Smoky Hill Counseling Updates

The end of 2025 is here!

A couple of things to remember:

-Finals are December 16th-December 18th (make up day is December 19th)

-First day back for second semester is January 6th

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, here

On Thursday, December 4th 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.

*If students are absent for finals, they will receive an F on their final. They will need to coordinate a time with their teachers to take finals when we are back during second semester.

Students need 1.5 credits of PE to graduate. If students have participated in sport through Smoky Hill, they are eligible to waive .5 credits of PE. Students can email their counselor for verification and to have these credits waived.

• Note, we can only waive a maximum of .5 credits of PE no matter how many sports students participate in.

Check out the Policy, here

Counselors are stopping by sophomore classrooms this month to discuss high school success, pathways of purpose, and tools for post-secondary planning

• Click HERE to view the slideshow from the presentation.

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

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

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.

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.

• The Retired Employees of Cherry Creek Schools (RECCS) Scholarship opens on December 15th. The three categories are Merit, Adversity, and Career-Tech. Apply here, or find the scholarship on our scholarship list.

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.

Interested in attending out-of-state colleges at a significantly reduced tuition rate? Through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), partner schools agree to charge no more than 150% of their in-state tuition—a major cost savings for Colorado students exploring options across the West.

Explore WUE Schools & Savings

• Download the full list of participating WUE colleges

• Use the WUE Tuition Savings Finder to see how much you can save and compare programs across states

UNC offers Future Teacher Conference

Attention, all future teachers! The University of Northern Colorado invites you to their 11th annual Future Teacher Conference on Friday, February 6. This free event helps aspiring teachers learn more about the field, connect with peers and gather insights from Colorado’s leader in teacher education.

Attend presentations and workshops facilitated by current UNC students, early career teachers, veteran educators, and UNC Educator Preparation faculty. Students with the following interests are especially encouraged to attend:

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education: Social Studies, English, Science, and Family and Consumer Sciences
• Special Education
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
• K-12 Education: Art, Music, Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership, and Theatre
• Educational Technology
• Anyone curious or exploring the field of teaching!

Three Future Teacher Conference attendees will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend UNC in the fall of 2026. Click below for more information and to register.

https://www.unco.edu/cebs/future-teacher-conference/

Join the Frontier of Science Institute (FSI)
Dates: June 7 – July 18, 2026
Location: University of Northern Colorado (UNC)

FSI goes way beyond what you learn in school. Over six weeks, you’ll:

• Do hands-on research in cutting-edge science labs

• Go on field trips and industrial site visits

• Hear from scientists and innovators in engaging seminars

• Even earn college credit while you’re at it!

Who Should Apply? FSI is for students who are:

• Curious, motivated, and ready to be challenged

• Dependable and mature team players

• Currently in grades 9–11

Scholarships Available!
In fact, every student in the 2025 program received significant scholarship support — so don’t let cost stop you from applying.

Learn more and apply here: Frontier of Science Institute (FSI) at UNC

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:

Tips for Keeping Your Social Security Number Safe

Building Your Money Skills

What's Your Money Style?

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.