MTHS Guidance Newsletter

Fall 2026

🍂Welcome Back Hawks!🏫

Welcome to the Fall Edition of the Guidance Newsletter!
See below for what's been going on in guidance and what's to come.
💛 Love, Your MTHS Guidance Team💙

What's Going on in the Guidance Office?

Senior Meetings

Counselors visited English 12 classes September 21-22, 2026 with a rep from OCC. We discussed Naviance, Future Pathways, College Applications, transcripts, etc. You can find the presentation here. Senior Record Review letters were also sent home.

College Visits

The following collges/universities will be visiting MTHS during lunches on:
September 29 - Montclair University
December 7 - Temple University

OCVTS Visit & Assembly

OCVTS will be holding an assembly for current sophomores in December. The application for admission will open in January.

AP Exam Registration

Registration is open for AP Exams. You can visit the AP HUB for more information.

Student of the Month Nominations

We are excited to introduce a new format for our Student of the Month recognition! Each month, two students from each grade level will be nominated and recognized for their positive contributions, character, effort, and accomplishments with a certificate.

At the end of each semester, we will host a special Student of the Month Breakfast to celebrate all students who received this recognition throughout the semester.

We look forward to celebrating our students and recognizing the many ways they contribute to our school community!

OCC Dual Enrollment

All Fall and Full Year Dual Enrollment classes were visited and given information about registering for Dual Enrollment through OCC. Students and parents were also sent an email with more information. You can find more information here.

Fall College & Career Fair

Join us on October 1st for the Fall College and Career Fair! Students and parents can register HERE!

Issues Facing Teens:
SOCIAL MEDIA & MENTAL HEALTH
from the Office of the SAC

Ms. Eckert - jeckert@mtschools.org
Google Classroom Code: sz5hcxc

Social Media's Impact on Kids' Mental Health

Social media is harming kids' mental health, with new research from the Dove Self-Esteem Project revealing that 3 out of 5 children are negatively impacted by damaging beauty standards and unrealistic body expectations online. This film shares real stories that highlight the urgent need for safer online spaces.
Social media is constantly changing, and many of the apps children and teens use today may be unfamiliar to parents. While these platforms can be fun and engaging, they can also expose young users to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, scams, and privacy risks. Take a few minutes to review the apps in this graphic and start a conversation with your child. Knowing what they're using, who they're talking to, and how they stay safe online is one of the best ways to help protect them. (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

Save the Dates!

October 1, 2026
Fall College and Career Fair @ Toms River North
October 5-9, 2026
Week of Respect
October 6, 2026
SAT/PSAT School Day
October 8, 2026
Senior Make Up Photos
October 13 and/or 28, 2026
Deadlines to register for Dual Enrollment
October 20-22, 2026
Parent/Teacher Conferences
NJGPA Testing - Seniors Only
October 26-30, 2026
Red Ribbon Week
November 10, 2026
Fall Blood Drive
November 12, 2026
Field Trip to Bordentown High School - College Fair
November 17, 2026
Accuplacer Trip to OCC
(invited seniors only)
December 1, 2026
OCVTS Presentation for 10th graders

Counselor Caseloads

Shannon Findlow
9th Grade: A-F
10th-12th Grade: A-D
sfindlow@mtschools.org
Extension: 3513

Kristen Gannon
9th Grade: G-Ma
10th Grade: E-L
11th-12th Grade: E-J
kgannon@mtschools.org
Extension: 3524

Rachel Kelly
9th Grade: Mc-R
10th Grade: M-R
11th-12th Grade: K-P
rkelly@mtschools.org
Extension: 3522

Dana Simonelli
9th-10th Grade: S-Z
11th-12th Grade: Q-Z
dsimonelli@mtschools.org
Extension: 3514

Jennifer Eckert

Student Assistance Counselor

jeckert@mtschools.org

Extension: 3530

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