October School Counseling news

All college bound seniors MUST complete a REQUIRED SENIOR PLANNING INFORMATION link. If they haven't submitted this yet, they must do so ASAP so we can send their transcripts to colleges and write their letters of recommendation. All information is below. All college information can also be found on the Class of 2026 Schoology page under the "resources" tab on the left.

IMPORTANT: Senior Planning Information

One of your key responsibilities in your senior year is to complete the Required Senior Planning Information. This includes:

• Resume
• Parent Reflection
• Transcript Release Form (also known as the “green paper”)
• Recommendation Letter Brag Sheet (submitted through your caseload counselor’s link)

We strongly recommend getting started on these items over the summer.
All materials should be submitted no later than September 19th.

📌 Please Note: You will not be able to meet with your school counselor until all of this information is received.

Counselor Update
Exciting news! Ms. Sanacore will be on maternity leave this fall. If she is your counselor, your assignment will be temporarily adjusted as follows:

• Ms. Slezak: Students with last names A–E and N–O
• Ms. Zegers: F–L and P–Q
• Ms. Kovack: M
• Ms. Jahries: R–Z

Check out this link to an article which does a great job explaining it all!

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/student-resources/weighted-vs-unweighted-gpa/

Does your senior need help with their college applications? We offer extra help sessions everyday during enrichment. Counselors are available to assist your senior with wherever they are in the college application process. Students should sign up in AllTimely.

School counselors visited all 12th grade English classes to share information about post high school options and resources for applying to college during the first few weeks of school.

The School Counseling Department is excited to let parents/guardians know they now have access to our new career and college planning tool called Xello (zell-o). Xello resources will be integrated into school counseling lessons in grades 9-12 and is an essential tool for the college application process. Students already have access to Xello through the apps portal in BCPS.

You should have received an invitation and directions from Xello to link to your child's Xello account. It's not spam or junk mail. Once linked, you will be able to view your child's activities like survey results and/or career and college related information. The invitation expires 7 days after it's sent so, please link your account as quickly as possible. If you missed this email, simply email your child's counselor and we can resend it for you. See attached for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your child's school counselor. Thank you!

The FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid) will open on Oct 1, 2025. We encourage all students to fill this out if you are applying to any post-secondary program after high school including 4-year, 2-year, trade, military, certificate and workforce training. You must first create an FSA ID. You can do so via the link below.

BCPS has partnered with CCBC to offer Financial Aid Information sessions on multiple dates.

HBCU College Fair

When: October 22nd @10am

Where: New Town High School

How: See Mrs. Kovack to register and receive permission slip

Who: Any high school student

When: Wednesday, November 12th (periods 1, 2, and enrichment)

Where: Hereford HS Gymnasium

How: Attend with your 1st or 2nd period class or sign up during enrichment through AllTimely

Who: Juniors and Seniors

Did you know that we have college admissions representatives visit Hereford almost every day during the fall during enrichment? Students can view the upcoming visits posted in Schoology and should sign up to attend in AllTimely under "Bennett."

The following colleges/universities will be visiting Hereford the month of October:

October 8, Dickinson College

October 10, Susquehanna University

October 13, Cedar Crest College

October 14, University of Delaware

October 15, Brown University

October 16, University of Mary Washington

October 21, Lincoln University

October 21, College of Charleston

October 22, Loyola University

October 23, Goucher College

October 24, PSAT DAY

October 27, Notre Dame of Maryland University

October 28, Frostburg State University

October 30, Coastal Carolina University

Hereford offers classes in the fall and spring to seniors who have partial schedules *students must have periods 4AB free to take on-location course(s). We will begin registration for the spring courses early November. The course being offered Spring 2025 is Sociology 101.

If you would like to take courses for Dual Credit through CCBC online or through one of the campuses, be sure to reach out to Mrs. Kovack with any questions: kkovack@bcps.org

The PSAT will be given at Hereford High School Friday, October 24th. for all 10th and 11th grade students. 9th graders will participate in grade level activities and 12th graders are encouraged to visit a college or post secondary option. An excusal form is required for 12th graders choosing this option.

The ASVAB will be offered at Hereford High School on December 2, 2025. Please see your counselor if you would like to take it. More information about this test is listed here: https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab

If you would like to register for the SAT, be sure to check out the dates it is being offered at the link below.

Juniors-the SAT is offered during the school day for free for Juniors in April. More information to come!

1. Make an appointment through Microsoft Bookings (can be found in counselors email signature or by scanning QR code below).

2. Come to the counseling office and schedule an appointment with your counselor through the counseling secretary, Ms. Bennett

3. Send your counselor a Schoology message to request an appointment.

Thursday, October 9th at 6pm in the auditorium!

Please join us for an informative evening to learn ways to support your 9th and 10th grade student as they prepare for college/career. We will discuss supports and resources offered at Hereford High School as well as ways to access college coursework while in high school.