GHS Counselor Connection
May 2026
Let's Finish Strong, Foothillers!
Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is available to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.
Upcoming Events
Event Information
Did you apply to attend Grossmont College in the Summer or Fall? You should have received a notice of the day and time you will be able to register for specific classes. Do that as soon as possible because classes fill up quickly. If you need any assistance, Grossmont College counselors will be back on campus on May 13th. Call slips will be sent for any seniors who completed the application before mid-April. If you have any questions about this process but did not receive a call slip, please go to the library on your own, anytime during periods 1 - 5 on May 13th, for assistance!
Event Information
This one-hour CalSOAP webinar will help 11th graders and their families understand how to get ready for senior year, including FAFSA and CA Dream Act, FSA IDs, scholarships, and the senior year timeline for college applications. Register here.
Event Information
The 2026 Mind Out Loud event is Wellness Together’s 6th Annual FREE Online Student Event focused on mental health advocacy. The event aims to empower students (13+) with practical and creative ways to share their stories and discuss mental health. Read more about this event here. The event will be livestreamed at 10am and again at 3:30pm, with recordings available as well.
Event Information
In honor of Mental Health Month, join Mental Health America (MHA) for an immersive virtual experience designed to support your mind and body. Wellness is not achieved through a single change or action; it’s built on intentional, consistent practices that can lead to more good days. From the comfort of your own space, you can join us for guided chair yoga, reflective journaling, and calming breathwork activities that support both mind and body. Register here.
Event Information
This event will be on May 29th from 10am -2pm. Services will include connections to housing, DMV/California Identification and social security vouchers, employment, haircuts, hygiene kits, veterans assistance, Medi-Cal/CalFresh enrollment, personal storage, legal aid, clothing, mobile medical clinic, mental health counseling, pastoral care, substance abuse and mental health services, pet sitting, and more. Click here for more info.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Caring for your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health. On May 15th we will have resource tables during lunch to support student mental health. We encourage all students to stop by to talk to counselors or peer listeners, collect information from community partners and enter our opportunity drawing for prizes!
Please click below for important resources:
Teen Guide to Mental Health and Wellness (SDCOE)
Subtle Signs of Depression
Depression can show up in subtle ways that are easy to overlook. This one-pager from Charlie Health explains some of the less obvious symptoms. Support is available in the GHS Counseling and Wellness Center!
Academic Support & College/Career Preparation
All Grade Levels:
Summer School at GHS on June 8th - 26th
Summer school will be held on the GHS campus on Mon. through Fri. from June 8th - 26th 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. Counselors reviewed progress with students in March and signed them up for summer school if they indicated they are able to attend. All students and families will receive an email with more details regarding summer school the week of May 17th.
Community College Courses for Enrichment
Many students have asked us how to enroll in community college classes during the summer, for example, to challenge themselves with a course we do not offer at GHS. Local community colleges have posted their summer schedules online and courses will fill up quickly. Click here for more information on concurrent enrollment and links to the college websites. Students are responsible for completing all of the steps to enroll and should let their counselor know if they successfully enroll in a course that might affect classes planned for next year.
Final Exam Schedule
Final Exam Planning Sheet
Click here for a tool students can use to help plan and prepare for each final exam.
Work Permits for Summer Jobs
If you need a work permit for a summer job, please see our Registrar, Kimberly Dillard, in the office. The form will need 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.
Skate for Concrete Summer Camp 2026
This camp will be held July 13th -16th and will include equipment operator simulator training, job shadows, hands on work based learning, mock interviews and a mini concrete skatepark contest. Participants must be 14 years or older. Scholarship opportunities are available. Space is limited. Click here for the flyer with registration information.
Juniors:
Post Secondary Planning Presentations for Juniors
On May 18th, our counseling team will host Post-Secondary Planning Presentations to support juniors as they prepare for life after high school during their Social Science classes. Students will have the opportunity to attend one of two presentations based on their post-high school plans. The first presentation will focus on community colleges, the military, trade schools, and apprenticeships. The second presentation will provide important information about planning for 4-year universities. These presentations are designed to help students start thinking ahead and ease their way into senior year. Beginning the college/career planning process this summer can help reduce stress and make senior year smoother.
WACAC Camp College
Join us on Wednesdays this summer and fall for the return of Camp College! This seven-session virtual bootcamp for college applications is FREE and open to all high school students in the graduating class of 2027. Reserve your spot now for this informative series specifically curated to maximize each step of the application journey!
FBI Teen Academy
The FBI’s Teen Academy program in San Diego is an opportunity for high school students to develop leadership skills and investigate the world of law enforcement. FBI staff, including special agents and intelligence analysts, lead discussions and interactive sessions focused on the work they do. This free event will take place July 16 at the San Diego FBI Field office. Interested students who will be juniors or seniors next year should submit their applications by June 5. More details and the application can be found on the FBI’s Community Outreach page.
Public Health Advocate Camp July 20th -24th
Join SDCOE for a free five-day student workshop series. Led by San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, students will receive hands-on training from public health professionals in addressing San Diego’s most critical public health issues, including tuberculosis, epidemiology and immunization services, HIV, and mental health. The camp will expand students’ understanding of health careers beyond hospital systems, providing an excellent introduction to public health occupations and a professional network. Read more info here and apply by May 29th.
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. 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.
Using AI in your College Search: Four Prompts to Get Started
Amanda Budd started writing her blog on AI prompts "using an AI prompt to see what AI had to say about itself. Specifically: Why should high schoolers use AI in their college search?" For her favorite tips and advice, and why "AI plus a high school counselor is a great combination." read more from this Georgia Tech blog post here.
Seniors:
Senior Awards Ceremony
We will be celebrating our seniors who have earned awards, scholarships, and graduation cords on May 21st. This special event is for students and families by invitation only and this year's event will be held in the morning before a reverse minimum day. Seniors, please be sure you have completed the Senior Exit Survey on our website so we know about your accomplishments!
ESL Workshops at Grossmont College
Grossmont College will be offering workshops to support students who speak English as a second language, on Wednesdays May 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 9am - 11am. Complete your English placement. Connect with a counselor for help planning and enrolling in classes. Learn how to access your student portal. Call 619-644-7208 to register. Click here for the flyers in English, Spanish, Farsi and Pashto.
Scholarships
Did you know that there are sometimes scholarships that go unused because nobody applied for them? We hear about a ton of incredible scholarship opportunities, which our Administrative Assistant Lori Cromwell posts on our GHS counseling website (click here)! Many of these are local opportunities for our students! They are organized with tabs at the bottom for the month the application is due. Please check back regularly and apply for any that seem like a good fit. Scholarship opportunities can also be found at bigfuture.collegeboard.org and niche.com.
