College, Career, & Counseling News

• Monday, October 19 - No School for Students
• Tuesday, October 20 - Catholic Charities at CHS
• Tuesday, October 20 - Mount Union College Rep at CHS during lunch periods
• Thursday, October 22 - Say Something Violence Prevention Presentation during ELA 9 classes
• Friday, October 23 - College Now at CHS
• Friday, October 23 - SOS (Signs of Suicide) Presentation in ELA 9 classes
• Friday, October 23 - 10th Grade Healthy Relationships Presentation during WIN
• Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30 - SADD Sponsored Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days (see flyer)
• Monday, October 26 - Catholic Charities at CHS
• Tuesday, October 27 - Student Council Exchange with Black River High School at CHS
• Thursday, October 29 - Career Exploration Trip to Sitetech Inc.
• Friday, October 30 - Halloween Pep Rally & Costume Contest
• Monday, November 2 - No School for Students
• Tuesday, November 3 - Catholoc Charities at CHS
• Tuesday, November 3 - Student Council Toys for Tots collection begins
• Wednesday, November 4 - LCCC CCP Scheduling at CHS
• Thursday, November 5 - Career Exploration Radiology Field Trip to Southwest General Hospital

Seniors:

• Schedule an appointment to meet with Miss Neff
• Transcripts are sent through Schoolinks
• The FAFSA is now open. Need help? See Miss Neff or Ms. Vega Hamilton

Juniors:

• The PSAT/NMSQT results should be in soon
• Start investigating colleges & begin college visits
• The College of Wooster Field Trip will be November 18

Sophomores:

• All sophomores will attend the LCJVS preentation on November 12 during WIN
• LCJVS Career Days Field Trip will be January 28

Freshmen:

• Miss Neff & Catholic Charities will complete classroom lessons with all freshmen on October 22 & 23

CCP Students:

• Scheduling for spring classes began on October 12. Please contact Mrs. Crow to make an appointment
• LCCC will be at CHS on November 4 to schedule for spring

College Now of Greater Cleveland

• Provides college & financial aid counseling to students and parents
• At CHS on select Fridays

Catholic Charities:

• In-School Therapy Services are available through Catholic Charities
• Please contact Miss Neff for more information

Choosing a college is about more than looking at a website or reading a brochure. Visiting a campus gives students the opportunity to experience a college firsthand and determine whether it feels like the right fit.

During a college visit, students can explore the campus, see classrooms and residence halls, learn about academic programs, and get a better sense of the overall campus environment. Talking with current students can also provide valuable insight into what college life is really like.

College visits also give students the chance to compare different types of schools. A large public university may feel very different from a smaller private college or liberal arts school. Visiting several campuses can help students identify what they value in a college, such as location, class size, student activities, academic support, athletics, or career opportunities.

Most importantly, students should look beyond the name or reputation of a college. The goal is to find a school that fits the student's academic goals, financial situation, and personal needs.

Parents can play an important role by encouraging their students to visit schools early and ask questions. Even if a student ultimately decides not to attend a particular college, that visit can help clarify what they do—or do not—want in their college experience.

At Columbia High School, we encourage students to take advantage of college visits whenever possible. Research is important, but there is no substitute for walking onto a campus and imagining yourself there. Juniors and seniors are permitted excused absences for college visits with approved documentation returned to the attendance office upon return to school.

If you have questions about planning college visits or the college search process, please contact Miss Neff or Mr. Marino.

As the school year gets busy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by assignments, activities, responsibilities, and expectations. Sometimes, we put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything perfectly that we forget to give ourselves a little grace.

Remember: You don’t have to have everything figured out today. Growth takes time, mistakes are part of learning, and one difficult day does not define you.

Take a moment this week to pause, take three slow breaths, and ask yourself: What is one thing I can let go of today? Maybe it’s the pressure to be perfect, worrying about something you can’t control, or comparing yourself to someone else.

Focus on what you can control, celebrate small victories, and remember to treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend.

Your mindful reminder: You are allowed to be a work in progress. Give yourself grace, take things one step at a time, and remember that every day is a new opportunity to begin again. 💚

All CHS students had the opportunity to visit the Lorain County Hands-On Career Pathways Expo held at the Ross Expo Center at the Lorain County Fairgrounds.

Everything you need to know about volunteering or career experiences at Southwest General Hospitals!

Students....Are you concerned about your future? Do you want to learn more about yourself? Or, learn more about a particular career? Schedule time time to meet with Mr. Marino!

Please see information below for Lorain County JVS!

The OTC+ initiative (Ohio Technical Center Plus) allows high school seniors to take career and technical courses at our Adult Career Center, earning industry credentials, dual credit, and real-world experience before they graduate.

This program delivery model is intended to provide the flexibility schools need in preparing students for their future when students cannot enroll locally due to course capacity, scheduling conflicts, lack of course offering, lack of qualified instructor, or lack of facilities.

The policy allows for local flexibility and customization providing multiple approaches for implementation. The guidance reflects a broad overview of design, implementation, and reporting of the CTE workforce and industry credential only programs in the location of the Ohio Technical Center.

Eligible Programs:

1. Certified Nurse Aide
2. Dental Assisting/Radiography
3. Phlebotomy Technician
4. Welding/Fabrication

Meredith Crow

Administrative Assistant

mcrow@clsdraiders.org

440-236-5003

Matt Marino

Career Readiness Coordinator

mmarino@clsdraiders.org

216-452-9720

Suzie Neff

School Counselor

sneff@clsdraiders.org

440-236-5003

Therapy Dog

IG: chs_raiders_counseling

Elizabeth Hall

In-School Therapist

Catholic Charities

Elizabeth.Hall@ccdocle.org

Jamie Vega Hamilton

College & Financial Aid Advisor

College Now of Greater Cleveland

jvegahamilton@collegenowgc.org

schedule online