Heartland High School Counseling
26/27: Volume II Newsletter
Your High School Counselors are wishing you a wonderful start to the 26-27 academic school year!
Hello Heartland High School Students,
We hope the first month of school is going great! We are proud of you and look forward to meeting with you!
At this time, you should be adjusting to your course load and curriculum. Did you know you must be enrolled in at least 5 classes (25 high school credits) per Semester? In order to graduate from Heartland, you need to complete 200 credits (50 credits per year and 5 classes per Semester).
If you are interested in pursuing the four-year university pathway, there are specific courses you must take that are different from the Heartland requirements. If you would like to pursue collegiate-level athletics, your courses must be NCAA-approved starting in 9th grade. Please make sure you have discussed your post-secondary plan with your HST. It is important that you are enrolled in the correct classes to achieve your goals. If you would like to discuss your after high school plans more in-depth, please make an appointment with your High School Counselor. If you are new to high school, we recommend meeting with your counselor soon! We look forward to supporting you!
Wishing you a wonderful rest of your Fall Semester!
Mark Your Calendars
2026-2027 Instructional and Learning Period Calendar
First Day of School (Fall Semester): August 12, 2026, *last day to submit Fall Concurrent Enrollment requests
Tulare College Night 2026: September 8, 2026, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Back to School Dance: September 11, 2026, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
UCSB Ask The Director Chat: September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Kern County College Night: September 14, 2026, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Fall Add/Drop Deadline: September 18, 2026
September NACAC Virtual College Fair: September 20, 2026 @ 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Allan Hancock Career Exploration Day: October 2, 2026 @ 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
October NACAC Virtual College Fair: October 18, 2026 @ 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
2026 Santa Barbara College Night: October 28, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
November NACAC Virtual College Fair: November 8, 2026 @ 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Concurrent Enrollment Request Deadline for Spring Semester courses: December 15, 2026
Last Day of Fall Semester: December 17, 2026
First Day of Spring Semester: January 11, 2027
Spring Add/Drop Deadline: February 19, 2027
Last Day of School (Spring Semester): June 3, 2027 *last day to submit Summer and Fall Concurrent Enrollment requests.
Concurrent/Dual Enrollment
Fall Requests are no longer being accepted as courses have begun.
- Currently enrolled students: Watch college drop deadlines in case the course or professor doesn’t meet expectations, & if you find yourself struggling reach out to the professor to get passing grades before it’s too late.
- Make sure to plan ahead for Spring requests! You may request a meeting with your counselor to discuss course selection
Class of 2027
Welcome to your final year of High School!
Make sure to begin planning accordingly and reach out for support early/often!
Review the brief slides with some great reminders about preparing for the process.
Welcome to your final year of High School! - Make sure to begin planning accordingly. 12th Grade Planning Checklist: College Board
Finalize your college list (Reach, Target, Safety)
Sign up for ACT/SAT (if applicable) in the Summer or Early Fall
Write your personal statements (College Essay Guy)
Continue College/Career research and exploration Californiacolleges.edu
Letters of Recommendation: Make an Appointment to get to know your High School Counselor ASAP, and start thinking of asking others too *Allow 2 weeks*
Create college portal accounts: UC/CSU/Common App
Start thinking about Financial Aid, plan your college application budget- begin saving now!
At a Glance Reminders:
- UC Application Webinars: UCSB continues to offer UC application webinars in this season. Webinar topics include Application Overview, Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), Activities & Awards, and more! Register here: First-year Events Webpage.
College Essay Guy Resources
