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
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 10th – 12th
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 9-11th 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)
8th 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
8th
Endorsement explanation & choice @ AMS (1 week)
2 evenings of HB 5 review, computer input, and student/parent signatures
9th – 11th (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 9-11th
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