February 2023 - Guidance Dept. Newsletter
Class of 2026 Scheduling Begins
Guidance Counselors have begun meeting with current Freshmen (class of 2026) to begin the scheduling process to request classes for next year.
Once classes are requested for next year, students have until June 2nd, 2023 to request to change classes.
Merrillville High School classes are scheduled very tight and both teachers and classrooms are committed to their sections. The slightest variation in numbers can have a profound implications for the entire master schedule. Once the school year starts again in August, the only schedule changes allowed will be to:
Correct an inappropriate student placement (student did not meet pre-requisites for the class)
Balance class sizes
Shift the master schedule
Upcoming College/Career Events:
Friday, February 24th - Central State University college rep. visit & presentation
Current 11th and 12th grade students are encouraged to sign up and receive a permission slip for this presentation by going to the Guidance Office
Permission slips are due back to the Guidance Office by Thursday, February 16th
Real Talk: HBCU Edition
For two nights, Real Talk will host HBCU admissions representatives who will talk to students and their families in regards to comparing colleges, receive advice on standing out during the admissions procress, get information about special scholarships that can help make college more affordable and have top questions answered in real time. Click here to learn more information about this event.
Night 1 - Wednesday, March 1st at 6pm CST:
Dillard University
Fayetteville State University
Florida A&M University
Morgan State University
Tuskeegee University
Night 2 - Thursday, March 2nd at 6pm CST:
Bethune-Cookman University
Clafin University
Morehouse College
Norfolk State University
Tennessee State University
Texas Southern University
Summer Opportunities:
Various pre-college programs and summer camp registrations have now opened!
Check out our "Summer Opportunities" page for current postings open to 9-12 grade students. Check back often as new postings will be continued to be added.
Available Scholarships
Click here to visit our scholarships page where students in grades 9-12 can find information about scholarships available to them as well as verified, counselor-recommended sites where they can find other scholarships.
Scholarship Spotlight:
Gamma Psi Omega - Sixteen Pearls Foundation Inc. Scholarship
Open to graduating Seniors (class of 2023)
Must be an African American/Black male or female student
Must have a minimum GPA of a 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
Must plan to attend a college/university after high school
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Friday, March 3, 2023
Pirate Pantry Information
Pirate Pantry is a bridge program to help families with a temporary need and provide direction if they need a more permanent solution. Five meals (dinner) a week will be provided for no more than three weeks to any one family. If there is a need beyond three weeks, support will be provided to help them find a more permanent solution.
Social Workers and engagement staff will identify families and refer them to the Food Services Director, who will contact the families and make arrangements for food to be picked up.
The Food Service Director determines the menu of food available including the types, quantities and storage of the food.
If interested in taking advantage of this resource, please reach out to your student's respective guidance counselor and they will in turn make a referral to the Food Services Director.
Tutoring Resources:
Local tutoring:
Merrillville High School peer tutoring through the National Honor Society (NHS) is once again available to students in grades 7-12. Click here to view the NHS Tutoring Guidelines.
Please contact your student's respective school counselor to request information on how to apply.
SAT & other subjects:
Schoolhouse.world - provides students in grades 8-12 with free online tutoring for SAT preparation, math courses, and AP courses.
Collegeboard - provides high school students with the opportunity to take SAT practice tests and join SAT study groups
Khan Academy - provides students in grades 2-12 with free online studying materials and videos; Official SAT practice test site.
ACT practice/tutoring sites:
ACT.org - provides high school students with the opportunity to take an ACT practice test, free ACT study guides, and an ACT prep guide
ASVAB practice/tutoring sites:
Math resources:
Ask Rose - free tutors available through the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Students can call in to a tutor or email for help on math homework Sundays - Thursdays from 6:00pm to 9:00pm (CST).
Mathway - free math problem-solver powered by Chegg that explains how to find math answers step-by-step; math help available from basic math to Calculus and Statistics; Chemistry and Physics help is also available
Guidance Dept. -Google Classroom
Join our Guidance Department's Google Classroom to keep up with the latest happenings at school such as testing dates, college fair information, Guidance Department event, and much more.
Google Classroom code: waui4va
Class for first generation students by the company "The College Tour"
Open to current middle and high school students.
The class that covers the four key pillars for students to start thinking about:
college location
campus culture
college type
majors of study
There is NO COST for the class and should take about 45 minutes to complete.
Click here to get started.