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GHS Counselor Connection

June 2024

GHS CounselorConnectionJune 2024

Have a Great Summer, Foothillers! Have a Great Summer, Foothillers!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Scroll down for pictures from some great celebrations. We hope all of our foothillers enjoy some rest, fun, and quality time with loved ones during the summer (along with a little reflection and planning for the future- see below). Our team will be taking a break for the summer. We will not be sending out a newsletter or accessing email/voice mail in July. We will have a summer school counselor, academic advisors, and administrative assistants on campus during summer school hours in June. We look forward to seeing students when we return in August!

Counseling Team Contact Info
Click above for contact information for counselors, academics advisors, and administrative assistants.

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

Event Information

Celebrate Juneteenth - Find the HBCU for You!

Discover the rich history of this holiday and how it relates to the invaluable educational opportunities offered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). College Board is bringing you an all-star panel featuring an HBCU administrator and Black college students (who always keep it real) and sharing how to compare colleges to find the best HBCU using BigFuture’s free resources. Register here.

When?

Tuesday, Jun 11, 2024, 05:00 PM

Where?

virtual

Event Information

Grossmont College Registration Lab

Join Grossmont Community College for one of their events where you can chat with a counselor about which classes to take and get registered! Offered from 9am - 3pm on June 12th and 13th. Pick the date and time that works for you. Register at https://bit.ly/gcfall24.

When?

Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024, 09:00 AM

Where?

Grossmont College

Event Information

La Mesa Juneteenth Celebration

La Mesa is having their 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on June 16th from 12pm - 4pm, a celebration of life, freedom, and community. There will be delicious food, art, music, dance, crafts, and more. Volunteers are needed! Please click here for more information.

When?

Sunday, Jun 16, 2024, 12:00 PM

Where?

MacArthur Park

Event Information

World Refugee Day Celebration

This is a free multicultural community event from 11am - 2pm. There will be giveaways, games, crafts, activities, music and dance performances, free lunch, free bags of groceries, community resources, and much more!

When?

Saturday, Jun 22, 2024, 11:00 AM

Where?

Cuyamaca College

Event Information

Class of 2028 Freshman Orientation

Meet G-Crew leaders, participate in your first pep assembly, and pick up your chromebook and schedule.

When?

Friday, Aug 9, 2024, 09:00 AM

Where?

Grossmont High School

Event Information

Schedules Available through Infinite Campus

Students may log into Infinite Campus to view their schedules on Sunday evening, August 11th. If you need to discuss an error on your schedule, counselors will be available at GHS on Monday, August 12th from 10am-12pm. See details in a mailing you should receive in early July.

When?

Sunday, Aug 11, 2024, 04:00 PM

Where?

virtual

Mental Wellness Mental Wellness

9 Ways to Improve Teen Mental Health This Summer - Acknowledge Alliance

9 Ways to Improve Teen Mental Health This Summer - Acknowledge Alliance

For many of us, the summer months bring fond memories of trips to the beach, sunny days spent swimming at the pool, fun family vacations and plenty of free time to spend with friends.

launch acknowledgealliance.org

Mental Health Support While School is Closed

Here are some great resources for mental health support during the summer or anytime!

San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240

Teen Guide to Mental Health and Wellness

Guia Para Adolescentes De Salud Y Bienestar Mental

Summer Success Kit for Kids With ADHD - Child Mind Institute

Summer Success Kit for Kids With ADHD - Child Mind Institute

Long summer days can be challenging for kids with ADHD and their parents. Here are tips and strategies for making the most of your vacation.

launch childmind.org

Academic Support & College/Career Preparation Academic Support & College/Career Preparation

All Grade Levels: All Grade Levels:

Tutor Me Online Tutoring
Free tutoring available 24/7 online for all GUHSD students. Click above for more info.

Summer School at GHS on June 10th - 28th

Summer school will be held on the GHS campus on Mon. through Fri. from June 10th - 28th with a holiday on June 19th. Students will have the opportunity to repeat a D or F grade in one or two classes. Classes will be held from 8am - 11am and 11:45am - 2:45pm. All classes are full at this time. Parents/guardians recently received email confirmation of students enrolled in summer school. Students who would like to "crash a class" may show up at 7:30am on June 10th and will be placed in a class if space becomes available.

Grossmont College Counseling 130 Class Open to Current 10th & 11th Graders

The GHS Upward Bound program is partnering with Grossmont College outreach services to provide a 1 unit credit course for 25 GHS students. Students must be at least 14 years old and completing 10th grade. The class will meet from June 24th - August 1st on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00-10:10a.m.


The COUN 130 Class is called Study Skills and Time management. It prepares students to adjust to the academic community by learning to study effectively in given time limitations. The class emphasizes time management, textbook mastery, research skills, goal setting, note-taking, and stress reduction. Please complete this Interest form if you are interested.

Work Permits for Summer Jobs

If you need a work permit for a summer job, please see Gracia Gregg in the office from 8am - 3pm, Monday - Friday until June 28th (closed on June 19th). The form needs to be signed by your employer, parent/guardian, and approved by our Assistant Principal, so start this process as soon as you are offered the job! Click here for more information.

Interview Coach: Practice Job Interview Skills with Our Free AI Interview Tool

Interview Coach: Practice Job Interview Skills with Our Free AI Interview Tool

Free, personalized support and resources to help you get to college, find your first job, and succeed in both.

launch getschooled.com

Goodwill Job Training Programs

Goodwill offers a Summer Youth Program and a 3-month, hands-on, Paid Training Program. The programs help young adults, ages 16 to 25, who want to develop career skills. Students may also schedule one-on-one time with a Goodwill Career Advisor to develop a personalized employment plan. The Career Advisor will assist with creating a résumé, interview preparation, including mock interviews, and help getting a job.


All students are eligible to earn a Goodwill Job Readiness Certificate by meeting with a Career Advisor four times within two weeks. The student must also attend one of each of the following soft skill workshops – Find a Job, Résumé Builder, Ace the Interview, Exceptional Customer Service, Workplace Communication, Conflict Resolution and Bank of America's Financial Literacy workshops. Meeting the requirements of the certificate demonstrates to potential employers the job seeker’s commitment to possess the following soft skills: Reliability, Commitment, and Initiative. Workshops are available in person and online.


Students interested in participating or learning more about the programs can make an appointment with a Career Advisor by visiting sdgoodwill.org or stop by any Goodwill Community Employment Center.

Juniors: Juniors:

WACAC Camp College Virtual Boot Camp

The Western Association of College Admissions Counselors is offering a FREE six session virtual boot camp for students. All sessions will be on Wednesday afternoons at 4pm Pacific Time.

Student Registration Link: https://tcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRG5N599SQWVw2nxIxePSA#/registration


June 12: How college application decisions are made

June 19: Getting starting on your app: essays and activities

August 7: Personal Writing for the Common App and UC app

August 14: Avoiding Missed Opportunities on the Common app / UC app

August 21: Ask the Experts: Q & A for Common App & UC

Post Secondary Planning Presentations for Juniors

On May 23rd, counselors shared valuable information with juniors as they plan for their post-secondary goals. Students selected which session to attend. One session covered community colleges, military, trade schools and apprenticeships. The other session covered four-year universities. Getting ready and starting the college application process this summer will make senior year less stressful and more enjoyable! Click below to view the presentations and utilize the resources linked throughout the slides.

Four-Year Universities

Community Colleges and More

We also shared information with parents on May 29th:

FAMILY Four-Year University Presentation - 29 May 2024

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

Help with the Common App - AXS Companion

The AXS Companion is a free online resource designed by the Independent Educational Consultants Association and Oregon State University to be used side-by-side with Common App as you work through your application. Each section includes explanatory videos, helpful tips, a glossary of application terms, and links to resources mentioned in the videos. Click here to check it out.

Common App is a college application platform that allows you to apply to over 1,000 colleges and universities. Every year, more than one million students apply to college through Common App. Colleges and Universities on Common App can sometimes be more affordable for families than a public university near home. It is a good idea to start working on your application this summer!

College Bound Juniors: Consider Registering for the ACT/SAT Exams

Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. In fact, nearly 80% of US colleges do not require them. However, some universities may require one of these exams, or they may have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may also be required by specific programs or scholarships.

Seniors: Seniors:

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Congratulations to the Class of 2024 Graduates!

We are so proud of you and look forward to the graduation ceremony on June 6th! For details, please refer to email messages sent out by our administration and our school website.

Transcript Requests
Students who need transcripts sent to colleges must use the link above! Counselors do not automatically send them.
Transcripts may be picked up from Gracia Gregg in the main office from 8am-3pm, Mon.- Fri. until June 28th (closed on June 19th).

Seniors take on the new Financial Aid application!

2024 has been a challenging year for our seniors trying to complete the new FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application. This process was revised by the government for the first time in over 40 years. Although it has been simplified, there were many stumbling blocks along the way. Through perseverance and dedication we have had 277 seniors complete the process so far! In addition, through the generosity of the Grossmont Foundation, ten of our seniors have been awarded $50 each through an opportunity drawing for those that completed the process! Thank you GHS Foundation!


Families! It is not too late to complete the process - especially for those students attending community college next year. It is a requirement in order to qualify for the College Promise which gives students their first two years of tuition at no cost! The process is now much smoother and should take no more than 30 minutes. Please utilize either link to complete the appropriate 2024-25 application and complete it no later than June 30th.

FAFSA (students with a social security number)

CA Dream Act Application (undocumented students)


Please contact Ms. Vargas-Wilson by email at rvargaswilson@guhsd.net or by phone at 619-668-6042 with any questions or if you need additional support in completing this process.

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Senior Decision Day

Seniors who were on target to complete their "A-G" college eligibility requirements celebrated Senior Decision Day with us during lunch on May 15th! We had a great time celebrating all of our seniors headed to many different colleges, trade schools and the military!

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Senior Awards Night

We enjoyed celebrating our seniors who have earned awards, scholarships, and graduation cords at Senior Awards Night on May 21st. We are so proud of all of you!

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Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click here!
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