MCHS Guidance Office 

Ms. Tanya Cusick , Guidance Counselor 

(709) 279-2313, ext. 23

Ms. Cusick's Bitmoji Guidance Office.pdf

Hi everyone! Please check out my Bitmoji Guidance office above  for a lot of really useful resources. Just click on each image and see where it takes you! =) Ms.C

Hi students and families!  Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything at all. I will be updating this page with resources that you can use at home/online in the coming days, so check back regularly. Thanks everyone, be kind to each other and stay safe! - Ms. Cusick

Welcome back to our 2023-2024 school year everyone!



Free E-Counselling Resources:

Bridge the gapp:

https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/files/Bridge-the-Gapp-online-mental-health-resources.pdf 

E-MentaL Health Services Available to you:

https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/files/E-Mental-Health-Services.pdf 

Ways to Deal With Stress During the Pandemic:

https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/files/Managing-Stress-During-the-Pandemic.pdf 

Parenting During a Pandemic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJv42fQ4Nw 

Doorways (See poster below, still available by phone or video):


Welcome!

On this site you will find a number of different resources regarding things of interest for high school students like post secondary programs, mental health, scholarships and opportunities, and so forth. Look around and if you have any questions, feel free to call or come visit me at school. Thanks!

POST SECONDARY INFORMATION

There are what seems like endless post secondary possibilities in front of you when you graduate from high school. If you plan on attending a post secondary institution after graduation, there are a number of things you should know. This page addresses your options if you plan to study in Newfoundland Labrador.  Should you want information on the vast number of schools and programs available to you outside the province, you can check out the link below or come see me for more information, as there are too many schools to address on this page!

https://www.schoolfinder.com/

If you plan on attending MUN, I would first suggest you start by visiting their website and having a look around. The website address is www.mun.ca

Here is a list of links that will be important for first year students:

Please note that for the vast majority of entrance scholarships at MUN, if you graduated from a Newfoundland Labrador high school and apply to the university you are automatically considered for scholarships based on your grades. It is called the Transforming Our Horizons Entrance Scholarship Program and information about it can be found here:

https://www.mun.ca/scholarships/scholarships/entrance-scholarships/transforming-our-horizons-entrance-scholarship/

Another entrance scholarship that may be of interest is the Joyce Foundation Bursary, which is awarded to students who demonstrate critical financial need and perseverance in the face of  challenges. The link to this award can be found here:

https://www.mun.ca/scholarships/scholarships/entrancestudents/nl/joycefoundation/


If you plan on attending CONA I would suggest you start by visiting their website and having a look around. The address is https://www.cna.nl.ca/

Here is a list of links that are important to applicants:


Newfoundland and Labrador has a wide variety of private colleges offering an array of programming options. Below you will find a directory of links to all the private  colleges that are registered with the Department of Advanced Education, Skills, and Labour in our province:


THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES

Unique opportunities exist for anyone interested in joining the Canadian Armed Forces after graduation. The CAF are actively recruiting members, and you even have the option of having your education fully paid for in return for your service. You can read about what they have to offer here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/caf-jobs.html


THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

If you are interested in becoming a police officer in Canada, there are a number of qualifications and standards you must meet to apply. You can find them all here: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/qualifications-and-requirements

Similarly if you are interested in the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the requirements can be found here: 

https://www.rnc.gov.nl.ca/join-the-rnc/applicant-requirements/ 


Sources of Funding

Now that you've either figured out or (hopefully) started thinking about what you would like to do after graduation, the next question becomes how are you going to pay for it??? In Newfoundland Labrador we are fortunate to have some of the lowest tuition costs in the country, but that being said there are still a lot of costs involved. Fortunately there are several options you can avail of:

You can apply for funding through Student Aid  at: 

https://www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/studentaid/fulltime/apply/index.html

If you are a student that self identifies as having a permanent disability you may qualify for further funding, see here:

https://www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/studentaid/disabilities/index.html


There are a wealth of scholarships available to students planning on attending post secondary, too many to post in a list as a matter of fact. But listed below you will find access to a number of great resources for scholarships:


Scholarships and Opportunities Bulletin Board (Found over the water fountain outside the gym): - Check here frequently for posted scholarship and award opportunities that are sent to me by email from various organizations.

Your Post Secondary Institution: Most post secondary institutions offer their own scholarships for both prospective and current students, so check their websites.

Your Parent(s)'/Guardian(s)' Employers: A number of employers offer scholarships that the children of their employees may be eligible for. Ask and you may receive!

Scholarship Finding Websites: There are a number of websites that use search engines to match you with scholarships you are eligible for. Here are a few:

https://www.scholarshipscanada.com/

https://yconic.com/

https://www.univcan.ca/programs-and-scholarships/

https://scholartree.ca/

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

There are a number of programs and opportunities available to current students of MCHS. You should always pay attention to our Twitter account as well as the daily announcements to hear about upcoming opportunities. Below you will find links to some of the more popular programs our students take advantage of:

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

Just as we need to care for our physical health, we need to do the same for our mental health. If at some point you are struggling, just know that you are not alone and help is available. If you need someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to come see me. There are also a number of other free resources available to you, including:

Phone Lines


In Person Counselling

 Eastern Health now offers Doorways, a free walk in clinic in which you can meet with a counselor on site, without a referral. More information can be found here:

http://www.easternhealth.ca/WebInWeb.aspx?d=2&id=2455&p=2106


Online Supports

There are also a vast number of websites, apps, and programs dedicated to maintaining mental health and living with mental illness that are available to you online, also free of charge. Some include:

https://www.bridgethegapp.ca/youth/ 

http://strongestfamilies.com/

https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-app

http://depressionhurts.ca/en/default.aspx

https://adaa.org/adaa-online-support-group

http://teenmentalhealth.org/

https://mindyourmind.ca/




LGBTQ+

At MCHS we strive to get the message out that in our school environment everyone should be valued and respected for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As a means of supporting that message, our school has an active Gay Straight Alliance that meets monthly in order to create and take part in  initiatives that celebrate and support  the LGBTQ+ community. If you would like to join our GSA come see me! Below you will find some helpful and informative links:



SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The legal age to drink alcohol and use cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19. Nevertheless, a number of our youth under the legal age choose to use and abuse drugs and/or alcohol,  often with devastating consequences. If you or someone you know has a problem with substance abuse, please do the right thing and seek help. 

Information:

https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/prevention/drug-info/cannabis/

https://www.teenchallenge.ca/get-help/canadian-drug-crisis

https://canadiancentreforaddictions.org/teen-drug-abuse-facts/

http://www.ccdus.ca


Where to seek help: