Counseling Corner

In this newsletter, you’ll find important college & career updates, introductions, and information on counseling services at Monte Vista. I look forward to starting this school year off strong and working with you and your family!

Hi Monte Vista families! Allow me to introduce myself! I was born and raised in Simi Valley and grew up going to school right here in SVUSD. When I am not at work, you can find me at country music concerts, Dodger games, or local farmers markets. A fun fact about me is that I adopted a cat during the Covid lockdown and she has since become my pride and joy!

I received my Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In May of this year, I earned my Master’s Degree in School Counseling from California Lutheran University. As a former graduate of SVUSD, I am especially excited to serve current Simi Valley students and make a positive impact in their educational journey! Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself, my door is always open.

Meet me in the MPR on Monday mornings from 8-9 am! This is an opportunity for 4th-8th graders to come and reset for the week ahead. Activities will vary from week-to-week but can include meditation, breathing exercises, and positive affirmations. Feel free to stop by and say hi, or stay the full hour and hang out! Our first meeting will be the week after Labor Day, on September 9th.

Attention Middle Schoolers! There will be a Naviance Orientation held in mid September to help you get set up on the platform and familiar with its features. Just make sure to bring a charged laptop! The orientation will be held on the following dates:

6th graders- 9/9 from 2:00-3:00pm in the MPR

7th graders- 9/10 from 2:00-3:00pm in the MPR

8th graders- 9/12 from 2:00-3:00pm & 10/15 from 2:00-3:00pm in the MPR

The A-G requirements are a set of classes that students need to take in order to be eligible for admission at California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) schools. Many other colleges and universities have similar requirements for admission. Students must pass these classes with a grade of a C or better in order to meet the requirments.

Simi Valley Unified School District uses Naviance to submit documents electronically to colleges. These documents include School Reports, Letters of Recommendation, and Transcripts. Seniors need to make sure the colleges they are applying to are listed in Naviance and their list is updated to reflect their most current selection of schools.

For students applying through the Common App:

• Match your Naviance and Common App accounts (click "Match Accounts", log into your Common App, complete the FERPA waiver)
• Request Letters of Recommendation (click the "Colleges" tab, select "Letters of Recommendation", click "Add Request", then select the teacher you are requesting from and which colleges you would like your letters sent to
• If you are requesting teacher/counselor letters of recommendation, please complete your Brag Sheet (under "About Me", select "Surveys from Your School")
• For more detailed instructions and FAQs, click HERE

Earning college credit while still in high school is a great way to start your college education early. Dual Enrollment not only earns you college credit, but it also puts you on the fast track in your college career. Through dual enrollment, students can begin satisfying General Education requirements which can help them graduate college quicker (and save them money since tuition is free for K-12 students).

For a registration checklist, please click HERE

For a step by step guide on how to register, please click HERE

For a copy of the required MOU form, please click HERE

Now is the time to register and plan a head for the SAT and/or ACT examinations! These college entrance exams may be required for some four-year colleges and universities, and/or scholarships. The UC & CSUs are test blind meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores in your application. Check the other schools you are interested in for direct information about testing requirements. For all administration dates, deadlines, and to register, visit:

• SAT- https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register?s_kwcid=AL!4330!10!73873563991304!73873526083134&ef_id=WFK7MwAAAEpe7B2A:20181130172147:s
• ACT-http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html

Its never too early to start thinking about how you'll pay for college. Financial Aid applications are available beginning October 1st. The federal deadline for the 2024–2025 FAFSA is June 30, 2025. The priority deadline for the Cal Grant is March 2nd.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
• Financial Aid Student/Family Resource
• California Community College Promise Grant
• Out of State Tuition Assistance: WUE

• Check out Simi Institute for Careers and Education (SICE) for a list of the programs they offer
• The Ventura County Community College District offers numerous comprehensive career education programs at Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura campuses. These programs include: Fire Science, Radiology, Nursing, EMT, Architecture, and more!

• U.S. Air Force ROTC
• Air Force ROTC Scholarship Information
• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
• CalVet Education Benefits for Families of Veterans