Comet Connection
CHS School Counseling
Dear Comets,
Virtual learning is in full swing and we are finally getting the hang of things! From what we have heard, students have been doing a great job showing up to classes, completing their work, and staying engaged in virtual learning. Keep up the great work, Comets!
We know that virtual learning can be a little bit stressful so our School Counseling Intern, Ms. Shucavage, put together some awesome resources for you about mindfulness. If you are having trouble focusing or feeling stressed out, we encourage you to check out the resources below.
This is a very exciting time of the year as the School Counseling team has been hard at work helping seniors prepare to complete their college applications. This issue of the Comet Connection has a lot of updates for seniors so be sure to check those out!
As always, your counselors are here for you if you need us! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
The CHS School Counseling Team
Need to Speak with your School Counselor?
We might not be in the same building, but we are still here to help!! Counselors are working 8:00am – 3:00pm throughout this remote learning period, and have set “Office Hours” for scheduling meetings with students and parents. To request a meeting with a counselor, please fill out the respective Meeting Request Form.
Practicing Mindfulness During Virtual Learning
You may have heard that mindfulness — the ability to be fully present in the moment — can have numerous benefits, everything from decreased stress and sadness to increased levels of focus and happiness, according to general mindfulness research. But what exactly is mindfulness? And, how can you recognize it and reap its many benefits? Mindfulness meditation practice is one way to truly experience the current moment and integrate that awareness into your everyday life.
Watch the attached videos to learn more!
- What is mindfulness?
- Video Clip: Explains Mindfulness and Our Reactions
- Why practice mindfulness?
- Video Clip: Impact of Mindfulness on the Brain
- Activity: Practice Grounding - this will help you get a better idea of what mindfulness is!
Virtual College Visits
Students must still register for this visits on Naviance as we have done in the past. Registered students will recieve a join code for a Google Meets session via Schoology Message prior to the visit.
We have posted the current list of Colleges that are signed up below. We encourage you to check Naviance frequently for updates.
How to Sign Up for College Visits on Naviance:
- Log into your BCPS One account
- Click on the orange "Naviance" tile
- From your home page, click the "Colleges" tab
- Click on "Research Colleges"
- Click on "College Visits"
- Click "Register" for the Colleges your are interested in.
Students in grades 9-12 are welcome to register for all available sessions.
Please note, registration is limited and preference will be given to senior and junior students.
We have compiled a list of some of our most applied to colleges and the websites to register for these visits.
These infromation sessions are a great opportunity for students from all grades to take advantage of. It's never too early to start that college seach!
Information for Seniors
**MUST COMPLETE** 6 Year Plan
Seniors,
Please log in to your Naviance account to complete the 6 Year Plan-Grade 12 Survey. This survey consists of 5 items, and only takes a few minutes to submit.
To help us provide more targeted supports during virtual instruction, we will be using responses to group students into lessons/info sessions that align with their specific post-grad plans. Survey responses will also help to inform the 1-on-1 planning meeting with your counselor, and must be completed ahead of time.
We have begun meeting with seniors and are asking that you please complete the 6 Year Plan Survey ASAP.
Directions:
- Log in to your BCPS One account
- Click on the orange "Naviance" tile
- Go to the "Important To-Dos and Task" section on your home page
- Click on the "6 Year Plan - Grade 12"
- Click "Take This Survey"
- Respond to EACH of the 5 survey items and submit
Please reach out to Ms. Weston (College Counselor) or your school counselor if assistance is needed with this process.
SAT Updates
BCPS will review Saturday SAT National testing administrations scheduled to be held in BCPS high schools in December and January at a later date.
There will be no Makeup SAT School Day for the class of 2021.
Many colleges are now test optional, meaning you do not have to have SAT scores to apply/be admitted.
If you still want to take the SAT, you must do so on your own. You can go to www.collegeboard.com to register for a session (prior to 11/13/2020, you will have to find a testing center location outside of Baltimore County).
College Application Steps
Please review the CHS College Application Steps below as you are completing your applications to ensure you don't forget anything.
All seniors must complete the following form in order to request transcripts and have them sent to college on their behalf by the School Counseling office: https://forms.gle/KtxaDzUBoxsHVCFJ9
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Weston (lweston@bcps.org).
Senior College Information Night
Financial Aid
The FAFSA is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
Every student planning on applying to college MUST complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for Federal, State, or Institutional Financial AId.
For more information on completing the FAFSA, please join us on October 8th for a Virtual Financial Aid Information Session at 6:00 pm.
Financial Aid Night
Thursday, Oct 8, 2020, 06:00 PM
Google Meets
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Contact Me
Email: lweston@bcps.org
Website: https://catonsvillehs.bcps.org/
Location: 421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, MD, USA
Phone: (443) 809-0809