SHS Counseling Newsletter

• Upcoming Events & Reminders
• My Life Plan
• Direct Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Credit Recovery
• PSEO Spring Semester
• Senior Information
• Counselor Café
• Counselor Appointments

12th Grade - Native Senior Day - Thursday November 13

Continuing individual check-ins, resources and planning with our American Indian seniors.

9th Grade - Field Trip - November 11th and 13th

Students will be going on a one day community-building field trip to Camp Fire, in Chanhassen, MN (either the 11th or 13th depending on their 9th grade team). Students will be participating in a variety of structured outdoor activities with the goal of building community and a sense of belonging with their classmates. Activities will include hiking, fire-building, archery, and more.

11th Grade - Finance Park (Part 2) - November 18-19

Two years ago, these 11th graders (as 9th graders) spent one full day at Junior Achievement's St. Paul campus, focusing on personal financial planning and career exploration. This program, walked through a simulation that helped students build a foundation on which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime (including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit). Well... 11th graders are GOING BACK for more! They will build upon their knowledge thru enhanced simulations of "real life" financial scenarios. This experience will challenge what they know and help them navigate through difficult financial decisions.

9th - 12th Construct Tomorrow - December 3

Students who've expressed interest in a future in the trades industry are encouraged to attend and will work with South's College and Career Center to register. This is a hands-on event that shows students the variety of opportunities available in the Building and Construction Trades.

To keep up with college preparation information, please keep an eye out for weekly CCC newsletters. For more information, click here to go directly to the CCC webpage

10th Grade - Career Factors - Tuesday November 11th

We will help students explore important factors that impact students as they are making future plans and decisions: work/life balance, money, making a difference, education, interests, and career growth.

11th Grade - Postsecondary Research (Part 2 of 2) - Tuesday December 9th

Counselors will follow up with juniors, as small groups in the media center, during social studies classes. During part one, we introduced the various postsecondary options and terminology. Students accessed their student Xello portal and navigated where to find information pertaining to each postsecondary pathway. This session will allow students to do a deeper dive a pathway they are interested in pursuing after high school; allowing them to gain information on how and where to start the postsecondary planning process.

9th Grade - Social Emotional Learning - Tuesday December 16th

Students will be learning about conflict resolution strategies and how to apply them to daily interactions.

Graduating Seniors... Have you checked your email? Direct Admissions letters were emailed to qualifying students on October 13th.

Now all you need to do is apply to the colleges are interested in!!

Financial aid applications for the 2026–2027 academic year have opened. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is used to apply for federal and state grants, work-study funds, and loans. FAFSA data is also used to help award institutional aid through specific colleges.

Students who are not US citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for the Minnesota Dream Act. This application offers financial benefits to students regardless of their residency. It allows students to access in-state tuition rates and private scholarships.

In order to fill out the FAFSA, students will need to:

• Create a Federal Student Aid ID (parents need one too!)
• Gather necessary documents: Social Security, tax returns, bank statements and investment records
• Complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA form

Some federal funding is First Come, First Serve... so make sure you get your application in as soon as possible.

Please reach out to the CCC staff or your counselor with any questions!

For any student who has received an 'F' or 'NC' in a core or required class

(including Health or PE):

In order for students to be on track for graduation, students need to recover each failed quarter.

If you believe/know your student is credit deficient, please have them see their counselor as soon as possible to see which option/s are the best fit academically to get them back on track toward meeting graduation requirements.

There are many opportunities for students who are behind on credits to catch up:

1. AT South: After School Credit Recovery (ALC "Blasts")

• For all students 9th-12th
• Each month, multiple teachers at South offer time after school to provide credit recovery work in a particular subject
• Each "blast" is worth one quarter (.25 credits) of a subject
• Students will have 2 weeks per "blast" to work with that teacher to recover that quarter
• Blasts will start November 10th
• PLEASE send students to their counselors to sign up!

2. MPS: Virtual, through the district

• Winter Break Academy

1. Dates: Monday 12/22, Tuesday 12/23, Friday 12/26 and Saturday 12/27.
2. Setting: Classes will again be offered virtually/online.
3. Teacher Office Hours: 11:30-12:30
4. Student Population:

• 11th and 12th grade students & ALL Native American Student can take ANY class being offered
• 10th grade - Limited class offerings (Eng 9, Int Alg, Health, PE ONLY)

5. Hours:

• Period 1: 8:30-10
• Period 2: 10-11:30

6. Deadline to sign up is Friday Nov 25th at NOON

Students need to have their computer at home and be able to log on to classes during those periods

***FILL THIS FORM OUT if you want to register for Winter Break Academy***

• Spring Break Academy

***More information to come

Offered during our MPS Spring Break March 30th - April 3rd

• Summer School

***More information to come

If you plan to take PSEO courses (college courses on a college campuses) in the spring, please be mindful of upcoming deadlines. This is the student's responsibility to apply, meet with their academic advisor at the college, and register for approved courses (list found here).

South's PSEO Checklist is here and must be followed step-by-step.

NOSR Forms for Spring PSEO should be turned in by November 15th!

**Please Note***

If you are attending MCTC, they have a new protocol to register for PSEO. Click here to follow the steps. YOU will be required to submit your transcript and NOSR form to MCTC rather than your counselor. You will have to work with your counselor to get those documents completed and then you will upload them into their "document submitter".

If you have questions, of course, your counselor is always here to help.

If you (your student) missed the senior meeting during 6th hour last week, please check out the South Senior Site. Here you will find all the important dates and information leading up to graduation. As soon as we know it, you can find it here: Senior Calendar, events, yearbook information, ceremony information, etc.

Each month, on the 1st Thursday, the Counseling Team will host a table in the lunchroom during both lunches. We are there to say hi, answer questions, notify you about events, talk about credit recovery, My Life Plan lessons, or anything else! Having trouble connecting with us in our offices? Find us in the lunchroom!

This month we'll be out there on November 6th.

We are here and want to partner with you!

Please click here to find your counselor's name and "bookings" link. Under the counselor's picture, you can click on "Book a Meeting". This will only offer appointment times directly with that particular counselor, and only when they have availability. You get to choose what time works for you! You are also welcome to email or call, as all their contact information is accessible as well.