The Weekly Update #4

All current juniors will take the SAT at school on Tuesday, March 11th at the main campus. This is a free opportunity for every junior to take the SAT College Board exam at no cost. No registration is required.

The college application process is well underway and it's now time to apply for Financial Aid to get help paying for college expenses. Financial Aid can often be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis so apply early to get the best award packages. Completing the FAFSA is an important step in the financial aid process as well as a graduation requirement. Many colleges and universities require students to have a FAFSA on file in order to receive any financial aid, including scholarships.

What is Financial Aid?

Financial Aid is any money received to help pay for college or career training. It can include:

• Grants
• Scholarships
• Work Study
• Loans

Which schools accept Financial Aid?

Most institutions of higher learning (from career certificates to doctoral degrees) are eligible for Federal Student Aid. This includes:

• 4-Year Colleges and Universities
• Community and Junior Colleges
• Trade Schools and Career Academies

A scholarship is financial aid awarded to a student based on academic achievement or other criteria that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships can either be merit-based (determined by grades, test scores or other achievements), need-based (determined by your family's economic status) or a combination of both.

Where can I find Scholarships?

• Log into Xello through the Clever app on the Portal and use the scholarship tab to search scholarships

• Visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships page on the website of the colleges you're interested in, especially once you have been accepted and decided where you are going. Look at the colleges scholarships as well as specific department scholarships depending on your major

• Check your parents employers to see if they offer scholarships

• Search online scholarship databases

• Don't overlook those smaller scholarships! Many of them go unclaimed and they can be stacked if you win multiple.

Teen friendships play a crucial role in teenagers development. Humans need to feel like they belong in order to be happy and well adjusted. Middle school and high school are the most important years for finding belonging and acceptance. Through friendships, teens learn social skills, communication skills, and empathy. Supportive friendships make teens more emotionally and physically healthy; however, when a friendship is toxic it can have a significant impact on well-being and self esteem. Here are some signs that toxic teen friends may exhibit:

• Criticizing or making fun of their "friend"
• Gossiping excessively, either to or about them
• Insulting them in the guise of "helpful" statements
• Pressuring them to engage in risky behaviors, such as drugs and alcohol
• Posting negative things about them on social media
• Taking advantage of them
• Dismissing their needs and preferences
• Embarrassing them in front of others
• Gaslighting them if they try to call them out on their toxic behavior

Basepoint is a teen and adolescent mental health treatment facility. Basepoint has programs to support students have significant mental health struggles and/or suicidal thoughts. They have a teen program that treats ages 11-18 and a young adult program for ages 18-28. They offer teen crisis stabilization, intensive outpatient treatment, and partial hospitalization programs. Basepoint takes insurance, offers free mental health screenings, and provides transportation to and from their facilities. To learn more about Basepoint, check out their website.

basepointacademy.com