December School Counseling News

Mrs. Sanacore has returned from her maternity leave! Caseloads for counselors have returned to the original breakdown. Please see below.

Counselor Caseloads:

Ms. Slezak- Last names A-E

Ms. Zegers-Last names F-Le

Ms. Sanacore- Last names Li-R

Ms. Jahries- Last names S-Z

Ms. Kovack- College and Career

On Wednesday, November 12th, Hereford High School hosted approximately 50 representatives from various Colleges, Careers, Trades and Military. We had a great turnout of students who were engaged and asked great questions. We look forward to continuing to host this event each fall.

Most of our seniors applying to 4-year colleges have completed or have almost completed their applications. We are reminding students to check their portals after they apply to ensure that they have everything complete. If you are not done and need support, please be sure to reach out to your counselor. We are here to help and want to make sure you meet your deadlines.

The FAFSA is available for you to complete. Use the link below to get started. Remember, you and your parent must first create an FSA ID (see "how to" video below). Then, you can complete the FAFSA.

Here are additional resources for you to help with this process:

• Create your FSA ID here: studentaid.gov FSA ID Creation
• More information on the FSA ID: FSA ID Info
• YouTube Video Resource: How to Create an FSA ID

The Hereford Community Scholarship application link will is available! This is a great opportunity for seniors to potentially earn scholarship money for college. Every senior applying to college should fill out this packet. Past seniors have been awarded from $200 up to $7,500 in scholarships from local donors, businesses, and organizations.

Students can click on the link below to apply. Fill out ONE application to be eligible for many scholarships. Some require an additional essay and some do not. See attachments below to know which ones require an essay.

APPLICATIONS DUE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 30TH!

All of this information is posted in Schoology under "Resources" on the left, then click "School Counseling" then "Scholarships"

Students must have their own Savings Account at First Financial FCU (Custodial, Health Savings and Special IRA accounts not eligible), and have at least a 2.5 unweighted GPA to qualify. Scholarship funds can be used for post-secondary institutions (including college, technical and trade schools); and are for tuition and related expenses during the recipient's first year of study. Click on the link below to apply.

We will post Scholarship offerings in Schoology.

They can also be found in Xello. Hover over the "Explore" tab at the top and click on "Scholarships." From there you can sort by date and award amount.

Take a look at this great resource from Central Scholarship: https://central-scholarship.org/scholarship-directory

Does your senior want to earn college credit while in high school? We are offering a CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County) class during the spring semester during period 4AB for students to take for FREE. This course will be Introduction to Sociology (SOCL 101). Students should make an appointment with Mrs. Kovack to find out more information and to register.

Students may elect to take CCBC classes on their own time. They can take coursework online or in person at any one of the CCBC campuses. Students who meet the CCR requirement can take the classes for free. Those who do not, can still take classes at the 50% reduced rate. Please reach out to Kristen Kovack at kkovack@bcps.org if you would like more information on this offering.

Parents of current 8th graders: There will be a parent night to learn about the transition to high school on December 3rd in the Hereford High School Auditorium from 6-7:30pm. Please spread the word to families who you know have a current 8th grade student.

Lesson topic: Career Exploration and Course Registration​

• Students will complete the Roadmap to Ready Survey in Xello​

• Students will identify possible careers based on skills they hope to use​

• Students will review their transcript, credits and completer program and 4-year plan in preparation for course registration

This is always a wonderful day for our students to engage in wellness activities during their enrichment period. Please encourage your student to sign up for something that interests them!

Thank you to students, staff and administration who participated in Hereford's fall School Counseling and Mental Health Advisory Council meeting on November 19th. We reviewed our program goals and priorities for the school year and received valuable feedback from students to refine and improve our program to best meet the needs of students. We hope you'll consider being part of this group for our spring meeting. Use the link below to express your interest. Thank you!

School Counseling Advisory Council Meeting Interest