College and Career Corner

Can you believe it's already April?? We only have eight weeks left in school, and we are all busy gearing up for ACAP state testing for middle school students, prom and Decision Day for Seniors, finals week for high school students, and so much more! Please take a moment to review some of the important dates and information below, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need support.

If your student has a special interest or a connection with a professional in a field, they can actually schedule a job shadowing day or a college visit to do independently during a regular school day and will receive an excused absence. Students will have an excused absence for up to two (2) shadowing days, and up to two (2) college or technical school visit days.

Steps for scheduling a shadowing or college visit day:

1. Decide where you would like to visit.

• If you know the person you will be shadowing with, go ahead and schedule a day that works for their schedule.
• If you would like to go on a college tour, there is typically a section on your school's website for scheduling this.
• If you'd like some support in getting started with this, just set up a meeting with me.

1. Pick up a College Visit Form or a Job Shadowing Form from me. You will complete this during your visit day and get a signature from the person you shadowed or toured with.
2. Talk with your teachers to make sure you are able to make up missing work on the day that you are out. You should always prioritize taking care of important assignments and staying up to date in your classes.
3. Get prepared for your visit! Make sure you think about important information you want to learn while you are there so you can ask questions and get resources, and bring a notebook or something you can jot down notes with. You may need to bring a water bottle, comfortable shoes, and other clothing items depending on where you are visiting.
4. Get a signature on your Form before you leave your location.
5. Turn in your Form to the front office on the next school day, and Ms. Misty will correct your attendance.

This month, we focus on careers in Mental Health and psychology. This field is a big interest for our students at MCAA, and there are many different pathways to explore including clinical and research psychology, social work, counseling, psychiatry, and more.

Many careers in this field are growing and can be high-paying, which means that students interested in this pathway can expect job opportunities and financial stability.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that Art Therapists, Music Therapists, Counselors, Mental Health Statisticians, Social Science Research Assistants, and Marriage and Family and Substance Abuse Counselors have a "bright outlook," meaning that these roles are expected to grow faster than average over the next 10 years.
• Many of these fields require at least a Bachelor's degree, with many requiring a Master's degree and licensure in order to practice.

Many students pursue degrees in Psychology or Social Work to get started within this field, which are available at most four-year universities.

Check out O*Net Online for information on a variety of social and behavior health pathways, including salary and job growth data!

This month, our middle schoolers will take the ACAP Summative test in Math, English, and Science. This important test is part of how students demonstrate their readiness for grade promotion, as well as how the state assesses the effectiveness of our instruction. Students and teachers have been working hard to prepare for these testing days, and we are excited to see how this reflects in their scores. During testing week, please encourage your middle schooler to get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, wear comfortable clothing, charge their laptop, and take a deep breath! They got this!!

High school students will have e-learning days during this week. They should log into their Google Classroom for each of their classes and complete posted assignments.

If your student is interested in taking English 101 & 102 next year at MCAA, or if they would like to take a summer course at Jeff State this year, they should complete an application with Jeff State, and then complete a Course Approval Form as soon as possible. The deadline for Applications, Course Approvals, and Accuplacer Testing for Regular Summer Term is May 14th. Students with questions about this process should schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/s-munkachy

At the beginning of the school year in September, students completed a Career Shadowing interest form to indicate their preferences for participation during the shadowing program this year. This month will include our final visit locations. I will share information as soon as details are finalized!

Scholarship, College Admission, & Career Offer Form: This month, students will be preparing to make decisions about their post-graduation pathways. In order to help track students' decisions and celebrate the work and time they have put into pursuing their goals, please have them complete the form linked above by no later than May 1st. The form will take a bit of time as it asks students and families to report all of the scholarship and acceptance offers they have received. Remember that College Decision Day is May 2nd, which is when most universities ask students to accept their admission offers, pay their deposits, and begin making plans for the fall. Check in with your student to make sure they are taking the steps they need to be ready in this important time. Feel free to set up a meeting with me and your Senior to talk through questions you may have -- I am happy to support you as you consider these decisions!

Ready to Work Program: Students represented themselves with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm! Overall, our group of 7 students completed a total 29 interviews, and one student received a contingent offer from CMC Steel! I am proud of the work and care they put into preparing for their interviews, way to go! Many students still have online coursework to complete within the ACE program to receive their certifications. If your student is participating in Ready To Work, please encourage them to work on these modules, due on April 21st.

Complete the FAFSA! Remember that the state of Alabama requires all students to complete the FAFSA form or a waiver form in order to qualify for graduation. This important process is the first step to qualifying for financial aid in a university, community college, or training program. If you or your family need support in completing this, please reach out to me to schedule a meeting any time! My email is s.munkachy@mcaabhm.org