Counseling Dept Newsletter

Happy Spring Regents!

We hope you enjoyed some rest and relaxation over Spring Break and are ready for the final push to the end of the school year.

We are looking forward to some of our students being back in the building later this month.

Read on to find out about what's happening in April!

MMSD students can search for local scholarships in their Xello account. (a listing of local scholarships can be found under the "College Resources" section)

Addtional Scholarship Resources:

College Board's Scholarship Search

FastWeb

Students are reminded to check with individual colleges for scholarships offered directly by the college or university you plan to attend.

All students registered for MMSD AP exams have been emailed updated details regarding their exam format, date, time and location.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is used to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans. You must go online to complete the FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Watch the video below for an overview of the FAFSA completion steps.

There is one more College Goal WI FAFSA Help Session for families in April! See flyer below for details.

Do you want to compete in college sports? Join the NCAA Eligibility Center for their spring webinar for college-bound student-athletes and your families on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. This webinar will teach you about the initial-eligibility requirements you must meet in order to study and play sports at an NCAA Division I or II school. Click here to register.

As a reminder, MMSD offers free test prep for the ACT through Xello. Students can access Method Test Prep through their Xello account (via your student gmail account). A link to Xello can be found by scrolling to the bottom of West’s homepage and clicking on the link to Xello or clicking the icon for Xello in Classlink.

As award letters from colleges start coming in, you may be confused about what exactly they include as well as how much you are being awarded vs. needing to pay back for your college tuition.

There is a new resource available to students that will help take the mystery out of college pricing and help determine if you are paying the right price for your college education. Check out the video below and sign up for your student account at tuitionfit.org today!

Explore colleges from the comfort of home!

Register for the FREE virtual Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF) to find colleges, universities, military branches and specialty schools that you’re most interested in.

Sunday, April 4, 2021

To attend the upcoming WEF, please register as a student. Once you’re registered, you’ll get to:

• Attend any of the virtual WEFs offered
• Filter through schools to find the ones you’re most interested in
• Live chat with college admission representatives to get your questions answered
• Attend an interactive financial aid session brought to you by College Goal Wisconsin

For additional details on the upcoming WEFs and what to expect, click here.

Sophomores and juniors are encouraged to check out College Board's BigFuture™ Days! These regional series of virtual college fairs allow you to connect directly with colleges and obtain critical information to help navigate college admissions during this uncertain time. The events will be held on the following dates:

• BigFuture Day West + Southwest: Tuesday, March 30, 5–9 p.m. ET

• BigFuture Day Midwest: Sunday, April 18, 4–8 p.m. ET

• BigFuture Day Southeast: Thursday, April 29, 5–9 p.m. ET

Space is limited—encourage students to save their spot for these events!

West's TUTORING ZOOM ROOM

is now open from 8:30-3:30, Monday - Friday following the school calendar! If you requested tutoring supports, please check your email for information and the link to the Zoom Room. If you would like to request a tutor, please complete this TUTOR REQUEST FORM. If you would like to visit the tutor room with questions please click here. You may contact Mrs. Schumacher or Ms. Swenson with any questions.

Common Wealth Development’s Youth-Business Mentoring Program (YBMP) is continuing the spring semester with our April VIRTUAL training session for students ages 14-17.

About:

Our program provides teens with the following:

1. A 2-week training that covers pre-employment and financial literacy skill development
2. Wrap-around mentoring support from both Common Wealth Development Youth Workforce staff and supportive workplace managers
3. A guaranteed job placement
   (pending successful completion of two-week training, regular communication with mentor, and show proof of eligibility to work)

Due to COVID-19, our trainings have moved virtual for the Spring semester. Youth who are interested must have access to a computer with at minimum a microphone, and ideally a working webcam, to be able to participate fully in programming.

Applications:

The following links are to the application forms. Applications will be considered complete with the submission of both a STUDENT and PARENT/GUARDIAN application. After submission, one of the facilitators will be in touch to discuss next steps. If accepted, an intake prior to training will be scheduled at that time.

Student Application: https://forms.gle/YiqBbFW7SNvbNT5d6

Parent/Guardian Application (English): https://forms.gle/gHidZs92K6QgYkKg8

Parent/Guardian Application (Spanish): https://forms.gle/mwatjJUdP35YmowP6

*please note that while we do accept applications on a rolling basis, there are dates that applications need to be turned in by to be considered for certain trainings

Upcoming Dates/Time

The next training will be held from April 12 – 23, 2021 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm (Monday – Friday). Applications are due by April 2nd.

Please see our website for other upcoming dates.

https://www.cwd.org/youth-development/youth-business-mentoring/

Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM VIRTUAL

Join Bellin College on Thursday, April 29th from 5:00-6:00 CST to hear from current nursing and medical imaging students about their journeys to become healthcare heroes.

Those that register by April 19th will receive a package in the mail prior to the event, including a pre-paid postcard. Students who follow along during the event, fill out the pre-paid postcard, and mail it back to us will be entered to win one of five Yeti tumblers and one pair of Apple Air Pods!

We look forward to connecting with you!

Register HERE

Did you know that MMSD high school students have the opportunity to earn elective high school credit through paid work or volunteer experiences? During COVID-19 students also have the opportunity to earn credit through caretaking/babysitting. Enrollment in the program is rolling throughout the year.

Learn more about earning credit through work or volunteer experiences by clicking here. For information about earning credit through caretaking, please review this checklist.

MMSD Schools are Closed at this time and students will need to obtain a work permit from one of the following offices. (We suggest that you call ahead to check on office hours.):

Commonwealth Development

1501 Williamson Street

256-3521

Briarpatch Youth Services

2720 Rimrock Road

245-2550

ALCS Abundant Life School

4901 E Buckeye Road

221-1520

Please note that students will need to bring the following items:

• An ID issued by the state (birth certificate, baptismal certificate, driver’s license, state ID or previous child labor permit),
• A letter from the employer saying he/she have hired you and lists the nature of the business, your job duties, hours of work, and time of day you will work.
• A letter from parent/guardian giving student permission to accept the job (this may be a parent note or signature on the employer’s letter),
• A Social Security card, or verification of number with insurance or tax form and
• $10