Dear
Students and Parents,
Welcome
to the 2012-2013 school year! We are pleased to announce that the school year
has launched successfully and smoothly, with a few changes to our order of
operations. This year, in effort to avoid waiting in line for appointments with
counselors during the last of sunny summer days, we opted to use an email
communication system for receiving and responding to schedule change requests.
In the two weeks prior to the first day of school, The Counseling Department
reviewed and responded to over 1500 emails
from parents and students. To accommodate everyone, our Navi Lab was open to
any parent or student who may not have had computer or internet access. Our
Counseling Department values the importance of having students start in the
appropriate class placements on the first day of school, and understands that
the students and parents want this as well. This year, as a result of the new
schedule change request system, we concluded all schedule changes by the second
Friday of the school year. Students and teachers benefit from this efficient system,
which has meant a quality beginning for each
class, and less instruction time missed due to inappropriate class placements. The
new system has provided an opportunity for families to communicate with their
counselor from the comfort of their home, offices, or remote locations.
We
have just about a month of school underway, and the rest of the semester is
very swiftly approaching! This is especially true for seniors who will be
applying to colleges and universities.
It is an exciting time of year, but one which is filled with much
anxiety for our students. Be sure to
stay tuned to our Counseling Blog (www.ehscounselorblog.blogspot.com), which highlights important articles relating to school and
college, scholarship opportunities, SAT/ACT information, important deadlines,
and upcoming events. Hold on to your Pumpkin Spice Lattes, here’s what’s coming
up!
ALL STUDENTS: Thursday, September 27, 2012
is the Humboldt Del-Norte College Night from 5pm to 8 pm at Eureka High. This
is an exceptional night to meet college reps for colleges from coast to coast.
Now is the time to begin thinking about colleges that are right for you. You
will be able to talk to college reps about campus life, college majors, their
college culture, and what it’s like to be a student at their university! Look
for the flyers in the classrooms and halls, YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!
SENIORS
Seniors
needing to recover non college-prep credits through the ECS Adult Education
program, please contact your counselor to set up an appointment to get started
as soon as possible. The Adult Ed program opened on September 10, 2012.
The
application window for California State University campuses is October
1-November 30th, 2012. You may apply and find information
at: www.csumentor.edu.
The
application window for The University of California is November 1-November 30th,
2012. However, the application opens on October 1st, so students can begin writing their
personal statements now, and begin to work on their applications early! Do not wait until the
middle of November to begin writing your personal statements and applications.
If you can smell the turkey and the stuffing, then you’ve waited too long to
get started! Applications sites have been known to crash on the final day of
the application window, so keep vigil!
There
are LOTS of resources for help writing your personal statements, and any other
questions you may have about college application processes. The UC has
its own YouTube channel, and has lists of videos meant to help you and your
family make college admissions as easy as possible. Check out this personal
statement video: http://www.youtube.com/user/UCofficeofpresident#p/c/9/iB4O2UXdLo0.
The
UC has a great guide for their applications here: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/downloadable-guides/index.html
.
Visit
www.collegeweeklive.com, another
EXCELLENT resource for all of your college and financial aid questions. College
Week Live hosts webinars with colleges from all over the nation, and there are
a multitude of videos answering questions that parents, students, and even
counselors might have. Check it out!
Humboldt
State University Application Review Day is Saturday October 19, 2012. Any
student at EHS who meets the requirements for a CSU is admitted to HSU on this
day if they attend. Students should apply to HSU prior to attending the
event via www.csumentor.org. Even if HSU
is not your first choice, GO TO THIS
EVENT! Seniors, keep as many options open for yourself as possible-apply
broadly and to many different colleges! HSU is a sure choice if your first
choices don’t work out! You can register for this event here: https://pine.humboldt.edu:8891/oem/bin/aday/aday.cgi.
Seniors, if you still need to take the SAT
or ACT, you must take these tests no later than December 2012 for your 4 year
university applications. The UC’s only take English and Math test scores from
the same test session (E.g. If you took tests in July and September, you must
report English and Math scores from either July OR September, not both). The
CSU’s allow a student to choose their best English and Math scores of any test
session. Stay tuned to the Counselor Blog and visit these websites for SAT and
ACT information: (SAT) www.collegeboard.com,
(ACT) www.actstudent.org. Subject tests are no longer a requirement
for UC admission, however it may be recommended by some programs and
majors. You can find this information at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/campuses/index.html. Subject test scores cannot hurt you,
regardless of your score.
Navi lab: The first Navi lab sessions
will be the week of October 8th-12th. We will be working
on the UC/CSU applications, updating the Navigator 4 year plans, and reviewing
the community college website. We are excited to meet with seniors in the lab
this fall to assist with the college applications and planning process!
JUNIORS
Keep
your focus! Sophomore and Junior years are the years that universities will
focus on when you apply to colleges in the fall of your senior year. Keep your
goals in mind at all times! Write your goals on a sticky note and post it
somewhere where you will see it every day to remind yourself what you’re
working hard for each day.
Navi Lab: October 8th-12th,
students will continue the
development of their E-Portfolios in the Navi Lab, a great tool for job and
college applications. We will continue to explore college and career options as
well.
FRESHMEN AND
SOPHOMORES
Navi lab: Between October 29th
and November 2nd this fall, Freshmen will be working on the
development of their 4-year plan in the labs. Sophomores will be updating their
4-year plans as well. All students will explore college and career options for
their future.
Take advantage of the Eureka High School learning
pathways, which offer an opportunity for you to explore a particular area
of interest and develop job skills. The pathways are a great way to become
well-informed in your area of interest, and they look great on your resumes.
Students who complete a learning pathway also receive an honorary cord to wear
for high school graduation.
EVERYONE
We
are very excited to be back in action with our awesome Eureka High Students. We
encourage you to contact a teacher or counselor if you have questions about
anything related to college or jobs for your future. We are here to help you
make a plan for your adult life, and to help you reach it! Remember, nothing
comes to you without a little hard work! So, keep your eye on the prize and
remind yourself why you WANT to work hard each day!
Sincerely,
The
Eureka High School Counseling Team
Monica Rivera (A-G) Delores Haskamp (H-O) Audra Gosvener (P-Z)
Lee Rowley, Secretary
