Student Success & Wellness Team
News - November 2026
Important Dates
Tuesday, November 3rd - Husson University Rep visits campus/Election Day
Wednesday, November 4th - Early Dismissal/Parent/Teacher Conferences 3pm-7pm
Thursday, November 5th - Lasell University Rep visits campus
Friday, November 7th - End of Quarter 1
Wednesday, November 11th - Veteran's Day
Thursday, November 12th - EMBARK meetings 8:30 am-12:30PM /Parent/Teacher Conferences 3pm-6:30 pm
Wednesday, November 18th - ASVAB for interested 10th -12th graders
Thursday, November 19th - Air Force Representative on campus
Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Break
Seniors, If you have not yet scheduled your Senior Meeting, please schedule one this month. I would love to hear about your future plans and/or support you in making a plan to reach your goals. Here is a link to my calendar to set up this meeting: https://calendar.app.google/4mqHtMzcRQUyjr4E7
If your future plans include 2 or 4 year college, be sure that you are planning to complete the necessary financial aid forms by the college deadlines. In general, colleges require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and some colleges require the CSS Profile. Students who have completed their senior meeting have folders containing some information regarding financial aid and their meeting notes contain the following reminders:
Learn which forms are required and the deadlines for schools you select
Create a Federal Student Aid account (parents too)
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - Opens October 1st
Fill out the CSS Profile if applicable
Meet with Jessica Whittier (FAME) with any questions jwhittier@famemaine.com
As noted above, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is an excellent resource for this process. They will even meet one on one with you to assist in completing forms and understanding requirements.
Also, do not forget to explore scholarships to help you pay for your education. Mrs. Harris is frequently adding scholarships to our list in Naviance which you should check out on a regular basis to find those that may be of interest to you. She has also sent out a comprehensive list of scholarships via Reach My Teach to students and parents.
Here are the steps to look find scholarships in Naviance:
Log into your Naviance account
Click "Colleges" tab at top
Go to the "Scholarships & Money" section at the far right and click on “Scholarship Search,” (the 3rd one down in that column) to see the list of scholarships posted by Mrs. Harris.
By clicking on the title of the scholarship you can access the website for that scholarship, which will have the eligibility criteria and also the application, deadlines, award amounts, etc.
Favorite the ones that sound good so you can come back to it later.
This list will continue to grow, so it's a good idea to check it out once a week.
Stop by anytime for assistance. Good luck!!!
Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund: 2 and 4 Year Awards: Maine Scholarship
The Clyde Russell Trustees have designated two different categories of awards:
(1) Graduating High School Seniors who will attend a 4-year college
(2) Graduating High School Seniors who will attend a Maine Community College
In all categories the awards will be major in nature, not to exceed $10,000. The award for Community College students will not exceed $2,000.
The Trustees may grant the awards in all categories to recipients who meet multi-faceted and diverse criteria, as opposed to any single criteria such as financial need or scholastic achievement.
Each year the Trustees will determine the number of scholarships to be awarded. Runner-up finalists will receive $500 in recognition of their outstanding achievement and/or cultural contribution.
For more information, visit: https://clyderussellscholarshipfund.org/ Applications are open and the deadline is February 1st.
The Mitchell Scholarship
The mission of the Mitchell Institute is to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue and achieve a college education. To be eligible for a Mitchell Scholarship, applicants must be full-time residents of Maine and be on track to graduate from a public high school in Maine. Applicants should plan to attend a two-year or four-year degree program at an accredited college or university in the fall semester immediately following their high school graduation. Students pursuing a two-year degree are eligible for up to four years of scholarship support if they continue their education beyond the initial two years.
Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria: academics, community impact, and degree of financial need.
The application period for the 2027 Mitchell Scholarship will open on December 1, 2026. Application submissions will be due by March 1, 2027.
For more information and to apply: https://www.mitchellinstitute.org/
The Mainely Character Scholarship
Mainely Character scholarships are awarded based on the applicant's character. We do not consider academic achievement, athletic prowess, musical ability, artistic talent or financial need.
Four aspects of a student's character are considered when making an award. Courage: persisting through difficulty, distress, or fear in order to achieve something important. Integrity: being truthful and trustworthy to oneself and others. Responsibility:demonstrating commitment and conviction through actions. Concern: communicating compassion and a caring attitude towards others.
The application period for Maine high school students expecting to graduate in 2027 will open on January 1 2027 and will end on March 1, 2027.
To apply, please visit:https://mainelycharacter.org/
Drop Anchor
All are welcome to join our new WIN offering! This is a drop-in style group to explore tips and strategies for building helpful connections, managing stress and moving forward with purpose and motivation. This group, facilitated by Ms. Hutzler and Mrs. Fabrizio, will run monthly on Wednesdays during WIN, this month Drop Anchor is offered on November 18th. Look for this under Mrs. Fabrizio’s name when selecting your WIN choices for the week of 11/16 - please sign up and join us!
For those of you who participated in the PSAT this month, your scores will be available November 5th via the Big Future app or by signing into your College Board account. Please reach out to Mrs. Fabrizio if you need assistance. We also plan to offer the SAT once during a school day this spring for any junior that would like to participate - whether you took the PSAT this year or not; more information will be available soon.
Now is a good time to start thinking about your direction after high school. Keep your eye out for any field trips we offer to explore different careers and to learn more about apprenticeships or the amazing opportunities you have through the Maine Community College system. You may be receiving information from colleges, which you can start looking through, as well as seeking out colleges to explore and even creating a list of schools to visit. Consider taking the ASVAB, which assesses relative strengths with regards to specific skill sets and can be used as a career exploration tool as you begin future planning. We are offering this exam here on 11/18 - please fill out the form on this link to indicate your interest in participating in this opportunity.
Junior interviews will be held in the spring, but please schedule an appointment with Mrs. Fabrizio (link to calendar) at any time to start discussing your thoughts about future careers and next steps to reach your goals.
This is an exciting year for all of you with some great opportunities for career exploration. The Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) will be visiting Traip on December 7th to provide more information about all of their programs, so that interested 10th graders will better understand their options in order to make informed decisions for 11th and 12th grade SRTC program selection.
After the SRTC presentation, students will be able to sign up to visit SRTC to explore the programs through a field trip on January 5th. Students will be required to select three programs of interest to visit and return a signed permission slip for the trip.
Mark your calendars also for the SRTC Open House, held on Wednesday, January 20th at 6:00pm (snow date January 27th). This is an opportunity for families to see what SRTC has to offer. Applications for SRTC will be available in January and the School Counselors will offer sessions to assist with the application and to prepare for interviews.
Check out the SRTC website to learn more: https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-regional-technical-center.
We have almost reached the end of the first quarter of your first year of high school! Please sign up for your Freshman Meeting with Mrs. Fabrizio. The purpose of these meetings is to get to know you a little better, to continue talking about your four-year plan for high school and to answer any questions you might have about getting involved in activities or improving study skills, organization or time management. We can even talk a little about your plans for after high school if you already have ideas or questions. Please stop by the School Counseling Office or use this Calendar Link to schedule an appointment with Mrs. Fabrizio. Also consider signing up for the Drop Anchor group during WIN on 11/18 if you would like to connect with peers and learn some tips and strategies for managing stress and staying motivated.
Dear Traip Families,
For many families, November signals the start of the holiday season. Later this month, many families will celebrate Thanksgiving. While families often have their own special traditions and ways of celebrating the holiday, many people also try to take a few minutes to think about the things they are grateful for. Recent research has shown that consistent gratitude practices have positive effects on both physical and mental health. Here are some highlights:
Mental Health:
Regular gratitude practices decrease symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
Habits that build gratitude shift our minds away from our natural “negativity bias” (negative thinking and emotions), thereby reducing stress and creating more positivity.
Participants who engaged in consistent gratitude practices reported greater life satisfaction, increased optimism, and stronger ability to cope with setbacks.
Brain and Biological Health:
Frequent gratitude practices and having more positivity, increase “good” neurotransmitters (Serotonin and Dopamine), and have a calming effect on our nervous system, thereby decreasing “bad” brain chemicals (Cortisol).
Physical Health:
A Harvard Health study found that higher gratitude scores correlated with a lower risk of mortality, including cardiovascular disease. Journaling has also been found to lower blood pressure.
Focusing on positive moments at bedtime is associated with better sleep.
Individuals who report more gratitude also report fewer physical symptoms (digestive issues, headaches, pain, etc.).
Want to give it a try ~ or encourage your teen to try? Here are a few simple suggestions (under 5 minutes each):
Gratitude Journal ~ take time to write down 3 things you are thankful for. It trains your brain to look for positive things throughout the day. Engaging in this activity before bed promotes falling asleep, and better quality sleep.
Gratitude Message ~ send a message (text, email, or note) to someone thanking them for something they did or a positive quality you notice about them. This also promotes social connectivity and boosts positivity for both the sender and the receiver.
Sensory Scan ~ take one minute to really notice the sensory input of something positive around you (ie. savoring a cup of coffee, fresh air and sunshine). Notice all of the sounds, sights, smells, taste, and feelings ~ which helps us to be present and grateful in the moment.
Put a sticky note on something you see everyday (ie. bathroom mirror) as a reminder to give gratitude.
I’m grateful for our community and our students, families, and staff at Traip Academy!
Warmly,
mrs. abbott
