We wish you a healthy and happy holiday season! Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is here to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.

A counselor from the SDYS Community Assessment Team will facilitate an eight week psychoeducational group right here on the GHS campus! In the Expressive Arts group, students will use art as a medium for identifying, processing, and expressing emotions, with a different theme each week. They will learn coping skills and build connections with peers. The group will meet once a week, alternating between two periods from January through March. Students loved this group last year and space is extremely limited. Contact Laura Dawson or your student's counselor right away if you would like us to talk with them about this opportunity!

GHS will be partnering again with a counselor from Elizabeth Hospice to offer a grief support group on our campus from January through March. The group will meet weekly for eight weeks, alternating between two class periods. The holidays can be especially difficult for students who are experiencing grief and loss. This group is a great opportunity to connect with other students and participate in activities to remember their loved ones. If your student is interested, please contact ldawson@guhsd.net as soon as possible and she will send you the required authorization form. (This support group is in high demand and schools will be served on a first come, first served basis, after receiving enough consent forms).

The Grossmont High School Educational Foundation has a small Student Assistance Fund, which allows us to assist GHS families in need during the holiday season. If your family is in need of assistance, please reach out to your student's counselor. If you would like to donate to the Student Assistance Fund, please visit the Grossmont High School Educational Foundation website. Thank you!

Students will attend school on a final exam schedule from Dec. 19th - Dec. 21st.

Click here for a tool students can use to help plan and prepare for each final exam.

Students with disabilities can request accommodations from the College Board or ACT organization. Follow the steps in the link HERE. Please note, it's important to follow the deadlines such as January 18th for all AP exams, and Jan. 19th for the March SAT.

The CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. However, other universities may require one of these exams, or they may have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may be required by specific programs or scholarships. Please click here for more information and test dates.

Some California State University campuses have extended their deadlines to Dec. 15th or Jan. 31st! Click here to look up which campuses and programs are still accepting applications.

On December 6th counselors will visit all senior Economics/AP Government classes to discuss the newest version of the financial aid application that will be released at the end of this month! There will be a presentation for parents that evening (see information at the top of this newsletter). All seniors need to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application) by April 2nd, whether you are heading to community college, a vocational or trade school, a four-year university, or even if you are not quite sure yet.

Rick Clark, a respected college admissions representative, proposes that high school seniors who have applied to competitive universities must make a pledge. "I will not presume anything in the admission process...I agree that I will not view an admission decision as an indictment of my character, a judgment on my hitherto demonstrated preparation, nor a prediction of my future success." Click here to read more from the Georgia Tech Admission Blog.

Students who need to request a letter of recommendation from their counselor for colleges or scholarships must complete a brag packet. Click here to download a copy and return it to your counselor. Please allow three weeks notice and keep in mind that counselors do not work during holiday breaks. Letters will be sent directly to the college or scholarship committee. To request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, we have a different form that you may find helpful (optional-click here). Please give your teachers plenty of notice, too.