It is something that sets the tone and tenor of our lives, but an influence we rarely manage until it speeds up or slows down to an uncomfortable rhythm.   As a school community heading into a festive and busy time of year, I want to convey my wishes for students, families, faculty and staff around managing the PACE of our lives…and the expectations we set for ourselves.  

The holidays have the potential to be filled with joyous experiences. There is often time and occasion to connect with family and friends and reflect on the good that surrounds us all year long.  This year as we embark on the season, my hope for all is that you will take a moment to reflect and restore.  Be mindful of adjusting your PACE, if only for a minute, in an effort to recognize all that life has to offer.  A momentary reset can render enormous benefits and enable us to reconnect with our goals in a healthy and productive way.

As we plan for the new year, I hope each of you will consider how you want 2024 to unfold.  Set your goals!  Set your intentions!  Allow the spirit of a new year and all the possibilities it presents to galvanize your attitude.  There is much to be gained through establishing a steady cadence.  It has been said that life is not a sprint, but rather a marathon.  Thus, with this in mind, plan each mile of the year ahead.  Take one step at a time and remember to find joy, confidence, pride and constructive challenge in every aspect of “your race”.  Keeping a slow, uniformed, and sustainable pace is always the best approach. The goal is to finish strong, regardless of the time it takes. 

May the impending holidays be filled with peace & love...and an insightful awareness of the PACE that best suits your success and fulfillment.

Warmest Wishes to All,

Dr.G.

Morristown, NJ - October 11, 2023 - Students at Morristown High School faced an unexpected challenge as they took the PSAT/NMSQT exam using the College Board digital platform for the very first time.  The exam was offered to sophomores and juniors at no cost to the students. Despite the College Board website experiencing technical difficulties right as students and teachers were preparing to test, Morristown High School's resilient students and dedicated staff managed to persevere and successfully complete the exam. This incident highlights the transition to digital exams and underscores the benefits of embracing new technology in education.

The College Board's decision to offer the PSAT/NMSQT on a digital platform came as part of an ongoing effort to modernize standardized testing and make it more accessible to all students. Digital testing offers various advantages, including quicker score reporting, a reduction in paper usage, and the ability to adapt to students' skill levels. However, the transition is not without its challenges, as was evident during the recent testing day at Morristown High School.

The exam day began with great enthusiasm as students logged into the College Board's platform, ready to showcase their knowledge and skills. However, just as the tests were about to commence, the College Board's website experienced technical difficulties, leaving students and staff in a state of uncertainty.

Director of Guidance Dr. Giordano expressed her gratitude for the students' patience and resilience, saying, "I am incredibly proud of our students and teachers for their ability to stay focused and maintain their composure during this unexpected challenge. They demonstrated true grit and determination."

Around midmorning, the College Board was able to rectify the technical problems, and students at Morristown High School were able to access the digital PSAT/NMSQT exam. Once the exam commenced, the benefits of this new digital format quickly became evident.

One of the significant advantages of digital testing is the quicker turnaround time for score reporting. This allows students to receive their results sooner, giving them more time to make informed decisions about their academic paths.

Furthermore, digital testing offers a more interactive experience, with features such as annotation reading selections, highlighting, and the ability to bookmark and return to skipped items easily. It closely mirrors the environment in which many students will take college admissions tests, making it an invaluable experience in preparing for the future.

The shift to digital testing aligns with the broader trend in education to integrate technology into the classroom. It allows educators to better cater to student's needs and prepare them for college and career readiness in a tech-savvy world.

As the students at Morristown High School completed their digital PSAT/NMSQT, they showed that they could rise above adversity and adapt to a changing world. Their determination to excel despite the initial technical setback proves that education can be a powerful force in overcoming challenges and preparing the next generation for an ever-evolving landscape.

The Morristown High School community's perseverance in the face of adversity is a testament to their commitment to education and personal growth. While the transition to a digital format may have had its challenges, it also brought the promise of enhanced learning experiences and better preparation for the future.

It is that time of the year where 12th grade students, parents (now contributors) must start thinking about completing the FAFSA.  Yes, the FAFSA will be slated for release in December 2023 (no specific date has been announced from the United States Department of Education).  The counseling staff has been busy attending workshops to ensure they can assist students with the new FAFSA.

To be ready, HESAA has setup Zoom sessions where student, parent(s) - now referred to as “information contributors” can have access to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), with their user id and passwords (FSA ID’s). Yes, both English and Spanish dates are available and no registration is required.  

Who should create an FSA ID: Students, Parent(s)

Link to the details: https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/FAFSA.aspx

State of New Jersey, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)

PO Box 071 |Trenton, NJ 08625-0545

(609) 588-3300 x 1400

• Mississippi's oldest public university and the largest by enrollment

• Located in University, Mississippi (adjacent to the city of Oxford)

• Total university enrollment of 22,000 (17, 400 undergraduates)

• There are more than 80 undergraduate majors including pharmacy, pre-law, pre-med, finance, public policy, digital communication and so much more.

• Multi Award-Winning author, John Grisham, is a graduate of Ole Miss Law School and loosely based his famous book and movie, "A Time to Kill" on his experiences as a law clerk in the city of Oxford.

• Ole Miss was the first college football team to fly to a road game, taking a flight from Memphis to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls in 1937. 

• Ole Miss hired the first female professor in the Southeast

• Mrs. Wolf is a member of the Rutgers Counselors Sounding Board

• Rutgers is now on CommonApp! They anticipate a large increase in applications and higher selectivity (more competition).

• Top 15 public university in the nation

• New check-off on the application for an interest in their Honors College which offers interdisciplinary research, micro-internships, global learning, and many perks

• New Data Science major, 120 majors

• WiSE (women in science & engineering) program in Douglass College, new STEM living communities

• Open House on Saturday, April 13th

• NYU Gallatin is a comprehensive interdisciplinary and individualized program.

• Gallatin students are the only students able to take classes amongst all of the NYU schools (Stern, Tisch, etc.)

• Classes are designed for students to demonstrate their curiosity in many fields, where experiential learning is at the hub.

• Students should apply to Gallatin as their first choice to be considered.

• Students don't have a major, rather a concentration from other NYU schools. 

• 6,590 undergraduates

• 4.5% acceptance rate.  97% of first year students report being in the top 10% of their high school class.  

• Currently Test Optional but an announcement will be made in early 2024 about this policy moving forward.

• Each first-year student is randomly assigned to one of 14 residential colleges. It provides a built-in, tight-knit family for students from the moment they arrive, blending diversity, camaraderie, and pride for one’s residential community.

• 6,000 undergraduate students and average class size is 20. 

• More than 100 undergraduate programs including Business, Communications, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences and Nursing. 

• Ranked number 1 university in the U.S. for securing a job after graduation the past three years. 

• 21 Division 1 teams including  the 2023 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey National Champions

• State university located in Wayne, NJ with approximately 11,000 students

• Largest nursing program in NJ

• 45% first generation students

• New Fieldhouse and Health Sciences Center being built

• Great support for students with academic success teams consisting of an academic advisor, faculty advisor, financial aid advisor, and a career coach

• Early action deadline is December 1st with a decision around December 31st

• ** Pledge 4 Success financial aid program - first two years of college is tuition free if family's adjusted gross income is under $65,000 and then the last two years of tuition are covered by the Garden State Guarantee program.  Discounted tuition for AGI of less than $80,000. See website for details: Pledge 4 Success 

• Honors College provides an additional $5,000 in merit scholarships

Students who are the first in their family to attend college are most commonly referred to as first generation (or 'First-Gen').  Be The First is a drop-in program for First-Gen students at MHS who are looking for more information and support to prepare for college. 

School Counselors have scheduled workshops, speakers, and will be available for individualized assistance throughout the school year.