College Newsletter

Happy First Day of Fall! College success is not just about getting through your classes. It is also about learning how to manage your time, advocate for yourself, build relationships, and use the resources around you.

We are currently opening our application process for interested 7th-grade families to participate in our Access 2 High School (A2HS) program, held on the campus of Saint Louis University. 7th graders and their families apply this year to become part of our program starting with their 8th grade year.

Who We Are Looking For

We want to target students who would benefit the most from long-term mentoring and guidance, specifically:

• Engaged parents - parents who are involved in their child's education and want them to go on to post-secondary education

• Private high school - parents who are looking for the opportunity to send their child to a private high school.

• First-generation college students - neither parent/guardian completed a four-year college degree.

• Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch - or your entire school is 100% eligible or your school is in a Promise Zone or a district that is 100% eligible.

Hello, Access Academies Scholars! The purpose of this survey is to check in with you and to ensure you are being offered the services and assistance that you may want and need/want in a timely manner.

We are required to ask some of these answers to continue receiving grant funding that supports our programming, such as care packages, gift cards, college scholarships, etc. Your responses help us continue what we do and more.

***To thank you for your time, we will award a $50 gift card to 6 randomly selected students who complete this survey by the deadline!

Best of luck with midterms and preparing for finals!

Our team has been working diligently to process and send out your scholarship checks.

Please remember to check with your college’s Financial Aid Office to confirm when your scholarship has been received and how it will be applied. 📬 Mailing Time: Every college processes scholarships differently, so your experience may vary in processing time.

Hey Access Scholars! It’s time for your Fall Semester Check-In!

Please check your email for the sign-up link and choose a time that works best for you. During your check-in, we’ll connect with you about how the semester is going, your academics, and any support you may need.

📅 Important: The Access Team will be out of the office for a conference October 3–7, so please keep that in mind when selecting your appointment time.

If you don’t see the email or have trouble signing up, please reach out to us!

We look forward to catching up with you!

If you’ve taken a break from college, stepped away from school, or are still figuring out what comes next, you’re not alone—and we’re here to help!

💡 Remember: This is your journey. We can provide guidance, resources, and support, but the process must be student-led. You will need to take the initiative to communicate with your college, complete required forms, meet deadlines, and follow through with your next steps.

Not sure where to start? Reach out to us! We can help you identify your options and create a plan for moving forward.

The 2027–28 FAFSA opens October 1, 2026! If you plan to use federal or state financial aid to help pay for college, completing the FAFSA is an important step.

Need help? We’re here for you! Access will offer one-on-one FAFSA assistance for students and families who need support completing the form. You must reach out to the Access Team to request help.

📅 We may have a few FAFSA help appointments available on Saturday, October 24, so keep an eye on your email for more information and sign-up details!

Don’t wait—complete your FAFSA early and stay on top of your financial aid!

1. Go to https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote to check to see if and where you are registered to vote, and complete the online registration if needed. Take a picture or screenshot. If you are ineligible to vote based on citizenship or other factors, you do not need to complete this step.

2. Complete the rest of the form and you will receive a $25 Amazon or Target gift card!

Hey! We created a chat just for Access Scholars & family where we’ll share important resources, scholarships, internships, events, college opportunities, and more! 🎓✨

Make sure you join so you don’t miss out on opportunities throughout the school year!

👉 Join the chat here: https://groupme.com/join_group/116346649/ARxzYSy4

Are you a college student looking for a Work-Study opportunity? We’re looking for reliable and motivated college students to tutor our 8th-grade through high school scholars!

Requirements:

• Must be currently enrolled in college
• Must be passing your classes and in good academic standing
• Must enjoy working with middle and high school students
• Must be dependable and committed to supporting our scholars

This is a great paid opportunity to gain mentoring and tutoring experience while giving back to younger students in our program.

We love celebrating our Access scholars and alumni! Did you graduate, land a new job, join a club, earn a scholarship, make honor roll, get married, welcome a child, receive an award, or have another exciting update? We'd love to hear from you. Your stories help inspire current students and show supporters the long-term impact of Access Academies.

Current Students, parents, and alumni are encouraged to share <3

Questions? Connect with Dave Baldwin at dave.baldwin@accessacademies.org

We’d love to see you there! Please RSVP here. The flyer with additional details is also attached.

Finally, thank you for making sure your scholars arrive to class on time! Your support makes a tremendous difference and helps us create the best possible experience for our scholars.

We are so excited about what’s ahead and are looking forward to an AMAZING year together!

Families are invited to join this parent-led committee and get more involved with the Access Academies community!

The committee offers opportunities to:

• 🎉 Help plan and support events
• 🙌 Volunteer with Access Academies
• 🤝 Connect with other Access families
• 💡 Share ideas and help strengthen our programs

Interested in getting involved? We’d love to have you join us!

👉 Join the committee here: https://groupme.com/join_group/113105488/aWkuz0Ej

LinkedIn is a professional social network where users may share, connect, and learn. It is the most prominent business networking site where you can market your abilities and connect with professionals. LinkedIn may help you find the perfect internship or job and connect with prospective clients. Feel free to add us in

Looking for a meaningful practicum experience where you can build professional skills while helping strengthen families and support children in our community?

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is seeking three practicum students to join our team this fall:

• Family Empowerment Programs (St. Louis & St. Charles)
• Therapy Team
• Counseling or Art Therapy students will work alongside regional therapists supporting children through individual and group sessions.
• Bachelor's or Master's Level Students
• Social Work, Counseling, Art Therapy, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
• At the Crisis Nursery, you'll gain valuable experience while helping strengthen families and support children in our community.

https://www.stlcitysc.com/employment-opportunities/

• Check all financial aid requirements.

• Attend professor office hours.

• Visit tutoring or academic support services.

• Review your degree progress.

• Update your résumé.

• Look for internships and campus opportunities.

🔗 Resource: BigFuture Pay for College | Career Exploration

Office hours are not only for students who are struggling. Use them to clarify assignments, discuss class material, ask about career paths, build a relationship with your professor, or get advice about future opportunities.

🔗 Resource: Office Hours Guide

🔗 Resource: BigFuture College Search

Explore graduate and professional programs at WashU and think about how your current major could connect to advanced education, research, healthcare, business, law, or other professional pathways.

CAREER SPOTLIGHT — FINANCIAL ANALYST

🔗 Resource: BLS Career Profile | UIUC Gies Business | Indiana Kelley | UW–Madison Business

Financial analysts examine financial information and trends to help organizations make decisions. This career can be a good fit for students who enjoy numbers, research, technology, and problem-solving.

SLUH is happy to host the 2026 Catholic High School Fall Fair on Wednesday, September 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. Families with students in grades 5 and up are invited to explore more than 20 Catholic high schools. Learn more at archstlschools.org.

Next Saturday 9/26, Missouri Dept. of Conservation is hosting Family Fishing at Carondelet Park in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out the details below!

Join Missouri Workers Center as a Canvasser in Kansas City or St. Louis! Knock doors, talk to working people, and help shape the November ballot.

$25/hr + cell & gas stipends

Temporary, part-time (through Election Day)

Apply here: https://moworkers.org/get-involved/#application-form

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana es más que una celebración.

También es una oportunidad para apoyar nuestros negocios, conocer organizaciones que trabajan por nuestra comunidad, compartir nuestras tradiciones y crear espacios donde podemos traer nuestra cultura completa con nosotros.

Y por eso te invitamos a Fiesta @ Cortex.

7 de octubre | 5–7:30 PM | Cortex Commons

Gratis. No necesitas registrarte.

Take two minutes to check your voter registration status or register to vote at vote.org.

In Missouri, the deadline to register for the November 3 General Election is October 7.

Learn more about Mi Gente Vota at stlhlg.org/migentevota

#MiGenteVotaMO #NationalVoterRegistrationDay

Learn about science happening in our community! Discover a different in-depth topic each month from local scientists in St. Louis. Learn more and sign up: https://buff.ly/5OyhR5K

Presented with Academy of Science - St. Louis

As part of a senior community service project, we are offering free family portraits to members of the community. This event aims to provide families with a meaningful opportunity to capture lasting memories, regardless of their financial situation. The portraits will be taken by Photography 2 and Portfolio student photographers for families at no cost. The families will receive digital images (and releases) that can be printed.

Event Details:

Families will need to book at appointment at

https://outlook.office.com/book/FamilyPortraitSessions@cbchs.org/?ismsaljsauthenable

There are 8 time slots for each Sunday. If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule, please use your email confirmation and the same calendar link to do so as SOON as possible. These spots fill up fast and we usually end up with a waitlist.

Choose a Sunday: Sep 27, Oct 14, Oct 11, Nov 1

Time: 12pm to 4pm (appointments are offered every half hour on the 00 & 30).

Location: CBC High School, 1850 De La Salle Dr. St. Louis. (We are the giant castle-looking building near the intersection of 270 and 40/64). We have a photo studio located in the bottom level of the school and will have signs on where to park and enter on the rear of the building.

Cost: Free for all families

Questions: Please email Mrs. Niehaus at CBCPhotography@CBCHS.org.

Registration is Required

Start Here provides general information, street addresses, phone numbers, and websites for dozens of agencies, shelters, employment resources, food pantries, and other organizations throughout the St. Louis area.

Website: https://www.startherestl.org/

OFS MetroMarket is rolling across the St. Louis bi-state area, bringing affordable produce, frozen meats, and healthy grocery options closer to the communities we serve.

Swipe to see where we'll be the rest of the week.

View the full schedule: ofsmetromarket.org/schedule

🔗 Resource: Merriam-Webster Definition

Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions and commitments.

Keep up with program events, highlights and all things ACCESS.