GHS Counselor Connection

We wish you a healthy and happy holiday season! Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is here until December 19th 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. Our office will be closed from December 20th through January 4th.

"From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the calendar is full of special events and cherished family traditions. But the excitement and break from routines can be overwhelming for children, especially those who have emotional and behavioral challenges. And that can make everyone in the family stressed..." Read more from the Child Mind Institute.

New! SDUSD opened a Safe Parking Lot and would like to extend an invitation to all GUHSD families who are staying in their cars. It is centrally located near freeways in City Heights, at 41st & University.

Laura Dawson has served the Grossmont Community for 33 years, as a beloved English teacher, parent, counselor, wellness center coordinator, department chair and club advisor. She will retire at the end of this semester, although we are fortunate that she will continue to support our peer listening program in a volunteer capacity. Mrs. Dawson has changed the lives of so many Grossmont students, families and colleagues with her compassion, leadership, student advocacy and fun loving personality. We wish her all the best in her future adventures. She will be missed here at GHS!

Students will attend school on a final exam schedule from Dec. 16th through Dec. 18th. The fall semester grading period will close upon completion of these exams and final grades will be posted to transcripts soon after we return from our winter break. Students and parents may access them through Infinite Campus.

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

Will your student be taking an AP Exam this school year? Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations. All required documentation must be submitted to our SSD Coordinator (Mrs. Porfirio). For more information and detailed instructions, [click here].

Important Deadline:
For students taking AP Exams in May, the final day to submit a new accommodation request is January 16, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Porfirio at jporfirio@guhsd.net

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.

The UC published a dashboard that shows how many first-year students apply to and are admitted at each campus by academic discipline. Previously the UC published the overall first-year admission rates for each campus. This dashboard expands that by providing additional detail on admissions by academic discipline. For each area of study, you can see the admit rate, along with how many students applied, were admitted and ended up enrolling.

Now is the time for students to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) in order to access financial aid for any type of post-secondary education at an accredited school. This could be community college, trade schools, vocational schools and universities. Counselors reviewed the following presentation in government classrooms:

Financial Aid Presentation for Students Oct 2025

The FAFSA or CADAA must be submitted no later than March 2, 2026. However sooner is definitely better!

Some California State University campuses have extended their deadlines! Click here to look up which campuses and programs are still accepting applications.

Are you applying to out of state or private universities that use the Common Application? Here are some resources to help you complete the application:

Common App Student Guides and Resources

College Essay Guy Video Walkthrough of the Common App

Collegewise Guide to the Common App

Please also be sure to give your counselor a brag packet so we can do a great job on the Common App School Report and letter of recommendation for you!

Here are six options to consider when searching for scholarships. Also be sure to check out our counseling website, which includes local scholarships that usually have less competition!

Are you interested in participating in an apprenticeship program after high school to get paid while you are learning a trade and launching your career? Click here for more information about a variety of programs in San Diego County.

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 two - 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.