An international observance created in 2008 by the Highmark Caring Place, Children's Grief Awareness Day is observed every year on the third Thursday in November (the Thursday before the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving). This time of year is a particularly appropriate time to support grieving children because the holiday season is often an especially difficult time after a death.

Children's Grief Awareness Day seeks to bring attention to the fact that often support can make all the difference in the life of a grieving child. It provides an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child, an opportunity to make sure that these children receive the support they need.

Grief and Loss groups are being offered by the Chill Room. Look below for additional resources.

Grieving Children

Illuminating Hope

Does My Child Need Support?

Thirty-three students at Canon-McMillan High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

At Canon-McMillan High School:

Six students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are 2022 graduates Tyler Johnston, Ava Luksis, Carly Mistick, Mallory Mohon, Thomas Nyiri, and Anna Sheppard.

Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are 2022 graduates Ella Blanock, Georgia Few, Ethan Hogue, Halle Klugh,Victoria Manda, Justin Scandale, Kaitlyn Sella; and current seniors Anthony Bellino, Caleb Mowery, and Caitlin Stambaugh.

Seventeen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are 2022 graduates Sierra Gillis, Luke Harris, Zackary Huwel, Max Kropinak, Raissa-Danielle Lovet, Jesse Marks, Taylor Pastore, Leah Peters, Malena Rush, Elena Stilwell, Erin Williams, and current seniors Dylan Landucci, Caiden Martos, Zachary O’Rourke, Tanner Pilarski, Jadon Siuzdak, and Nikki Zhang.

Congratulations to these students for their outstanding academic achievement!

The Challenge Program, Inc.'s mission is to motivate high school students to develop the habits required to succeed in school and in their careers by building business/education partnerships. During the kickoff, students were recognized in one of five categories: Academic Excellence, Academic Improvement, Community Service, STEM, and Perfect Attendance. Seniors this year will have the opportunity for recognition in the spring; current sophomores and juniors will have the opportunity for recognition next fall. Thanks to Auma Actuators, Canon-McMillan's business partner, for your generosity. Congratulations to the winners:

Savannah Lackovic

Nathan McWilliams

Ashley Cole

Sam Getz

Nikki Zhang

Manh Duy Mach

Dominick DeLuca

Emily Lukasewicz

Xzavyer Adams

Annabelle Delval

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced the 2022 School Winners for the Heisman High School Scholarship.

From an applicant pool of thousands of high school scholar-athletes graduating with the class of 2023, more than 5,700 have been named School Winners in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition awarded by The Heisman Trophy Trust.

School Winners will continue on for the chance to become State Winners, National Finalists or National Winners. State Winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship, National Finalists receive a $2,000 college scholarship and the male and female National Winners will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship. Congratulations to Chloe Ault and Kent McMahon for this recognition!

It has been a busy start to fall! Canon-McMillan students had the opportunity to attend the South Hills College Fair, held October 11, and the South Hills Trade & Technical School Fair on November 1. Seniors were provided an applications workshop on October 12. Attending to present topics were:

Mrs. Rubican

Washington & Jefferson College

University of Pittsburgh

PHEAA

West Virginia University

Coach Evans

Carpenters

Drew Engel

Meredith Rubican

Southwest Training Services

Click on the link below to watch a recording of the presentation.

FAFSA Toolkit

Check out our FAFSA toolkit and resources page https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/parents-students/index.shtml to help educate parents and students about financial aid opportunities. Our toolkit includes social media posts, FAFSA-themed images, and links to help you promote the FAFSA to your students and families. Additional resources are also available for our counselors and partners.

PA State Work-Study Awards

The maximum award amounts for the PA State Work-Study Program have gone up! Effective for the 2022-23 Academic Year, students may be eligible for a maximum academic year award of $10,000 and a maximum summer term award of $7,500. This program is a great way for undergraduate and graduate students to earn while they learn.

PHEAA.org/SWSP

Planning for After High School with PA Forward

Even though it’s only the beginning of the school year, seniors are already planning for their postsecondary education and one of the topics is how to pay for it. After FAFSA aid, scholarships, and savings, PHEAA’s PA Forward Student Loan can be an affordable option for the gap. Ask your Access Partner for brochures!

Industry News:

Families With Assets Will Receive Less Financial Aid Next Year

The asset protection allowance for parents is changing. In years past, a 48-year-old parent could expect to shield a little over $46,000 in asset protection. That allowance has now dwindled to $0 in the current school year.

Every high school student is encouraged to join the School Counseling Resources group in Schoology! Resources including academic development, career development, employment, community service opportunities, scholarships and more can be found there! Students can join the group by using the following access code: DB7QW-K4WWP

Students who need to obtain transcripts for college applications or scholarships may use this form to give permission to the counselors to share it. This form needs to be filled out one time by a parent/guardian or the student if over the age of 18.

Remember, students will still have to communicate where transcripts should be sent. This will occur in Xello.

Senior students may request both transcripts from counselors and letters of recommendation from counselors and/or teachers. Xello integrates with the Common Application. Underclassmen were assigned lessons in Xello to complete either in Freshman Seminar or Social Studies classes. Click here to learn more about Xello. Students are reminded to ask teachers and others for recommendations before assigning them in Xello.

Once a student has begun to track a college application in Xello, they have the option to request a referrer write a recommendation letter to be sent to the institution if it's required for the application.Students are reminded to provide a resume to the referrer, as well as to ask them to write a letter before requesting in Xello. Click here to read more.Source www.help.xello.world

Click here for how to link your Common App and Xello accounts and begin requesting documents. Students will be asked to select their counselor from the drop down menu-this prompts a request for the secondary school report, which includes the transcript and the high school schedule, as well as a counselor recommendation. Teacher evaluation requests should not be sent to a counselor or a principal.

Students are encouraged to develop resumes. A resume template is available in Xello. Your counselor and teacher(s) will need a copy of your resume in order to write letters of recommendation as needed next year. To learn more recommendations and their importance in the admissions process, click here.

Choosing where to go to college is not an easy decision, often because it feels so important. Kids are told that where they go after high school will define how the rest of their life turns out. But writer Kelly Corrigan says that's the big lie society must stop telling. Click here to read more. source:NPR.com

College application season is here, and you might be sweating about how to stand out to a stranger reviewing hundreds or even thousands of applications. (Or maybe you’re not sweating enough, according to your parents.) Click here to read more. Source:money.com

The college admissions process puts a great deal of pressure on students, but parents can lighten the load by getting involved in some critical ways.

Here are five key things parents should know about the college admissions timeline, what it entails and how they can help. Click here to read more. Source:usnews.com

When Darrek Harshberger toured California University of Pennsylvania a few years ago, he quickly realized it was where he wanted to attend college. Click here to read more. Source: Post-Gazette.com

Preparation is key for all college-bound students, but thinking through what you’ll need to be successful is especially important for students with disabilities.

Here are some ideas and insights to help you settle into college. source.admitted.nacacnet.org

The impression that you make on a college admission officer may involve more than just an essay, a transcript, and some test scores. According to new data, colleges and universities do pay attention to what prospective students post on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. In addition, potential employers for internships or permanent positions may also review your public social sites. Click here to read more. Source:collegeboard.org

• More than 1,700 colleges and universities so far are not requiring students to submit SAT and ACT scores when they apply for admission for fall 2023, only a slightly lower number of institutions than the previous admissions cycle. Click here to read more and be sure to check out fairtest.org. source:highereddive.com

Our friends at Sage Scholars have provided this resource for you to use as you explore postsecondary education options, including timelines for students at all grade levels. Click here to learn more. source: readysetcollege.org

The Pennsylvania General Assembly created PA-TIP in 2012 to prepare students with the skills in high demand by today's employers. The program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and administered by PHEAA, provides awards to students e enrolled in programs of study in the following career areas:

• Energy
• Health
• Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing
• Agriculture and Food Production

PA-TIP provides need-based awards up to the equivalent of the maximum award (currently $5,000), or the student’s actual unmet need, whichever is less. Awards can be used to cover educational costs, and specific living expenses. Click here to apply.

Scholarships are added to the Scholarships folder in the School Counseling Resources group throughout the year. Students are encouraged to peruse the folder. The newest scholarships are at the bottom of the page in Schoology.

Class of 2023: Complete these 6 college planning steps for 6 separate chances at $500. When you finish all 6, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $40,000 scholarship, but you can still earn money even if you don’t complete them all. Click here to learn more.

1. 
   

   BuildYour College List $500

2. 
   

   Practice for the SAT $500

3. 
   

   Explore Scholarships $500

4. 
   

   Strengthen Your College List $500

5. 
   

   Complete the FAFSA® $500

6. 
   

   Apply to Colleges $500

7. 
   

   Complete Your Journey; Complete all six $40,000

   
   

   
   

Tuition Reward Points accrue like frequent flyer miles and are typically earned through an affiliated financial institution, health insurance, or employer. These include 529 plans, banks, brokerage firms, companies, credit unions, mutual funds, non-profits and diverse financial service companies involved in life insurance, health insurance or retirement plans. Your Tuition Rewards Points represent guaranteed minimum discounts off the "list price" of tuition at many of America's best private colleges. Click here to learn more. source:tuitionrewards.com

If you have a student in grades 9-11, consider signing up for RaiseMe. It is a micro-scholarship program. Completing a RaiseMe portfolio and following colleges could earn you scholarships for your achievements. If you attend a college that has committed to rewarding you, you will get that sum when you attend that college. Click here for more information.

Selective Service registration is required by law as the first part of a fair and equitable system that, if authorized by the President and Congress, would rapidly provide personnel to the Department of Defense while at the same time providing for an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors. By registering, a young man remains eligible for jobs, Federal student aid, State-based student aid in 31 states, Federally-funded job training, and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men. Registration begins at age 18. Click here to learn more and register.

The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. This program is voluntary and confidential; if you are interested in your student being referred to SAP, please contact your school counselor.

Any time a student changes residences, an Inter-district transfer form accompanied by two pieces of evidence (driver's licence, lease/mortage agreement, utility bill, etc.) must be submitted to the Counseling Department. For more information or to facilitate this process, please contact Ms. Wrubleski, Counseling Secretary, at wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us. If you are moving out of District, contacting your new school right away to enroll your student ensures that there is no delay with records being obtained.

Work Permits are available in the main office; contact Mrs. Bickmeier at bickmeierd@cmsd.k12.pa.us. Students will need to obtain an application that needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and provide a copy of the student's birth certificate.

Everyone has bad days. Do yours last longer than most? Click here for a screener that can help to determine if you need help managing your mental health.

If your child is exhibiting any warning signs (that are not medical emergencies; if they are, get them to the ER), or if you just want more in-depth mental health check-ins, consider these questions to ask, courtesy of Dr. Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D., director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. Click here to read more.

Bullying Facts

Bullying Statistics

Cyberbullying

Teens Against Bullying

https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/press-releases/nacac-update-coronavirus/#factors

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings

PA 529 Accounts

Keystone Scholars Program

CFPB Paying for College Tools

Student Aid Guide
Scholarship Tips

FAFSA Tipsheet

FSA ID Bookmark

https://www.nasfaa.org/covid19

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/financial-aid-toolkit.shtml

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/fafsa-toolkit.shtml

https://www.gwcfb.org/food-pantry-locations

https://foodcommunitybenefit.noharm.org/resources/implementation-strategy/connecting-food-insecure-individuals-resources

https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/food-assistance-programs

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://www.sphs.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

How parents can talk to their kids about suicide

Risk-of-Suicide

Risk and Protective Factors

Preventing Suicide Fact Sheet

Washington County Crisis Resources

A-Dea Karen Rubican rubicank@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5022

Deb-Hog Susan Humbertson humbertsons@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5020

Hoh--Mik Nadia Abbondanza abbondanzan@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5027

Mil-Set Julie Hughes hughesj@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5023 (starting 10/17)

Seu-Z Molly Nuri nurim@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5021

Ms. Michelle Wrubleski wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us

(724) 745-1400 X 5019

Fax (724) 873-5173