MCHS Counselor Connection
April 20, 2020
Hello Mountaineer Family! We hope this newsletter finds you all safe, healthy and happy! As we continue to shelter in place, we remain hopeful that our collective efforts are flattening the curve and we are one week closer to a day when we can all be together again! Please continue to take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your neighbors. Your MCHS family is just a phone call or email away, so please reach out if you need anything at all!
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
RESOURCES FOR THE CLASS OF 2020
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM MRS. JOHNSTON:
Graduation Questionnaire from the Madison Eagle - Please remember to submit your completed form by regular mail or email to the Madison Eagle by April 24 at 4 pm. Paper forms were distributed to seniors at cap & gown pickup. The digital copy of the form can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FNBFwyOKpqQBw3_cD1v3RaJYI0lz3_fK7iEW5HecBok/edit?usp=sharing
Senior T-Shirts!
Senior T-shirts are being ordered for the Class of 2020 free of charge! You simply need to submit your size in the Google Form by April 24 at 4 pm. The Google form was previously emailed to seniors. Please contact Mrs. Johnston with any questions or concerns at sjohnston@madisonschools.k12.va.us
Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver Application:
The NACAC has developed an Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver request that students can submit to their colleges or universities to request a fee waiver or deferral. The hope is that colleges will be mindful of and flexible with families enduring the unexpected financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please review the eligibility guidelines and in particular, the self-certification option for eligibility. Please note: your college (not NACAC) will make the final decision to accept or decline the fee waiver form. In addition, it may take a couple of weeks for the admission office to process the waiver. Follow up directly with your college's admission office. Here is the link to the Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver Information: https://www.nacacfairs.org/learn/fee-waiver/enrollment-deposit-fee-waiver/
Germanna Community College Virtual Information Sessions:
GCC is offering a variety of virtual information sessions for prospective students and parents throughout the coming weeks. Dates and times vary. Topics include college degree and career training opportunities, parent information and financial aid resources. Please visit the Germanna Community College website here for more information https://www.germanna.edu/admissions/request-information/ or contact MCHS Career Coach Michelle Beverage at mbeverage@madisonschools.k12.va.us.
Please continue to check Naviance and refer back to the spreadsheet shared by Ms. Teal with updated information on scholarship opportunities. A BIG THANK YOU to our local organizations for their kindness and understanding during this difficult time! Many have extended deadlines and are accepting application materials via email! Please contact Mrs. Knighton, Ms. Stamer or Ms. Teal with any questions.
***NEW SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY!!***
Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors at American Woodmark, there is another scholarship available for a deserving member of the Class of 2020 in the amount of $1500. Seniors, please check your email or Naviance for a link to the application, which is due by May 15.
Updated College Information:
Many colleges and universities have changed decision deadlines, deposits and tour information in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The National Association for College Admissions Counselors is providing a valuable online tool for students and families to access this information in one central place. Access the online update from NACAC here: https://tinyurl.com/qr3dh26
Are you Career Ready??
Now is a great time to update your resume! Don't have a resume yet? Not sure where to start? There's a great Resume-building feature in Naviance. Here's how to get there:
- Log into your Naviance account
- Click on About Me
- Click on My Stuff
- Click on Resume & follow the directions
Mrs. Beverage is here to help! Please email her with any questions or concerns! Mrs. Beverage can be contacted at: mbeverage@madisonschools.k12.va.us
Updates
2020-2021 Scheduling: School Counselors are contacting students to review 2020-2021 course selections with all underclassmen over the next few weeks and address questions and concerns. Please continue to check your school email.
PSAT 10: We have received the results of the PSAT 10 that was administered to sophomores in early March. Ms. Stamer will be sending scores to students and parents via email.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR CHECK-INS: MCHS School Counselors are available for students who may need additional support during this time, however our regular school schedule will still apply. We will be working between the hours of 8 am- 4 pm, Monday - Friday. We will not be available during evening hours during the week or on the weekends. We will be checking our email regularly and responding during working hours. The best way to reach us is by email (Mrs. Knighton: tknighton@madisonschools.k12.va.us and Ms. Stamer: cstamer@madisonschools.k12.va.us ). However if you need to speak by phone, the best way is to call the school and have the front office reach out to us so we can return your call.
We are also available to our students during "Virtual Office Hours" Tuesday - Thursday from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm for individual check ins by phone, email or video chat using Google Meet, which will be scheduled in 15 minute blocks. Please use this link to request a check in: https://forms.gle/FVbD9oj5grGfknv46
AP EXAMS
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, College Board has made significant changes to AP Exam procedures this year. Please visit AP Central on the College Board website for more information. https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students
Please contact your school counselor with any questions or concerns related to AP Exams.
MCPS UPDATES: Updates will continue to be provided on the MCPS Coronavirus FAQ page on the MCPS website. Link here: https://tinyurl.com/t9jtltm
Community WiFi at MCPS!
How to Stay Organized for Distance Learning
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
Additional Mental Health Resources
If there is an urgent concern about a student in a physical or mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free number: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
The Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone in the U.S. 24/7. You do not have to be suicidal to call the Lifeline. Staffed by trained support people.
The Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For Spanish speakers, call 1-800-985-5990 and press "2" or text Hablanos to 66746.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides tools and support to victims and survivors, as well as friends and family members who are concerned about a loved one. Trained advocates are available to talk confidentially 24/7 in over 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.
1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing may use TTY 1-800-787-3224.
STUDENT AT-HOME JOURNALS
During this time away, we are encouraging you to keep a journal. Each day, write for at least 10 minutes. You can do this in this Google document or with good old-fashioned paper and pencil. To complete in Google, just make a copy and save it in your Google Drive. Don’t have access to Google during the school closure? No problem -just call MCHS to schedule pickup of a paper copy.
This is your space! Record your thoughts, questions, feelings, and daily activities. We will provide optional prompts at the top of each page. You may also customize the colors, fonts, and add photos if you want. We would be happy and honored to read your journal, but the choice to share is entirely up to you!
This time away from school is new, unsettling and unlike anything any of us have experienced. You will want to remember this time in your lives. So let’s write about it :)
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GV5JkKZL-Hwl14LZodNd-OvL7NfEu4Nc0eEJPZq8MNM/edit?usp=sharing
Resources & Tips for Parents
Screen Time in the Age of Coronavirus
With virtually everyone at home more right now, an increase in screen time is inevitable, right? But how do parents gauge how much is too much? And is it really quantity or quality when it comes to screen time in the age of Coronavirus? Check out this helpful article from Common Sense Media for more guidance and information: https://tinyurl.com/yck8ep2c
Still Working & In Need of Child Care Services?
Additional Information can be found on the official website of the office of the Governor here: https://tinyurl.com/y8vnjqku
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Parenting, Media & a 24-7 News Cycle
We live in an age of breaking news. The next story is just moments away and there seems to be breaking news 24/7, particularly during this global pandemic. It can feel as though it's coming from all directions, especially because we don't just get the news on TV anymore. Everything from websites to social media are constantly updated with the latest information. So just as our students learn how to assess the quality of a source in the classroom or library, at home we can teach our children how to separate fact from fiction, recognize bias, evaluate sources and really engage with the news in a meaningful way across all of these platforms. Here's a helpful article from Common Sense Media: "Teaching Kids Media Smarts During Breaking News" https://tinyurl.com/yadnlqt3