Change Classes or Level Down

While you are getting settled back into the school year, we want to make sure your schedule is as close to what you've hoped for as possible! 

• If you are looking to add a new class or change a class, the deadline is  September 5th. 

• If you are looking to drop a class (without changing a class) or leveling down (ex: from Honors to College Prep, etc.) Drop/Level Down, the deadline is coming up on September 26th.

New Counseling Staff!

You might have noticed some changes in our THHS Counseling Staff. 

We are very excited to welcome Karina Siwecki and Heather Berkness.

Students are assigned counselors based on their last-name alpha. 

Please see below for the Counselor breakdown:

• A-CL: Mrs. Young

• Co-Go: Mrs. Berkness

• Gr-Le: Mrs. Siwecki

• Li-Oz: Mrs. Lunsford

• Pa-Sh: Ms. Orlowski

• Si-Z: Mrs. Schulz

For full THHS Guidance Staff and contact information, please see click here. 

Guidance Technician Staff

Students are assigned Guidance Technicians based on their alphabetical last name.

See below for the Guidance Technician breakdown:

• A-El: Mrs. McCann

• Em-Le: Mrs. Murphy

• Li-Ri: Mrs. Ahearn

• Ro-Z: Ms. Torres

For full THHS Guidance Staff and contact information, please see click here. 

Guidance Department Availability

Students are generally able to visit the Guidance Department before school, at snack/break, lunch, and after school. 

Parents & Guardians must check-in at the Front Office and/or make an appointment with your Counselor or Guidance Technician (aka SST - Student Services Technician).

Counselors will not be available before 0 period but will be available prior to the start of 1st. Counselors are available during class time for crisis or social/emotional urgent needs. Impromptu academic questions will need to be addressed during non-class time. 

The Guidance Office is CLOSED during flextime.

Your Guidance Technicians are happy to assist you with scheduling/class questions during non-class time. 

Follow Us on Instagram! Now available in both English & Spanish!

If you don't already, follow our @THHSGuidance Instagram account to stay up to date on important Guidance-related information. This is where you will find important dates, deadlines and events. 

We recently created @THHSOrientacion for our Spanish-Speaking families. This account will keep you connected to all that is happening in our THHS Guidance Department. 

The Meadow

The Meadow (located in Room 129- next to the student store) is open daily during lunch.  The Meadow was designed as a refuge for kids who need to unwind and decompress.    The Meadow includes sofas, chairs, plants, yoga pads and mindfulness activities such as journaling, coloring, aromatherpay and fidgets in an environment of soothing earth tones and pleasignly smooth shapes - nothing harsh here.  Think resort hotel lobby or your favorite cozy coffee shop, but designed with the intention of providing students a dedicated place to  practice social -emotional learning skills. 

Senior Classroom Lessons + Parent & Guardian Night

Coming up during the week of September 18th, THHS School Counselors will be going into Senior English 4 classrooms to provide a presentation on all things college and planning for after high school! This is where you will learn how to ask for Letters of Recommendation, learn important dates and deadlines for college applications and Financial Aid (including Dream Act), and other options/pathways you may want to pursue after high school graduation. 

It is important to us that we keep parents/guardians in the loop as well. Parents & Guardians will have the opportunity to attend Senior Parent/Guardian Night on September 27th at 6PM in the MPR. Please see information on the flyer here (or posted at the bottom of this newsletter).

To get you started, please see the College Checklist (also displayed at the bottom of the newsletter page). This checklist will be updated regularly as we move through the year and posted on campus, in your Guidance Department, and in our newsletters as well. 

Freshman Classroom Lessons + Parent & Guardian Night

THHS School Counselors will be going into Freshman English 1 classrooms, beginning September 26th - 29th,  to provide a presentation on all things "Welcome to High School!" This is where they will learn the basics of high school (graduation requirements, A-G requirements, different pathways after high school, and more!).

It is important to us that we keep parents/guardians in the loop as well. Parents & Guardians will have the opportunity to attend Freshman Parent/Guardian Night on September 28nd at 5PM in the MPR. Please see flyer here (or posted at the bottom of the newsletter).

PSAT

If your Sophomore or Junior student is interested in taking the PSAT, please see the flyer linked here (as well as displayed at the bottom of the newsletter page). 

The College Board’s PSAT/NMSQT includes a Reading and Writing Section and a Math Section and is offered using an app called BlueBook which is accessible on school-issued Chromebooks.

THHS is hosting the Digital Test for sophomores and juniors on Saturday, October 14, 2023 and on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 for students with extracurricular conflicts.

The cost is $35 and can be purchased on the THHS Webstore or on campus at Snack/Lunch in the Trabuco Hills HS student store. 

Prior to the test, students need to create a College Board account  and make sure their school-issued Chromebook has been updated and the BlueBook app is accessible.

Please email Ms. Orlowski (jami.orlowski@svusd.org) if you want to take the test on 10/11 and be specific about the conflict preventing Saturday test participation.

SAT Prep Boot Camp - Provided by PTSA

Our SAT/PSAT Prep Boot Camp is designed to provide students with the best test-taking strategies, techniques, and problem solving approaches. Our teaching-oriented approach will help students in the classroom as well as on their standardized tests. Students will become more confident test-takers! This will take place in the MPR. See the flyer linked here for more information!

If you have questions, please visit the THHS PTSA website here.

• Saturday, September 16th: Practice test

• Saturday, September 23rd Boot Camp - English 9am-12pm and Math 12:30pm-3:30pm

• Saturday, September 30th: Boot Camp - Math 9am-11am & English 11:30am-1:30pm 

ACT Prep Boot Camp - Provided by PTSA

Our ACT Prep Boot Camp is designed to provide students with the best test-taking strategies, techniques, and problem solving approaches. Our teaching-oriented approach will help students in the classroom as well as on their standardized tests. Students will become more confident test-takers! This will take place in the MPR. See the flyer linked here for more information!

If you have questions, please visit the THHS PTSA website here.

• Saturday, October 7th: Practice test

• Saturday, October 14th Boot Camp - English 9am-12pm and Math 12:30pm-3:30pm

• Saturday, October 21st Boot Camp - Math 9am-11am & English 11:30am-1:30pm 

Mustang Learning Center

We are pleased to announce that the Mustang Learning Center is available again this school year!

This is an opportunity for students to work directly with THHS teachers for academic support (various subjects - English, Math, Science, etc.). 

Please visit during these times:

• Hours: 

  • open daily at Lunch

• Location: Library (old blue lab)

• Start Date: September 11, 2023

Flex Time

        FlexTime was created to provide students with more individualized attention and intervention and enrichment opportunities. 

       Research shows that all students can benefit from time with teachers outside of the regular classroom setting. 

       FlexTime is held Tuesdays and Thursdays each week with the exception of modified schedules

Back to School Mindfulness

Being back at school can surface an array of emotions for guardians and students alike. Filtering through the sadness that summer is over, excitement for new schedules/friends/sports to start, and maybe some anxiety of the unknown. One way to combat some of the anxiety and stress you may be feeling is by practicing mindfulness. A strategy that some of the counselors at Trabuco like to utilize on a daily basis is called "5-3-1". 

• "5" - Meditate for at least 5 minutes. This means taking a break from electronics, stepping away from your to-do list, and taking a few minutes to breathe to calm your mind.

• "3" - Write down 3 good things that happened today. Research shows that practicing gratitude translates into a higher level of well-being.

• "1" - Do 1 act of kindness. This could be holding the door for someone, complimenting someone, or picking up trash at lunch.

Time Management

Are you struggling with balancing everything in your schedule - from sports, to classes, to work, to other after school activities. At the beginning of the year, we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed or stressed with all the new changes to our schedule. Using time management apps can help us get organized and keep track of our day to day activities. 

• Google Keep - This app syncs with your other Google apps (including your calendar) by creating virtual sticky notes and reminders. You can set alarms for your reminders, make them color coded by activity, and share them with friends or family. This will all sync with your school Google accounts!

• Focus Booster - This app allows you to break up your schedule and tasks into manageable chunks. It times your tasks into short, timed bursts all while taking frequent breaks. It also helps keep your focus to minimize distractions!