Viz US Counseling News

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We hope the first weeks have been smooth as you adjust to your new classes and routines. Throughout the year, the Counseling Department will share updates to keep students and families informed about important dates, deadlines, and opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions along the way. We’re excited to partner with you in the year ahead.

Stephanie Sparks, 9th Grade Counselor (all)

Karen Verstraete, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (A-G)

Mary Bodlovich, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (H-M)

Chrissy Boyce, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (N-Z), Counseling Department Chair

• September 11: Senior Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal
• September 18: Freshman and Sophomore Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal
• September 24: Junior Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal
• September 28: West County College Fair, 2:00-4:00pm at Whitfield
• September 29: SLU 1818 Registration Deadline
• September 30: Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair at Viz 2:30-3:30pm
• October 4: SAT National Test Date (regular registration deadline 9/19)
• October 16: Testing Day @ Viz (Grade 9: PreACT, Grades 10-11: PSAT, Grade 12: College Application Work Day)
• October 18: ACT National Test Date (regular registration deadline 9/12)
• October 26: NACAC National College Fair, 1:00-4:00pm at St. Louis University
• November 3: AP Exam Registration Deadline

Each fall, admissions representatives from colleges across the United States come to Viz to share information about their respective institutions with our students. Juniors and seniors are welcome and encouraged to attend any session, but if they will miss class, they need to ask for teacher permission prior to attending. Freshmen and sophomores may attend sessions during Collaboration or their free period. All students must sign up to attend a college visit in Naviance at least 24 hours in advance.

Colleges scheduled to visit 9/2-9-12:

• Oberlin College
• Washington University in St Louis
• University of Kansas
• University of Mississippi
• Kansas State University
• University of Chicago
• Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
• Truman State University
• Lake Forest College
• Baylor University
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• University of Miami
• University of Arkansas
• DePaul University
• Creighton University
• University of Missouri-Columbia
• Miami University-Oxford
• Murray State University
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• United States Naval Academy
• Case Western Reserve University
• Marquette University
• University of Dayton
• The University of Alabama

For date and time information and to view a complete list of scheduled visits, click here.

Note: Visits are added almost daily. Please check back for an updated list.

Seniors are off to a busy start! We had a large group College Advisory this week and will begin meeting in small groups next week. We have invited all seniors to schedule a one-on-one with their counselor to review their college list, application requirements, and deadlines.

Parents: Please remember to complete the Parent Questionnaire for Counselor Recommendations (sent by your daughter's counselor) and sign the Commitment Agreement (in the portal).

Upcoming events:

09/02: College Advisory Group A

09/03: College Advisory Group B

09/11: SLU 1818 and AP Exam registration information shared during Enrichment

09/11: Senior Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal

We kicked off College Advisory with juniors this week. We provided them with an introduction to college admissions testing and college research. All of this information (and more!) will be shared with parents at Junior Parent Night at 6:30pm on September 24.

Upcoming events:

09/11: SLU 1818 and AP Exam registration information shared during Enrichment

09/24: Junior Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal

10/02: PSAT/Bluebook information shared during Enrichment

Counselors kicked things off with Sophomores during Advisory this week, too. While we encourage students to start thinking about their future plans early on, the primary goal for sophomores is to continue focusing on earning good grades and participating in activities that help them explore their interests, meet new people, develop as leaders, and build their high school resumes. Sophomores will take the PSAT on October 16. Information about this test (and more!) will be shared at Freshman and Sophomore Parent Night at 6:30 p.m. on September 18.

Upcoming events:

09/11: SLU 1818 and AP Exam registration information shared during Enrichment

09/18: Freshman and Sophomore Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal

10/02: PSAT/Bluebook information shared during Enrichment

The start of the school year is filled with opportunities for our 9th-grade class to learn, grow, and connect with one another. Over the next month in Advisory, students will:

• Participate in Library Orientation
• Gain a better understanding of GPA and academic expectations
• Explore club opportunities and ways to get involved
• Learn practical tips for using Outlook email and calendars
• Build strong study skills, including different ways to study and prepare for tests
• Discuss mental health and wellness, including how the Counseling Department can support them
• Be introduced to Naviance, a college and career planning platform

Upcoming events:

09/18: Freshman and Sophomore Parent Night with Counselors, 6:30pm in DeChantal

The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS) Contest:

The 2026 MVS application is now open. Applications can be found online at enf.elks.org/MVS. The application deadline is November 12, 2025.

The Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards – The Legacy Awards program begins on September 1, 202. Legacy Awards provide $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk members. The ENF offers a total of 350 national awards. The application deadline is February 2, 2026. Please visit enf.elks.org/Leg for more details and the application link.

US Military Academy West Point Admissions Event at CBC

The United States Military Academy West Point is hosting an admissions event for prospective students and their families on Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30pm at CBC High School. For more information and to register, click here.

Academy Day at Jefferson College on Saturday, September 13

Interested in learning about attending college at one of the five US Service Academies? Consider attending "Academy Day" from 9:30am-12:00pm on Saturday, September 13 ​​​​​at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. This is a great opportunity for students and parents to meet admissions representatives from all five US service academies and learn about their programs and application process. Congressional staff will also discuss the nomination process. Email AcademyDay25@mail.house.gov to register for the event.

National Portfolio Day at Kansas City Art Institute

You are invited to the Kansas City National Portfolio Day hosted by Kansas City Art Institute on Saturday, September 20, 2025. This is a great opportunity for students to meet with representatives from 19 colleges offering programs in art and design for individual portfolio reviews. For more information and to register, click here.

Harvard, Princeton, the University of Virginia, Wellesley, and Yale Virtual Information Sessions

Harvard, Princeton, the University of Virginia, Wellesley, and Yale invite you to join them for a special virtual evening program. Admissions officers from all five schools will share insights into the unique opportunities available at their institutions, along with details on scholarships and their generous need-based financial aid programs. For more information and to register, click here.

A Vulnerable Generation: Isolation, Perfectionism, and Disordered Eating

St. Joseph’s Academy invites you to a special Parent Formation community event on September 24, 2025 at 6:00 pm. Experts from Partners in Wellness will break down the signs of disordered thinking and eating, share strategies for fostering self-confidence, and help parents understand the impact of both their own words and outside influences. See the attached flier for more details.

Good sleep is essential for our health and emotional well-being. Adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, injuries, poor mental health, and problems with attention and behavior. Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep per day. About 7 out of 10 (72.7%) teens do not get enough sleep on school nights which can impact their academic performance.

How to improve your sleep:

• Stick to a consistent routine- go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
• Avoid caffeine later in the day
• Avoid napping
• Avoid blue light and technology 1 hour prior to bedtime
• Use bed only for sleep (not homework, reading, or other activities)
• Make your bedroom comfortable- cool, dark, and quiet

Resources:

https://childmind.org/article/help-teenagers-get-sleep/

https://www.thensf.org/back-to-school-sleep-tips/

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/school-and-sleep/back-to-school-sleep-tips

Stephanie Sparks, 9th Grade Counselor (all)

Karen Verstraete, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (A-G)

Mary Bodlovich, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (H-M)

Chrissy Boyce, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (N-Z), Counseling Department Chair

Meghan Swaller, Counseling Department Coordinator