The GPHS Student Services Snapshot

Dear Class of 2027 Students and Families,

Welcome to the summer before your senior year! This is a pivotal time to kickstart your post-high school planning. To help support you through this transition, the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has curated a series of excellent virtual and in-person events alongside clear action items for June, July, and August.

Please review the timeline below and take advantage of these free resources to set yourself up for success!

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR

JUNE: Launching Your Plan

• June 4 | Summer Steps for Financial Aid (Virtual, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Learn how to prepare early for college financing.

• June 4 | College, Unfilter Panel(Virtual, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM): Hear real perspectives on navigating college options.

• June 10 | HCPSS College Application Process (Virtual, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM): Grace Dellinger, HCPSS College and Career Readiness Resource Advisor, will provide an essential overview of what students should be doing now and over the summer to prepare.

• June 11 | How to Write Your College Essay (Virtual, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Get expert advice on crafting an outstanding personal statement.

• June 16 | College Essay Guy Personal Statement Bootcamp (Virtual; 12pm)

• June 17 | Explore a Future in Fashion (In-Person, 7:00 PM): Hosted at the DoodleHatch Interactive Art Museum (Columbia, MD). Rising juniors and seniors interested in fashion, design, and costume can tour the Maryland Fashion Institute (MDfin) and participate in a fashion drawing workshop. Light refreshments provided. RSVP here

JULY: Testing & Exploration

• July 15 | SAT, ACT, Test Optional: What Do Colleges Really Want? (Virtual, 7:00 PM): The Answer Class will demystify the digital SAT, the enhanced ACT, and how to effectively navigate test-optional policies to your advantage .

☀️ AUGUST: Mapping the Admissions Maze

• August 19 | Inside the College Admission Maze: A Parent's Roadmap (In-Person, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM): Held at the Howard County Library Miller Branch. This session by The Answer Class breaks down the college admissions process into clear, actionable phases for parents and guardians. Register here.

📝 YOUR SPRING/SUMMER JUNIOR YEAR CHECKLIST

Don't wait until the school year starts! Use the summer months to cross these critical steps off your list. Access a Digital Checklist here.

1. Ask for Letters of Recommendation: If you haven’t already, connect with two (2) teachers in person, via email, or Canvas to request a letter of recommendation.

2. Complete the Counselor Information Form: Log into your student account under "About Me" → "Planner 2.0" to fill this out in great detail. Your thorough answers will help your counselor write a robust and comprehensive recommendation letter.

3. Complete Teacher Information Forms: Fill these out for both teachers you are asking for recommendations. This helps them highly personalize your letters.

4. Explore Enrichment & Job Boards: Use your summer to build your resume. Check out the HCPSS Enrichment Opportunities Spreadsheet or visit the Office of Workforce Development’s Youth Job Board for local internships, volunteer opportunities, and open jobs.

5. Search for Scholarships: Start tracking national and local financial opportunities early using the HCPSS Local Scholarship Spreadsheet.

🔗 HELPFUL RESOURCES TO BOOKMARK

• Stay Updated: Subscribe to the Post-Secondary Google Calendar to automatically sync all upcoming events and deadlines directly to your personal calendar.

• Canvas & Weekly Updates: Bookmark your School Counseling Canvas Page and track the weekly updates via the HCPSS College and Career Readiness (CCR) Weekly tabs.

Enjoy your summer, and let's start preparing for an amazing senior year!

HCPSS High Schools Final Exam schedule can be viewed here. Final exams will run Monday, June 16th through Thursday, June 18th, the last day of school. Per HCPSS, no exams may be given early. Please reach out to teachers if you have any questions regarding final exams. If students miss exams, they will need to sign up for an appointment to come in over the summer to make it up. Sign ups for final exam make ups will be available shortly on the school website.

Courses for the 2026-2027 school year for current 5-11 grade students will be available to view in HCPSS Connect Synergy between Thursday, June 4 at 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 10 at 4:00 p.m. This is a list of courses only and will not yet contain period times or assigned teachers (this information will be available mid August). Guilford Park's schedule was built based on the course selections students made during the course registration process (late December-mid February).

Students should review their course list for accuracy. If you would like to report an issue, please complete the GPHS Course List Correction Form.

Please note that counselors are currently working on filling holes in schedules, checking that seniors have all courses needed to meet graduation requirements, and adjusting schedules for release time and aiding. Once these tasks are complete, they will begin to look at course change requests.

Student Services staff work part-time in the summer, so we ask that families be patient. Staff will respond to emails, as soon as possible, during their scheduled work days.

Guilford Park High School Student Services invites all students and families to attend our Spring College & Postsecondary Night on Tuesday, June 9th from 6:00–7:30 PM at GPHS. Representatives from colleges, scholarship organizations, trade schools, military branches, and other postsecondary programs will be in attendance to provide valuable information and answer questions about life after high school. Families are encouraged to arrive by 6:00 PM to participate in a college preparation presentation led by our school counseling team. Additionally, we will offer a special support session for Hispanic students and families beginning at 5:30 PM, with information presented in Spanish. We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity to explore future pathways and resources!

If you cannot make it to GPHS's College Night, please consider attending this webinar:

• Applications are now available to current juniors (grade 11) to apply for being a teacher's aide or office assistant senior year.
• Priority deadline is May 29, 2026
• GPHS Student Assistant/Aide Application
• Printed copies available in the Student Services Office

Release Time forms are now available. If you are planning on adjusting next year's schedule to arrive late or leave early to school, please use the appropriate form below. Release time forms will be accepting on a rolling basis until next school year but please note that schedule adjustments will be made pending space availability.

• Jumpstart Release Time is for eligible juniors and seniors.
• Work Based Release Time is for eligible seniors only.
• Printed copies are available in the Student Services Office.
• Counselors will be able to start processing release time in June.
• Contact your school counselor with questions.

As the school year comes to a close, juniors are encouraged to schedule a check-in with their school counselor to share an update on their post-high school planning. Whether you are researching colleges, considering career pathways, exploring military options, planning for trade school, or still deciding on your next steps, this is a great opportunity for a status check before summer break.

Counselors are available to answer questions, review plans, discuss college research, talk through timelines, and help students prepare for senior year applications and decisions.

Students can sign up for an appointment through their counselor’s appointment calendar on Canvas under Request an Appointment.

Juniors should now be working on the following tasks by June 12, 2026:

Previously assigned tasks from March:

• Submit Waiver of Rights & Records Release Form - This form is required for all students to give permission for HCPSS to release records to colleges and other programs. Students should waive their rights when filling out the form so that colleges know that the letters of recommendation are unbiased and uninfluenced by students and families. The form is due to your English 11 teacher as a grade by March 27, 2026. Students who took their English 11 course through HCC should turn their form in directly to the student services office.

HCPSS School Counseling Page - all the resources you need in ONE place! College application process, scholarships, internships, career planning, and more!

College Application Process - A site dedicated to the process. Step by step directions, screencasts to follow, FAQs, everything you might need to support your application process

College Application Checklist - Make yourself a copy so you can check off where you are with completing tasks for Spring (now!), Summer, and Fall.

Scholarship and Financial Aid Document - Updated weekly with scholarship and financial aid resources

March2Future - Virtual information and workshops to support you in your post-high school journey. All sessions are recorded in case you can't make it.

Enrichment Document - Fly-in programs, internships, volunteer opportunities and more. Updated weekly.

GPHS Senior To Do List Class of 2027 - Digital copy of the printed packet juniors received at the February assembly that includes tons of links to videos, tutorials, and resources for college and post-graduation planning.

Rising Senior Assembly Presentation - February

College Application Kickoff Assembly - March

Request an appointment with your Counselor and/or Career Readiness Advisor

Request an appointment for financial aid counseling

Students in Guilford Park's Leadership and Service Learning class have organized the Panther Pantry to provide food and grocery support to our community. Please use the Panther Pantry Request Form to request grocery items. Items will be sent home with students.

• NEW: A large toiletries donation was received, so these items are available to request.

Upcoming Pick Up Dates

• Request your order by Wednesday for a Friday pick up that week.

Did you know that in high school, being promoted depends on what credits you have earned? See below for what is needed to move on to the next grade for each year.

• Check out HCPSS Enrichment Programs Document
• Subscribe to HCPSS Post High School Planning Calendar (Google)
• Attend March2Future Events

Students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) program are eligible for an SAT Fee Waiver. Students should contact Mrs. Webster by Canvas inbox message or email at katherine_webster@hcpss.org to request the fee waiver code.

Interested in showing a new student around Guilford Park? Being the first person they get to know and maybe even their first friend? Sign up to be a new student ambassador New Student Ambassador Sign Up

Be on the lookout for visits as they get scheduled. Students sign up to attend through their Naviance accounts under Colleges > College Visits.

Upcoming Visits

• None scheduled

College Visit Instructions for Students

• There are limited spaces available. Please only sign up for post-secondary options you are interested in learning more about. Students may only register for ONE visit a day.
• Students are responsible for any learning or work they miss during representative visits. Please ensure you have informed your teacher of your absence ahead of time. Students should not miss class if they have an assessment or important class activity that cannot be missed.
• Your pass will be delivered to you during 1st period on the day of the visit. (If you are in ARL AM, it will be delivered during 3rd period.) Please show your pass to your teacher before you leave class. Ensure you turn in your pass to the student aide when you arrive at the visit location. Otherwise, you may be marked absent unexcused from class.
• The location for the visit will be displayed on your pass.
• If a visit is full and you are very interested, please message your school counselor and communicate this interest. Your counselor will follow up with you.

• Jumpstart Registration Process - Canvas website providing detailed information on how to register for college credited courses through the Jumpstart program.
• Jumpstart Information - course list and steps to take to set up Jumpstart

Scholarships do not have to be paid back and are based on academic achievement, athletic merit, talent, or a particular area of study. Scholarships may be awarded by the government, private employers, companies, nonprofits, community or religious groups, professional or social organizations, or directly from colleges and career schools.

• The HCPSS Office of School Counseling maintains a list of local, community, and private scholarships.
• The document above includes a link to a local scholarship database which is updated weekly and full of local scholarships.
• The U.S. Department of Labor manages a free scholarship search tool.
• The Maryland Higher Education Commission provides a list of scholarship programs to Maryland residents for use at Maryland state schools.
• Students and parents have access to Naviance, which includes a searchable database of scholarships.
• Additional scholarships may be available for minority students.

The NCAA Liaison supports student-athletes by providing guidance on NCAA eligibility requirements, academic planning, and the college recruitment process. This role helps ensure students meet coursework and eligibility standards while preparing for the transition to college athletics. If your student is interested in pursuing athletics at the next level or has started to hear from college coaches, please contact Mr. Schofield at Kyle_Schofield@hcpss.org.

Check out the Office of Workforce Development’s Youth Job Board.

• Getting ready to start a part time job?
• Did you know that you do not request work permits through the school? This used to be the case years ago, but now the process is online through the Maryland Department of Labor.
• Work permits are not issued until you have been offered a job.
• Apply for a work permit online.

• Panther Time: unless there is an activity scheduled, students can make arrangements to see a teacher for extra support on Wednesdays during Panther Time (10:20-10:50). Contact your teacher for a pass.
• After School: some teachers and staff may be available after school for extra help. Contact your teacher to ask if this is an option. Please note that you would need to arrange transportation home.
• Homework Help through HC Library: the public library has free online homework help through Brainfuse every day from 2:00PM-11:55PM.
• HCEA's Tutor List: the teacher's union maintains a list of educators within HCPSS who are available to hire for tutoring various subjects. Contact your school counselor for a copy of this resource.

All students need 75 hours of Student Service Learning to graduate high school in the state of Maryland. All service learning opportunities are shared on our Student Services website linked here and posted on Canvas in Guilford Park Student Resources Canvas community.

• Student Service Validation Form - use this form ONLY if you need hours toward the 75 required hours. Records are not kept by HCPSS for students completing additional hours.
• Experience Log - use this template as an example for one way to keep track of additional community service experiences for your resume, college applications, and scholarship applications.

The MHCAC Spring 2026 Newsletter highlights mental health resources, upcoming events, partnerships, community connections, coping skills, and the importance of kindness.

MHCAC Spring 2026 Newsletter.pdf

Grassroots' Mobile Crisis Team is now available to respond to psychiatric emergencies, family crises, and other traumatic events 24 hours a day. Their walk-in counseling services are located at 8990 Annapolis Road, Suite A, Columbia, MD and an appointment is not required.

Maryland Benefits Programs and Services

There is a one-stop shop for state benefits, the Maryland Benefits Programs and Services portal, allowing parents/caregivers to see if they are eligible for, and apply for, Medicaid, SNAP, TCA, WIC, and energy assistance from the state. You can find the link at https://benefits.maryland.gov/home/#/.

May Service Navigator Resource Newsletter

• 988 Helpline
• Grassroots Crisis Intervention
• Behavioral Health Navigation | Howard County
• Howard County- Mental Health Network

If you are interested in learning more about Sources of Strength or joining our leadership (as a Peer Leader or Adult Advisor), contact Mrs. Hoyt at marian_hoyt@hcpss.org.

Monetary and material donations are always accepted!

Guilford Park HS Current Student Transcript Request Form

Use the Google form above to request unofficial transcripts, official transcripts for scholarships, internships, summer programs, employment, and military programs.

If you are requesting a transcript for college do not use this form. Transcript requests to be sent to colleges should go though Common App (for Common App schools) and/or Naviance (for non Common App schools).

Do you have an update to your student’s residency or contact information? Please follow these instructions on how to update on the family file: https://www.hcpss.org/connect/guides/#family-file-guides

Did you know that Student Services has a website? This site can be accessed directly here or by clicking on the Student Services tab of GPHS' school website. Student Services' website has information related to social-emotional, academic, and college/career. A student or caregiver can access forms, financial assistance help, and more at the site!

If you cannot find a resource, connect with Mrs. Hoyt at marian_hoyt@hcpss.org. Student Services is always looking for feedback on resources and items needed by our community.

• Mrs. Kim Wade | Student Services Instructional Team Leader, School Counselor (Last Names Lai-Om) | Kim_Wade@hcpss.org
• Ms. Jennifer Caceres | Registrar | GPHSRegistrars@hcpss.org
• Ms. Shanice Hackley | Programmatic School Social Worker | Shanice_Hackley@hcpss.org
• Mrs. Marian Hoyt | School Counselor (Last Names A- Car) | Marian_Hoyt@hcpss.org
• Ms. Alanna Hernandez | Grade Scheduling Processor | Alanna_Hernandez@hcpss.org
• Miss Meghan Kulzer | College and Career Readiness Advisor | Meghan_Kulzer@hcpss.org
• Mrs. Kendra Lee | School Counselor (Last Names Cas - Ga) | Kendra_Lee@hcpss.org
• Mrs. Lindsey Miles | School Counselor (Last Names Sh - Z) | Lindsey_Miles@hcpss.org
• Ms. Terah Murray | Registrar | GPHSRegistrars@hcpss.org
• Mrs. Victoria Rayo | Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) | Victoria_Rayo@hcpss.org
• Mr. Kyle Schofield | School Counselor (Last Names Gc - Laf) | Kyle_Schofield@hcpss.org
• Dr. Rosalind Sheppard | School Psychologist | Rosalind_Sheppard@hcpss.org
• Ms. Ayomide Sokoya | School Counselor (Last Names On - Se) | Ayomide_Sokoya@hcpss.org
• Mrs. Katherine Webster | School Counseling Secretary | Katherine_Webster@hcpss.org