GHS Counselor Connection
February 2024
We Love our Foothillers!
Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is here to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.
February 5th - 9th is National School Counseling Week!
National School Counseling Week 2024, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within US school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve success. Every student deserves a school counselor to help with academic achievement strategies, managing emotions, applying interpersonal skills, and planning for post-secondary options. I'm honored to work with such a dedicated team at GHS. Please consider thanking a school counselor today!
Upcoming Events
Mental Health 101: Everything Parents Need to Know to Support Youth at Home
Presented by Willough Jenkins, MD, this webinar is part of a free series for parents and caregivers offered through a partnership between the San Diego County Office of Education and mental health experts from Rady Children's Hospital. It will be followed by a 15 minute question and answer session. Register here.
Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024, 05:30 PM
virtual
Black College Expo
Get accepted to colleges on the spot, college application fees waived, scholarships, informative seminars and workshops, jobs, internships, and career information. Surprise celebrity guests and the opportunity to win cash and prizes. Register here.
Thursday, Feb 8, 2024, 10:30 AM
Bayview Baptist Church, Pastor Timothy J Winters Street, San Diego, CA 92114
CalSOAP Free Cash for College Virtual Workshop
Saturday, Feb 10, 2024, 09:00 AM
virtual
Women in STEM Fair
GUHSD College & Career Readiness presents this free webinar for students and families. Learn about the many awesome career opportunities available for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Featuring panelists from environmental science, biotechnology, computer science, engineering, and building & construction. Register here.
Thursday, Feb 15, 2024, 05:00 PM
virtual
GHS Electives Fair
Teachers will host tables at our annual Electives Fair to give students the opportunity to find out about the many interesting and rewarding courses they can choose from as they plan classes for next year. English teachers will take students to the fair during a minimum day schedule.
Wednesday, Feb 21, 2024, 08:30 AM
New Gym
Course Planning Night
Parents, please join GHS counselors for important information about how to help your student plan classes for next year and prepare for their post-secondary goals! Watch your email for details and a zoom link.
Thursday, Feb 22, 2024, 05:30 PM
virtual
CalSOAP Free Cash for College Workshop
High school seniors and families can register here to attend a FREE Cash for College event for individual help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and/or Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications.
Saturday, Feb 24, 2024, 09:00 AM
Monte Vista High School
Wellness Center
Therapists Available at GHS
Did you know we have therapists right here on campus who can provide free short-term mental health support for GHS students? We are fortunate to partner with Wellness Together, Family Wellness Center, and the San Diego Youth Services CAT Team. In fact, our therapists and trainees currently have space available on their caseloads! If you are looking for emotional support and have any challenges accessing services outside of school, please contact your counselor or Laura Dawson in the GHS Wellness Center.
Foothiller Summit
On Thursday, February 1st over fifty 10th graders participated in our first Foothiller Summit. This all-day event focused on creating a positive and supportive school environment. Students and staff participated in activities that were intended to establish strong personal connections and build empathy so that everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We are so proud of our participants who came with an open mind and willingness to connect with others. It was a resounding success that we hope to expand and make an annual Foothiller tradition.
Where is the Love? Week February 13th-16th
Once again our peer listeners will be hosting Where is the Love? week from February 13-16. During that week, students will have an opportunity to practice random acts of kindness and send kind heart grams to their friends. Our culminating activity during 4th period on Friday the 16th will be a door decorating contest themed around kindness. All students are encouraged to participate in our activities and spread kindness during this week and every week. If you have any questions, please email Laura Dawson. Thank you for helping build an inclusive and kind Foothiller community.
Academic Support & College Preparation
All Grade Levels:
Planning Classes for Next Year
Counselors will visit English classrooms this month to review graduation/college requirements and talk with students about how to plan classes for the next school year. Students will be given course selection forms to complete with parents/guardians and return when they meet with counselors individually in March. Parents are invited to attend our virtual Course Planning Night on Feb. 22nd. Please see details under Upcoming Events above.
Scholarships
Did you know that there are sometimes scholarships that go unused because nobody applied for them? We hear about a ton of incredible scholarship opportunities, which our Administrative Assistant Lori Cromwell posts on our GHS counseling website (click here)! Many of these are local opportunities for our students! They are organized with tabs at the bottom for the month the application is due. Please check back regularly and apply for any that seem like a good fit. Scholarship opportunities can also be found at fastweb.com, bigfuture.collegeboard.org, goingmerry.com, and scholarships.com.
Website for Spanish-Speaking Families of College Bound Students
The University of California is proud to introduce Lograr Universidad de California — a comprehensive new Spanish-language website to help Spanish-speaking students and their families navigate the process of attaining a University of California education. The website provides students with a roadmap to UC, helping them prepare for a competitive application and sharing important information on admission rates and financial aid.
Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy
The Summer Medical Academy is for highly motivated 15-19 year olds who have an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. Applications are due by Feb. 23rd. Click here for more details.
Registration for Incoming Freshmen and New Students
Please click here for information on how to register new Grossmont students!
School Choice Window is Open Until Feb. 23rd
Future Foothillers who do not live in our attendance boundaries may apply for School Choice:
- The School Choice Window opened on December 1, 2023 at 8:00am and will be open until February 23, 2024 at 4:00pm.
- Siblings of current students placed at Grossmont through school choice must also complete a School Choice application as an incoming student.
- Once the Online Registration is complete and approved you'll receive an invitation to create an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
- Submit a School Choice application through Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Juniors:
College Bound Juniors: Consider Registering for the ACT/SAT Exams
Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. In fact, nearly 80% of US colleges do not require them. However, some universities may require one of these exams, or they may have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may also be required by specific programs or scholarships. Fairtest.org has put together a list of test optional and test free colleges.
Seniors:
Grossmont College Class Selection Day
Seniors who complete their Grossmont College Application online by March 1st will be invited to Class Selection Day on March 7th in the GHS Library. Grossmont College counselors will meet with students individually to help them select classes and earn priority registration. Call slips will be sent for students who have completed the application by March 1st. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!
How Do I Decide Which College is Best For Me?
"After receiving your first college acceptance letter, you'll have to start making some difficult decisions for your academic career. Although you may feel overwhelmed, taking your time and carefully making a decision will help you make the right choice for your education." Click here to read the full article from College Choice.
The San Diego Foundation Scholarship Is Due March 6th!
In just one application, the Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 100 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000. Some scholarships can be renewed for multiple years to help offset the financial burden for a student’s entire undergraduate career. Click here for more information and to apply! Additional scholarship opportunities are available on our counseling website here.
Applying for Financial Aid
Transcript Requests
Seniors who need to request that a transcript be sent to a prospective university should click here.