FMHS Counseling Department News

May 2024

May News

It's hard to believe we have about 4 weeks left in this school year! It is going to be busy, but we are excited to finish the year strong!

Class of 2024 Special Information

You should have received a Graduation 2024 Overview in the mail with details about graduation. This is also located in the Class of 2024 Google Classroom.
Graduation practice is on May 30 at FMHS from 2:00-3:45. Report to your homeroom teacher/classroom when you arrive. Do not wear your gown.
Graduation will take place at Winthrop Coliseum. Graduates should report at 1:00 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Seniors will receive a final survey where they will indicate whether they plan to walk at graduation, their plans after high school, the scholarships students received, and where they want their final transcript sent. Please keep an eye out in your email and Google Classroom for the link.

Important Dates

May 2 Senior Meeting during 2nd block
May 6 M6 Midterm; AP US Government & Politics and AP Chemistry Exams
May 7 AP Human Geography, AP Microeconomics, and AP Statistics Exams
May 8 AP English Composition & Literature Exam
May 9 AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology Exams
May 10 AP European History, AP US History, and AP Macroeconomics Exams
May 13 AP Calculus BC Exam; English II Writing EOC
May 14 AP English Language and Composition Exam
May 15 AP Computer Science Principals Exam; English II Reading EOC; Senior Celebration
May 16 AP Biology Exam; Algebra 1 EOC; Academic Awards Assembly 5:30 p.m.
May 17 AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Exam; US History EOC
May 20 English II Writing EOC Field Test
May 21 Biology EOC
May 22 Senior Final Exams - 3rd and 4th Blocks
May 23 Senior Final Exams 1st and 2nd Blocks
May 27 Memorial Day-No School *Potential Weather Make-Up Day
May 30 Graduation Practice; Final Exams 9th-11th 1st and 2nd Block; Half Day
May 31 Final Exams 3rd and 4th Block; Half Day; Last Day of School
June 1 Graduation Winthrop Coliseum at 2:00 p.m.
June 3 Report Cards Released at 4:00 p.m.

AP Website & Program of Studies Website

The district has released a Program of Studies website where you can access the Program of Studies. There is also a PDF version of the website linked on that website.
You can find information about the AP and Dual Credit course offerings here.

Dual Enrollment Opportunity Through Winthrop University

Rising juniors and seniors can enroll in dual enrollment courses through Winthrop University. Please note that these are not classes offered through the school district and students will not earn high school credit for these courses. You can find more information here and by contacting Winthrop University directly.

Virtual SC Summer Courses

Students are eligible to enroll in summer courses through Virtual SC. The only classes students are eligible to take are elective courses, or a core course if they have previously taken that same course at FMHS. These courses will count on a student's high school transcript and towards their GPA. There is also a final exam required that students would take face-to-face at the end of the session. That is offered at FMHS. If a student wants information on taking one of these courses, please contact your school counselor. Registration and enrollment information will be sent to students in mid-May. Students interested in taking a summer class should complete the Google Form located here.

Don't forget to check our website for additional information and updates!

Finish Strong

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Use PowerSchool to check your grades regularly.
Use a planner or agenda to keep track of your assignments, tests, quizzes, and extracurricular activities.
Take good notes in class.
Make use of before and after school live help time with your teachers.
Use the SC Discus free tutoring! Login through your ClassLink account on the main HS website.
Make sure you use your study time wisely.
Reach out for help if there is something you are struggling with!

School Supply Assistance for 2024-2025 School Year

Classroom Ready is a local program that works to provide free school supplies to families who have a financial need.

You can fill out the online applications at the links below. If you need a hard copy of the form, please stop by the counseling office. The forms are due no later than May 31.

English version

Spanish version

Grade Level Information

9th Grade

IGP meetings have wrapped up for the current school year. You can find resources from the meetings on the FMHS Counseling website!
Don't forget to check out the Counseling department website for helpful hints as you begin your freshman year!
The 9th Grade Google Classroom code is wp2u2vw. Please make sure students join to be notified of updates and important information from the counseling department!

10th Grade

10th Grade IGPs have finished. You can find the resources for the meetings on the FMHS school counseling website!
Don't forget to check out the Counseling department website for helpful hints for your sophomore year.
The 10th Grade Google Classroom code is ouuapoi. Please make sure students join to be notified of updates and important information from the counseling department!

11th Grade

11th Grade IGP meetings are wrapping up for this school year. If you have additional questions, you can contact your counselor via email or stop by the main counseling office. The IGP information is located here.
Don't forget to check out the Counseling department website for helpful hints as you begin your junior year!
The 11th Grade Google Classroom code is rgu5j4hi. Please make sure students join to be notified of updates and important information from the counseling department!

12th Grade

You should have received a Graduation 2024 Overview in the mail with details about graduation. This is also located in the Class of 2024 Google Classroom.
Graduation practice is on May 30 at FMHS from 2:00-3:45. Report to your homeroom teacher/classroom when you arrive. Do not wear your gown.
Graduation will take place at Winthrop Coliseum. Graduates should report at 1:00 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Seniors will receive a final survey where they will indicate whether they plan to walk at graduation, their plans after high school, the scholarships students received, and where they want their final transcript sent. Please keep an eye out in your email and Google Classroom for the link.

Accessing Google Drive Information After Graduation

Students will lose access to Google Drive and school emails after they graduate. Please see the information here on how to save your files.

Transcripts

Seniors can request transcripts and letters of recommendation through Naviance. You can find instructions and video walkthroughs on the FMHS website.
Students using the Common App need to make sure they have linked the Common App to Naviance, as well as completed the FERPA portion of the application. FMHS staff cannot submit documents until that has been completed.
Students must complete the Request for a Letter of Recommendation before their teacher or counselor will write a letter for them.

Test Scores

ACT, SAT, and AP test scores must be sent to colleges directly from ACT or College Board. FMHS does not send test scores to colleges.
Click here for the ACT website.
Click here for the SAT website
When signing up to take a test you can request four of your scores to be sent to 4 colleges for free.
Any additional score reports you wish to have can be requested through your account with the test website. There is a fee to send additional score reports to colleges.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

College Board Opportunity Scholarships are available for juniors and seniors! Click here for more details!
After colleges receive test scores and final transcripts in June, they will award the Life or Hope scholarship for qualifying students.
The counseling office will notify students that qualify for the Palmetto Fellows scholarship.
The counseling website and Naviance are also updated regularly with new scholarship opportunities we receive.

Google Classroom

The 12th Grade Google Classroom code is txchjql . Please make sure students join to be notified of updates and important information from the counseling department!

Resources

Activities and Clubs

FMHS has multiple clubs available for our students! We hope you will get involved!

You can find club information in the weekly newsletter link on the main FMHS website. The website also has a link to a Google Classroom for students located here.
Club information is also available in the main commons area.

College and Career Readiness

Meet Mr. Young

Mr. Young is our Career Development Facilitator. He is here to help you explore careers! Set up an appointment with him today! You can email him here.
Check out Mr. Young's website for lots of Career Resources!
If you're looking for videos on Career and College Readiness, check out Mr. Young's YouTube Channel. This is the hub for previous sessions on college admissions, resume writing, athletic recruitment, and much more!

Work-Based Learning Services with Ms. Brackett

Ms. Susan Brackett, the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, helps students in the Fort Mill School District high schools meet professionals doing the work they hope to do someday.

This should help them better plan their next move after high school ~ on-the-job training, 2-year or 4-year college, apprenticeship, or military.

She works with area businesses and community organizations to understand their workforce needs, training, and hiring practices.

Please click here to see Ms. Brackett's comprehensive website.

Community Resources--Mental Health Resource Guide

NAMI has provided a mental health resource guide for the community. You can find it here.

Naviance

Naviance is your go-to resource to help you in high school! When you log into Naviance, you can:

Complete career interest assessments
Search for colleges based on your career interests
Compare colleges and find your best fit
Check your GPA
Request transcripts be sent to your colleges
Request letters of recommendation from FMHS teachers to be sent to your colleges
Search for scholarships

You will find videos to walk you through how to log in to Naviance on YouTube! To log in click on Sign in with Clever and use your school email address and password.

Scholarships

Counselors will upload scholarship opportunities onto a spreadsheet that will be linked in Google Classroom.
In the spring, the Fort Mill Foundation scholarships will also open up. Seniors should check their email for more information!
College Board has an Opportunity Scholarship that students can enter by completing tasks that are part of the college/career search process. Find more information here!
The Commission on Higher Education oversees the state Hope, Life, and Palmetto Fellows scholarships. Find more information here.

Testing--ACT/SAT

Students can sign up for the ACT on a national test date here.
Students can sign up for the SAT on a national test date here.
Please make sure to check that your testing site is still open prior to arriving at the test site. Some sites have had to cancel due to COVID. You may have to travel farther than normal for an available test site.
Students qualifying for Free/Reduced lunch can request a Fee Waiver in the main counseling office.
If students have an IEP or 504 their accommodations must be requested and approved by College Board and/or ACT. Please make sure that you are registering early to ensure there is adequate time for staff to send in the information. ACT and College Board will still have to review and approve or deny the requests.

Tutoring

FREE TUTORING INFORMATION

SC Discus has partnered with Tutor.com for all K-12 students! Students can access tutoring for

Math
English
Science
Social Studies
World Languages
AP/SAT/ACT test prep

To access the tutoring, go to SC Discus, then click on Tutor.com. You will need the SC password for SC Discus, which can be found in your Google Classroom, outside both libraries, or ask library staff.

TUTOR MATCHING SERVICE

Tutor Matching Service provides a tutoring search engine with college students or recent graduates providing tutoring in multiple subject areas. The link is here.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy has tutoring or lessons for multiple courses, and is the only official test prep partner for College Board. Students cannot sync their accounts anymore with the SAT and PSAT moving to digital, but they are

Schoolhouse.world

Schoolhouse.world is another great resource for math and science. Students are able to post to forums and there are sessions that tutors will hold. The link is https://schoolhouse.world

UPchieve.org

I just did a google search and found https://upchieve.org/. It is a free tutoring service available 24/7 for multiple subjects and college counseling. They do have eligibility criteria/income based requirements. Students can enter information about their family finances and the company will review their information to see if they qualify.

Purplemath

Purplemath has Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2, as well as some college level Algebra courses. The website is https://www.purplemath.com/

District Math Tutor List: Paid

The district also has a list of math tutors that they update. You can find that information here.

*Please note that these resources are for your reference and are not a recommendation by FMHS staff.

Important Dates

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School Dates to Note

May 2 Senior Meeting during 2nd block
May 6 M6 Midterm; AP US Government & Politics and AP Chemistry Exams
May 7 AP Human Geography, AP Microeconomics, and AP Statistics Exams
May 8 AP English Composition & Literature Exam
May 9 AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology Exams
May 10 AP European History, AP US History, and AP Macroeconomics Exams
May 13 AP Calculus BC Exam; English II Writing EOC
May 14 AP English Language and Composition Exam
May 15 AP Computer Science Principals Exam; English II Reading EOC; Senior Celebration
May 16 AP Biology Exam; Algebra 1 EOC; Academic Awards Assembly 5:30 p.m.
May 17 AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Exam; US History EOC
May 20 English II Writing EOC Field Test
May 21 Biology EOC
May 22 Senior Final Exams - 3rd and 4th Blocks
May 23 Senior Final Exams 1st and 2nd Blocks
May 27 Memorial Day-No School *Potential Weather Make-Up Day
May 30 Graduation Practice; Final Exams 9th-11th 1st and 2nd Block; Half Day
May 31 Final Exams 3rd and 4th Block; Half Day; Last Day of School
June 3 Report Cards Released at 4:00 p.m.