Smoky Hill Counseling Updates

November is here! A couple of things to remember:

- Thanksgiving Break is November 26-28th

- Finals are December 16th-December 18th

1. Find your counselor here

2. Meet your mental health team here

3. Red/Green Calendar

4. Bell Schedule

5. Check out the Activities that Smoky Hill has to offer, here

6. Interested in joining a Sport? Check out Smoky Hill Athletics.

• Registration for Winter Sports is open and students must be registered by Friday, November 14th. Registration LINK. CHSAA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form Link.

On Thursday, October 30th the SHHS Counseling Department will be hosting a FREE workshop, with help from college financial aid professionals, to support students and parents with completing their FAFSA application. Click HERE to sign up and learn more.

Calling all 8th graders! Smoky Hill would love to welcome you and your family for a preview of Smoky Hill at our "View of the Hill" Open House. Come learn about: Athletics, Activities & Clubs, Student Leadership, IB and AP Programs, and more.

• When: November 12th, 5:30-7:30 PM
• Where: Activities Entry

Check out the Policy, here

Are you a senior who speaks more than one language? You could earn a Seal of Biliteracy on your diploma. The deadline to apply is November 30th. Click here to learn more.

Students who took the PSAT9 or the PSAT/NMSQT exam on October 8th are able to access their scores through their College Board account. For more information, visit the College Board website.

Final exams are from December 16-December 18. There is a makeup exam day on December 19, but students will need to coordinate a time with their teachers if they need to test on this day. It’s imperative that students are in school for final exams to earn credit for the first semester.

Special note about final exams: If students are absent for finals and do not make them up during finals week, they will receive an F on their final. They will need to coordinate with their teachers regarding a time to take finals when we are back during second semester. The teacher can then work with the registrar to replace the F that was previously inputted.

Counselors are stopping by junior classrooms this month to discuss high school success and tools for post-secondary planning

• Click HERE to view the slideshow from the presentation.

SHHS Seniors: Are you going to a 4-year college, 2-year college or a trade school? The FAFSA application is now open. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• What is the FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students complete to determine their eligibility for financial aid. This financial aid can include federal grants, work-study programs, and loans. Many states, colleges and trade schools also use the information from the FAFSA to award their own financial aid packages.

Counselors and Teachers are offering weekly sessions to help students with college applications, scholarship applications, and for support with apprenticeships, trade schools, or military pathways.

• When: Every Monday and Wednesday
• Time: 7:45-8:15 am
• Where: College and Career Center

Make an appointment with your counselor for Senior Conferences.

• This is a meeting to help support students navigate their post-graduation pathway. Examples include: applying to college, exploring jobs/apprenticeships, looking into the military, etc.
• Typically these meetings are around an hour long and guardians are welcome to join.

Between September and May, Smoky Hill will host more than 150 colleges, universities, and military recruiters on campus. These visits are a valuable opportunity for students to learn more about postsecondary options and connect directly with admissions representatives.

Who Can Attend?

• Juniors and Seniors may attend visits during a class period. Students who attend in the College & Career Center may request a pass back to class afterward.

• Freshmen and Sophomores are welcome to attend, but only during an off period.

Visit Details

• Each session typically lasts 20–30 minutes.

• New visits are added daily, so check the schedule often for the most up-to-date information.

📅 Click here for the updated list of upcoming visits: College & Military Visit Schedule

Interested in applying to scholarships? The Smoky Hill College & Career Center has put together a list of scholarships here. This is updated regularly, so be sure to keep checking back.

Campus Visits are a key step in your college or trade school journey. They help you experience the environment, meet people at the school, and discover where you feel most at home.

• Click HERE to learn more about campus visit opportunities in Colorado.

Official transcripts are typically required for:

• 4-year colleges and universities
• 2-year/community colleges
• Trade or technical schools
• Military enlistment
• Scholarship applications
• Insurance companies might need for a good student discount.

Fee: $20 Click here to pay the fee

If your student qualifies for Free or Reduced Lunch, they are not required to pay this fee. To apply or verify eligibility, please complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application here:

https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/programs-and-services/food-and-nutrition/healthy-school-meals-for-all

Questions? Please contact the College & Career Center at Smoky Hill High School.

Contact Marquita Millard, SHHS College & Career Center, at mmillard@cherrycreekschools.org for questions about Senior Transcripts.

Why is teaching financial literacy important? Financial literacy is essential for all students, regardless of their background or future career path. It equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of personal finance, make informed decisions, and achieve financial security. Below are hyperlinks to resources for parents:

Financial Literacy Rocks

Personal Financial Literacy Resource Bank

Naviance is a college and career planning platform that supports students in exploring their interests, researching colleges, tracking applications, and more. It also provides parents/guardians resources to support their students postsecondary planning.

Parents/guardians no longer need a separate username or password to access Naviance. Simply log in to my.cherrycreekschools.org, search for the Naviance Parent tile, and click to be directed to the parent view of your student’s Naviance account.

PowerSchool and Schoology work together to store data about our students and to support their learning. Please click here for more information on how these forms of technology can help you and your student.