Counseling Department Newsletter

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Please click on the resources below to learn about Bullying information and resources.

Bullying Facts

Bullying Statistics

Cyberbullying

Teens Against Bullying

Thanks to those parents/guardians who participated in the 9/29 Financial Aid Night event. A link to the recording can be found here. The password to access the recording is: FinAid21. Please note it may take a minute or so for the video to download.

PHEAA will be at Canon-McMillan High School on October 5 from 11:00am-4:00pm to meet with senior parents/guardians to assist in FAFSA completion for the 2022/2023 school year. To register, click here. Parents/guardians and senior students will need to have created an FSA ID. Click here to access the Federal Student Aid website. Some colleges and universities have deadlines for FAFSA submission, so do not delay!

PHEAA/PAForward October webinars will assist with those questions and more!

Learn about education loans – which loan is right for me

I’ve found the schools I’d like to attend and after filing the FAFSA, State Grant Form, Scholarships and researching higher education costs and calculating the funding gap, I see that education loans are a necessity but where do I go from here? What loan programs are available? What are the advantages and disadvantage of the various types? Join Financial Aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for a 1 hour webinar to review the different borrowing options and examine the details associated with each option. Linda and Dan will answer your questions as you sort out the information and make decisions that are right for you and your family.

October 5th Tuesday – Noon, lunch and learn; October 14th Thursday – 6:30pm; October 21st – Noon, lunch and learn

Financial Aid Timeline – know what to do when

Follow financial aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of PHEAA’s PAForward program as they guide you along the exciting (and sometimes bumpy) road to an affordable higher education. The journey will begin before high school and end in the land of education loan repayment – or maybe even education loan forgiveness. One thing is for certain: it’s never to early to start preparing for a successful higher education experience. This 1 hour presentation will provide the starting points and web resources- for effective research before, during and after your student makes postsecondary decisions. Know what to expect and to plan for it is the key. Failing to plan, is planning to fail!

October 12th Tuesday, 6:30pm; October 19th – Noon, lunch and learn; October 28th, Thursday, 6:30pm

Register at pheaa.org/virtual – or -- PHEAA webinar events

The PSAT will be given to students in grades 10 and 11 on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, following the morning announcements. There is no cost and no registration is needed.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pd

Dear Families,

You are invited to the annual SOUTH HILLS JOINT COLLEGE & CAREER FAIR hosted by the South Hills Consortium. The event will be a live virtual fair and will be held on October 19th and 20th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm each night.

Students will be offered the opportunity to learn about many different types of colleges & post-secondary programs, including 2- and 4-year schools, trade schools, and the military. Each vendor will have its own booth in which you will be able to view and save information such as brochures, photos and videos. Students are able to speak one-on-one, via chat or video call, to admissions counselors and college representatives. We recommend using a laptop or desktop computer with Google Chrome or Firefox.

Registration is free and students can attend one or both evenings.

Click here for a detailed list of attendees on OCTOBER 19th and to register.

Click here for a detailed list of attendees on OCTOBER 20th and to register.

South Hills Consortium

Baldwin HS

Bethel Park HS

Canon Mac HS

Keystone Oaks HS

Mt. Lebanon HS

Peters Township HS

South Fayette HS

South Park HS

Upper St. Clair HS

Attention parents/guardians of students taking Advanced Placement courses, AP Exam Registration is live! Please peruse through all of the links below for important information, deadlines, exam payment details and how to register. The deadline to register is Thursday, November 11th at 3:00 PM. For more information, please email Mrs. Nuri at nurim@cmsd.k12.pa.us.

Letter to AP Students: Exam Registration is OPEN

2021-2022 AP Quick Reference

AP Registration Site Addresses

Every high school student is encouraged to join the School Counseling Resources group in Schoology! Resources including academic development, career development, employment, community service opportunities, scholarships and more can be found there! Students can join the group by using the following access code: DB7QW-K4WWP

Work Permits are available in the main office; contact Ms. Chips at chippst@cmsd.k12.pa.us Students will need to obtain an application that needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and provide a copy of the student's birth certificate.

Any time a student changes residences, an Inter-district transfer form accompanied by two pieces of evidence (driver's licence, lease/mortage agreement, utility bill, etc.) must be submitted to the Counseling Department. For more information or to facilitate this process, please contact Ms. Wrubleski, Counseling Secretary, at wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us. If you are moving out of District, contacting your new school right away to enroll your student ensures that there is no delay with records being obtained.

College representatives will be visiting Canon-Mac. To sign up to attend a session, junior and senior students should rsvp on the event link in the School Counseling Resources group calendar. A pass will then be sent. Events will be added as colleges continue to request meetings.

Oct 5- U of Kentucky, Marietta, Baldwin Wallace

Oct. 7 Mercyhurst

Oct. 12- Seton Hill, Chatham

Oct. 14- Kent State, SRU, Robert Morris, Duquesne

Oct 19 - Carnegie Mellon Youngstown State, Paul Smith College of Arts and Science

Oct. 21 - Gannon, Dickson College, Penn State Main, Edinboro

Oct. 26 - John Carroll, U of Pitt Johnstown, Waynesburg. West Liberty

Oct. 28- Thiel, Clarion, Bethany, U of Alabama

The Pennsylvania General Assembly created PA-TIP in 2012 to prepare students with the skills in high demand by today's employers. The program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and administered by PHEAA, provides awards to students e enrolled in programs of study in the following career areas:

• Energy
• Health
• Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing
• Agriculture and Food Production

PA-TIP provides need-based awards up to the equivalent of the maximum award (currently $5,000), or the student’s actual unmet need, whichever is less. Awards can be used to cover educational costs, and specific living expenses. Click here to apply.

Students who need to obtain transcripts for college applications or scholarships may use this form, found on the CMHS page in the school links tab, to give permission to the counselors to share it. This form needs to be filled out one time.

Students who are 18 may sign for themselves; students under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian sign this form giving consent. Remember, students will still have to communicate where transcripts should be sent. This will occur in Xello.

Senior students may request both transcripts from counselors and letters of recommendation from counselors and/or teachers. Xello integrates with the Common Application. Underclassmen were assigned lessons in Xello to complete either in Freshman Seminar or Social Studies classes. Click here to learn more about Xello. Students are reminded to ask teachers and others for recommendations before assigning them in Xello.

Once a student has begun to track a college application in Xello, they have the option to request a referrer write a recommendation letter to be sent to the institution if it's required for the application.Students are reminded to provide a resume to the referrer, as well as to ask them to write a letter before requesting in Xello. Click here to read more.Source www.help.xello.world

Click here for how to link your Common App and Xello accounts and begin requesting documents. Students will be asked to select their counselor from the drop down menu-this prompts a request for the secondary school report, which includes the transcript and the high school schedule, as well as a counselor recommendation. Teacher evaluation requests should not be sent to a counselor or a principal.

Students are encouraged to develop resumes. A resume template is available in Xello. Your counselor and teacher(s) will need a copy of your resume in order to write letters of recommendation as needed next year. To learn more recommendations and their importance in the admissions process, click here.

Preparation is key for all college-bound students, but thinking through what you’ll need to be successful is especially important for students with disabilities.

Here are some ideas and insights to help you settle into college. source.admitted.nacacnet.org

To parents and high school students, the question of how to get into college might seem increasingly complicated, but experts in the field say the answer remains simple: Get good grades. Click here to read more. source:www.today.com

Colleges want to see more than just good grades and test scores on your college application. They want evidence that you possess personal qualities associated with success in college. Here are 9 personal qualities colleges look for in applicants. Click here to read more. source:collegedata.com

The new Common App essay prompt for this year is:

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Click here to learn more. source:commonapp.org

Fewer college students from low-income households will be asked this year to provide further proof that the information on their financial aid application is accurate, the Education Department said Tuesday. Click here to read more. source: WashingtonPost.com

This list includes bachelor degree granting institutions that will will not require recent U.S. high school graduates to submit ACT or SAT results to be eligible for fall 2022 admission. As the end notes indicate, some schools only exempt students who meet minimum grade or class rank criteria; others use test scores solely for placement purposes. Please check with the school's admissions office for details. source:fairtest.org

Our friends at Sage Scholars have provided this resource for you to use as you explore postsecondary education options, including timelines for students at all grade levels. Click here to learn more. source: readysetcollege.org

The SAT's optional essay and subject tests have been nixed by the College Board, the latest step away from standardized testing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As students and colleges adapt to new realities and changes to the college admissions process, College Board is making sure our programs adapt with them. We're making some changes to reduce demands on students," the organization said in a statement. Click here to read more. Source:cnn.com

Scholarships are added to the Scholarships folder in the School Counseling Resources group throughout the year. Students are encouraged to peruse the folder. The newest scholarships are at the bottom of the page in Schoology.

Class of 2022: Complete these 6 college planning steps for 6 separate chances at $500. When you finish all 6, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $40,000 scholarship, but you can still earn money even if you don’t complete them all. Click here to learn more.

1. 
   

   BuildYour College List $500

2. 
   

   Practice for the SAT $500

3. 
   

   Explore Scholarships $500

4. 
   

   Strengthen Your College List $500

5. 
   

   Complete the FAFSA® $500

6. 
   

   Apply to Colleges $500

7. 
   

   Complete Your Journey; Complete all six $40,000

   
   

   
   

The Heisman Memorial Trophy is renowned for symbolizing the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The Heisman High School Scholarship, presented by Acceptance Insurance, extends the Heisman prestige to our nation’s most esteemed male and female high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities. These remarkable young leaders set the example and make a game-changing difference every day, paving the way to greatness for everyone around them. Senior student athletes are encouraged to apply here. Deadline 10/19/21.

Tuition Reward Points accrue like frequent flyer miles and are typically earned through an affiliated financial institution, health insurance, or employer. These include 529 plans, banks, brokerage firms, companies, credit unions, mutual funds, non-profits and diverse financial service companies involved in life insurance, health insurance or retirement plans. Your Tuition Rewards Points represent guaranteed minimum discounts off the "list price" of tuition at many of America's best private colleges. Click here to learn more. source:tuitionrewards.com

If you have a student in grades 9-11, consider signing up for RaiseMe. It is a micro-scholarship program. Completing a RaiseMe portfolio and following colleges could earn you scholarships for your achievements. If you attend a college that has committed to rewarding you, you will get that sum when you attend that college. Click here for more information.

Selective Service registration is required by law as the first part of a fair and equitable system that, if authorized by the President and Congress, would rapidly provide personnel to the Department of Defense while at the same time providing for an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors. By registering, a young man remains eligible for jobs, Federal student aid, State-based student aid in 31 states, Federally-funded job training, and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men. Registration begins at age 18. Click here to learn more and register.

The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. This program is voluntary and confidential; if you are interested in your student being referred to SAP, please contact your school counselor.

Everyone has bad days. Do yours last longer than most? Click here for a screener that can help to determine if you need help managing your mental health.

Many students spent the last school year learning from home, but this year, “back to school” doesn’t quite mean “back to normal.” This year will necessitate adjustments as students head back into their classrooms for in-person instruction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more. source:abc27.com

School may look a bit different these days, but there's one constant parents will remember from pre-Covid days: the struggle to get your teen to sleep.

In fact, staying up late to see or talk with friends may be an even bigger problem now, as teens catch up on socializing. Then there are the typical distractions: Television, social media, video games and more. What's a parent to do? Click here to read more. source:cnn.com

Are you a parent trying to navigate the stress and anxiety brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic? We can help.

Our 40+ years addressing school crisis response, trauma intervention, and violence prevention has taught us what youth, parents, and their communities need in order to lower anxieties and build resilience. Click here to learn more and to access resources. source: cmionline.com

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect people of every age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group. No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders, but a growing consensus suggests that a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors come together to spark an eating disorder. Click here to read more. source:nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn

We know it’s been a weird year for students. Between juggling virtual learning, keeping contact with friends and family through FaceTime and social media and everything in between. We truly hope that The Challenge Program, Inc. has been a source of support, motivation and inspiration for you to become your best self.

Did you know what you can earn $200 in cash for your hard work? Every year, TCP rewards 10th, 11th and 12th grade students from each of our participating schools in five award categories: attendance, STEM, community service, academic improvement and academic excellence. Community service is often among students’ favorite award categories to work towards. You’re probably wondering how can you possibly clock community service hours while being responsible and keeping a distance, and we are here to tell you it’s possible! Click here to learn more!

The U.S. economy took a major hit during the coronavirus pandemic, with tens of millions of people filing for unemployment over the course of just several months.

Beginning in May and as states reopened economies, jobs in sectors like hospitality began to open back up. In June alone, as many as 4.8 million jobs were added to the labor market.

For people in search of a job or new career path altogether, career site Indeed made a list of 15 in-demand jobs that it says have “the most anticipated growth rates for the next five years.” Click here to read more.

As the pandemic continues to limit our lives, one thing we need to be alert for is depression, in our children as well as ourselves.

Feeling down in this time of cancelled activities and social distancing is unavoidable, and most of us are struggling to stay positive. But depression is more than just feeling sad or having bad days. A child who seems to be stuck in a negative mood — feeling hopeless and not able to enjoy anything — may have depression and may need help to bounce back. Click here to read more. Source:childmind.org

If your child is exhibiting any warning signs (that are not medical emergencies; if they are, get them to the ER), or if you just want more in-depth mental health check-ins, consider these questions to ask, courtesy of Dr. Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D., director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. Click here to read more.

Student Aid Guide
Scholarship Tips

FAFSA Tipsheet

FSA ID Bookmark

https://www.nasfaa.org/covid19

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/financial-aid-toolkit.shtml

https://www.pheaa.org/tools-resources/fafsa-toolkit.shtml

https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/press-releases/nacac-update-coronavirus/#factors

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://www.sphs.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

https://www.gwcfb.org/food-pantry-locations

https://foodcommunitybenefit.noharm.org/resources/implementation-strategy/connecting-food-insecure-individuals-resources

https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/food-assistance-programs

How parents can talk to their kids about suicide

Risk-of-Suicide

Risk and Protective Factors

Preventing Suicide Fact Sheet

Washington County Crisis Resources

College Raptor’s 2021 Best Colleges Rankings
We shine the spotlight on the best colleges and universities that the US has to offer. We’ve divided these rankings into multiple handy categories, allowing students and families to find schools that fit with what they’re looking for.

Niche 2021 Best Colleges
Explore college rankings based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of student and alumni reviews, and see how we calculate these rankings.

Princeton Review: The Best 386 Colleges 2021
For our 29th edition, we surveyed 143,000 students from across the country so we can tell you which college has the best food, best career services, happiest students, and more. Find out if your dream school made one of our 62 lists.

U.S. News Best Colleges
Expert advice, rankings, and data to help you navigate your education journey and find the best college for you.

Washington Monthly 2020 College Rankings
The Washington Monthly magazine released its 2020 College Guide and Rankings ranking colleges on how well they serve the country as a whole.

World University Rankings 2021
The World University Rankings 2021 include more than 1,500 universities across 93 countries and regions, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

Impacts - NACAC
Secondary school updates - NACAC
PA State System of Higher Education - PASSHE
Message Regarding the Coronavirus - The Common App
College and university updates - admissions & coronavirus - NACAC

A-C Karen Rubican rubicank@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5022

D-Hn Susan Humbertson humbertsons@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5020

Ho-Me Nadia Abbondanza abbondanzan@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5027

Mi-Sc Kathleen Sharkady sharkadyk@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5023

Se-Z Molly Nuri nurim@cmsd.k12.pa.us (724) 745-1400 X 5021

Ms. Michelle Wrubleski wrubleskim@cmsd.k12.pa.us

(724) 745-1400 X 5019

Fax (724) 873-5173