AHS BEYOND THE BUZZ

Want to visit with an AHS counselor?

A wonderful and easy way to communicate with the counselors is through your phone or computer using Remind. Simply text to 81010:

- AHS
  - 9th: @seniors 25
  - 10th: @seniors24
  - 11th: @seniors 23
  - Dual credit: @dual
  - 12th:@seniors 22
  - 1 to 1 conversation with Ms. Griffin: @Griffin or @49c273
- PINNACLE
  - 9th - @echs25s
  - 10th - @echs24s
  - 11th - @echs23s
  - 12th - @echs22S

Counselors may also be emailed at any time (see addresses in the box to the right).

Any method will result in a quick response.

Now you know how simple it is.

Want to learn about education beyond AHS and visit with a representative? These representatives are coming to AHS.

Location: AHS large Lecture Hall

Want to visit a college campus?

Want to attend a College Fair?

Christian College Fair - TBD

Smith County College Fair - TBD

NACAC National College Fair -TBD

Spring College Fair - TBD

Want to know more about what it takes to graduate?

See link to the left under GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Want to know more about how to get money for college?

Financial Aid and FAFSA/TASFA Informational session for AHS, TBD

Want to know more about the military branches?

Army -

Navy -

Air Force -

Army National Guard -

Marines -

The ASVAB will be administered to any interested 10-12th grade student. Listen to AHS announcements for details. Sign up in the AHS A hall office with Ms. Johnson.

Want to know more about careers ?

Want to take the TSI outside of the school day?

AHS is administering the TSI to juniors in the College Transition class. For the remaining seniors still lacking full mastery, the TSI will be administered in the Pathways classroom. An additional opportunity will be offered at 8 a.m. one Friday in the fall and one Friday in the spring. Specific dates, information, and registration will be available in the Pathways and College Transition classrooms. The TSI opens doors to college admission and, if required scores are earned, may substitute for the ELA 2 and/or Algebra 1 End of Course test. That's a WIN WIN!

AHS COUNSELING TEAM

ANDREA PATTERSON

STUDENTS: PINNACLE - 9-12th grades

LOCATION: Office Annex P305

EMAIL: apatterson@athensisd.net

STEPHANIE WYNNE

STUDENTS: 9th & 10th grades, Special Populations

LOCATION: A Hall office

EMAIL: swynne@athensisd.net

CRYSTAL LANGLEY

STUDENTS: 11th grade, AHS dual credit, Athens Virtual Academy

LOCATION: A Hall office

EMAIL: clangley@athensisd.net

THELMA GRIFFIN - Lead Counselor

STUDENTS: 12th grade

LOCATION: A Hall office

Email: tgriffin@athensisd.net

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/Athens-High-School-College-Career-Center-224941167557208/?ref=bookmarks

Counseling, College & Career

Year at a Glance

Calendar items are based on past events and may be changed, deleted, or have additions as deemed necessary.

July

- Master Schedule
- Assign room numbers
  - Assign lunches
  - Adjust staff as needed
  - Final leveling and adjusting of course sections
  - Post final master schedule for staff
- Transcripts
  - Send final transcripts as requested
  - Keep Post-Secondary spreadsheet updated
- Update webpages
  - AHS College, Counseling & Career Beyond the Buzz newsletter
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - AHS class Remind 101accounts
- Schedule annual events
  - Academic Awards evening program
  - Academic Awards school day program

August

Individual and/or group student counseling
Review and adjust students’ schedules to ensure proper academic course selection
Revise and print Schedule Request form with abbreviated master schedule
Prepare for schedule pick-up
Review and adjust individual schedule requests
New student enrollment & transcript evaluation
Prepare career and counseling offices
Prepare remarks for Buzz Camp
Update school profile with previous year’s data, such as AP scores, curriculum, UIL awards, demographics, post-secondary attendance
Set up college visitation dates
- Fall: 4 year, Military
- Spring: 2 year, Vocational/Technical Schools
Create and post September wall calendar
Seniors
- College application opening date
- Show the importance of ACT/SAT/TSI/EOC, collect test scores, study, and register for take/retake of
  - ACT/SAT
  - TSI
  - EOC
- NCAA requirements
- Organize student documentation binder, add checklist
- Write first essay for college application - senior English class
- Check credits required to graduate
Freshmen
- “Stepping off on the Right Foot”
- Time Management
- Study Skills
Communicate the college admission essay prompts to senior English teacher
Beginning of school employee in-service training
Beginning of academic school year
Scheduling and beginning of dual credit course(s)
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed

September

Individual and/or group student counseling
Determine percentages from former senior class of post-secondary fulfillment
Post flyers of college presentation dates on AHS campus
Attend counselor annual updates hosted by colleges
Meet with visiting college representatives
Student of the Month
- Initiate selection
- Communicate with Rotary Club of Athens
- Recognize and honor senior at monthly Rotary meeting
Seniors
- Organize senior folders and do graduation credit checks
- Create professional email
- Begin checking professional email plus school email weekly
- Distribute senior college and career fall deadline dates
- Meet with senior classes concerning Senior Year at a Glance
- Organize senior college & career meetings/presentations
- Update senior checklist/testing dates
- Write essay #2 in senior English class
Career - 1st step - Reality Check & Inventories (interest, skills, work value)
Scholarships
- Set up senior scholarship file
- Update
  - AISD website Beyond the Buzz newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
Credit check guidance 10^th – 12^th
Freshmen - (per semester)
- Interpersonal Skills: Communication skills - adults, authority, police officers
- Health: CPR
NCAA
- Meet with students concerning NCAA eligibility requirements and registration
- Remind students that ACT or SAT is required and of academic requirements
ACT/SAT
- Announce SAT and/or ACT reminders
- Update annual registration date flyer for ACT/SAT/TSI
- Meet with seniors to register and/or retake October ACT and/or SAT
- Attend annual counselor update workshop for ACT and SAT/AP
- Collect approved AHS student list for waivers
- Distribute ACT/SAT/College application waivers as requested
PSAT/NMSQT
- Check that PSAT/NMSQT materials have arrived; reorder (or order more) if necessary.
- Visit 9-11^th classrooms regarding PSAT/NMSQT. Begin ACT/SAT/TSI discussion.
- Check the list of SSD students to make preparations for PSAT/NMSQT
- Arrange for proctor(s), rooms, calculators, pencils and other materials
- Set up logistics of PSAT/NMSQT with English and math departments
TSI
- Monthly administration for retesting
- Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
- Deliver test results to registrar
- Reading test for juniors
National Merit Scholarship
- Meet with finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program, Achievement Scholarship Program for Black Students, National Hispanic Recognition Program
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level team and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed

October

Individual and/or group student counseling
Freshmen - Character Education
Senior
- College Admission: review procedures for testing, college application process, financial aid, scholarships, organizational hints, etc
- Encourage seniors to check admission standards for the colleges they applied as well as to their school of choice within each university
- Apply to college-“No Trick-or-Treat until It’s Complete” goal
- Create resume’
- Ask/collect Recommendation letters
- Write essay #3 in senior English class
- Request transcript, add senior schedule, recommendation letters, resume’, college application waiver, and shot record
- Gather all required documents together, properly address mailing envelope, mail to college/voc school, keep one copy for folder
- Career - continue steps in identifying college major/future career
- Register, study, and take/retake ACT/SAT/TSI
- Continue checking professional email plus school email weekly
Scholarships – continuous throughout year
Coordinate testing: PSAT/NMSQT
- Inform staff and students of testing assignment
- Train administrators
- Arrange for athletes’ testing
- Set up secure testing site(s)
- Organize and return campus and testing materials
Communicate College Prep Day for November
At-Risk identification and computer input of thirteen categories for all AHS students
Mail National Merit Scholarship semifinalist information to National Merit, if needed
Prepare for Early Decision/Early Action applications; remind students to have scores from test organizations sent to colleges
Attend activities hosted by colleges
Write letters of recommendation, with priority to students applying under Early Decision/Early Action plans-counselor
Announce college fairs
Meet with college representatives
ACT/SAT
- Remind seniors to register for the December administration
- Encourage juniors to begin/continue testing
- Distribute waivers as requested
TSI
- Monthly evening administration for retesting
- Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
- Deliver test results to registrar
- Writing test for juniors
Initiate selection of
- Leaders of Tomorrow (Phi Theta Kappa)
- HOBY Leader & Alternate (sophomore)
- Student of the Month
Assist in applying for SSD accommodations for students
Begin meeting with students with high academic need based on the first six weeks’ grades and making a plan for academic success
Scholarships-continue updates as above
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend quarterly MACES, weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all counseling, career, and college communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements'
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

November

Individual and/or group student counseling
Freshmen:
- Interpersonal Studies - Career Investigation
- Health - PAPA
Seniors
- College Application
  - Early Decision/Early Action college deadlines
  - Follow up with application status to college and local rep
  - Reminders: testing, recommendations, transcript requests
  - Remind students to request college housing applications as they make final college decisions
- Financial Aid
  - Begin FAFSA
  - Financial Aid night for parents/students
  - Apply for individual seniors' universities’ specific scholarships
  - Scholarships-continue updates as above
- TVCC College Preparation Day
- Academic status - review and meet with students at the end of the second six weeks who are at-risk of not passing the semester
- Continue checking professional email plus school email weekly
Dual credit spring registration for all AHS
TSI
- Monthly evening administration for retesting
- Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
- Deliver test results to registrar
- Math for juniors
Begin next school year’s course offerings
- Academic Handbook
  - Staff review of current offerings
  - Staff requests offering additions/changes
  - Requests considered by campus/district committee(s)
  - Administration review and finalization for next school year
- Create a detailed calendar of course registration deadlines
- Communicate with AMS
  - Registration dates - evening
  - Career Investigation
  - Endorsement decisions by students
ACT/SAT
- Remind seniors to retake the January ACT/SAT, as needed
- Encourage juniors to register and take ACT and SAT
- Distribute waivers as requested
RYLA
- Inform juniors in classroom presentations
- Initiate selection process
- Arrange for interviews
- Assist in informing recipients and preparing each for training
Juniors and sophomores – Career Preparation; Career Inventories
Continually analyze and submit Academic Achievement Record corrections to registrar
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all counseling, college, and career communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

December

Individual and/or group student counseling
College Applications
- Caution seniors of December deadlines for applications
- Prepare for applications due in January — ensure that all recommendations are completed; remind seniors to have scores sent from testing organizations to colleges
- Early Decision and Early Action letters arrive
- Invite recent high school graduates to discuss their college experiences at the school during their winter break with seniors #CollegeRealTalk
Financial Aid - complete FAFSA
Write letters of recommendation-counselor
Arrange for speaker(s) at Education Go Get It night for parents and students
Continue dual credit spring registration
Final freshmen endorsement commitment
Testing
- PSAT/NMSQT
  - Review PSAT/NMSQT results with students.
  - Let each student know what he or she can do to improve scores.
  - Assist students who took the PSAT to sign up for My Road
  - Update and send letter to parents regarding PSAT/NMSQT results
- STAAR/EOC retests – English 1, English 2, Algebra 1, biology, U. S. History
  - Assist in testing administration
- TSI
  - monthly evening retest opportunity
  - Finalize junior testing
Master Schedule
- Update and finalize next school year’s AHS Academic Handbook
- Adjust/add/delete course offerings in Skyward
- Adjust endorsement course flow chart
Scholarships-continue updates as above
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all counseling, college, and career communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

January

Individual and/or group student counseling
Prepare for applications due in February — ensure that all recommendations are completed; remind seniors to have official scores sent from test companies
Tell seniors to contact universities by either email or phone to make sure their applications were received and to consistently check online status
PINNACLE Early College High School (ECHS)
- 8^th grade presentation, application, and selection
- Initial TSI reading and writing administration
Prepare midyear report forms and send to colleges along with mid-year transcripts
Second semester scheduling
- Correct any scheduling errors
- Reschedule seniors into required courses remaining for graduation
Run rank/GPA for seniors
- Analyze individual grade history reports for grade points
- Run GPA
- Analyze and evaluate grade history reports again for grade points
- Post rank and notify seniors
Senior credit review for final graduation status
APEF data collection for spring banquet & recognition
Master Schedule
- Create course offerings documents
  - Course offerings sheets per grade level
  - HB 5 graduation checklist
  - Endorsement commitment/change
  - Student transcripts
- Adjust online course registration instructions
- Arrange for Academic Handbook to be posted on district/campus website
Remind students to submit financial aid applications (FAFSA)
Complete any unfinished letters of recommendation
Freshmen – Did I Get off to a Good Start? – evaluate semester 1 credits and transcript/AAR
TSI
- Monthly evening retest opportunity
- PINNACLE sophomore initial math TSI administration
Scholarships
- Contact previous local donors
- Meet with organizers of Academic Awards campus program & evening program
- Continuous updates
- Visit senior classes with specific scholarship information
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all counseling, college, and career communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

February

Individual and/or group student counseling
Many selective colleges have February deadlines for financial aid applications
Respond to students’ notifications of rolling decisions
Semester 1 grades
- Review semester grades on transcripts; give corrections to registrar
- Meet with seniors who didn’t earn credit
Begin meeting with juniors; discuss the college admission process; remind students to register for the March and May ACT/SAT tests
PINNACLE ECHS admission reevaluation
TSI
- Monthly evening administration for retesting
- Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
- Deliver test results to registrar
- Reading test for juniors
Online course registration
- 8^th
  - Endorsement explanation & choice @ AMS (1 week)
  - 2 evenings of HB 5 review, computer input, and student/parent signatures
- 9^th – 11^th (2 days per grade level, 2 days make-up = 8 days)
  - Review of graduation requirements
  - Evaluation of awarded credits (transcript) & current courses in progress
  - Create worksheet of remaining credits
  - Determine needed courses
  - Add courses & 5 alternate choices online
Set up community college visits for April
Promote college visits
TVCC Career Fair for juniors
Encourage interested juniors to gather information about service academies
Education: Go Get It Week
- Finalize preparation
- Financial aid presentation (English & Spanish)- FAFSA & TASFA
- Freshman parent/student graduation requirement presentation
- Faculty representation of all courses in AHS annual Course Fair
- Sponsor representation of clubs/organizations
- Potential NCAA presentation; parental communication opportunities
Scholarships
- Continuous updates
- Senior focus on completion of applications
- Keep in contact with local scholarship donors with request for presenter name and program reminder of date and time
- Keep accurate records of all scholarship information
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Attend annual TCA/TSCA Secondary Counselors’ Conference
Update all communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

March

Individual and/or group student counseling
Master Schedule
- Complete online registration process
- Mail student choices home
- Input hard copy choice changes
- Complete student requests for incomplete course choice
- Send student request lists to staff; alter changes
- Deliver course request numbers to principal
- Begin evaluation of courses for next year based on student requests
Dual credit summer registration
Promote college visits over spring break
Juniors
- Discuss teacher recommendations
- Plan appropriate steps to meet the students’ goals
- Create an expanded college application resume’
Seniors
- Discuss college admission decisions
- Remind students to notify each college of their decisions (only after receiving all financial aid offers)
- Discuss alternative choices and wait-list strategies
- Notify parent of senior at risk of not graduating
- Meet with student/parent/principals/teachers of seniors at risk of not graduating and make a plan for success
Academic Awards Program
- Communicate to staff for Outstanding Student choices
- Create certificates for Outstanding Student recognition
NCAA
- Provide the NCAA updated core course information for the coming year
- Remind juniors to register
Testing
- STAAR/EOC English 1 and English 2
- TSI
  - Monthly evening administration for retesting
  - Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
  - Deliver test results to registrar
  - Writing test for juniors
Scholarships-continue updates with visits to seniors and senior classes stressing applying for scholarships
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

April

Individual and/or group student counseling
College visits
- Community College Presentations
- Promote college visits over spring break
- Individual/small group TVCC registration & scholarship application
Continue meeting with juniors and their parents, and suggest asking their teachers for recommendations (many teachers will write the recommendations after the junior year)
Testing
- - TSI
    - Monthly evening administration for retesting
    - Update TSI spreadsheet with test results
    - Deliver test results to registrar
    - Math test for juniors
- STAAR/EOC English 2
Seniors
- Scholarship recognition by local donors
- Continue senior meetings to discuss admission decisions
- Remind students to send their letter of intent to register to one and only one college by May 1
- Have seniors complete their Final College information adding any scholarships received with documentation
- Parade of Graduates to all AISD schools, led by POTH Band drumline
- Meet with seniors who continue at risk of not graduating; evaluate plans/goals made for success
Master Schedule
- Course needs determined by student request numbers
- Final decision of course offerings
- Number of course sections determined
- Creation of first staff assignment sheet per section
- Bell schedule determined
Scholarships
- Campus scholarship committee decisions
- Completion of spreadsheet of recipients
- Spreadsheet updated and sent to program organizers
- Communication with local donors of recipient & evening program details
Dual credit
- Fall registration
- Evening student/parent meeting
  - TVCC application
  - Completion of required documents
  - Course registration
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Update all communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet

May

Individual and/or group student counseling
Testing
- Assist in administration of STAAR/EOC-Algebra 1, biology, U. S. History
- Assist with Advanced Placement (AP) administration, as needed
- TSI completion
- PLAN
Academic Awards Program
- Campus wide – Outstanding student recognition
- Evening – Senior Scholarship Awards
Distribute summer school program information and applications
Collect Final Transcript requests and post-secondary plans from seniors
Meet with non-graduating seniors
Generate college acceptance list and senior plans spreadsheet for post-secondary documentation & data
Juniors
- Introduce Beyond the Buzz newsletter
- Encourage registration of free scholarship websites
- Reminder that college applications open July 1 to begin work; recommended to wait until at least Aug 1 to send
Juniors and sophomores – encourage each to sign up for following school year’s Remind 101
Order PSAT/NMSQT materials, ACT/SAT Study Guides, waivers (ACT/SAT/college) for fall
Master Schedule
- After test results arrive, determination and creation of intervention
- Student requests adjusted
- Running of master schedule placing individual students into each section
- Continuous adjusting of placement
- Estimation of teaching assignments released to staff
Summer school announcement/invitations
Seniors
- Scholarship completion
- Final college acceptance due May 1
- Scholarship recognition by local donors
- College acceptances
  - Seniors choose 1-3 of accepted colleges
  - College yard signs ordered, delivered and planted outside
- Final rank
  - All grades (plus TVCC, credit recovery, transfer...) posted
  - AP exam participation evaluated
  - Individual evaluation of GPA points from Grade History reports
  - Rank run & rechecked
  - Rank posted
  - Val/Sal/Top 10/Top 10%/Honor Graduates determined
  - Valedictorian identified to TEA; certificate created
  - Inform TVCC
Academic Evening of Excellence
- Award of scholarships
- Announcement of Val/Sal/Top 10/Top 10%
- Delivery of recognition cords
Outstanding Student Recognition by teacher - daytime, grades 9-12
Student of the Month selection and recognition
Organize and attend weekly campus and monthly district counseling meetings
Attend weekly grade level and administrative team meetings
Prepare academic recommendations and attend RTI, 504, ARD meetings, as needed
Juniors: Promote college visits and decisions over the summer break
Remind junior athletes to send NCAA release form to NCAA Clearinghouse
Update all communications daily, weekly, monthly
- - website newsletter
  - senior wall
  - wall calendar
  - AHS-College and Career Center Facebook page
  - Remind 101
  - Marquee
  - Student announcements
  - College acceptance signs and spreadsheet
Graduation ceremony

June

Send final transcripts to colleges and documenting on spreadsheet
Review summer school applications for course assignments
Rank/GPA
- Run/check/post on transcripts updated rank/GPA for 9-11^th
- Post transcripts to student portfolio
Master Schedule
- Adjust student requests after final semester two grade submission
- Reclassify students based on earned credits
- Readjust course sections due to adjusted numbers
At-Risk identification and computer input of thirteen categories for all AHS students
Prepare scholarship report for District Support Center