Counseling Update
May 2021
Make Audacious Plans (M.A.P.)
In the month of May, we're going to Make Audacious Plans (M.A.P.)
Did you know? The history of mapping can be traced to more than 5,000 years ago. Humans have long recognized the importance and value of maps to their lives. Planning for a new transition and a new season is like planning your own adventure for life:
1. Set your expectations.
2. Pace yourself (mentally and physically)
3. Nutrition - take care of yourself
4. Plan it!
5. Go for it! "Life is a Journey and only You Hold the MAP" We exist to provide free resources, support, community connection, and activities to help foster this season of change.
#makeaudaciousplans
Preparing for Court
Wednesday, May 19th 5:30pm to 7pm Virtual Meeting STEM Center for Strength is working directly with the 18th Judicial District to host a panel discussion on how to prepare yourself and your student for the legal proceedings in the upcoming court hearing. More information coming soon!
SUMMER SCHOOL INFO
DCSD has decided to offer FREE SUMMER SCHOOL to our DCHS/CVHS students due to problems created by the COVID pandemic. We will be able to offer free summer school to all 9th-12th grade students.
These offerings are open to any student who needs credit recovery. Please remember this session is for CREDIT RECOVERY ONLY (This means you need to have failed a past or current class). You cannot take a summer school class to get ahead for graduation credits.
All courses are online. Virtual tutors will be on hand during prescribed times.
Please check with your high school counselor to register for the appropriate course or courses. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the course they take in summer school will meet their home school’s requirements for graduation, replacement credit, and the desired impact of the course on a student’s GPA. At the time a student passes a summer school course, both the failing grade and the new summer school grade will be included on the student’s transcript.
Summer School Session:
June 1st to June 25th
Registration for the June Session will close Friday, May 28th.
GRADUATION DATE/TIME
Douglas County Class of 2021 Graduation
Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 02:00 PM
EchoPark Stadium, Newlin Gulch Boulevard, Parker, CO, USA
Douglas County teen starts GoFundMe to help COVID-19 crisis in India
B.A.S.E.
Please look for your area B.A.S.E. Program below.
Links to individual websites are available.
Contact the BASE Manager with specific questions
Please read your B.A.S.E. location's guidelines and handbook before registration.
B.A.S.E. Programs Codes- and what is available
B&A: Before and After School Programs
SB: School Breaks (Seasonal School Breaks, and/or Professional Development Days)
Pre-K: Pre-Kindergarten Program
SALLIE MAE
Join us for a free webinar: Join us for a free webinar:
College Admission Tips
College Admission Tips
Dear Amy, Let your students and families know that they can register for a free webinar to learn more. Please send them the information below: Register now for a free webinar: Wednesday, May 12 | 7pm ET Register Now Thursday, May 13 | 8pm ET Register Now During this webinar we’ll demystify the admissions process and you’ll gain valuable insights directly from admission professionals. Topics will include: •Importance of high school academic choices •To take the ACT/SAT, or not •Applying to colleges •Essays and letters of recommendation •Campus visits: in-person and virtual •Your online presence Space is limited, so please register early!
When your students are getting ready for their higher education journey—whether it’s a 2- or 4-year college, career training, or something else altogether—it can be difficult to know where to start. During this webinar we’ll demystify the admissions process for students and families, and help them feel more prepared for the college application process.
College Admission Tips
Panelists Include: Fabrizio D’Aloisio, University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Collin Palmer, The University of Toledo; and Joseph Posillico, New York Institute of Technology
Panelists Include: Brian Armstrong, Texas Southern University; Jean Cox, Saint Louis University; and Derek DuBose, University of Denver
Counselors will be fielding ANY AND ALL Questions - End of Year, Next Year, and MORE
Important Senior Information
County Senior Students and Parents,
The following information outlines our calendar of events for the final TWO weeks before GRADUATION for our seniors. Please read all sections carefully as there are several date changes and new procedures in place to ensure we see all of our students for graduation. We completely understand the frustrations with quarantines and isolations this spring. Information continues to change and we appreciate your understanding and patience as things evolve. The following information in this communication is the most current and up-to-date information.
Please know that changes occur daily and we will notify the seniors first through CANVAS and Naviance. We will also send out information to seniors through their email. Seniors, PLEASE check your email’s. Seniors, please continue to check email, CANVAS and Naviance daily for changes.
*****In an effort to offer many senior activities before the end of the school year, there is a possibility of an exposure to COVID and it is DCHS’s and DCSD's expectation that a positive test result will be reported. Additionally, this will remove the student from all activities during that isolation period with no exceptions******
Ms. Diane Shuck-Gray (Assistant Principal/Activities Director) is working with Student Government to create a Senior Video. Please refer to the CANVAS Class of 2021 page for more details and how to submit photos to be included.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS….
If you are an Athlete who will be signing a National Letter of Intent, please notify Mr. Gardella this week to give notice for an Athletic Signing Event
May 5th & 6th - Regular In-Person classes-Senior Finals this week (NO ALTERED SCHEDULE)
May 7th – In-Person Learners, eLearners & Remote Students
Please Return ALL Materials (including computers, hot spots, technology, library books and textbooks), Credit Checks, Pay all Fees, Naviance iCAP District Senior Graduation Survey. These tasks MUST be completed by Wednesday May 12th or caps, gowns & regalia will be held.
May 12th - Senior Pick-up of Caps, Gowns & Regalia (specific times are assigned by alphabet). Please pick-up your Caps, Gowns & Regalia at the South Building, West Side Bus Loop. Please have a form of ID for identification purposes. **Tickets for graduation will also be distributed at this time. Each graduate is allotted 5 guests (1 ticket per guest). ***You will also be receiving a name card. Do NOT lose this.
Alpha A-F 8am-9:30am
Alpha G-M 9:30am-11am
Alpha N-S 11am-12:30pm
Alpha T-Z 12:30pm-2pm
We recognize that some of our seniors will be sitting for AP exams during their designated times. Please select a time when it will be most convenient for you. Participation in the graduation ceremony will be denied unless ALL outstanding fees and fines are paid by cash or credit card. Please see the bookkeeper prior to pick-up to resolve any outstanding balances.
May 13th - IB Celebration- 5pm @the PS Miller Park-Pavillions
May 15th - PROM 2021 -Empower Field @ Mile High Stadium
Tickets are $50 per person with a maximum purchase of 2 tickets
Tickets will be sold in person ONLY! Tickets go on sale Monday May 10th at 7:30am to 2:30pm in the South Building Main Office (CASH, CHECK or CREDIT CARD ONLY)
Seniors will have first rights to tickets through Wednesday May 12th at 2:30pm, as we are limited to 500 attendees
Any tickets remaining after Wednesday will be open to purchase by current DCHS Juniors
Guests outside of DCHS must meet the requirements found on the DCHS Prom Guest Form (see Activities Website for form)
ALL students attending PROM must have a negative COVID test on or after 5/12 (or a final vaccine on or before 5/1). These test results must be submitted to this Google Form by Saturday 5/15 at 2pm. Late results may be presented at the door. Free tests are available at these locations in Douglas County. Your healthcare provider will have other options available as well.
Quarantines from DCHS Prom 2021? If a student is exposed to COVID at Prom, the standard quarantine is 10 days which would remove them from the DCHS Graduation Ceremony. It is important that all students in your prom group have been tested and do not attend if they have any symptoms of COVID.
eLearners may attend Prom. Covid Quarantined students may not attend any events with other students at any time during their quarantine period.
May 18th - Senior Car Parade celebration at 3:30 pm (parents &/or guardians must drive their students to ensure safety). Details will be posted on the Class of 2021 Canvas page and sent to senior families the weekend of May 15th.
May 18th - Honors Convocation @ the DCHS North Main Gymnasium @ 6:30pm- by INVITATION ONLY. Only Seniors will be allowed to attend- NO PARENTS or Guests. This is due to COVID Restrictions for an indoor function. Seniors will wear the caps, gowns & regalia to the awards. Due to COVID restrictions, only seniors who are being honored will be allowed to attend. Parents- there will be a live streaming format for the evening. Address to be publicized as early as next week. Also, we are excited to celebrate our amazing seniors in an online format. More information on this too in the coming week.
**There is NO graduation rehearsal**
May 19th – Graduation Ceremony- Wednesday May 19th, 2pm @ Echo Park Stadium, 11901 Newlin Gulch Blvd, Parker, CO 80134
-Each graduate is allowed 5 guests. Tickets for guests will be distributed at the same time as distribution of the cap, gown & regalia. Parking is limited. It is encouraged that students ride with family members to the stadium.
Graduation will be Live-Streamed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4wymxsssTg)
AP TESTING Information
As a reminder, all students who have completed an Advanced Placement class at DCHS this year will be taking AP exams May 3rd-May 17th. All exams will be administered in-person as paper-and-pencil tests. However, if students encounter quarantines prior to their test date or need to request a digital exam, they need to contact Cory Monroe (cory.monroe@dcsdk12.org) ASAP to request this change at least 7 days before the digital exam. Digital exams are still full-length and please note that limited tech assistance is available for these at-home digital tests. Read more about digital exams here.
Thank you all for your patience and grace as we navigate these ‘waters.’ Please continue to read our communications so that you have the most up-to-date information. We will send communications out to parents & guardians via email, to students via email, Naviance and Canvas.
Seniors, thank you for all you have done for Douglas County High School these past four years! Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Mr. Tony Kappas
Principal
AP Students,
AP Exams, in person, begin on Monday May 3rd and end Monday 17th. Exams will take place in the Aux Gym. If your exam is an 8am, please be ready at 7:40am. If you have a 12pm exam, be ready at 11:40am.
If you are under Quarantine for your Exam, you may not come to the exam. Email me so I can switch you to the online exam or you can get a refund. It’s not too late to cancel your exam. Refunds will be processed up to the date of your exam. If you want to cancel and get a refund, email me. cmonroe@dcsdk12.org
If you’re taking the online exams, make sure to follow the College Board steps to take your exam. If you have any issues, bring your device and see me in Counseling.
What to bring…
1. Any ID
2. Pencils and Pens...We will not have extras for you.
3. Drink and or snack for breaks.
4. Positive attitude!
Best of Luck!!!
Cory Monroe
Counselor Ki-Mh
AP Coordinator
303-387-1087
STEM AT WESTERN!
Western’s small size, unique setting and low tuition ensure students receive personalized attention, gain hands-on experience and graduate without taking on excessive debt.
Enjoy these students expressing why they love Western!
I am very excited to share that our brand new Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering building just opened up in January! Students have been in-person taking courses and labs in this space since then, and will continue to in the fall!
We understand that this fall will continue to be particularly challenging when it comes to preparing students for life after high school. Western wants to help; whether that is through a counseling office visit, classroom presentation or participating in any college/career events you are planning (be that in-person or virtual). At your convenience, please let me know how we can best support you and your students.
I know summer is coming, and I hope that as next semester approaches we will be able to collaborate and build more opportunities for your students in STEM! Feel free to reach out with ideas and questions. I will follow up in August but let me know if anything comes up before then. I look forward to partnering with you to serve your students.
Flynn Guerrieri
Regional Director of STEM Recruitment
Western Colorado University
Questions and Answers with Your School Counselor
Who: Any student that has a question relating to DCHS
What: Counselors will be available to answer any questions
Where: Outside the main offices in both North and South
When: May 13th during AA
Why: To provide students more information on high school