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. 

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:

1. Check Skyward to confirm your credit progression. If you think you are not correctly placed, please move to step 2.

2. Email both your advisor and Susie to consult about placement if you wish to make a change.

3. All changes necessary based on academic needs will be made and emailed to the advisor who will review completed changes with the student.

4. 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

Post Secondary Advising

Each trimester, each grade level will work with Susie on High School and Beyond advising through advisory seminars. 

Using the  https://wsac.wa.gov/actionplan   resources, students will know how to pace their plans for after high school. 

Families are encouraged to view and discuss these seminars with their students. 

Guaranteed Admission! The Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP) supports a college-going culture and guaranteed admission efforts at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University and Western Washington University. 

1st Trimester Advising Seminar: 

• Junior and Senior Seminar:  Advisory, September 13th - Students will review graduation requirements, future forecasting resources, and how to finalize their High School and Beyond Plans.Resources: senior advising presentation .pptx  and  Understand options for post-high school education and training, including how to pay for them. The Washington College Grant – the most generous state financial aid program in the country – might be able to help your family!  Please look here for  Financial Aid Workshops and Trainings . 

• Senior families- SAVE THE DATE- for October 11th- Financial Aid and FAFSA information night - 5:30-6:30 place TBD 

• Sophomore and Freshman Seminar: Advisory, October 18th - Student will learn/reiew the elements of the High School and Beyond Plan and Graduation Requirements. 

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.  

The ASVAB will be held October 12th free of charge on campus for students over 16. You can use your scores for career exploration, entrance to the military or (potentially) state testing requirements. 

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

• Are you looking for apprenticeship resources? From working with the SHS Career Center, below is the scoop. jbourbault@sheltonschools.org is happy to share more information and is a wonderful friend of Cedar! Just email her:)  https://shs.sheltonschools.org/student_services/career_center/construction_apprenticeships 

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)

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