![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/blossom-24.f84c1594.jpg)
GHS Counselor Connection
March 2024
May the Road Rise to Meet You, Foothillers!
Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is here to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.
Upcoming Events
Grossmont College Class Selection Day
Seniors who plan to attend Grossmont or Cuyamaca College are invited to attend Class Selection Day on March 7th in the GHS Library! Call slips will be sent for students who completed the Grossmont College application by March 1st with Grossmont High listed as their high school. College counselors will meet with students individually to help them select classes and earn priority registration. Students who do not receive a call slip or have not yet completed the Grossmont/Cuyamaca College application are also welcome to go to the library anytime during periods 1-6 on March 7th for assistance. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!
Thursday, Mar 7, 2024, 08:30 AM
GHS Library
CSUSM Super STEM Saturday
Super STEM Saturday is a one-day festival that engages youth of all ages and their families in the diverse and exciting fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Click here for more information.
Saturday, Mar 9, 2024, 10:00 AM
CSU San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd. San Marcos, CA 92096
From Darkness to Light: A Parent's Guide to Recognizing and Responding to Youth Depression
Presented by Joshua Feriante, DO, MBA, this webinar is part of a free series for parents and caregivers offered through a partnership between the San Diego County Office of Education and mental health experts from Rady Children's Hospital. It will be followed by a 15 minute question and answer session. Register here.
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024, 05:30 PM
virtual
CalSOAP College Bound Webinar: So You've Been Accepted...Now What?
Are you a 12th grader who wants to attend college in the fall? Perhaps you are starting to receive notifications from universities about whether you are accepted. How do you decide where to go? What are your next steps? What if you're waitlisted or not accepted; what are your options? Find out in this one-hour webinar. Register here.
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2024, 06:00 PM
virtual
CalSOAP Free Cash for College Virtual Workshop
Thursday, Mar 14, 2024, 05:00 PM
virtual
CalSOAP Free Cash for College Virtual workshop
High school seniors and families can register here to attend a FREE Cash for College event for individual help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and/or Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications. Log in anytime from 5pm - 6:45pm.
Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024, 05:00 PM
virtual
WACAC College Fair
The Western Association for College Admission Counseling college fair is a free event with free parking. Come speak to representatives from over 100 colleges from around the world. Learn more about everything that the schools have to offer so that you can find your best fit school. Students and parents should register at www.StriveFair.com. Show your barcode to colleges who will scan it to easily get your information and send you more details about their school, the application process and important deadlines.
Saturday, Mar 23, 2024, 01:00 PM
Scripps Ranch High School, 10410 Falcon Way, San Diego, CA 92131
Wellness Center
The Damage of Diet Culture on American Adolescents
"Diet culture can be described as the prioritization of thinness over health. It has influenced adolescents, harming self esteem, our cognitive food patterns, and our real well being. It has existed for decades, re-inventing itself to appeal to impressionable generations that come along." Click HERE to read the insightful La Mesa Courier article from one of our own Foothillers, Briana Samano. Additional resources can be found below.
Subtle Signs of Depression
Depression can show up in subtle ways that are easy to overlook. This one-pager from Charlie Health explains some of the less obvious symptoms. Support is available in the GHS Counseling and Wellness Center!
Therapists Available at GHS
Did you know we have therapists right here on campus who can provide free short-term mental health support for GHS students? We are fortunate to partner with Wellness Together, Family Wellness Center, and the San Diego Youth Services CAT Team. If you are looking for emotional support and have any challenges accessing services outside of school, please contact your counselor or Laura Dawson in the GHS Wellness Center.
Academic Support & College Preparation
All Grade Levels:
Career Speaker Series this month!
First Responders: Wednesday, March 6th during period 2
Auto Industry: Tuesday, March 12th during period 6
Construction Fields: Tuesday, March 19th during period 3
Planning Classes for Next Year
Counselors recently visited English classrooms to review graduation/college requirements and talk with students about how to plan classes for the next school year. Students were given course selection forms to complete with parents/guardians and return when they meet with counselors individually this month. If you were not able to attend our virtual Course Planning Night on Feb. 22nd please see click here for the presentation.
Summer School at GHS
Summer school will be held from June 10th - 28th. Students will have the opportunity to repeat a D or F grade in one or two classes. There will be a morning class from 8am - 11am and an afternoon class from 11:45am - 2:45pm. Counselors are reviewing this with students as we meet with them to review their progress. Students will be signed up for summer school if they indicate they are able to attend. Parents, please avoid planning travel during the month of June if your student needs to make up a course.
College Summer Programs
Many universities offer Pre-College Programs during the summer, offering students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a particular subject and experience a college campus. You can find many of these posted on our website here. Applications deadlines vary throughout the spring and can be competitive. Costs vary as well and some programs offer scholarships.
Ninth & Tenth Graders:
GUHSD Spring Academies
These free enrichment opportunities during Spring Break are open to all GUHSD 9th & 10th graders. Register by March 11th!
Skate 4 Concrete at IDEA Center High School on April 1st - 5th from 8:30am - 12:30pm
Drone Academy at West Hills High School on April 1st - 5th from 8:30am - 12:30pm
Click here for the flyer and registration information.
GUHSD Summer Academies
Check out these free opportunities for enrichment this summer! Open to all current GUHSD 9th & 10th graders. Register by April 30th!
June 14th - 21st: Power Up, Culinary, Sports Medicine, and Transportation
June 24th - 28th: Film Academy & Robotics Challenge Camp
Click here for more information and registration.
Registration for Incoming Freshmen and New Students
Please click here for information on how to register new Grossmont students!
Juniors:
College Bound Juniors: Consider Registering for the ACT/SAT Exams
Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. In fact, nearly 80% of US colleges do not require them. However, some universities may require one of these exams, or they may have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may also be required by specific programs or scholarships. Fairtest.org has put together a list of test optional and test free colleges.
Seniors:
Apply for Financial Aid by April 2nd!
Pro-Tips for the 2024-2025 FAFSA Form
Understanding the FAFSA and Financial Aid Guide
Scholarships
Did you know that there are sometimes scholarships that go unused because nobody applied for them? We hear about a ton of incredible scholarship opportunities, which our Administrative Assistant Lori Cromwell posts on our GHS counseling website (click here)! Many of these are local opportunities for our students! They are organized with tabs at the bottom for the month the application is due. Please check back regularly and apply for any that seem like a good fit. Scholarship opportunities can also be found at fastweb.com, bigfuture.collegeboard.org, and goingmerry.com.