HHS Counseling Newsletter

Links to Counseling Night Programs

9/26/24: Senior Parent Admissions Night Slideshow

9/26/24: Senior Parent Admissions Night Video

10/17/24: Financial Aid Night Slideshow

10/17/24: Financial Aid Night Video

Post-Secondary Planning Updates:

Be sure to meet with your counselor again if your post-secondary plan is still in process. We want to make sure we have developed a well thought-out plan for each student as we continue to approach graduation. We also encourage parents to reach out with questions as well!

Financial Aid Information

**Parents and students are each encouraged to create a FAFSA ID prior to the form opening on December 1st. Students and families should check the financial aid website for each college to make sure you are familiar with deadlines and form requirements for each school. Please note: these deadlines may be different from admissions deadlines.**

Parents are encouraged to register with MEFA at www.mefa.org/login in order to access video tutorials and presentations by financial aid experts on the financial aid application process and to receive regular emails with deadline reminders. MEFA’s excellent presentations on College Financing are available in English, Chinese and Spanish.

We recommend parents watch the following MEFA videos from the comfort of their home at a time that is convenient:

College Financing

Understanding the FAFSA

90 Seconds with MEFA - Creating a FSA ID

What to know about the CSS Profile

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for viewing in Naviance. Mrs. O'Loughlin is beginning to send out reminders to students as scholarship opportunities arise. There will be an influx of available scholarships after the new year, so keep checking out the site.

AP Exams

Registration Deadline: November 1st

Online Registration and payment through Total Registration.

(www.totalregistration.net/AP/221060)

$110.00 per exam due at time of registration.

Follow the link on the HHS Website.

There is a $42 late fee added by the College Board for late registrations after November 16th.

Students should already have enrolled in AP Classroom to access class resources. Registering and paying for the exam is a separate and additional step!

UPCOMING SAT/ACT Test Dates and Deadlines

SAT Register for SAT (if needed)

Test Date: December 7, 2024 Deadline: November 22, 2024

ACT Register for ACT (if needed)

Test Date: December 14, 2024 Deadline: November 8, 2024

**Register ASAP as test site availability is limited.**

UPCOMING COLLEGE VISITS @ HHS

Students can sign up through Naviance, must get permission from teacher before attending, and are responsible for making up any missed work.

REMINDERS FOR SENIORS DURING THE POST-SECONDARY PLANNING PROCESS:

**Schedule your senior meeting with your counselor to discuss your post-secondary options and devise a plan.**

If you are applying to college:

*Work with your counselor to create a well-balanced list of roughly 6-12 colleges.

*Complete your Common Application and/or school specific applications when applicable. Here is some helpful info.

*Finish your college essay and create a list of supplemental essays. You can use this tracker for supplements.

*If your ACT or SAT scores are above the college's reported average, send the scores to the college through act.org or collegeboard.org. DO NOT put scores into the Common App unless you want them to be seen by all colleges.

*Thank the teachers writing letters of recommendation for you and remind them of your earliest deadline.

* Complete and print out a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM and return to your counselor one month ahead of your deadlines with a one-time flat fee of $5 (and an additional $5 for school for international colleges/universities) to ensure that all documents (transcript, school profile, and letters of recommendation) are sent to your colleges on time.

*FERPA and Recommenders: Step 1: In Common App, complete Education section then click on the “FERPA and Recommenders” link under one of your colleges. Complete the Release Authorization (make sure to waive your rights).Step 2: Login to Naviance, click on “Colleges I’m Applying To”, “Match Accounts”, log into Common App, agree and connect. This will ensure that your Common App and Naviance accounts are linked and that you have waived your rights to access your letters of recommendation (what the colleges prefer).

*Submit applications at least 7 days before deadlines.

Junior Parent Webinar-SAVE THE DATE: Take a look ahead at junior year from a college planning perspective and join us for a webinar presented by the HHS Counseling Department on Tuesday, November 19th at 12pm. Parents will also be introduced to SCOIR, our new college planning and document sending tool. Here is the link to join the webinar.

AP Exams:

Registration Deadline: November 1st

Online Registration and payment through Total Registration.

(www.totalregistration.net/AP/221060)

$110.00 per exam due at time of registration.

Follow the link on the HHS Website.

There is a $42 late fee added by the College Board for late registrations after November 16th.

Students should already have enrolled in AP Classroom to access class resources. Registering and paying for the exam is a separate and additional step!

Junior Parent College Admissions Night: Thursday, February 6th at 7pm, HHS Auditorium. Stay tuned for more details!

Financial Aid Information

Feel free to view our video from this year's Financial Aid night for a look ahead at what's to come:

10/17/24: Financial Aid Night Slideshow

10/17/24: Financial Aid Night Video

Parents are encouraged to register with MEFA at www.mefa.org/login in order to access video tutorials and presentations by financial aid experts on the financial aid application process and to receive regular emails with deadline reminders. MEFA’s excellent presentations on College Financing are available in English, Chinese and Spanish.

We recommend parents watch the following MEFA videos from the comfort of their home at a time that is convenient:

College Financing

Understanding the FAFSA

90 Seconds with MEFA - Creating a FSA ID

What to know about the CSS Profile

Junior Seminars and Meetings:

Counselors will meet with their juniors in monthly seminar classes, beginning in November and running through March, to learn about post-secondary options and the college admissions process.

UPCOMING SAT/ACT Test Dates and Deadlines

SAT collegeboard.org

Test Date: December 7, 2024 Deadline: November 22, 2024

Test Date: March 8, 2025 Deadline: February 21, 2025

Test Date: May 3, 2025 Deadline: April 18, 2025

Test Date: June 7, 2025 Deadline: May 22, 2025

ACT act.org

Test Date: December 14, 2024 Deadline: November 8, 2024

Test Date: February 8, 2025 Deadline: January 3, 2025

Test Date: April 5, 2025 Deadline: February 28, 2025

Test Date: June 14, 2025 Deadline: May 9, 2025

Test Date: July 12, 2025 Deadline: June 6, 2025

**Register ASAP as test site availability is limited.**

AP Exams:

Registration Deadline November 1st

Online Registration and payment through Total Registration.

(www.totalregistration.net/AP/221060)

$110.00 per exam due at time of registration.

Follow the link on the HHS Website.

There is a $42 late fee added by the College Board for late registrations after November 16th.

Students should already have enrolled in AP Classroom to access class resources. Registering and paying for the exam is a separate and additional step!

*For Sophomores enrolled in AP Art History, AP Biology or AP Computer Science Principles only. AP US History I students will take the AP US History exam in May 2026 after completion of APUSH II.

Sophomore Seminars

Sophomores meet with their counselors for 2 seminar sessions during the Spring 2025 for career exploration seminars focused on interests and skills.

**PreACT Date: Saturday Morning, March 22nd, 2025

The PreACT is a practice ACT that measures college readiness in the areas of English, Reading, Math, and Scientific Reasoning.

Registration will be in the Counseling Office: February 24th through March 7th.

$45 fee due at time of registration.

** This is the only date for the PreACT administration at HHS (no alternate date.)

School Counselors:

A-Car: Michael Flanagan mflanagan@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Cas-F: Patrick O’Brien pobrien@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

G-Kn: Kristen Wurster kwurster@hopkinton.kj12.ma.us

Ko-Mo: Ryan Wasilik rwasilik@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Mu-Sam: Mark Awdycki mawdycki@hopkinton.k21.ma.us

San-T: Victoria Bellomo vbellomo@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

U-Z: Deirdre King dking@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Adjustment Counselors

Kara Salvucci ksalvucci@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Kerry Simpson ksimpson1@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Anne Tomasz (START) atomasz@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Bethany Hadley (EMPOWER) bhadley@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Developmental Counseling Program

Freshman Seminars are devoted to building connections with our new ninth graders during their transition to HHS.

Sophomore Seminars focus on career exploration related to strengths and interests.

Junior Seminars explore post-secondary options and the college admissions process.

Senior Seminars help students finalize their post-secondary plans.

Annual Check-Ins

Counselors meet with their students for annual, individual check-ins to offer support during high school while continuing to develop strong relationships with students. These check-ins occur predominantly during the first semester for freshman and seniors and during the second semester for sophomores and juniors. Counselors are available for appointments as needed.

Mental Health

In addition to academic advising and post-secondary planning, school counselors are experienced in assisting students with mental health concerns, such as managing stress, anxiety, and depression, developing self-calming and emotional regulation skills, teaching mindfulness, and helping students set goals, make good decisions, and find balance in their lives. Please reach out to your counselor with any questions or concerns.

1. Set SMART Goals

Break down your study sessions with SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of “study chemistry,” try “review and complete practice problems on chemical bonds for 30 minutes.”

2. Use Active Study Techniques

Engage with material in an active way. Instead of just reading or highlighting, try explaining concepts aloud, drawing diagrams, or using flashcards. Teaching a concept to someone else is also a powerful way to reinforce what you’ve learned.

3. Create a Study Schedule

Plan out study time each week, keeping in mind extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and family obligations. Consistent, scheduled study sessions help avoid cramming and keep stress levels down.

4. Take Frequent Breaks

The Pomodoro Technique, where you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break, can boost focus and productivity. Taking breaks helps refresh your mind and improves long-term retention of information.

5. Set Up a Distraction-Free Study Space

Find a quiet, comfortable spot to study, and keep your phone or other distractions away. Use focus apps or listen to white noise or instrumental music to stay focused if you need background sound.

6. Use Visual Aids

Creating visual aids like mind maps, charts, and diagrams can help with remembering and organizing information, especially for complex subjects. These tools make it easier to connect ideas and see the bigger picture.

7. Test Yourself Regularly

Practice testing is one of the most effective study techniques. After studying, quiz yourself without looking at notes. This can be done using past quizzes, flashcards, or online quiz apps.

8. Practice Time Management

For assignments and projects, break them down into smaller tasks and set mini-deadlines for each part. Staying organized and pacing yourself helps prevent last-minute stress.

9. Connect with Teachers and Peers

Don’t hesitate to ask teachers for clarification or guidance on challenging topics. Flex block is a great time to connect with teachers to review or to go over concepts that may be posing a challenge. Studying with friends can also make learning more interactive and expose you to new perspectives. Our Peer Tutoring Program here at HHS is a free resource through which students can benefit from a high school tutor who has been successful in the required academic area. Have your child reach out to their counselor if they're interested!

10. Get Enough Sleep

A good night’s sleep is crucial for memory and concentration. Try to prioritize rest, especially before big exams, to help improve focus and retention. 8 hours of sleep is ideal!