Smoky Hill Counseling Updates

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

Location: Smoky Hill Cafeteria

Date: April 9th at 6pm

Join Smoky Hill Counselors for an informative session, where we’ll break down real-world financial aid reports and aid packages to help you make informed financial decisions about your student's future.

• Our objectives will be:
• Understand COA vs. Net Cost
• Decode grants vs. loans
• Compare offers correctly
• Know what questions to ask colleges
• Avoid common financial aid traps

Click here to register

Location: Smoky Hill High School

Date: April 13 from 5:30-8pm

• There will be sessions on budgeting and saving, debt management, investing, credit and financing, college financial aid and more.
• Dinner and Childcare will be provided

• April 15th: 11th grade SAT and 10th grade PSAT
• April 16th: 11th grade CMAS and 9th grade PSAT

Location: Cherry Creek Innovation Campus

Date: April 16th from 5:30-7:30pm

Who: Juniors and Seniors looking to find job, apprenticeship, or internship opportunities.

Click here for important information and dates leading up to graduation.

• On April 15, all SHHS juniors will take the SAT at school for FREE.
• If you are planning to take an additional SAT (other than the FREE April test), upcoming test dates and registration information can be found on the College Board website. For information about the ACT, including registration and test dates, please visit the ACT website.

While many colleges and universities have adopted test-optional policies, some institutions still require SAT or ACT scores for admission. In addition, certain scholarship programs—such as the Daniels Fund—may require official test scores as part of the application process.

Please note that there is a fee to register for the SAT or ACT. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are eligible for a fee waiver. If you believe you qualify, please get in touch with your counselor to request one.

• Summer School registration is now open.
• Click here to learn more and sign up for in-person or online Summer School and check out other summer opportunities through CCSD

• The Buffs Resource Center is open after school every Tuesday and Wednesday until 4:30! If you need support in math or just want a quiet place to get some work done, stop by room I-414 and get the help you need.

• The Testing Center is open every Tuesday after school until 4:30. If you need to make up a test, that’s the place to be.

Students need 1.5 credits of PE to graduate. If students have participated in a 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

If your child has not already had their conference, they can schedule their conference online by clicking the link below. When scheduling your appointment, please be sure to select your counselor and that it is during your off period.

https://outlook.office365.com/book/SHHSCounselorMrQuintana@cherrycreekschoolsorg.onmicrosoft.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

*Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in the meeting if they are able.

Are you trying to make sense of your financial aid award letters? We recommend utilizing the Award Advisor Application. Learn more here: https://awardadvisor.org/

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.

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

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

Understanding Credit Score

What is Debt?

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.

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.