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.

National School Counseling Week 2024, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within US school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve success. Every student deserves a school counselor to help with academic achievement strategies, managing emotions, applying interpersonal skills, and planning for post-secondary options. I'm honored to work with such a dedicated team at GHS. Please consider thanking a school counselor today!

Did you know we have therapists right here on campus who can provide free short-term mental health support for GHS students? We are fortunate to partner with Wellness Together, Family Wellness Center, and the San Diego Youth Services CAT Team. In fact, our therapists and trainees currently have space available on their caseloads! If you are looking for emotional support and have any challenges accessing services outside of school, please contact your counselor or Laura Dawson in the GHS Wellness Center.

On Thursday, February 1st over fifty 10th graders participated in our first Foothiller Summit. This all-day event focused on creating a positive and supportive school environment. Students and staff participated in activities that were intended to establish strong personal connections and build empathy so that everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We are so proud of our participants who came with an open mind and willingness to connect with others. It was a resounding success that we hope to expand and make an annual Foothiller tradition.

Once again our peer listeners will be hosting Where is the Love? week from February 13-16. During that week, students will have an opportunity to practice random acts of kindness and send kind heart grams to their friends. Our culminating activity during 4th period on Friday the 16th will be a door decorating contest themed around kindness. All students are encouraged to participate in our activities and spread kindness during this week and every week. If you have any questions, please email Laura Dawson. Thank you for helping build an inclusive and kind Foothiller community.

Counselors will visit English classrooms this month to review graduation/college requirements and talk with students about how to plan classes for the next school year. Students will be given course selection forms to complete with parents/guardians and return when they meet with counselors individually in March. Parents are invited to attend our virtual Course Planning Night on Feb. 22nd. Please see details under Upcoming Events above.

Did you know that there are sometimes scholarships that go unused because nobody applied for them? We hear about a ton of incredible scholarship opportunities, which our Administrative Assistant Lori Cromwell posts on our GHS counseling website (click here)! Many of these are local opportunities for our students! They are organized with tabs at the bottom for the month the application is due. Please check back regularly and apply for any that seem like a good fit. Scholarship opportunities can also be found at fastweb.com, bigfuture.collegeboard.org, goingmerry.com, and scholarships.com.

The University of California is proud to introduce Lograr Universidad de California — a comprehensive new Spanish-language website to help Spanish-speaking students and their families navigate the process of attaining a University of California education. The website provides students with a roadmap to UC, helping them prepare for a competitive application and sharing important information on admission rates and financial aid.

The Summer Medical Academy is for highly motivated 15-19 year olds who have an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. Applications are due by Feb. 23rd. Click here for more details.

Please click here for information on how to register new Grossmont students!

Future Foothillers who do not live in our attendance boundaries may apply for School Choice:

• The School Choice Window opened on December 1, 2023 at 8:00am and will be open until February 23, 2024 at 4:00pm.
• Siblings of current students placed at Grossmont through school choice must also complete a School Choice application as an incoming student.
• Once the Online Registration is complete and approved you'll receive an invitation to create an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
• Submit a School Choice application through Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

As you continue to work on developing your college list, it may help to identify schools that will meet 100% of your financial need, colleges with generous merit aid, and regional tuition agreements like the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). Click here for a helpful list!

Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. In fact, nearly 80% of US colleges do not require them. However, some 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 also be required by specific programs or scholarships. Fairtest.org has put together a list of test optional and test free colleges.

Seniors who complete their Grossmont College Application online by March 1st will be invited to Class Selection Day on March 7th in the GHS Library. Grossmont College counselors will meet with students individually to help them select classes and earn priority registration. Call slips will be sent for students who have completed the application by March 1st. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

"After receiving your first college acceptance letter, you'll have to start making some difficult decisions for your academic career. Although you may feel overwhelmed, taking your time and carefully making a decision will help you make the right choice for your education." Click here to read the full article from College Choice.

In just one application, the Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 100 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000. Some scholarships can be renewed for multiple years to help offset the financial burden for a student’s entire undergraduate career. Click here for more information and to apply! Additional scholarship opportunities are available on our counseling website here.

A new version of the financial aid application was released in December! 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. Click here for the information counselors shared with seniors in their economics classes. If you need assistance, please take advantage of the workshops listed above under Upcoming Events.

Seniors who need to request that a transcript be sent to a prospective university should click here.