GHS Counselor Connection
November 2025
Thank you, Foothillers!
As we enter a season of gratitude, our team is grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful students and families. Please read below for important updates and resources. 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.
Upcoming Events
At Grossmont High School:
College Application Workshops - Let us help you!
Students, take advantage of this opportunity to work on your college applications with a counselor available for support! Bring your chrome book and drop in during period 6 or 7, on the following dates in the College & Career Center (Upstairs in the Main Office):
Wed. Nov. 5th
Wed. Nov. 12th
Wed. Nov. 19th (last chance before the CSU/UC deadline)
Grossmont & Cuyamaca College Ambassadors on Campus
A Grossmont/Cuyamaca college ambassador will be at GHS once a month to visit students who are interested in learning more about their programs. Please let your counselor know if you would like to meet with them. You will be called out of class to meet with the ambassador in the college and career center. They will be on campus from 8am to 11 am on Dec. 2nd and Jan. 20th.
Event Information
Drop by room 505 (to the right of the library and around the corner) during lunch on Nov. 5th to learn more about the Upward Bound program! The program is currently accepting applications from 9th - 12th grade GHS students who are low-income and/or will be the first generation in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. This is an incredible opportunity for students to benefit from free tutoring, mentoring, college field trips, test prep, academic advising, career exploration, scholarship info and assistance with college and financial aid applications. Please click here for the flyer and check out the GHS Upward Bound website here.
Event Information
Come out and enjoy snacks, resources, and vendors! Take home free food bags and join an opportunity drawing. Attend breakout sessions about Infinite Campus, artificial intelligence and fentanyl awareness and prevention. Learn more and rsvp here. Click here for the flyers available in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Community Events:
Event Information
This one-hour webinar will help 12th graders and their families understand whether they should be filling out a FAFSA or CADAA, get an FSA ID, and how state and federal funds could help pay for vocational school, community college, and/or university expenses. Register here.
Event Information
San Diego State University’s Pacific Islander Student Association invites you to a Annual Pacific Islander High School Conference. This year’s theme is “O le ala i le pule o le tautua” (The path to leadership is through service). The event offers cultural and academic workshops, networking opportunities, and interactive activities designed to inspire and empower the next generation of Pacific Islander leaders. Register here.
Event Information
No matter where you are in the college search process, NACAC College Fairs have something for you. Register here. You can research colleges attending the fair to determine if they meet your search criteria and reference your College Matchmaking email to ensure you connect with your best-fits. Connect with representatives and ask the questions that are important to you. Chatting with representatives from a variety of colleges can help you determine your own preferences.
Event Information
Discover valuable insights for the Fall 2026 application cycle! A UCSD Admissions Officer will address frequently asked questions submitted by you during this informative session. Register here.
Event Information
12th grade students, parents and families can get FREE in-person help filling out a FAFSA or CADAA forms for college financial aid from 9am - 12pm. Click here for more info including what to bring with you.
Mental Wellness & Community Resources
Thank you veterans and military families!
Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your service! Please click here for a list of resources for military families in our community.
SDUSD Safe Parking Lot
Opening soon! (During the week of Nov. 24th). SDUSD is opening a Safe Parking Lot and would like to extend an invitation to all GUHSD families who are staying in their cars. It is centrally located near freeways in City Heights, at 41st & University.
Sharia's Closet
Are you in need of assistance with clothing, shoes, etc? A non profit organization located about 10 to 15 minutes from the school can help. They provide free emergency clothing to those experiencing hardships amongst many other things. Looking for a way to serve your community? They are always looking for volunteers to help out! Sharia's Closet is located at 6244 El Cajon Blvd, Suite #5, San Diego, CA 92115.
Academic Support, Career Exploration & College Preparation
All Grade Levels:
12 Week Progress Reports
Twelve week progress reports will be available in Infinite Campus on Nov. 7th. This is an opportunity to reflect on progress and communicate with teachers before the semester ends on Dec. 18th. Report cards will not be mailed home. If you have difficulty accessing Infinite Campus, please see below.
GHS Parent Technology Guide
Do you need help with your student's Chromebook, accessing Schoology or Infinite Campus, or communicating with teachers? Click here for the GUHSD Parent Technology Guide. You can obtain a Schoology code from your student's teacher or counselor to view your student's grades, missing work, class materials and more.
Register by Nov. 7th for AP Exams!
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. 7th. After this date there will be a $40 late fee per exam. The exams will be held at GHS in May.
Upcoming College Visits
Students are encouraged to listen for announcements in the bulletin and sign up here to attend college visits with admissions representatives in the College & Career Center at GHS!
UCSD - Thurs. Nov. 6th during period 6
SDSU - Friday, Nov. 7th during period 2
Study Tips: How to Study Effectively
"No matter the class or subject, having good study skills is essential to succeeding academically. There’s no 'right' way to study, but there are some helpful habits and tips that you can incorporate into the study methods that already work for you..." Click here for more from Get Schooled.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Will your student be taking an AP Exam this school year? Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations. All required documentation must be submitted to our SSD Coordinator (Mrs. Porfirio). For more information and detailed instructions, [click here].
Important Deadline:
For students taking AP Exams in May, the final day to submit a new accommodation request is January 16, 2026.
Create Your College List
Get Schooled November Resources
The Get Schooled Team compiled articles, videos and activities to support all grade levels of students with success in school, college and career planning, test prep, financial aid, and seasonal jobs! Click here for this month's resources.
Seniors:
CSU and UC Application Presentations
Counselors recently held application workshops where we shared important tips on completing the CSU and UC applications. We also assisted students with linking their CCGI accounts to their college apps and correctly adjusting for any unique situations such as other high schools attended, CCAP classes, outside college classes or using higher levels of Spanish or math to validate lower ones. Please take a look at the presentations below:
Students, please bring your chrome book and join us on Wednesday afternoons (period 6 & 7) in the College and Career Center this month. Let us look over your applications before you submit them!
Apply for Financial Aid!
Now is the time for students to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) in order to access financial aid for any type of post-secondary education at an accredited school. This could be community college, trade schools, vocational schools and universities. Counselors reviewed the following presentation in government classrooms last month:
Financial Aid Presentation for Students Oct 2025
The most important thing to note is that students will want to submit their FAFSA or CADAA no later than March 2, 2026; however sooner is definitely better!
Apprenticeship Programs
Are you interested in participating in an apprenticeship program after high school to get paid while you are learning a trade and launching your career? Click here for more information about a variety of programs in San Diego County.
Common Application Support
Are you applying to out of state or private universities that use the Common Application? Here are some resources to help you complete the application:
Common App Student Guides and Resources
College Essay Guy Video Walkthrough of the Common App
Collegewise Guide to the Common App
Students, please bring your chrome books to the College & Career Center in the main office on Wednesday afternoons (period 6 and 7) this month for assistance with your college applications!
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
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.