Cedar High School
Counseling Center
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Welcome to the Cedar High School Counseling Center. Here you will find information and support for your journey through high school and beyond. As a community- based school that focuses on interdisciplinary and integrated learning, we have unique opportunities to work together in ways that represent life after high school. Cedar is guided by the core values of Collaboration, Engagement, Diversity, Agency, Respect and with a vision that will inspire students to be active, engaged citizens in their community and advocates for their own futures. If you need something that cannot be found here, please let your school counselor, Susie Honaker Wirzbicki, know shwirzbicki@sheltonschools.org.
MOST RECENT CAREER AND COLLEGE UPDATE: CAREER AND COLLEGE ADVISING EMAIL 9/17/24
What Does Your School Counselor Do?
Open this for a technical outline of what your school counselor can do for you
Academic, Personal/Social and Career and College Readiness School Counseling
As your school counselor, I want to support you to make your best plans and choices. I understand that a neutral and confidential resource can help you find your way. You may need brief and strategic one on one counseling to support you through a challenge. You may need a referral to at trusted resource for more serious or on-going situations. You may want to discuss your options for after high school. You may need support to negotiate a challenge in your personal life.
I am so grateful to be your school counselor. I worked as a teacher in Kent at a Junior High, a Alternative High School, and an inter-disciplinary program like Cedar. I moved to Choice when my kids were small, and they had a day care. I became a school counselor in 07' at SHS and have been there ever since. Working together as you launch your dreams into plans is absolutely a thrill.
Thank you for this opportunity!
Susie Honaker Wirzbicki
shwirzbicki@sheltonschools.org Call or Text 530-431-8030 7:30-3:30
*All counseling is confidential in nature for people over the age of 14 unless you are being harmed, you are harming someone, or a crime has been committed. Be assured, I will work with you in support for what kind of reporting may happen next if the situation warrants. You deserve to be safe and well.
Scheduling and Concerns
The schedules built are based on our master schedule and your needs for academic progress to meet all Washington State Graduation Requirements
Remember, these schedules are made by people, and sometimes people make mistakes, so if you have concerns, please take these steps:
Check Skyward to confirm your credit progression. If you think you are not correctly placed, please move to step 2.
Email both your advisor and Susie to consult about placement if you wish to make a change.
All changes necessary based on academic needs will be made and emailed to the advisor who will review completed changes with the student.
Any needs for a change beyond academics will be referred to Amber Hosford, Cedar principal.
Amber Hosford Principal ahosford@sheltonschools.org Susie Honaker Wirzbicki School Counselor shwirzbicki@sheltonschools.org
Colleen Kost 12th Advisor ckost@sheltonschools.org Kurt Garrison 11th Advisor kgarrison@sheltonschools.org
Michael Dallas 11th Advisor mdallas@sheltonschools.org Hannah Palmer 10th Advisor hpalmer@sheltonschools.org
Luanne Bigbear 10th Advisor lbigbear@sheltonschools.org Chester Hoberg 9th Advisor choberg@sheltonschools.org
Abby Prybylski 9th Advisor aprybylski@sheltonschools.org
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Registration for the PSAT is open for 9th, 10th and 11th. National Merit scholarships are only awarded to 11th graders but any student planning to take the SAT will get information for career and college advising and resources to study for the SAT. The cost is $18 due in October on testing day (still TBD). Sign up information to follow.
Advising Resources
YouScience is the first stop on your planning journey. Complete your YouScience and use your results to help craft your plans.
Then, log in to your My School Data to update your plans AND find further resources. This is reviewed every spring until final completion for graduation.
ACCUPLACER Testing services are found HERE for Olympic College. Entrance into community college, as well as the Running Start program begin here.
SAT
Signing up for the SAT or the ACT is rather simple once you get started. Additionally, many Juniors take either one of these tests in the spring and then again in the fall of their senior year if their scores need support for admissions purposes. Reminder, only universities require these tests AND there is a new wave of schools moving to 'test optional' so check your desired schools' admissions requirements. *students who qualify for free/reduced lunch should see Susie for a fee waiver.
The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT and The SAT | College Board
Testing for 2023-2024 SAT SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board and ACT ACT Test Registration - The ACT Test | ACT
ACT and SAT CEDAR CODE 480-148
Juniors in the winter or spring take one of these tests for admissions to universities and for some scholarships. If the score you earn is not what you are happy with, a retest in the summer/early fall of your senior year is the way to go. (see the notes below about advising)
Many colleges and universities around the nation have suspended the SAT and ACT score requirements, permanently, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities report that not taking the SAT or ACT will have no bearing on your application status. To ensure the most accurate information, please visit your college of choice, on their admissions website.
Attend a college fair in your 10th and 11th grade years to be ready to apply in your 12th. Here is a start: https://NACAC College Fairs
WSAC Website Review WSAC’s Plan Your Future page for information and resources on college planning, career exploration, financial aid, apprenticeship, and more. Learn about Washington’s state financial aid programs and how to apply for financial aid.
View Video Series: WAGU Career & Technical Programs | WAGU Campus Visits | WAGU Speaker Series and https://readywa.org/
Academic and High School and Beyond information
9th-12th grade
All students benefit from being at school daily and engaged in the collaborative opportunities at Cedar. If you are not able to be in attendance on campus, please log into Echo and work to the best of your ability. You can also message your teachers as needed. There is a check in form for those days that helps us know you are making progress and lets you ask questions when needed.
As a New Tech Network school, grades are based on the traditional Knowledge and Skill but additionally on Collaboration, Engagement, Written and Spoken Communication, and Agency.
Academic and High School and Beyond information
11th grade
Pick up your guide to beyond High School planning here. This starts in the 9th grade and continues to after graduation. 9-12 College Knowledge Materials. Please Look!
The junior year time line is key- THAT'S why we cover it for 9th and 10th too.
A very helpful text service called Otterbot is available for free. Text Hi Otter to 360-928-7281 for help with Financial Aid!
Seniors- It Is Time!
How To FAFSA/WAFSA?
Be ready when FAFSA OPENS
GET THERE FIRST!
The above graphic is the outline from OSPI regarding the HSBP graduation requirement. We use My School Data as our resource for this requirement along with You Science inventories through advisory. Ask your student (or check yourself if you are the student) to take a look each year as this dream turns into a plan. The student can access it through Skyward. Before graduating, all students will complete their HSBP as well as the required credits/courses and testing requirements.
YouScience - Empowering Intentional Individualized Success and Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2021 | SBE (wa.gov)
Cedar HS is a community that addresses conflicts and works together to solve them. Please work with Amber Hosford ahosford@sheltonschools.org if you feel this is not resolved on campus in a way that gives you access to your educational rights. If you have a situation you want to report to the district office or you need more information about Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, here is the district resource page.
Bullying - Shelton School District (sheltonschools.org)
Want more data on the impacts of New Tech Network as model? This is for you 2021 NTN Research - New Tech Network New Tech Network !