when you hear the news in person, via email and please update in Scoir!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to secure funding for your future! The local scholarship application allows you to complete one application to be considered for multiple local scholarships. Last year, High Point seniors were awarded over $160,000 thanks to the generosity of our local donors. This is your chance to earn FREE MONEY for college, trade school, or other post-graduation plans!

The application will be available in January. It’s important to take this process seriously—submit a thoughtful and well-written application, paying close attention to detail, punctuation, and spelling, as your responses go directly to our donors.

Important Notes:

• Deadline: The application must be submitted by the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Essay: A short essay is required.
• Completion: Ensure all sections are fully completed before submission.
  
  

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Marrocco in the guidance office or your school counselor.

Additionally, Mrs. Marrocco updates the Senior Class of 2025 Guidance Google Classroom regularly with scholarship opportunities. If you need a transcript, letter of recommendation, or anything else to complete your application, please reach out to your counselor.

At the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), students can take study breaks at the beach without leaving campus! UCSB is one of the few colleges in the U.S. where dorms and classrooms are just steps away from the Pacific Ocean. Imagine finishing class and heading straight to Campus Point Beach to surf, sunbathe, or study with the sound of waves in the background—talk about a "surf and study" lifestyle! 🌊🏄‍♂️

The Guidance Office is running three trips to trade schools this Spring. Permission slips will be available in the Guidance Office beginning January 3, 2025.

National School Counseling Week 2025 (#NSCW25) is Feb. 3-7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. The theme is School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.

Take this opportunity to recognize and thank your school counselors for all they do to support you on your journey. Together, let’s celebrate how school counseling empowers students to thrive in school and beyond.

For more information about the week and how to get involved, visit the American School Counselor Association’s webpage.

As we head into the new year, it is a good time to think about setting ourselves up for success by making healthy choices. Choosing to abstain from substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can have a big impact on your health, success, and future.

Here’s what research shows about teens who stay substance-free:

1. Better Mental and Physical Health
Teens who avoid substance use are less likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and long-term health issues. Their bodies and brains develop more effectively without interference from harmful substances.

2. Stronger Academic Performance
Staying substance-free often leads to better focus, memory, and overall school performance. Studies show teens who abstain tend to have higher grades and stronger chances of achieving their goals.

3. Healthier Relationships
Avoiding substances can help you maintain positive friendships and family connections. Substance use can lead to conflicts, but staying sober supports trust and strong bonds with others.

4. A Brighter Future
Teens who avoid substances are less likely to face addiction, legal trouble, or risky behavior. This means a better chance at achieving your dreams, whether it’s college, career goals, or personal success.

Choosing to abstain from substance use isn’t always easy, but it’s a powerful decision that sets you up for a healthier, happier, and more successful future. Don't hesitate to reach out to your counselor or a trusted adult for help. Your choices matter, and you have the strength to make the best ones for you!

The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for those grieving the loss of a loved one, it can feel overwhelming and lonely. Whether it’s your first holiday without someone special or you’ve carried this loss for years, managing grief during a season that celebrates joy and togetherness can be incredibly challenging.

Here are some tips to help you take care of yourself and honor your feelings during this time:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
It’s okay to not feel okay. Grief can bring up a mix of emotions—sadness, anger, confusion, or even guilt for feeling happy at times. Don’t pressure yourself to act cheerful if you’re not feeling it. Recognize that your emotions are valid and that healing doesn’t happen overnight.

2. Talk About It
You don’t have to face this alone. Share your feelings with trusted friends, family members, a teacher, or even a counselor. Letting others know what you’re going through can lighten the emotional burden. Sometimes, simply saying, “I’m really missing them right now,” can open up meaningful conversations.

3. Create New Traditions
Holidays often come with traditions that might remind you of your loss. While it’s okay to honor old traditions, consider starting new ones, too. Whether it’s lighting a candle, preparing a favorite meal in their memory, or volunteering to help others, these small acts can help you feel connected to your loved one while creating space to heal.

4. Take Care of Your Mind and Body
Grief can be exhausting, so it’s important to look after yourself. Try to get enough sleep, eat nutritious foods, and move your body—even if it’s just going for a short walk. Activities like journaling, listening to music, or practicing mindfulness can also help you manage stress and process your emotions.

5. Allow Yourself Joy
It’s okay to laugh, have fun, and enjoy the holidays even as you grieve. Feeling moments of happiness doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten your loved one. They would want you to embrace life and find joy in the little things.

6. Seek Support if You Need It
Sometimes grief feels too big to handle alone, and that’s okay. Reach out for support from a counselor, grief group, or trusted adult. Talking to someone who understands or specializes in grief can make a world of difference.

The holidays can be a time of mixed emotions, and that’s perfectly normal. Remember that healing is a process, and there’s no “right” way to grieve. Be kind to yourself, honor your feelings, and take it one step at a time. You’re not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help when you need it