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Happy New Year!

The MHS school counselors hope you all had a fun and relaxing winter break! We are excited for 2025 and all of the opportunities it will bring. It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through this school year. Take advantage of the remaining weeks of the quarter and semester to really finish strong!

Mindful Moment

The New Year can bring feelings of hope and positivity as well as pressure to compare yourself to others and make resolutions. Here are 6 mindful acts you can bring into the New Year to improve your mental health!

Midyear Exams

Exam week can be a time of stress and anxiety for many. It's important to focus on ways to balance yourself in preparation for this increase in academics. Here's some tips:

This month's bulletin board theme is Winter Self-Care!

Seniors

On-the-Spot Admissions Days!

What is an on-the spot application event? 

This is an opportunity to have an on-the-spot review of your college application with the admissions representative to discuss your application, hear insight into their review process, and ultimately be informed of your admissions decision at their school! Space is limited for each school so be sure to sign up in advance using the links below and submit your application by the appropriate deadline! Got questions? Reach out to your school counselor!

YCCC On-the-Spot Admissions - Wednesday, January 29th - No previous application required!

SMCC On-the-Spot Admissions - Date TBD. Stay tuned!

Financial Aid Information - The FAFSA is now available!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the financial aid application used by all schools to award federal, state, and often institutional aid. The FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year is now available to students and families at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa!

See the attached letter that was sent to all seniors and their parents/guardians last month with helpful information and resources from FAME Financial Authority of Maine).

Future Plans

As you hear back from colleges you have been accepted to, please let your school counselor know! If you have other plans for after high school, we would love to share those as well! Please use the form below let us know (note: you can fill this out more than once, so every time you get an acceptance- be sure to share it with us!)

Scholarship Opportunities

It's never too early to start your scholarship search! Click the link below to go to our Scholarship Website, which is full of national, state, and local scholarship opportunities that our students historically apply for. Please note that many of these scholarships have last year's deadlines - we will continue to update the site as this year's applications and deadlines become available!

This month's scholarship highlight is the Barowsky Scholarship Program! It provides a four-year renewable scholarship of up to $25,000 based on financial need. See the eligibility requirements below:

• U.S. citizen and current resident of Maine.

• High school senior or recent high school graduate enrolling as a first-year student in a four-year degree program, at an accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university in the U.S. full-time in 2025-2026. 

• Strong academic record in high school.

• Motivated to excel in college and make a difference in their community, and in society overall.

• Student demonstrates a commitment to reasoned, rational thinking, an ability to collaborate and work across difference, and a desire to deploy those skills in furtherance of civic engagement.

• Involved in a balance of community, school, and work activities.

• Must complete one Economics course and two of any of the following courses prior to completing college: Accounting, Finance, History or Psychology.

• Student must be planning to live on campus in housing paid directly to the university (e.g. in university sponsored housing or student-group organized housing) and to attend classes in-person to receive and to renew the scholarship. 

Applications are due Friday, March 14th at 12 pm. Here is a link with more information and the application portal!

Maine Community Foundation

Maine Community Foundation's online scholarship portal is officially open! All scholarships are updated on their website, with 2025 links to contacts and applications here:  https://www.mainecf.org/find-a-scholarship/. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make an account and apply to MCF scholarships. Stay tuned for a scholarship workshop for seniors in February - more information to follow!

Juniors

Future Planning

In the new year, juniors will receive advisory presentations from school counselors and begin to schedule individual junior meetings. Here are a few things you can do right now to set you up for success!

• Stay committed to academics and extracurriculars

• Explore future pathways:

  • Enrollment: If you are hoping to enroll in a four-year, two-year, trade school, or apprenticeship program, there are many search tools and information available to help you explore options.

    • College search tools:  SCOIR, Big Future, College Vine, Niche

    • Trade/apprenticeship offerings: YCCC certificate programs, GBCC certification programs, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Workers Skills Progression & Trades Apprenticeship)

  • Enlistment: Compare military branches and look at different requirements. 

  • Employment:  Begin or update your resume - here is a link for resume templates for high school students!

    • Apply to jobs in areas of interest - see our Job Board for more information.

Gap Year Fair at Newburyport High School

Save the Date: SAT Tuesday, April 15th!

The SAT will be administered at MHS to any interested junior on Tuesday, April 15th at 7:30 AM. Stay tuned for a Google form that you must respond to if you want to participate! See the flyer below with reasons that you should take the SAT.

SAT Boot Camp: University of Maine

UMaine will be offering an SAT Boot Camp on February 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st from 5:00-6:30 PM. Cost is $300 and need-based scholarships are available - use this link to sign up!

Summer Internship Opportunity!

This summer, UNH is offering a summer internship program for high school students through HighTech Bound. Students will take part in a unique, hands-on expereince in technology and will work on a team to create a solution for an assigned project. Applications are open as of January 1st - see the link below for more information and to apply!

Sophomores

Sophomore Advisory Presentations: Career Exploration

School counselors presented to sophomores last month about future pathways, Career Tech opportunities, and the Sanford/Dover CTE application processes. View the presentation below!

Career Tech Timelines: Sanford Regional Technical Center & Dover CTE

If you are a sophomore interested in Sanford or Dover's Career Tech programs, please see the letter below that was sent to students and families with important information and deadlines. If you have any questions about any of these programs, schedule your sophomore meeting with your school counselor!

Freshmen

Freshmen Presentations

Mrs. Edson will be presenting in English classes on January 2nd and 3rd about transcripts, future planning, and midterm exams. See the presentation below, and a letter that was sent home to all freshmen and families.

BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks)

Our 9th grade team of teachers continues to meet weekly to discuss students and what, if any, support they may need to be successful. Overall, the class of 2028 is having an amazing transition to MHS. Great job everyone!

Information for All Grades

Academic Support & Tutoring

Are you struggling in a class? Do you need help getting organized? If you answered yes to either of these questions, meeting with a peer tutor is right for you! Peer tutors are current MHS upperclassmen that volunteer to tutor students struggling in specific subjects. If you are interested in meeting with a peer tutor, connect with your classroom teacher and they will start the referral process.

Jim Gray, an Ed Tech III at Great Works School, is available to tutor students 1-2 days a week after school. Jim has a degree in History and taught eighth grade English last year. He is available to help students with writing papers, understanding a topic, or general organizational skills. His rate is $50 per hour but he is price negotiable! If you are interested, reach out to Jim at james.gray@rsu35.org.

Community Service

Don't forget, 50 hours of community service is part of your graduation requirements. Your 50 hours need to be completed by May 1st of your senior year. Setting a goal of completing 10 to 15 hours each year of high school will help to set you up for achieving this requirement in no time! Community Service forms are located in the D-Pod Hub, or can be printed from our BRAND NEW community service website. This website is FULL of opportunities offered year-round and is regularly updated, so be sure to check back often!

Free Creative Winter Programs for Teens!

Did you know Arts in Reach (AIR) offers FREE creative workshops for teens in the areas of art, theater, music, and more? See their workshop offerings below and use this link to sign up!

Community Resources

MainSpring Social Services Collective - Coming Soon!

Mainspring is a social services collective in Kittery, Maine that will be open to the public in February! It will soon house Footprints Food Pantry and Fair Tide Thrift Store. They are so excited to provide a "one-stop shop" for resources in the community!

Get Involved!

Did you know that there are over 48 Clubs and Activities to choose from at MHS? Take the opportunity to try something new and get involved! See the slideshow below to see what clubs and sports are being offered this year.

Contact Your Counselor!