Counselor Connection

⛄ Hello Students! ⛄

As exams wrap up and we navigate cold weather, snow days, and schedule changes, there’s a lot happening as we head toward the end of the semester. This time of year can feel busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it also marks an important transition as a new semester begins soon. In the weeks ahead, I’ll be meeting with grade levels to work on Educational Development Plans (EDPs), hosting a Parent Information Night in February, and supporting seniors as they complete scholarship applications for college or trade school.

Please take a few moments to review the updates below, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. My door is always open - don’t hesitate to stop by!

- Mrs. Kulka

📔 Grades/Progress Check
❓ Scholarship Questions/Assistance
🎓 Career/College Counseling
📅 Class Schedule/Changes
🏫 General Counseling Session

Please use my Calendly to schedule an appointment OR sign up to meet with me in the front office!

https://calendly.com/maria-kulka-marcelluscs

February 11 - Parent Info Night (see flyer below for more information)

February 19 - 1/2 Day. Parent Teacher Conferences

February 20 - No School

February 23 - No School

AFTER SCHOOL

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY UNTIL 4:00PM.

STUDENTS CAN USE THIS TIME TO GET EXTRA HELP ON ASSIGNMENTS AND FINISH CLASSWORK.

THERE IS NO HOMEWORK HOUR ON HALF DAYS.
Students may drop in, but are required to stay the entire hour.

Monday & Tuesday - Mrs. Schuur

Wednesday & Thursday - Mr. Herrman

Dual Enrollment

Early Middle College

ISD Career Academies

Van Buren Tech Center

Dowagiac Auto & Welding Consortium Programs

To get more information about these programs...

Attend the Parent Info Night on February 11 (see flyer below)

Click HERE for more information about Dual-Enrollment, Early Middle College, and ISD Career Academies.

Click HERE for more information about the Van Buren Tech Center.

Start planning NOW for after high school. DON'T PROCRASTINATE!

Ask yourself the question: What's my plan after I graduate from high school? Do you plan on attending college? Do you plan on going into the military? Trades? Or, do you plan on going directly into the workforce? These are things you need to start thinking about right NOW.

Reach out to Mrs. Kulka to talk about your next steps!

For seniors who do plan on attending college, please start working on these things:

Complete your college applications - Remember, October is College Application Month and many college will be waiving their application fees!
Request your HS transcript to be sent to schools you apply to via Parchment
Complete your FAFSA beginning in October
Start looking for scholarships
Make contact with a college admissions counselor to get the most pertinent information

Students are encouraged to search for other scholarships. www.fastweb.com is a great resource.

Also check out:

https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/students-fams/mi-scholarship-search

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx?lang=en&

https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/

Scholarship updates will be made periodically as scholarships are given to the school/school counselor. A published document with all of these opportunities will be published to the school website in mid to late-October.
Be sure to check the financial aid webpages of the colleges and universities that you have applied to.
Many scholarships require you to have a FAFSA completed. Complete your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Please utilize this new scholarship search tool the State of Michigan has released to help seniors find scholarships. Click the link and select which Michigan county you live in to view the available scholarships for that location. Use the 'Generate PDF' button to export a list of your results that you can save to your device.

Brightwood Farms Scholarship - PICK UP PAPER COPY FROM MRS. KULKA

Cass County Sheriff's Community Scholarship - PICK UP PAPER COPY FROM MRS. KULKA

BFLPOA Scholarship - PICK UP PAPER COPY FROM MRS. KULKA

MEC Scholarship - Click photo below for more information

Honor Credit Union Scholarship - Click photo below for more information

College Board/Big Future Scholarships

Please sign-in to your College Board account and follow the qualifying steps to apply for scholarships.

Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation - CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hagan Scholarship

Please see Mrs. Kulka for details and a brochure with additional information.

Community College Guarantee can take you places!

Did you know the Michigan Community College Guarantee can be used at any community college in the state—including North Central Michigan College? Located in Petoskey, NCMC offers a beautiful campus right on the shores of Northern Lake Michigan, along with a wide variety of certificate and associate degree programs. Interested in learning more? Ask Mrs. Kulka for additional information.

Programs of Study - NCMC's degree options

Financial Aid and Scholarships - How much does NCMC cost? Remember - You'll be getting the Community College Guarantee (which pays full tuition)

Bundle Up & Get Outside!

Winter weather doesn’t mean students need to stay indoors all the time. Getting outside during the colder months can boost mood, increase energy, and help reduce stress—even short amounts of fresh air and movement can make a difference. As the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” With the right gear, winter can still be a great time to step outside, recharge, and support overall wellness.