AP Students,

Just wanted to welcome you back to school! This is a reminder that you must follow the steps below to register through the College Board for your AP Classes. If you don’t register, I am unable to order an AP Exam for you, plus you will not have access to the online AP Library. Once you register, through the College Board, you need to pay. If you already registered, skip to Step 3.

Step 1. Go to https://www.collegeboard.org/

If you don’t have an account, create one.

Step 2. Follow the directions given on the attachment, “Joining AP Classes for Students.”

Class Directions

Step 3. Go to MySchoolBucks and find the exam or exams to pay for. Cost is $95 per course.

Cost will go up October 2nd, $140 per exam.

Step 4. Enjoy your classes!!! AP Exams are in May.

The join codes are listed below.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Cory Monroe

Counselor Ki-Mh

cmonroe@dcsdk12.org

Counselors will be meeting one-on-one with Seniors to talk about graduation requirements, schedules, and post-secondary plans. These are VERY important meetings. Calendar invites and e-mails have been sent. Please attend these meetings with your counselor so they can go over the below forms with you. Whatever your plan after high school, your counselor wants to help develop a plan and support you.

SENIORS!!!! YOU MUST BE CHECKING YOUR EMAILS!!!

• Only 4.4% of students were asked for their input before online learning shifts were implemented (even though most CO schools had time during their three-week Spring Breaks).

• 74% of students were never asked for input, or only consulted after changes were already implemented.

• When student input was sought, the contact came most often from individual teachers. Principals and school district officials were 50% less likely to reach out. Adults mostly relied on emails or online surveys to contact students.

The shift to online learning has been hard on young people’s mental health, and they aren’t getting enough support:

• Over 70% of students feel that social distancing has negatively affected their mental health.

• 71.1% of students have gotten ambiguous or no mental health support from their schools in the aftermath of these big shifts.

Online learning has been a real mixed bag for students:

• On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being most unsatisfactory, 62% of students gave online learning a score of 5 or below. The highest concentration of responses was 14.4% of students who gave online learning the lowest ranking of 1. Only 3.8% gave it a 10.

• 44% of students did not have access to one or more resources they needed to fully complete their schoolwork after the shift to online learning.

• 51.8% of students felt that online learning has been an “insufficient” way to continue their education.

There was one bright spot:

• 67.4% of students noticed some level of reduction in bullying during quarantine

• 34% of students witnessed a full stop to bullying.

Counselors have visited all Freshmen homerooms to introduce ourselves and explain our role with students as advocates, support, and resources. We're here to help students with social, emotional, academic, and career issues. If you missed your counselor in your homeroom and want to schedule a meeting please contact Mrs.Hartman. hehartman@dcsdk12.org.

These are stressful times and it is easy for your depression or anxiety to get out of control. We are here to help. Listed below are a curated set of resources designed for teens, and the adults in your life.

Our young people are looking to us for leadership and answers during these traumatic times that will leave a social and emotional impact on every aspect of their childhood and healthy development. It is for this reason, we send this message of unity, commitment, and reassurance that our actions will go beyond words and well-intended plans. The prevalence of instruction that promotes equity, social justice, and inclusionary practices will become a significant focus as we prepare for the return of our students in the Fall.

Our schools and classrooms must be places where our students experience acceptance and a sense of belonging regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, or disability. We all must work together to support all our students, regardless of their current journey, during this moment in history.

We are asking you to join us as we recommit ourselves to this focus of inclusionary practices and condemning acts of hate. Here are some resources you may find helpful in talking to children about racial injustice and the unrest in our country.

We must treat one another with dignity and respect. We all deserve to feel safe and loved. This is the message we launched long before the current turmoil in our world - “growing together” reminds us that we are all a work in process. This growth can only be accomplished when we provide the grace and safety to be vulnerable and allow each other the space for this to occur.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we can make a difference. We stand unified in dedicating ourselves to this urgent call to action and seek your support in joining us as we continue to Grow Together.

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D., DCSD Superintendent

Many colleges have gone test optional in admissions this year -- some because they view tests as unnecessary and some because of the difficulties of taking a test during the COVID-19 pandemic. An overwhelming majority of colleges will not require the SAT or the ACT for admission in the coming academic year.

https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/08/24/nacac-issues-report-standardized-testing-admissions

The test taking place on September 23rd is a make-up opportunity for the class of 2021 who missed the 2019/2020 spring testing window due Covid-19 related cancellations. Seniors are automatically enrolled to take the test. A & B Cohorts will be split between North and South buildings. Room assignments to be announced.

We are no longer allowed to put you SAT or ACT scores on your transcript. You must now request them to be sent from CollegeBoard and/or ACT directly.

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-175

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/sending-scores