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How are we going to pay for college
September 18, 2026
As the leaves begin to change and college application season gets underway, it’s also time for seniors and families to start thinking about financial aid.
The 2027–28 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will be available to everyone by October 1, 2026. Completing the FAFSA is an important step in determining eligibility for federal grants, work-study, student loans, and many state and college-based financial aid programs. (Financial Aid Toolkit)
Families can get a head start now by creating or checking their StudentAid.gov accounts and gathering the information they’ll need. Don’t assume your family won’t qualify for assistance—submitting the FAFSA can open the door to financial aid opportunities you may not expect. Below is information that will help you begin and navigate this process.
FAFSA form
You can find free FAFSA completion workshops and resources for parents through CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina), which offers expert-led financial aid and FAFSA preparation events across North Carolina high schools.
Additional resources in Union County
The financial aid team views FAFSA completion as a service to the entire community. For instance, their scheduled FAFSA Day Fall 2026 events explicitly state they are open to the public and anyone planning to attend any institution can receive one-on-one assistance.
Need help with the FAFSA? South Piedmont Community College is waiting to hear from you. South Piedmont’s expert financial aid staff will help you complete your FAFSA. All you have to do is visit the OCH campus, 4209 Old Charlotte Highway in Monroe, any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday. Go to the Main Building (the one with all the windows) and ask the front-desk person for directions to Student Affairs. If students are doing this alone, be sure to bring your parent’s contact information, including email address and Social Security number. If you have general questions about completing the FAFSA, South Piedmont can assist you over the phone. Call 704-290-5100.
Have a wonderful weekend looking foward some great football and cooler weather.
Warmly,
Ms. Ross
Helping Your Child Build Resilience & Grit for Life After High School
September 11, 2026
High School, college, careers, and adulthood will bring challenges, stress, disappointments, and unexpected changes. One of the greatest gifts we can give young people is the confidence to handle those challenges in a healthy way without giving up.
Resilience is the ability to recover from setbacks, while grit is the willingness to keep working toward a goal even when progress is difficult. Both skills grow through life experiences. If we look at our own lives, we see that during times of joy and happiness we were in a place of calm and contentment. During times of stress, when we are stretched and asked to handle difficult experiences, we learned to grow through it and reach the other side. We work to get back to the calm and contentment and in doing that we show resiliency and grit.
Students are often overcome by setbacks - getting cut from the team, not receiving a high grade after having worked hard on a project, changing relationships with peers and family. It is important to remember that we (the adults) are a pivotal part of children's lives and they will model our resiliency and grit if we show them how.
Parents can help by:
Letting them struggle a little. Before stepping in to solve a problem, ask, “What do you think you could try?” We learn through our failures. Failure isn't a bad word it is a learning experience.
Encouraging problem-solving. Help your child identify options and possible consequences rather than immediately providing the answer. Sometimes it's easier and quicker for us to step in and "fix" the issue. When we do we block students from the next point -
Allowing appropriate natural consequences. Forgotten assignments, missed deadlines, and mistakes can become valuable learning opportunities. If we "fix" everything what will happen when students experience mistakes in college and beyond. They will not have learned the skills necessary to handle the situation and find resolution .
Praising effort and strategy—not just results. Recognize persistence, preparation, improvement, and the willingness to try again. These are all part of helping our students learn how to navigate an every changing world.
Normalizing setbacks. The breakup of a relationship, a disappointing grade, rejection, or difficult experiences do not define future success. Setbacks are a stepping stone to "what's next".
Building self-advocacy. Encourage students to communicate with teachers, ask questions, seek help, and speak for themselves. Students have a voice and want to be heard (which means we need to truly listen versus listening for what we can fix).
Focusing on progress. Remind your child that confidence often comes after doing something difficult—not before.
Try This at Home
The next time your student comes to you with a problem, resist the urge to immediately fix it. Instead ask:
“What have you tried?”
"What do you want?"
“What are your options and what are you willing to do to get there?"
“What do you think your next step should be and what will it look like when I get there?"
These questions help our students to look forward with confidence in their ability to be good problem solvers. I have these questions printed on cards that students can carry with them to remind themselves that they can solve problems in a healthy way - and the by product of that is resiliency and grit.
Our goal is not to remove every obstacle from our students’ paths. It is to help them develop the skills and confidence to navigate those obstacles independently.
Resilient students don’t avoid challenges—they learn that they can handle them.
Warmly,
Ms. Ross
Who is my counselor ??
Hello Gryphons !! My name is Ms. Ross and I am very excited to be joining the Union Day School team as the Upper School Counselor and 504 Coordinator.
I am a native Charlottean and recently retired from Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. After 25 years in the district, 20 at East Meck, I was ready for a new challenge but not yet ready to leave education completely. I am well versed in the International Baccalaureate program having served as a counselor at one of the most successful IB magnet programs in CMS. I am excited to bring that knowledge and experience to Union Day School and look forward to supporting students and families through the exciting, engaging, sometimes stressful but always rewarding IB MYP and IB upper years programs. Prior to my time at CMS I worked in corporate America as a licensed therapist and recreation therapist then I found my niche.
A few of my favorite things are Aspen, Charlie and Poppy - my dogs, being outside in nature, spending time with family / friends and burning up the road to Oak Island, NC where I have a house that I will eventually retire to. This is not an exhaustive list - I love most sports, play golf badly, waterski and am really looking forward to cheering on the Panthers (win or lose).
I am a believer in the power of kindness, authenticity and accountability and hope to use this platform as a way to share some things that will be helpful to you as parents and with your children. I still get excited when I see kids hopeful about his/her future and how they are going to change the world.
Please don't ever hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need some direction. As one counselor of many students with various needs I do my best to respond promptly; however, there will be times when it's really busy so a reminder is welcomed. I look forward to meeting you and your students and the great things we can all accomplish together!
Warmly,
Ms. Ross
The Personal Challenges and Rewards of the IBMYP / IB program
September 5, 2026
Gryphon Nation is off to a great start!
What a pleasure it is to hear students actively engaged in excited conversations about business, world events or literary topics. I hear students talking to one another, laughing and sharing thoughts and ideas which is one of the greatest benefits of UDS's IBMYP and Diploma / Certificate program. These interactions and challenges are teaching students the skills that are necessary to be successful in an ever changing world. Students are learning how to communicate with one another and value differing opinions as an opportunity to learn about themselves and the world outside of UDS. Our students will surpass others in the ability to effectively analyze problems, set and achieve personal goals which transitions nicely into a college setting, a trade or general employment.
MYP and IB classes can be challenging, and there may be times when students begin to feel discouraged or overwhelmed. When that happens, it is easy for them to believe that their success is measured only by grades, GPA, or academic standing. Parents may also wonder how they can best support their child when motivation drops or frustration builds.
The good news is that resilience can be strengthened. Small, consistent steps—such as creating healthy routines, setting realistic goals, asking for help, celebrating progress, and learning from setbacks—can make a meaningful difference.
Students, parents, and educators all share the same goal: helping students grow into confident, capable young people who recognize their own value. Academic achievement is important, but it is only one part of success. Perseverance, self-awareness, problem-solving, kindness, and the ability to keep moving forward through challenges are just as important.
This school year, encourage your student to focus not only on the outcome, but also on the progress they are making along the way. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build confidence for the future. Here are some practical ways for Gryphon students and parents to ensure we have the best year yet!
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