SHS Counseling Newsletter

• Upcoming Events & Reminders
• My Life Plan
• Direct Admissions
• November 1st College Deadlines
• Financial Aid
• Counselor Café
• Counselor Appointments
• Mental Health Minute

9th-12th College Knowledge Night & Financial Aid Night - Wed October 8th 6-8pm

This night is an opportunity for all students, along with their families, to learn more about the college application process, hear from college representatives, learn how to complete a college search, and much more! We will also have sessions available in Spanish and Somali for students and families to learn more about the college process in native languages. We look forward to having families join us for this wonderful event!

9th - 12th South MnACC College Fair -Tues, October 28 During School Hours

Hosted in our South gymnasium, representatives from colleges and universities throughout the Midwest, will allow students to gather information and explore post-secondary options.

12th - Native Senior Day - Thursday November 13

Continuing individual check-ins, resources and planning with our American Indian seniors.

11th Grade - Finance Park (Part 2) - November 18-19

Two years ago, these 11th graders (as 9th graders) spent one full day at Junior Achievement's St. Paul campus, focusing on personal financial planning and career exploration. This program, walked through a simulation that helped students build a foundation on which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime (including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit). Well... 11th graders are GOING BACK for more! They will build upon their knowledge thru enhanced simulations of "real life" financial scenarios. This experience will challenge what they know and help them navigate through difficult financial decisions.

To keep up with college preparation information, please keep an eye out for weekly CCC newsletters. For more information, click here to go directly to the CCC webpage

11th Grade - Postsecondary Research (Part 1 of 2) - Tues October 21st

Counselors will meet with small groups of juniors, in the media center, during social studies classes. We will review the various postsecondary options and terminology and provide resources to research these options.

10th Grade - Career Factors - Tuesday November 11th

We will help students explore important factors that impact students as they are making future plans and decisions: work/life balance, money, making a difference, education, interests, and career growth.

Graduating Seniors... Colleges and Universities are eager to admit you!! Select Minnesota colleges will soon be reviewing the information we send them and will be making decisions based on your academic history. Please keep an eye out for that personalized email/letter, letting you know which colleges are excited to accept you, should you apply. The hope is that through your application process, you can apply to specific schools with greater confidence, knowing that THEY have ALREADY chosen YOU!

** Letters have been emailed to families that offer an option to OPT OUT of this Direct Admissions process. If you choose not to share this information with colleges and still haven't let us know, please reach out to Leana.Thornton@mpls.k12.mn.us

The first round of application deadlines is coming soon! November 1st is a common college application deadline. For these applications, you need to submit your application, essays, test scores, and recommendation letters by 11:59pm on 11/1.

So make sure you are reviewing all your college deadlines and requirements to make sure you don't miss an important date!

Please reach out to your CCC staff or check out the CCC website for all the updated information you need.

Financial aid applications for the 2026–2027 academic year have opened. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is used to apply for federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. FAFSA data is also used to help award institutional aid through specific colleges.

Many students will complete the Minnesota Dream Act. This application offers financial benefits to students regardless of their residency. It allows students to access in-state tuition rates and private scholarships.

In order to fill out the FAFSA, students will need to:

• Create a StudentAid.gov account
• Create a FSA ID (for an online signature; parents need one too)
• Gather necessary documents: Social Security, tax returns, bank statements and investment records

Please reach out to the CCC staff or your counselor with any questions!

Each month, on the 1st Thursday, the Counseling Team will host a table in the lunchroom during both lunches. We are there to say hi, answer questions, notify you about events, talk about credit recovery, My Life Plan lessons, or anything else! Having trouble connecting with us? Find us in the lunchroom!

We are here and want to partner with you!

Please click here to find your counselor's name and "bookings" link. Under the counselor's picture, you can click on "Book a Meeting". This will only offer appointment times directly with that particular counselor, and only when they have availability. You get to choose what time works for you! You are also welcome to email or call, as all their contact information is accessible as well.

Why talk about it?

Bullying most often involves student-to-student interactions, and is noted by the National School Safety Center as the “most enduring and under-rated problem in U.S. schools.”[1] Over and over, the effects of bullying have been documented:

• In multiple surveys, 25% to 30% of students report experiencing bullying behavior in schools[2]
• Both students who engage in bullying and students who experience bullying are more likely to experience school failure.
• Bullying is not done by a small number of students who are socially and emotionally isolated, but is common across socio-economic status, gender, grade and class.

This means every student benefits from strategies to prevent bullying in their building as a way to increase student safety, prevent problem behavior, and improve student outcomes.

**The more we can learn, the more we can know what we can do to help stop or prevent bullying!!

Bullying is different from conflict.

• Conflict is a disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views.
• Bullying is negative behavior directed by someone exerting power and control over another person.

Bullying is done with a goal to hurt, harm, or humiliate. With bullying, there is often a power imbalance between the students involved, with power defined as elevated social status, being physically larger, or as part of a group against an individual. Students who bully perceive their target as vulnerable in some way and often find satisfaction in harming them.

In normal conflict, students self-monitor their behavior. They read cues to know if lines are crossed, and then modify their behavior in response. Those guided by empathy usually realize they have hurt someone and will want to stop their negative behavior. On the other hand, students intending to cause harm and whose behavior goes beyond normal conflict will continue their behavior even when they know it’s hurting someone.