Counselor Connection
December 2023
ADM High School Counseling Office
Did You Know???
- We only have 15 days of school in December??? Our students spend more of the month of December at home than in school!
- The FAFSA form for 2024-2025 will be available to students by DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
There are many large holidays celebrated in December, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule and more. Utilize these links to learn more about how others may celebrate their December holidays.
- More than 210 ADM High School students are registered to take DMACC online courses second semester. That is more than 30% of our high school students!
ADM High School Student Earns PERFECT PSAT Score
ADM High School Junior Patrick Lee received a distinctive honor this past month when he found out from his high school counselor that he is among the less than one percent of 1.5 million students across the country who earned a perfect PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) score.
The PSAT exam is taken nationally by Juniors to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Freshmen and Sophomores may also take the exam but are not eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The average PSAT score in the State of Iowa is 1076, with a national average of 977.
Patrick scored a 1520 (the highest possible score) on his PSAT exam. The test consists of two sections: math, and reading/writing. Scores range from 320 to 1520 and are on the same score scale as the SAT. There are 98 questions/tasks on the exam, and Patrick got every single question correct.
Patrick is a well-rounded student who participates in Band, Cross-Country and more here at ADM. The band was overjoyed to be able to help Patrick celebrate when Mr. Griebel came into their class to announce Patrick's great accomplishment.
Mrs. Knipper has worked with Patrick as a GATE-identified student for the past 3 years. Mrs. Knipper said, "Patrick is such a hard worker but so humble. He just sees the work as something he needs to do. Even though he always does very well on things from band to his schoolwork, he doesn't want the very deserved praise afterward. Patrick acts like things like his perfect score isn't a big deal when he's really done amazing things and deserves all the praise in the world!"
We are all so incredibly proud of Patrick and we cannot wait to see where his path takes him! Congratulations, Patrick!
Patrick moving to the podium while Mr. Griebel talked about this great accomplishment.
Patrick's school photo (2023)
Mr. Braun's speech on Patrick's great accomplishment.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA application is set to be available to students by December 31, 2023, per the Federal Student Aid website. For the time being, continue exploring colleges, and start thinking about scholarship opportunities. Students and parents can also set up their FSA ID's. These ID's must be created days prior to completing the FAFSA form.
ICAN (Iowa College Access Network) is hosting a free financial aid webinar this month. Seniors and families can find the zoom registration link and more information below.
When: Monday, December 4, 2023 @ 6:00 PM
Topic: How to Pay for College - Understanding the Financial Aid Process
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U6ZnC12iTJycCXY758BKEA
Transferring College Credit
Many parents and families have been asking questions about how their dual-enrollment/DMACC online credits will transfer to different colleges. Here are a few great things to know regarding the transfer of college credits:
1) Most colleges have a transfer equivalency guide on their website. For example:
- Iowa State Transfer Equivalency
- University of Iowa Transfer Equivalency
- University of Northern Iowa Transfer Equivalency
2) Please note that not all college/universities will accept transfer credit, and some colleges/universities limit the amount of credits that a student can transfer into their school. There are also colleges/universities that will not accept credits from DMACC or other community colleges.
Dual-Enrollment Courses: What does that mean?
These courses are automatically awarded DMACC credit:
- Ag Entrepreneurship (3 credits)*
- Ag Production (5 credits)
- Classroom Field Experience (2 credits)
- Intro to Education (3 credits)
- PLTW Intro to Engineering (3 credits)*
- PLTW Principles of Engineering (3 credits)*
- PLTW Civil Engineering (3 credits)*
- Applied Math (3 credits)
- AP Statistics (3 credits)*
- AP Pre-Calculus (5 credits)*
- AP Calculus (10 credits)
- AP Chemistry (4 credits)*
- News Journalism (5 credits during year 1, 4 credits during year 2)
- Yearbook Journalism (5 credits during year 1, 4 credits during year 2)
- AP Lang & Comp (6 credits)
- WBL Exploring Careers (2 credits)
- WBL Employability Skills (1 credit)
*DMACC credit is awarded only after successful completion of semester 2
AP Courses: What does that mean?
These AP courses (listed below) are not automatically awarded college credits. Students must register for the AP exam and score well to earn college credit for these courses. Credit for these courses is determined by the college they attend.
- AP Government
- AP Psychology
- AP US History
- AP World History
- AP Lit and Comp
- AP Studio Art 2-D
- AP Studio Art 3-D
- AP Studio Art Drawing
- AP Music Theory
Coping with Holiday Stress
Keep Your Healthy Habits: Maintaining healthy habits during the holiday season will be one of your best defenses against stress. This means getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying physically active.
Be Realistic: The holiday season can be long and full of commitments, from parties to family gatherings and more. To help manage stress, make a list of what you expect from yourself, what others expect from you and your responsibilities for the holidays. Get comfortable with the idea that you don’t have to do everything and everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
Do Less: The spirit of the season can sometimes lead even the most pragmatic people to overcommit their time. When you’re looking at your calendar or to-do list, be fair to yourself. Decide what’s most important to you, or where you most want to go, and allow yourself to say no to other demands on your time.
Reach Out: Despite what may seem like an influx of social interaction (trips to the mall, attending big family dinners, back-to-back holiday parties), feelings of loneliness and isolation can spike between October and January. Look for new ways to socialize in your community, such as volunteering, or simply reach out to the people you care about and who care about you.
Take a Walk: A winter walk is not only an easy source of exercise when your schedule seems packed, but sunlight offers a feel-good burst of serotonin and can help fight seasonal affective disorder. Furthermore, the rhythm and repetition of walking has a tranquilizing effect, decreasing anxiety and improving sleep.
Make Small Adjustments: The holiday season can seem full of big changes, so focus on little things that can help you relax. For example, take some time away from your mobile phone; disconnecting can provide some much-needed separation from the demands of people in your life, your calendar and your to-do list. Make a point to listen to your favorite music to help relax or cook with more spices, which are associated with triggering endorphins. Small adjustments that won’t make or break your routine can be the little added boost you need to bring joy back to the holiday season.
Scholarships
Scholarships can be daunting sometimes! We want to make that a tad easier for students and families, so we post scholarships to our High School Counseling Page!
For a direct link to general scholarships, click here.
For a direct link to local scholarships, click here.
EFR at ADM
Some of the concerns that EFR can help with are: anxiety/worry, depression/suicidal thoughts, stress, conflict, bullying, relationship concerns, alcohol or drug concerns, and school performance.
You can learn more about EFR and their student assistance program here or dial 515-244-6090 for more information.
College Visits at ADM
DMACC - Criminal Justice Program on December 13th
College visits occur during Power Hour on Wednesdays as scheduled with Dr. Tice and our college admissions representatives.
A Message from Dr. Tice
Greetings ADM families,
Skilled trades are in the spotlight. In November, a group of ADM students attended the MidAmerican Energy Explore a Career Event at the MidAmerican Center for Excellence near Adel. This is always a
great event, with our students coming away very excited about opportunities with MidAmerican Energy.
This month, a group of ADM students will be attending the High School Craft Championship and interactive career fair on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This will be a great opportunity for high school students to meet companies and experience hands-on booths while watching over
200 high school students compete in Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Carpentry and Sheet Metal competition. This event is sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa. ADM has a team in the competition.
In our Work-Based Learning class, we continue to work on:
- Developing a professional image and practice business etiquette.
- Practicing workplace skills of understanding, cultural sensitivity, adaptability, collegiality, empathy, and polite behavior.
- Demonstrating the ability to create a resume and cover letter.
- Continuing to grow in public speaking skills.
On Wednesday, December 13, WBL students will host a classroom reception for a group of very special guests. The students are planning the reception as if it were a business reception, including food and a program. Each student will present their public speaking skills by providing a 2-minute presentation to our guests. They will greet and welcome each guest, as a skilled host/manager would do. The topic: ‘What I have learned at ADM, and how I will use that information when I move to the next step beyond high school’. This WBL Class Reception will serve as the students’ final examination. Good luck to all.
Let’s make dreams come true. Together.
With kind regards,
Dr. Patricia Tice
DMACC College & Career Transition Counselor
515.344.6591
Important Links
Mental Health Resources for Families
Important Date Reminders
12/1 Early Out
12/8 Early Out
12/15 Early Out
12/21 Early Out
12/22-1/2 No School; Winter Break
Virtual Counseling Offices
ADM Counseling Office
Mrs. Lori Mann, HS Counseling Office Admin Assistant
Mrs. Melonie Gill-Carreon, HS Counselor (A-L)
Mrs. Jennifer Rebel, HS Counselor (M-Z)
Mrs. Darci Hoffman, HS Counseling Office Assistant
Website: ADM High School Counseling Website
Location: 801 Nile Kinnick Drive South, Adel, IA, USA
Phone: (515) 478-1310