2025 9th & 10th Grade Resources

Welcome, Freshmen and Sophomores and those who support them!

We hope this newsletter helps make the first couple years of high school a little easier to navigate.

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A) NEWS FOR BOTH 9TH AND 10TH

Introducing Our 9th and 10th Grade Team

The 9th & 10th grade counselor assignments are based on the student's last name and whether they are part of Classic South or the International High School (IHS). All counselors are located in the Counseling Department.

A-L in 9th Grade and 10th Grade Classic South: Evelyn Kennedy kennedy_e@4j.lane.edu

M-Z in 9th Grade and 10th Grade Classic South: Melissa Martinez martinez_m@4j.lane.edu

A-Ha in 10th grade IHS: Juli McGlinsky mcglinsky@4j.lane.edu

He-Pe in 10th grade IHS: Michael Leahy leahy_m@4j.lane.edu

Pf-Z in 10th grade IHS: Shantel Buss buss_s@4j.lane.edu

Contacting Your Counselor:

E-mail
541-790-8013 (connects with Jessica Kuehn, counseling secretary)
Make an appointment here.
Stop by during counseling drop-in days/times with no appointment needed.

Counseling Center Drop-In Days/Times:

Mondays 9:00-10:00
Tuesdays 10:30-11:30
Wednesdays Student Lunch
Thursday 2:30-3:30
Friday 9:00-10:00

SEHS Class of 2027 webpage

Introducing Our College and Career Team

UPDATE FOR LEANN AND ME

Hello! I'm Lori Sauter, and I help students and parents through:

Meetings with parents and students to ponder the future
Workshops and resource newsletters (like this one!)
Visits to SEHS by reps from colleges, the military, and local industries
The Junior Project (a brief Canvas course with activities about college and career readiness)
Test prep for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and APs
Student volunteering opportunities
Scholarships and financial aid
Help with college applications, essays, resumes, and other tasks
Study abroad/gap-year/travel options
Reference books available to check out
Publicizing upcoming events in email, e-newsletters, loudspeaker announcements, Canvas messages, Instagram, and bulletin boards.

Contacting Lori:

E-mail sauter_l@4j.lane.edu
541-790-8052
@sehsccc
Make an appointment for a Tuesday-Thursday between 10 am and 4 pm via email/phone
Stop by to see if I'm available Monday-Thursday between 10 am and 4 pm and Friday between 10 am and 1 pm

4J’s Newest Course Requirements

Beginning with the SEHS class of 2026:

.5 credits (1 semester) of Civics (Social Studies)
.5 credits (1 semester) of Economics (Social Studies)

Beginning with the SEHS class of 2027:

.5 credits (1 semester) of Personal Finance (Personal Finance)
.5 credits (1 semester) of Higher Education & Career Pathway Skills (HC)

Beginning with the SEHS class of 2028:

NO LONGER REQUIRED: .5 credits (1 semester) of Earth & Space Science (Science)

B) THE 9TH GRADE JOURNEY

9th-Grade Counseling Presentation: The 9th Grade Journey, Graduation Requirements, and Personalized Learning Goals for the Class of 2028

Ninth graders, learn what to expect for the rest of your school year, as well as what's to come in the near future, with this video-slide presentation by SEHS 9th-grade counselor, Melissa Martinez.

Introducing Our Ninth-Grade Transition Coordinator, Brittany Beebe

9th grade academic performance is one of the strongest predictors of college and career success. The Ninth Grade Transition Coordinator provides intensive support to a targeted caseload of students during their transition to high school and throughout freshman year. Just who is Brittany Beebe?

C) THE 10TH GRADE JOURNEY

10th-Grade Forecasting Presentation

Class of 2027, check out this webinar recording, Future Junior Forecasting Parent Information Night, from 2/20/25. Length: 1h15m. Agenda includes Getting to Graduation, Opportunities at South for Junior & Seniors, and South & District CTE (Career & Technical Education) Pathways.

Features:

Assistant principal, Rhiannon Boettcher
Counselor, Michael Leahy
Post-graduate planning specialist, Leann Hollenbeak
CTE Pathway teacher, Ingrid Bodtker

D) HEALTH RESOURCES

Health and Wellness Supports in our Community

Could you use some help accessing food, obtaining legal services, meeting basic needs, or addressing other concerns? Check here for local organizations providing help.

Mental-Health Supports at South Eugene High School

Could you use some support for your mental health right here at South? Check here for mental-health services for students at SEHS.

Mental-Health Supports in our Community

Could you use some support for your mental health within the community and beyond? Check here for a mental-health resources list compiled by School District 4J.

Supporting Students and Families Experiencing Anxiety

Want to learn to support your child (and yourself) when they or you are engulfed in anxiety? This hour-long 2021 video-slide presentation by former 4J school counselor, Rebecca Pang, offers guidance and resources for doing just that. Here are the slides from Becky's presentation with live links to the resources she shares in the video. While Becky is no longer employed by the school district, and the video references the early days of returning to school after the pandemic closure, almost all of her presentation is still absolutely relevant.

Introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression

Know someone who is struggling with anxiety and depression? (Perhaps the real question is whether you know someone who isn't!) This hour-long video-slide presentation by local mental-health therapist, Jen Strickland, teaches some practical basics of DBT technique.

Contact Information:

Jennalyn Strickland, MA, LPC, CADC I

Insight Northwest Counseling

541-357-9433

insightnorthwest.com

E) ACADEMIC/SCHOOL RESOURCES

Additional Academic Supports

Was the first semester of school a bit rough, grade-wise? Need some help with schoolwork? Try out Club 9 (above), or check out our list of academic supports for other ideas.

Join the Club!

Now is the perfect time for 9th and 10th graders to connect with one of South's clubs and organizations. New members are welcome at any time. Students should contact club advisors for more information.

F) SIX "EXTENDED APPLICATION" GRADUATION OPTIONS (one required to graduate)

1) The Senior Experience

Many Classic (non-IHS) South students meet their Extended Application graduation requirement by undertaking a Senior Experience. The Senior Experience involves participating in 10 hours of college- or career-preparation activities and creating a poster or slideshow about the activities to present at a Senior Experience Showcase. Review the Senior Experience newsletter for more information.

2) International High School (IHS) Pathway to Graduation

International High School seniors meet their Extended Application graduation requirement by carrying out 150 CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) hours, passing the Theory of Knowledge course, and writing a senior paper. Watch this 6-minute video-slide presentation by former IHS International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator, Steve Smith, for more information about life as an upperclass IHS student.

3) Career and Technical Education at SEHS

South offers many CTE courses in different career areas. These courses may be taken individually, or students may pursue multiple CTE courses in the same subject as a way to complete their Extended Application graduation requirement. Five themes are currently operating (computer & information science, culinary arts, early childhood education, graphic design, and journalism & media arts). Visit our CTE brochure for more information.

4) Career and Technical Education through 4J

4J's CALCI program provides high schoolers across the district the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning as a way to complete their Extended Application graduation requirement. Four themes are currently operating (building/construction, digital graphics/video design, engineering, and K-12 education), with additional pathways planned for the future.

5) Career and Technical Education through LESD

Two CTE programs are available for next year's juniors and seniors to forecast for through Lane Education Service District (LESD). Find information about the Lane Career Academy's HOPE Factory (construction CTE) and the LCA's Emergency Services CTE below. Applicants should fill out the interest form linked in the flyers and check in with their counselors to schedule a program. (These programs can be complicated to work into the rest of a student's course schedule.) Email Shareen Vogel with questions: <svogel@lesd.k12.or.us> about the programs (not about scheduling).

6) IOP Outdoor Leadership CAM

The IOP Outdoor Leadership CAM (Career-Aligned Mastery) allows seniors to complete their Extended Application graduation requirement by helping design and oversee activities in the Integrated Outdoor Program course. This course combines English and physical education with a focus on the natural world and includes many outdoor activities. Visit our IOP CAM brochure for more information.

G) FOUR WAYS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL

1) College Now Courses at South

What is College Now?

College Now allows area high-school students to earn Lane Community College credits for approved courses taken at their high school and taught by specifically qualified high-school teachers.

LCC Credit for College Now Courses

Receiving LCC credit is not automatic. Students need to register for the courses through LCC. College Now course teachers assist with registration within each CN class.

Do keep in mind that LCC credits earned through College Now count towards the Oregon Promise Grant's credit maximum.

South's College Now Options

The availability of College Now courses at SEHS varies from year to year depending on staff qualifications and curricular agreements with LCC. The letters "CN" are shown in the course titles of our annual curriculum guide when a class has typically been offered as a College Now course at SEHS, but actual CN designation won't be definitely known until staffing and articulation agreements have been confirmed.

SEHS College Now Liaison

Leann Hollenbeak

Email: hollenbeak_l@4j.lane.edu
Location: College and Career Center
Phone: 541-790-8012

2) Advanced Placement Courses at South

Advanced Placement (AP) and College

Taking AP courses and exams may improve your chances of getting into college and help you minimize your college costs. Here's how.

Which AP courses are offered at South?

South Eugene High School Curriculum Guide 2025-26

See the AP course table, shown in the Earning College Credit at High School section of the curriculum guide.

The Advanced Placement Program at SEHS

A must-read newsletter for South's AP participants

A Broader View of College Readiness

A new analysis finds that even students who earn a 2 on an AP exam are prepared for the rigor of college courses. Article by Eric Johnson and Dante Ciampaglia for the College Board, 4/22/21

3) The Duck Link Program at the U of O

Duck Link allows select high school students living in Lane County to enroll in up to eight credits per quarter at a reduced cost (tuition-free but not fee-free). To participate in Duck Link in any subject area, a student must have exhausted all high school coursework available to them in that subject area. South students may contact counseling secretary Jessica Kuehn (kuehn_j@4j.lane.edu) for more information about Duck Link.

4) Eugene International High School (IHS) International Baccalaureate Program

The IB program, for juniors and seniors enrolled in IHS, allows students to earn credit or advanced standing at many colleges and universities. Eugene IHS students may choose to pursue the full IB Diploma with exams in 6 subjects or take tests in individual subjects. Students earning a minimum score on an IB test can earn college credit, similar to earning Advanced Placement college credit. (Additionally, students earning the full IB Diploma may be eligible for IB Diploma scholarships.)

H) COLLEGE PREP IN HIGH SCHOOL

College Planning To-Dos

Need a little help knowing how to get yourself to college? Take a look at College Planning To-Dos for a year-by-year to-do list and a college-prep guide called Opportunities.

More than Credits: How You Can Be Ready to Succeed in College

Want to know what you can do as a high schooler to be successful in college classes? Watch this video-slide presentation by former SEHS College and Career Center coordinator Virginia Farkas. (This 29-minute video was made four years ago but remains completely relevant, although Virginia's comment about the College and Career Center offering only virtual services is no longer accurate.)

April 1: Registration Opens for the U of O's Summer SAIL Program

The U of O's SAIL program offers incoming juniors and seniors free one-week summer programs on the University of Oregon campus. Students take mini-classes from faculty members and also dig into college admissions, scholarships, careers, and financial-aid. Participants must come from households with low income.

BONUS! Participants with financial need have the chance to apply for scholarships once they're seniors, including a 1-year room and board scholarship for the U of O, a rarity!

Pass/No Pass High School Grades and College Admissions

Traditionally, 4-year colleges only accept high school credits earned with a C- or above in core subjects (math, science, social studies, language arts, world languages, and sometimes visual and performing arts) when considering admitting a student. During the pandemic, this requirement loosened at many colleges, but pandemic grading flexibility has largely come to an end. When South students opt for a pass in core courses, colleges can’t distinguish an A+ from a D-. This can result in the courses not counting towards freshman admission requirements. For this reason, 4-year-college-bound students considering the pass/no pass option, even early in their high school career, should first check the specific requirements at the college(s) they hope to apply to.

SEHS Financial Aid Night Video

You'll swear that your student's high-school years flew by when you look back on them. Don't be caught unaware at the eleventh hour; learn a bit right now about how college financial aid works by watching this 2024 SEHS Financial Aid Night webinar, an 84-minute recording featuring UO and Lane CC financial aid counselors. (Begin at 2:32 where actual event starts.)

I) SIX CAREER-PREP OPTIONS IN HIGH SCHOOL

1) Career and Technical Education at SEHS

As mentioned above, South offers many CTE courses in different career areas. These courses may be taken individually, or students may pursue multiple CTE courses in the same subject as a way to complete their Extended Application graduation requirement. Five themes are currently operating (computer & information science, culinary arts, early childhood education, graphic design, and journalism & media arts). Visit our CTE brochure for more information.

2) Career and Technical Education through 4J

As mentioned above, 4J's CALCI program provides high schoolers across the district the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning as a way to complete their Extended Application graduation requirement. Four themes are currently operating (building/construction, digital graphics/video design, engineering, and K-12 education), with additional pathways planned for the future.

3) Career and Technical Education through LESD

Two CTE programs are available for next year's juniors and seniors to forecast for through Lane Education Service District (LESD). Find information about the Lane Career Academy's HOPE Factory (construction CTE) and the LCA's Emergency Services CTE below. Applicants should fill out the interest form linked in the flyers and check in with their counselors. (These programs can be complicated to work into a student's schedule.) Email Shareen Vogel with questions: <svogel@lesd.k12.or.us> about the programs (not about scheduling).

4) Elevate

Elevate is a program run by Connected Lane County that offers a wide variety of mostly free career-connected opportunities for students including job shadows, internships, hiring fairs, and more. Connected Lane County's calendar of events and activities

5) Career Prep for SEHS Students

Find here a list of local activities for students who would like to gain experience in specific career fields: Career Prep for SEHS Students.

6) Student Volunteering for SEHS Students

Find here a list of local organizations that invite help from student volunteers: Student Volunteering for SEHS Students.

J) QUESTIONS

E-mail Lori Sauter, sauter_l@4j.lane.edu, and I'll help you find the information you need.