Mountain Strong

This past week, the MHS Counselors, Mr. Sparks and Mrs. Harrell, met with all of our freshmen to discuss the importance of attendance, grades, and understanding graduation requirements. We also reviewed how GPA is calculated and reminded students that we are here to support them throughout their entire high school journey.

Students asked many great questions, and we had a productive and engaging discussion. We are excited to continue working with our freshmen and helping them build a strong foundation for success at MHS!

We will also begin Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training for all freshmen during PE classes next week. This will be the first of three sessions designed to provide students with practical tools and information to help them better support themselves and their friends, while also understanding when it is important to involve a trusted adult or mental health professional.

Our sessions will cover the following topics:

September 8 – Session 1

• What mental health is and what mental health challenges can look like

• How common mental health challenges are among teens

• The impact of mental health challenges on teens

• How people experiencing mental health challenges can get better

• Mental health professionals and other resources that can provide support

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you as we support our freshmen during this important transition into high school. Our goal is to ensure that every student knows they are supported, understands the resources available to them, and has the knowledge and skills needed to navigate high school successfully.

Mr. Sparks and I had the pleasure of meeting with our seniors this week to discuss future plans, scholarships, FAFSA, deadlines, SAT/ACT testing, and all things senior year! We had a great conversation and want to make sure students and families are aware of the many opportunities and important deadlines ahead.

We stressed the importance of checking their school email regularly for important information regarding:

• Graduation

• College admissions

• Scholarships

• Testing opportunities

• Important deadlines and announcements

• Students should check the MHS Scholarship Google Sheet frequently, as it is updated regularly with new opportunities. We encourage students to apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible. Our biggest recommendation: Apply, apply, apply! Even small scholarships can add up, and many opportunities take only a few minutes to complete. Be sure to use the tabs at the bottom of the sheet to filter through different scholarship opportunities.

MHS Scholarship Opportunities

• Students interested in being considered for a school nomination for the ETSU Roan Scholarship or the UNC Charlotte Levine Scholarship should email Mr. Sparks as soon as possible.

Fee waivers are available for students who qualify. Please see one of the counselors for more information.

• September 14 at 6:00 PM – Senior Family Meeting
  We encourage all senior families to attend as we discuss important information and expectations for the senior year.

• September 17 – College Fair
  Over 50 colleges and universities will be in attendance! Students interested in attending can pick up a permission slip from either counselor.

• September 18 at 1:00 PM – UNC-Chapel Hill Presentation
  Students interested in learning more about UNC-Chapel Hill, including the school and admissions process, are encouraged to attend.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1. Completing the FAFSA is an important step for students planning to attend college or pursue other forms of postsecondary education. We will hold several FAFSA drop-in events throughout October where students and families can ask questions and receive assistance with the application process. More information about those dates will be shared soon.

We are excited to support our seniors as they take these important next steps toward their futures. Please encourage your students to stay organized, check their email, pay attention to deadlines, and take advantage of the many opportunities available to them!