GHS Counselor Connection

Our team is here to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in people aged 1--24. Additionally, it is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil. However, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double. To proactively address this issue (and comply with Assembly Bill No. 2246), Michael Bonilla, our Wellness Counselor, will provide suicide prevention curriculum to all 9th and 10th graders this month.

Our goals for this program are straightforward:

• To help our students understand that many mental illnesses are treatable.

• To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated mental illness.

• To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend

• To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns

Following each presentation, students will be asked to complete a google form stating whether or not they have questions or concerns regarding the presentation for themselves or for a friend. Those students will be able to speak with a counselor about their concerns. More information will be sent in an email to families of 9th and 10th grade students.

The Teen Guide to Mental Health from SDCOE includes many resources for promoting and supporting conversations on mental health, such as important crisis lines, self-care apps and other resources like Seize the Awkward and the Wellness Education Lab!

Are you a responsible student who is trustworthy and genuinely cares about others? Do friends often come to you when they need someone to talk to? Are you able to stay calm and supportive under pressure? If you would like to train this year to make a difference as a peer listener during your senior year, pick up an application in the Grossmont Wellness Center.

The Child Mind Institute has a comprehensive collection of articles, guides and videos related to ADHD, including the signs and symptoms, different types, treatment options, coping strategies, and much more. October 23rd - 31st is also Red Ribbon Week, when we display red ribbons to show our commitment to a healthy, drug free lifestyle. The Child Mind is a trusted resource for a wealth of information related to substance use. Explore their resources to learn about common substances teens use, how to discuss them, and the connection between substance use and mental health.

Schoology is our district wide learning management system. GHS teachers use schoology to assign student work, assessments, discussions and other activities. Parents can log in with their code to view and monitor your student’s progress! To look up your parent access code, log into the Infinite Campus parent portal, select your student, navigate to more, and then to Schoology. If you need assistance with Schoology or Infinite Campus, please call (619) 956-HELP (4357).

We will be on a testing schedule on specific dates in October and November. Please put these on your calendar!

All AP tests are now on sale through the webstore and in the finance office. You must be enrolled in your course's AP Classroom to purchase a test. The cost is $99 per exam. Forms are available in the finance office to apply for a reduced fee. Tests are on sale until Nov. 4th. After this date there will be a late fee of an additional $40 per exam and the final deadline will be Nov. 12th. The exams will be held at GHS in May.

Our district partners with the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) to provide students and families with access to CaliforniaColleges.edu. This website is a great place to explore your interests, learn about careers and colleges, and start planning for life after high school. Counselors will also use CCGI throughout your high school career to complete career assessments.

Through CaliforniaColleges.edu, students can:

• Explore careers

• Complete career and interest assessments

• Research colleges, universities, and other post-secondary options

• Create plans and set goals for life after high school

• Launch College and Financial Aid Applications

• Track A-G eligibility

Students can access their account from their school Chromebook using their school Gmail account. It is located under their School Links.

Click here for info on lots of great opportunities to participate in college fairs and workshops, offered in person or virtually! This list is updated throughout the school year, so be sure to check back often on the counseling website. Click here for an interesting article about how demonstrating interest in a college may help a student's chances for admission.

Students are encouraged to listen for announcements in the bulletin and sign up here to attend College Visits with admissions representatives in the College and Career Center at GHS!

• UC San Diego - Oct. 7th, period 2
• Point Loma Nazarene University - Oct. 14th, period 2
• Arizona State University - Oct. 14th, period 5
• Universidad Xochicalco - Oct. 26th, period 4
• San Diego State - Oct. 29th. period 5

Students interested in serving in the military have three different options: enlistment, ROTC, or service academies. Learn more at appily.com/serve. If you would like to be connected with a military recruiter on campus, contact ksantoro@guhsd.net.

The CSU, UC, and Common Applications are all open! Attend our presentations on Oct. 15th and 22nd in the library. Then use our drop-in time to work on your applications with counselors here to help you! Bring your chrome book to the College & Career Centers on Thurdays during 6th & 7th period.

Campus Preview Days are held by several California State University campuses during October. They provide prospective students and students admitted for spring admission an opportunity to experience and explore CSU campuses. ​Events include campus preview days, tours and workshops. Click here for more information.

Check out this video from College Essay Guy. He's read more than 10,000 college essays. Ethan Sawyer shares with you the top 10 things he has learned from both reading and working with students on them, including some practical advice if you’re writing your own personal statement.

This awesome You Tube channel includes a ton of helpful videos that break down every aspect of the UC Application, Personal Insight Questions, majors at the UC and common myths.

The University of California application must be submitted by November 30th! It's time to start preparing your responses to the Personal Insight Questions! Students, this is your opportunity to let the UC admissions representatives get to know the real you. Think of it like an interview rather than an English essay. You will need to respond in your own voice, with a maximum of 350 words, to each of four out of eight prompts. You should write your responses in a separate document, take time to proofread, revise, ask someone else for feedback, and then paste the final draft into the application. Here are some great resources to help!

UC Website: Personal Insight Questions

University of California PIQ Worksheet (English)

College Essay Guy UC PIQ Workbook

It’s important to stay organized when applying to college to ensure you complete each application by the school’s deadline. By using Get Schooled’s free college application requirements tracker, you can organize important information and to-dos for each application in one central location to submit them with confidence and peace of mind. This tracker is available on both Google Docs and Google Sheets– just click either to make your own copy and start getting organized!

Seniors who are applying to private or out-of-state universities may need to take the ACT or SAT exam ASAP. Check the prospective university's website to find out if the college is test-blind, test-optional, or perhaps even requires test scores. Register for the ACT at www.act.org and/or register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com. Fee waivers are available in the counseling office for students with financial need. CSU schools, UC campuses, and community colleges do not use the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes but they can be used for placement purposes.

Students who need to request a letter of recommendation from their counselor for colleges or scholarships must complete a brag packet. Click here to download a copy and return it to your counselor. Please allow three weeks notice and keep in mind that counselors do not work during holiday breaks. Letters will be sent directly to the college or scholarship committee. To request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, we have a different form that you may find helpful (optional-click here). Please give your teachers plenty of notice, too.