This month at HarBer High School

ACDC House

Dr. Randi Weaver
randi.weaver@sdale.org

ACME House

Mrs. Cendi Vazquez
cvazquez@sdale.org

HABIT House

Mrs. Dhea Hudson
dena.hudson@sdale.org

MEDS House

Mrs. Seanne Farrar
seanne.farrar@sdale.org

PHEDS House

Mrs. Kimberly Powers
kimberly.powers@sdale.org

• October 1st: ADHE Scholarship Applications open

• October 1st: FAFSA Opens

• October 1st: AR Access Portal opens

• October 5th-6th: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:10pm - 7:25pm

• October 6th: HBHS FAFSA Night

• October 14th: PSAT Test @ HBHS

• October 19th: University of Arkansas housing contracts open

• October 22nd: ASVAB Test @ HBHS

• November 1st: U of A Priority Admission Application Deadline

• November 15th: U of A Priority Scholarship Deadline

FREE statewide virtual sessions to guide students and families through the financial aid process.

What: Financial Aid Informational Nights

When:

Thursday, October 8

6:30 – 7:30 PM

Who Should Attend: High school counselors, career coaches, Class of 2027 seniors, and their families

Where: Virtual — attend from anywhere!

How to Participate:

Register to attend online

Application deadline (postmark): Friday, October 9, 2026

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 1962 creating the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a national initiative to provide a yearly opportunity for talented young people with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service.

The USSYP brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government together with outstanding high school students — two juniors or seniors from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — during an intensive week-long educational program held in Washington, D.C. The program is merit-based and highly competitive. Each student also receives a one-time $12,500 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. All state delegates to the USSYP must attend Washington Week in the spring. Students will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residence to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program.

The 65th Annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week is being planned for March 6-13, 2027, in Washington, D.C. Delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Departments of State and Defense, leaders of other federal agencies and senior members of the national media. Delegates also traditionally participate in a meeting with a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the President of the United States. Each delegate will receive the $12,500 undergraduate college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. Additional details will be made available upon selection.

Apply Here!

Join us and visit with your students teachers!

Students should register through Naviance.

• October 1st: Baylor University & Washington University 10:00-11:00 am; Vanderbilt University 12:00-1:00 pm

• October 2nd: University of Chicago 12:00-1:00 pm

• October 5th: Yale University 12:00-1:00 pm

• October 7th: Mississippi State University 10:00-11:00 am

• October 12th: University of Arkansas 12:00-1:00 pm

• October 20th: Southern Methodist University 10:00-11:00 am

ADHE Scholarship Application Opens October 1st

Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship -

• Requirements - 32 superscore on ACT or 1410 on SAT

• 3.5 cumulative GPA

• Award - $10,000 per year/$40,000 total

Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (Arkansas Lottery Scholarship)

• Requirements - 19 superscore on ACT

• Award - $1,000 year 1, $4,000 year 2, $4,000 year 3, $5,000 year 4

AR Future Grant

• Requirements - Students must enroll in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or regional high demand areas of study. The programs that qualify for this grant can be found HERE.

• Award - The grant will cover tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and Associate degree programs at Arkansas’ public institutions for eligible students.

FINALLY, A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ZOMBIE FANS

Did binge-re-watching "The Walking Dead" get you thinking about what you’d do if the streets were filled with flesh-eating zombies? Maybe you've envisioned your own post-apocalyptic world overrun with the living dead, forcing you to come up with a zombie survival plan — and quick!

Hone your survival tactics and imagine what your school or college campus might be like in a zombie apocalypse. Our Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship committee wants to know your plan to avoid the zombies, where you’d hide, and the top-five things you’d bring to stay alive.

We're giving one successful survivor $2,000 towards his or her college education. Do you think you have what it takes to make the cut?

How to apply:

Submit an online written response to the question:

• The "Imagine that your high school or college has been overrun with zombies. Your math professor, the cafeteria ladies, and even your best friend have all joined the walking dead. Flesh out a plan to avoid the zombies, including where you’d hide and the top-five things you’d bring to stay alive." (250 words or less)

Due Oct. 31, 2026 Apply at this link!

Register Here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xELHeRzmpU--iaPLVmqA0UIc3JBlECdBhBsDz0sBcIFURFBPSjNMQ0lRVEtPRUVYNUNQV05ISVBGWi4u&origin=QRCode

If you are the first in your immediate family to attend college, the whole college process can be overwhelming. The College Tour offers a free online class that will help you get more information on the process. Check out this link for more information and to get started.

To ensure your college applications are complete, all students applying to schools that require a counselor recommendation must complete the Brag Sheet in Naviance. Follow this path to locate the survey:

Naviance Home Page >> About Me >> Surveys >> Surveys from your school >> Class of 2027 Brag Sheet

Please be sure to answer all questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. This document is essential for providing your counselor with the information needed to write a comprehensive and personalized letter of recommendation.

The hard deadline for submission is October 15th.

Saturday, October 3

• Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1421 E. 15th Street Fayetteville, Info & Sign-Up

• Cobblestone Farms Volunteer, 1210 North 54th Avenue Fayetteville - Info & SIgn-Up

• NWA Miracle League, Tyson Park Springdale - Info & Sign-Up

• Arkansas chapter of Achilles International, Lake Fayetteville - 9 AM Info & Sign-Up

• Work the Concession Stand at the Jones Center Hockey Games - Jones Center for Families - 2:45-5:45 p.m. - Info & Sign-Up

• Friends of Healing Springs Fall Cleanup, Highfill, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM - Info & SIgn-Up

Monday, October 5

• Pack Diapers at the Diaper Collective - Springdale, AR - 6:00-8:00 - Info & Sign-Up

Wednesday, October 7

• We are Nourished Pantry Night, 5:20 - 8 pm , Info & Sign - Up

Friday, October 9 - NO SCHOOL

• Everhope Kickball for Kids Event - Bentonville, AR - Various Shifts - Info & Sign-Up

Saturday, October 10

• Potters House Shop & Serve, 2441 N Gregg Ave Fayetteville Ar. 10 am - 12 pm Info & Sign-Up

• NWA Miracle League, Tyson Park Springdale - Info & Sign-Up

• Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1421 E. 15th Street Fayetteville, Info & Sign-Up

• Cobblestone Farms Volunteer, 1210 North 54th Avenue Fayetteville - Info & SIgn-Up

• Arkansas chapter of Achilles International, Lake Fayetteville - 9 AM Info & Sign-Up

• Work the Concession Stand at the Jones Center Hockey Games - Jones Center for Families - 2:45-5:45 p.m. - Info & Sign-Up

• Build and/or Paint Benches for ORT - Jones Center - Info & Sign-Up

• OZONE – Serve Your Zone - Camp War Eagle, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM - Info & Sign-Up

Monday, October 12

• Pack Diapers at the Diaper Collective - Springdale, AR - 6:00-8:00 - Info & Sign-Up

Saturday, October 17

• Lake Sequoyah Fall Cleanup: Pick Up Where You Play! 9 AM - 11;30 AM -Info & Sign-Up

• Lake Wedington Campground Cleanup, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM - Info & Sign-Up

• Hero Half Marathon, Fayetteville - Info & Sign-Up

October is often celebrated for cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice, but for high school students—especially those in the upper grades—it can feel more like a pressure cooker. As the new-school-year adrenaline wears off, the reality of deadlines, challenging coursework, and college applications hits its peak.

This is the season when students often struggle with Academic Overload and Decision Fatigue, which can quickly lead to burnout, anxiety, and a feeling of being constantly overwhelmed.

The October Overload: What’s Happening Now?

By this point in the fall, your mental health is running on a high volume of stress inputs:

• Seniors (12th Grade): Early Action/Early Decision college application deadlines are looming. You’re juggling final essay edits, financial aid forms, and trying to keep your grades up in your hardest courses.

• Juniors (11th Grade): You’re facing the PSAT, gearing up for ACT/SAT prep, taking Honors or AP classes for the first time, and beginning to realize how quickly the college process approaches.

• Sophomores (10th Grade): You’ve settled into your routine, but the classes are harder than last year, and the pressure to perform for future college admissions is mounting.

This non-stop cycle of tests, papers, and high-stakes decisions is where Decision Fatigue sets in—your brain runs out of mental energy to make smart choices, leading to procrastination, poor time management, and increased stress.

The Solution: The 15-Minute Rule (Combatting the Overload)

You can't solve every problem at once, but you can break the cycle of overwhelm. The most effective way to fight overload is to simplify your to-do list and regain a sense of control.

The "15-Minute Attack"

When you feel paralyzed by a big, overwhelming task (like a 2,000-word essay, a multi-chapter study session, or the 'Activities' section of an application), follow this rule:

• Stop Thinking, Start Doing: Choose ONE manageable task on your list (e.g., "Outline the conclusion of the History paper" or "Complete the first 15 math problems").

• Set a Timer for 15 Minutes: Commit to working ONLY on that single, small task for 15 minutes, with no phone or distractions.

• Evaluate: When the timer goes off, you have two choices:

• Stop and Take a Break: You earned it! Move on to something else and come back to the task later.

• Set Another 15 Minutes: You’ve built momentum, and a finished task is now in sight.

By consistently tackling small, high-priority tasks in 15-minute bursts, you stop trying to process the entire mountain and start climbing one small step at a time. This simple strategy conserves your mental energy, builds self-confidence, and proves to your brain that you can get things done, one short win at a time.

Parent Resources 💙

Parents and caregivers, we know raising teenagers comes with both rewarding and challenging moments! Arisa Health offers a variety of free, pre-recorded Parenting Education sessions covering helpful topics and strategies for supporting children and teens. These sessions can be watched at your convenience.

Check out the list of available sessions below and choose any topics that may be helpful for your family.

Thank you for partnering with us to support our students! 💙