High School Newsletter

You do not have to know exactly what you want to do after high school. This is the time to explore. Give yourself permission to learn about different colleges, majors, careers, and pathways before making a decision. We are here to help. There's no such thing as a small question!

We are currently opening our application process for interested 7th-grade families to participate in our Access 2 High School (A2HS) program, held on the campus of Saint Louis University. 7th graders and their families apply this year to become part of our program starting with their 8th-grade year.

A few important homework reminders:

• All scholars have HS Prep homework due at our next session on October 24.

• Please ask your scholar about the Tree Assignment!

• There is also a Family Homework Assignment for families to complete together.

• Scholars taking Spanish will receive monthly homework from their teacher, Ms. Mago, via email.

Program Dates:

• October 24
• November 7
• December 5
• January 9
• February 13
• March 13
• April 10
• May 1 – Access High School Contract Signing

Attendance is expected at every session.

Our new A2HS email address is:

A2HS@accessacademies.org

Please add this address to your contacts/address book so our messages don’t end up in your spam or junk folder!

Where: Students meet in McDonnell Douglas Hall on SLU's Campus, 3450 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103

What: Bring your charged laptop or tablet and a writing utensil. Just like your school, we want you prepared to do your work. Let us know if you don't have a device you can bring.

Here are the dates for the rest of A2C this year:

• 10/24/2026 Juniors have regular class & FAFSA for Seniors
• 11/7/2026
• 12/5/2026
• 1/9/2027
• 2/13/2027 (no class for 11th Grade on 2/13/2027; Seniors have regular class)
• 3/13/2027 (Junior parents also attend)

The 2027-2028 FAFSA® is now available! Visit https://www.studentaid.gov to get started.

One more thing — do this ASAP! State and school aid often runs out before the federal deadline, so the earlier you apply, the better.

Hello seniors,

As a reminder, we are doing a FAFSA Frenzy event in October instead of our regular A2C classes for seniors (juniors will have A2C like normal from 9am-noon). We will have staff available to help you complete your FAFSA by appointment only throughout the day.

The event will be held in McDonnell Douglas Hall on SLU's campus, 3450 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. You can pay to park on the street, or we can validate your parking in the Olive-Compton Garage.

Important: Please complete this RSVP by October 15. We will send you confirmation of your appointment time before the event. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thanks!

Upload your results here: https://forms.gle/G8989u85s4yoUMJKA

Absences: If you need to be absent, text the student's name and reason to our Attendance Hotline: (618) 493-4551. Students are allowed one unexcused absence and one tardy per school year with a scholarship reduction each time after.

Need to email us?

A2C- a2c@accessacademies.org

A2HS - a2hs@accessacademies.org

High school students, our fall survey is a great tool for you to share what has been happening so far this semester. All students in the Access Academies program must complete this survey each semester. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

We will visit Lincoln University on Wednesday, October 28,2026 to tour their campus. If you are interested in attending please sign up below. Lunch will be provided. *Space is limited*

Remember: Freshman and Sophomores must complete (1) college/career visit per year and Junior and Seniors must complete (2) per year.

Arrive at SLU for departure- 7:30am

Location: Fitzgerald Hall- 3500 Lindell St. Louis, MO. 63103

Return to SLU for pickup- 4:00pm

RSVP by 10/16/26

1. Go to https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote to check to see if and where you are registered to vote, and complete the online registration if needed. Take a picture or screenshot. If you are ineligible to vote based on citizenship or other factors, you do not need to complete this step.

2. Complete the rest of the form and you will receive a $25 Amazon or Target gift card!

Hey! We created a chat just for Access Scholars & their families where we’ll share important resources, scholarships, internships, events, college opportunities, and more! 🎓✨

Make sure you join so you don’t miss out on opportunities throughout the school year!

👉 Join the chat here: https://groupme.com/join_group/116346649/ARxzYSy4

If you are in need of tutoring, please fill out the form below and answer all questions. Once you complete the form, Ms. Jordyn will reach out and connect you with a tutor when available.

• Open to all students
• Confidential
• In-person and/or referral options

Are you taking a college credit course this semester (AP, 1818, Dual Enrollment, ACC, etc.)? We can cover that fee! Please complete the following information as soon as you have it so we can make payment arrangements for the class.

Be advised that you will only receive college credit for the class if you pass and it is paid for, so be sure to complete this form.

You will need to create a separate submission for each class, and if this is for a year-long class, you will need to resubmit this form each semester.

For Fall Semester classes, submit this form by the end of September. For Spring Semester classes, submit this form by the end of February. We will not pay late fees!

We love celebrating our Access scholars and alumni! Did you graduate, land a new job, join a club, earn a scholarship, make honor roll, get married, welcome a child, receive an award, or have another exciting update? We'd love to hear from you. Your stories help inspire current students and show supporters the long-term impact of Access Academies.

Current Students, parents, and alumni are encouraged to share <3

Questions? Connect with Dave Baldwin at dave.baldwin@accessacademies.org

Families are invited to join this parent-led committee and get more involved with the Access Academies community!

The committee offers opportunities to:

• 🎉 Help plan and support events
• 🙌 Volunteer with Access Academies
• 🤝 Connect with other Access families
• 💡 Share ideas and help strengthen our programs

Interested in getting involved? We’d love to have you join us!

👉 Join the committee here: https://groupme.com/join_group/113105488/aWkuz0Ej

🔗 Resource: BigFuture College Planning | Career Exploration

• Research three colleges.

• Explore two possible majors.

• Attend a college fair.

• Talk with someone who works in a career you are curious about.

• Create a college research folder.

• Pay attention to subjects you enjoy in school.

🔗 Resource: Study Strategies

Instead of rereading your notes several times, close your notes and try to explain what you remember. Write down key ideas from memory, check your notes, and repeat. Active recall can help you prepare for tests and remember information longer.

What if you could focus on building your college skills BEFORE you even apply to a university or graduate from high school?

Introducing, OIPE Bridge at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It's a one-year preparatory program that addresses these factors:

- If you're *unsure* that you're college ready

- If you want *more time* to build skills before applying for college

- If you want to be sure that attending college is what *you really* want

If you are aged 17 years old or older, then this one-year transition and preparatory program could be for ideal you. Please note: Applying to the Early Admit program through OIPE Bridge 2028 means that you are considering applying for college in 2029.

Here's the online application for fall semester 2028: https://umsl.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6KUkKWzwxxBwQmi

Join Missouri Workers Center as a Canvasser in Kansas City or St. Louis! Knock doors, talk to working people, and help shape the November ballot.

$25/hr + cell & gas stipends

Temporary, part-time (through Election Day)

Apply here: https://moworkers.org/get-involved/#application-form

Registration is Required

Start Here provides general information, street addresses, phone numbers, and websites for dozens of agencies, shelters, employment resources, food pantries, and other organizations throughout the St. Louis area.

Website: https://www.startherestl.org/

OFS MetroMarket is rolling across the St. Louis bi-state area, bringing affordable produce, frozen meats, and healthy grocery options closer to the communities we serve.

Swipe to see where we'll be the rest of the week.

View the full schedule: ofsmetromarket.org/schedule

🔗 Resource: Merriam-Webster Definition

Exploration is the process of learning about different possibilities.

SCHOLAR CHALLENGE: Research one college major you have never considered before.