Seniors! Don't miss out on a College opportunity by not planning ahead!

Please remember that ALL High School Staff will be enjoying the Winter Holiday break with their families so it is important to get your requests in by Wednesday, December 11th. Teachers and Counselors will be on break from December 19th-January 5th and will not be available to help with applications and letters of recommendation during this time. They will not be checking emails. Please plan accordingly.

College Visits: Please check Naviance for a listing of College/University visits. New visits are constantly added and will start early in the school year.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE: AP TEST REGISTRATION HAS NOW ENDED

Any late registrations that are allowed after November 14th will result in a $40 late fee and will need special College Board and Counselor approval.

SPRING SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS BEGAN NOVEMBER 1st:

If you would like to request a SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST: Please use the Google Link below. We will be unable to accept requests via email, phone call, or in person and will only accept requests made on the Google Link. The final day to drop a course for Quarter 3 classes without repercussion on student transcripts is January 31st.

Google Link: https://goo.gl/forms/BLuWxTEZ5ay9dk8Y2

2020/2021 Course Selections are right around the corner!

The Counseling Department will be holding grade-specific course selection presentations for students and parents during the month of February. Additionally, they will be holding Parent Meetings on Friday mornings through the month of February.

At this time, we are asking that parents hold their questions until those meetings since we are busy planning and making important decisions regarding what will be offered and presented next year.

2020/2021 Studio Course Selection Procedures:

The counseling department will be holding grade-level specific course selection information meetings for the 2020/2021 school year starting:

Tues. February, 4th Junior class meets during Cohort in Caiman Hall

Mon. February, 10th Junior course selections due Online at Noon

Tues. February, 11th Sophomore class meets during Cohort in Caiman Hall

Mon. February, 17th Sophomore course selections due Online at Noon

Tues. February, 18th Freshman class meets during Cohort in Caiman Hall

Mon. February, 24th Freshman course selections due Online at Noon

Students will receive their course selection packet when they arrive at their grade-specific course selection meeting. Parents will have until the following Monday to discuss class choices with students and submit their course selection online. There will not be individual meetings; instead, parents are invited to attend these Cohort meetings in Caiman Hall with their students. The Cohort meetings will be from 11:20 am-12 pm on the above dates.

It is critical that students attend Cohort on their assigned days in order to hear important course selection information. Counselors will plan to hold an open student walk-in Q&A's during lunchtime for the entire month of February. This includes the weeks of February 4th - 21st. Meetings will be in Room 107. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get questions answered. Students can come and ask for help with checking their credits, getting advice on their course selections and graduation planning.

If parents are unable to attend the Cohort meeting with their students, the counselors will be holding parent course selection Q&A meetings for all grade levels on the following:

Friday, February 7th at 8:00 a.m. in Study Hall

Friday, February 14th at 8:00 a.m. in Study Hall

Friday, February 21st at 8:00 a.m. in Study Hall

PSAT Information:

Students in 10th and 11th grade who took the October 2019 PSAT will be able to view and access scores by logging into their individual College Board accounts. Scores will be released by The College Board and will be available sometime during the week December 9th - December 13th. Students can utilize Khan Academy for personalized practice for the SAT. Please visit the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=patbkNnnAQ4 for instructions on how to link your PSAT scores to Khan Academy for practice testing. Linking your accounts will personalize your practice testing and can GREATLY improve your future SAT scores.

Included in your students packet is a helpful tool provided by College Board and My College QuickStart. My College QuickStart is an easy-to-use, online, personalized college and career planning tool available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT. The information and answers your child provided when they took the test are incorporated into this useful tool, and it presents their data back to them in six main parts:

-My Online Score Report- an enhanced score report that allows students to review each test question, the student’s answer, and the correct answer with answer explanations.

-My SAT Study Plan- a customized SAT study plan based on student PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.

-My Personality- a detailed personality test that helps students better understand their own strengths and interests.

-My College Matches- a starter list of colleges based on the student’s state and indicated choice of major.

-My Major and Career Matches- major and career matches that are compatible with the student’s general interests and personality type.

-My AP Potential- a report that shows students which AP® courses they may be ready for and which match the college majors that interest them.

Access is available using the access code printed on the student’s paper score report, and the tool can be utilized throughout high school. Using My College QuickStart together with your child is a great way to introduce and guide your child through important aspects of the college-going process. Visit https://www.fa.org/uploaded/US_Attachments/MyCollegeQuickStartRef.pdf

If your students identifying information is incorrect on their score report or if you have trouble accessing your account then you will need to contact the College Board to have it fixed. Due to privacy issues, counselors do not have access to student portals. Please call the following Student HelpLine number with any questions - 866-433-7728.

SENIORS- IMPORTANT FAFSA AND CAL GRANT INFO

Reminder to all Senior Parents: The FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid)/ CA Dream Act Application sites opened October 1st and will be based on the prior, prior tax year. In order to be considered for the CAL Grant, the FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application must be completed no later than March 2nd. Keep in mind that funds are limited, so please consider getting it filled out earlier. Remember to create your WebGrant 4 Students account to check the status of your Cal Grant eligibility and to be able to receive your awarded funds ONE week after submitting your FAFSA application. .

Palomar Promise:

Important Information for Seniors: The Palomar College Promise Application is NOW OPEN!Attend College for FREE @ Palomar College for first-time college students!Please review the steps in the flyer below.Funds are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Start the application process NOW!

Please Note: The FAFSA application is now open as well and is another important step to being eligible for the Palomar Promise Program.

Want to meet with the counselors?

The Academic Counselors have set some Q&A meetings for parents to start off the 2019-2020 school year. Please bring any questions regarding credits, graduation planning, college applications, etc. The dates and times are listed below:

Counselor Q&A's:

Thursday, December 11th at 11:35am in Room 107

Thursday, January 30th at 11:35am in Room 107

Check out CollegeBoard’s parent website that offers key dates and deadlines, details about financial aid, and more. You can also view additional parent webinars and get answers to frequently asked questions about many college planning subjects.

https://parents.collegeboard.org/?SFMC_cid=EM51578-&rid=30305688https://parents.collegeboard.org/?SFMC_cid=EM51578-&rid=30305688

Seniors- College Application Time is Now! Please Review the College Application Info Below:

Please note: The Common Application and Naviance are not matched. If you are applying to a university via the Common Application, you will need to invite your school counselor and teachers via email through the Common Application for letters of recommendation and transcripts to be sent that way. You will need to mark in Naviance if you are applying through the Common Application if you have the option to do this. Items cannot be sent unless that is noted. Please be sure to invite your counselor as the Counselor Recommender so that we can upload your transcripts. Do not invite them as the Other Recommender. Please add your counselor as soon as you begin the Common Application. You do not need your application finished or submitted in order to add them. This gives them time to submit their required portion before your deadline.

For step-by-step instructions on how to request transcripts and letters of recommendations through Naviance (for Non Common Application schools), please see the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kciKewrxhsVRMTTbiFn7zc-pzMSYQAaw/view?usp=sharing

Please use the Brag Sheet template below to request letters of recommendation from your counselors/teachers. Please give 2-3 weeks notice, to make sure to ask in person, and to follow up with a Thank You as well.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f0rz5zqMjND-jd9cTAJ-vFIU5ATIyYUseoKF71Je8CA/edit?usp=sharing

SENIORS: If you are using the Common Application for college admissions, please invite your counselor on the site. A counselor recommendation is required. Please provide counselors with your Brag Sheet and allow 2 weeks for letters to be written.

Students A-L: Natalie Mauhili-- nmauhili@classicalacademy.com

Students M-Z: Karen Withem-- kwithem@classicalacademy.com

New College Resources: Now available on the Common Application. These resources are designed to help with college planning. Please use the link below for valuable tools and support with the application process.

https://www.commonapp.org/family

Sports Calendars and Information - Click here of caimansports.com

Sports Information Contact:

Athletic Director: Chedly Benattia cbenattia@classicalacademy.com

Athletic Secretary: JoAnn Goodman joanngoodman@classicalacademy.com