Connections Newsletter

Class of 2026

Seniors, please review the packet provided to you at the FLEX meeting this week and begin working on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Completing it early helps you take advantage of the maximum financial aid opportunities available. (www.studentaid.gov) Also, see below about your Community Service hours and papers - remember they are due NO LATER than January 9th. Please see us in Connections with any questions! Also, remember to look at your college/scholarship deadlines and request any required letters of recommendation at least three weeks in advance.

Class of 2027

During recent junior class visits, students reviewed and updated their postsecondary goals, explored career clusters, and worked on updating their resumes in Naviance. I encouraged students to continue this exploration at home and reminded them that holiday breaks are a great time to visit college campuses and learn more about potential options. Please also remember to sign up for college and career visits in Naviance - we have a lot of people visiting our school, and it is a valuable time to talk one-on-one with professionals in various fields and college representatives. Also, please remember that your Community Service hours (30 hours/3 papers) need to be completed by the beginning of senior year. Holiday breaks can be a great time to get those hours in!

Class of 2028

Friday in AP European History class, sophomores set an academic goal using WOOP - Wish, Outcome, Obstacle(s), and Plan. What do you hope for, what would be the result of attaining that wish, what could get in the way, and how do you get around the obstacle to the result? Please discuss your teen's goals with them. Remember, you have access to goals and inventory results in Naviance. We also worked on resumes. Encourage your teen to keep track of activities starting the SUMMER AFTER 8th grade and add to their resumes with as much detail as possible (Qualify and Quantify). Writing down “teddy bear drive with NHS” does not give as many details as “organized teddy bear drive with 10 other students, collected 250 teddy bears to distribute to fire stations in our community,” which tells a much better story. Sophomores in World History classes worked on goals and resumes the last week of October.

Save the Date

December 4, 8:40: Career Talk, Occupational Therapist – Carrie Criswell

Community Service

All students must complete 40 hours of community service and write 4 (four) 350-word reflective papers by the end of the first semester of their senior year. Hours and papers are logged in using the Community Service (x2VOL) link found on the TCA Intranet page and under the Family tab on the TCA website if accessed from home. Students will "Continue with Microsoft" at the login screen and use their single sign-on credentials with their msa email address. If you need help, refer to this Helpful Hints sheet. Due dates are as follows:

Seniors: 40 hours/4 papers due on January 9, 2026

Juniors: 30 hours/3 papers due on the first day of senior year

Sophomores: 20 hours/2 papers due on the first day of junior year

Freshmen: 10 hours/1 paper due on the first day of sophomore year

Scholarships and Other Opportunities

UNC will be hosting a free Future Teacher Conference on Friday, February 6, 2026, for aspiring teachers. Students can learn more about the field, connect with peers, and gather insights from Colorado’s leader in teacher education. Three Future Teacher Conference attendees will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend UNC in the fall of 2026.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Colorado School of Mines is hosting its annual Girls Lead the Way Conference on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm. This event is designed to introduce high school students to STEM, engineering, and applied science at Mines.

The Kane Family Foundation provides a merit-based scholarship program for Southern Colorado students through seven Southern Colorado schools—the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (“UCCS”), Colorado State University Pueblo (“CSU Pueblo”), Lamar Community College, Otero College, Pikes Peak State College, Pueblo Community College, and Trinidad State College. Applications for a Kane Scholarship are made directly to the participating school from the student interested in attending that school, either for a Bachelor’s Degree or for an Associate’s Degree. Click here for more information.

Daniels scholarship: This renewable scholarship covers the full cost of tuition at partner schools. Apply by October 17.

The Cooke College Scholarship is now open and available on Common App! The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's top four-year colleges and universities. Apply by November 12.

The 2025-26 Coolidge Scholarship application is now open. The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that recipients may use for undergraduate study in any major at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2027 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply.

Grade Level and Back to School Checklists

Back-to-School Checklist

Connections Center (Career & College)

Lindsey White: Director, 11th/12th grade college/career readiness

Katina Dahl: 9th/10th grade college/career readiness, AP, PSAT/NMSQT

Amanda Tagtow: 10th/11th mental health and academic support

Kenneth Schell: 9th/12th mental health and academic support

Jodi Hoffman: Office Manager, College & Career Visits, Community Service

Email: tcavisits@asd20.org
Website: tcatitans.org
Location: 975 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO
Phone: 719-484-0091 1104