BHS Counseling Newsletter:
Friday, September 3rd, 2021:
Upcoming Dates:
September 4th-10th: Fall ACT Prep Course Registration
September 4th-10th: PSAT Registration
September 21st: Junior Post High Planning Days at SDSU, leaving BHS at 1:30 - returning at 2:30
September 27th: Financial Aid Night, via ZOOM, from 5:30 to 6:30; senior students, parents, and guardians. See email for Zoom link next week.
September 28th: Senior Presentation from School Counselors during SRB
September 4th-29th: ASVAB Registration
October 12th: ASVAB, in the BHS Library from 8:15 to 11:18. For 10th through12th-grade students, by choice, if registered.
*Please stop by the Counseling Office if you need a pass for college representative visits!
Welcome To The 2021-2022 School Year!
Counseling Office Happenings:
New Student Groups: All students who are new to the BSD this year will be invited to one small group session. This is an opportunity for them to get to know their School Counselor, other new students, and current BHS students! New students, you will receive an email or be called into the Counseling Office to get a pass. We look forward to meeting with you!
Freshman Groups: Freshman Small Groups will be happening this month. All 9th-grade students are invited to one small group session. This is an opportunity for them to get to know their School Counselor and other freshman students. Freshman, you will receive an email or be called into the Counseling Office to get a pass to leave your study hall or another class. We look forward to meeting with you!
Programs To Be Aware Of:
United States Senate Youth Program: Juniors & Seniors - Consider applying for the U.S. Senate Youth Program! Two students from each state will be selected for a week-long government and leadership education program in the nation’s capital, and a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. Recipients need a strong background & current knowledge about our government. Applicants must hold an elected office at BHS or be a student representative on a civic or educational board. Forms are available in the Counseling Office. The deadline for submission is September 27th.
The College JumpStart Scholarship Program: This is an annual, merit-based competition, (financial need is not considered) that is open to 10th-12th graders, college students, and non-traditional students. The main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and can express your goals for getting a higher education. The first-place prize is a $1,000 scholarship to help cover educational expenses. This award can be used at any college or university in the United States. The deadline for the competition is October 17, 2021.
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship: students from grades 9–12th-grade are eligible. The 2021-22 theme is America: Where Do We Go From Here?. The recorded essay must be three to five minutes with a plus or minus of 5 seconds. The website will give detailed information as well as winning essays and artworks for students to view. All student entries must be submitted by midnight, October 31st, 2021.
The Big Idea Competition: As a young entrepreneur, what business would you start in your world to make it a better place to live? Think about problems you hear about in today's news or problems that you personally experience. What business can you create to solve those problems? How can you use technology to solve those problems? Put your best business idea forward and compete for cash prizes and scholarships in the BIG Idea Competition-over $5000 to be awarded! October 31, 2021 midnight CST is the final date for each business idea and marketing design to be submitted.
NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing: Are you a female contemplating a computer-related career path? Any U.S. high school woman in grades 9-12 is eligible to apply for this award. Recipients are chosen for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post-secondary education. Applications must be submitted by the final deadline at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 5, 2021.
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards: Are you a middle-level or high school student making a difference through volunteering? Apply today for national recognition, monetary awards, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.! The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. There is a November 20, 11:59 p.m. CST deadline.
South Dakota Legislative Page Program: Each legislative session, high school students from across South Dakota have an opportunity for a firsthand look at the legislative process by serving as pages for the South Dakota Legislature. Pages are appointed to serve in the House of Representatives or the Senate for 7 to 10 days during one of the five-term periods. If you are interested in this opportunity, students are encouraged to apply early as it is a competitive program. Early application is encouraged, the preferred deadline is October 8th, 2021, and the final deadline is October 22nd, 2021.
Academic Information:
BHS Fall ACT Prep Course: Want some help getting ready for that ACT? BHS offers an in-person prep course! The course will review the four areas included in the exam: English, Mathematics, Science, and Reading. This prep course consists of 12 hours of instruction to include: content area review, test-taking strategies, test familiarity, and the use of ACT's Prep Guide book, The Real ACT Prep Guide. An ACT Practice Test follows the courses. The first-time cost is $100 and the cost for repeating is $25.00.
BHS ACT Prep Course Dates:
Wednesday, September 22nd: 6:00-8:00 pm
Wednesday, September 29th: 6:00-8:00 pm
Wednesday, October 6th: 6:00-8:00 pm
Wednesday, October 13th: 6:00-8:00 pm
ACT Prep Practice Test: Wednesday, October 20th: 4:00-8:00 pm
Sign Up Here For The Fall ACT Prep Courses:
ASVAB: The Armed Services Vocational Services Aptitude Battery test will be given at BHS on October Tuesday, 12th, during periods 1-4 (8:15 –11:24). This multiple-choice test is administered by the United States Military a military rep and is used for a couple of different purposes: 1. Enlistment to the United States Armed Forces. 2. Great career information! All sophomores through seniors are encouraged to take the ASVAB! Interpretation will follow.
PSAT: BHS will offer the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) on the national test date of Wednesday, October 13, 2021. This is an optional test for 10th and 11th graders, designed to help prepare students for the SAT, which is a college entrance exam similar to the ACT.
Students who pre-regsitered for the PSAT will receive an e-mail with information about testing day. Testing will occur during periods 1-4 (8:15-10:55) in the BHS Auxillary Gym.
The cost for the test is $17.00, payableBHS, and can be turned into the Counseling Office. If you are interested in taking the PSAT, you must sign up prior to Friday, September 10th here.
Career Exploration Opportunities:
ACT is offering a free Virtual College and Career Planning Event! Join ACT for this free virtual event to learn from experts how to prepare for college and career—from finding scholarships to transitioning to life on campus. Date: Saturday, October 30, 2021 Register Here.
School Exploration Opportunities:
Exploring College Options: This special informational program is sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices of five of the country's leading universities: Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University. Join the 90-minute webinar to help you explore your college options and prepare a strong and reflective application in this time of change and new challenges. During the program, admission officers from our five universities will introduce their institutions, discuss the college application process, answer general questions, and provide individual school breakout sessions.
Please register for the webinar date and time that best fits your schedule (all times are EDT):
Sunday, September 12, 6 PM EDT
Monday, September 13, 7 PM EDT
Tuesday, September 14, 7 PM EDT
Sunday, September 19, 6 PM EDT
Military Information:
Senator Rounds Service Academy Appointment Applications - From Senator Rounds - I have the honor and privilege to recommend some of South Dakota’s most talented and skilled students to attend the U.S Service Academies: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Nominations are not required for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. These academies allow young people to serve our country while receiving a full four-year scholarship from some of our finest institutions of higher learning. Recommendations for the 2021-2022 freshman class (Class of 2025) have already been submitted. Applications for the 2022-2023 freshman class (Class of 2026) will be due October 1, 2021. Throughout the year, I will be hosting Service Academy Days across the state to give interested students and their families an opportunity to learn more about the service academies and the application process.
Students, Your School Counselors Are Here For You!
Personal, Social and Emotional Information:
1. Start and/or end your day with meditation.
2. Keep a journal.
3. Practice a calming hobby! Walking, biking or yoga are great!
4. Stay connected! Talk with the people who care about you.
5. Try deep breathing activities.
6. Get enough rest and develop a regular sleep pattern.
7. Take lunch breaks and eat healthily and enough.
8. Drink enough water.
Unplug App:
Headspace App:
Calm App:
Remember You Are Amazing!
Need Assistance with Winter Apparel? See the Share the Warmth Flyer Below~
Senior Class Of 2022:
* Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 schools.
* Plan to visit as many of these colleges as possible.
* Create a master list, calendar, and folder that includes tests you’ll take, fees, deadlines, application due dates, required financial aid application forms, transcripts, and other important materials you’ll need.
* Ask a recommender for a letter of recommendation, in advance, if you need them.
* Give each recommender an outline of your academic and your extracurricular activities.
* Attend a financial aid night event and begin working on your FAFSA.
ACT and SAT: If you haven’t taken a college entrance exam yet, and plan to attend a post-secondary school, do so soon!!
Financial Aid Night: We would like to invite Senior Students and Families to the upcoming Financial Aid Night that will be hosted via Zoom. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid/FAFSA and other post-secondary financial planning questions will be discussed. Students are now able to submit the FAFSA earlier! The start date for filing is October 1st. Submitting this form allows the federal government, states, colleges, and other organizations to award financial aid to students and is key to accessing grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and student loans. This event will be hosted on Monday, September 27th in the via Zoom from 5:30-6:60 p.m. We will be featuring a guest speaker from South Dakota State University. Please check your email for the Zoom link.
20 Ways Parents Can Support Children Applying To College:
Selective Service Registration: You need to register with the Selective Service! If you’re 18, you have to register within 30 days of your 18th birthday.
Western Undergraduate Exchange Program: WUE is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program that can save you a lot of $$ in tuition! Through WUE, students in Western states (including S.D.) may enroll in participating two-year and four-year public college programs at a reduced tuition level: up to 150 percent of the institution’s regular resident tuition. In all cases, WUE tuition is considerably less than nonresident tuition. The following states participate Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Questbridge~College Match
Scholarships To Be Thinking About:
Below are current scholarships that have been brought to the attention of our office. The date next to the scholarship is the deadline for the application. Please see our calendar where you may locate the scholarship description as well as the information on how to apply for the scholarship. You can find the scholarship descriptions and links on the counseling calendar on the date of their deadline.
Please note: If you are requesting that your School Counselor serves as a recommender on any scholarship application for you, it is a requirement that you provide a resume or documentation of your credentials summarizing your accomplishments, honors, skills, awards, employment, etc. to him or her.
Sept. 24th-PEO Star Scholarship
Sept. 28th-Questbridge
Oct. 8th-AES Engineers Scholarship
Oct. 15th-Young Arts Scholarship
Oct. 17th-College JumpStart Scholarship
Oct. 19th-Heisman High School Scholarship
Oct. 31st-Coca-Cola Scholarship
Oct. 31st-Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Scholarship
Oct. 31st-Big Ideas SD Scholarship
Nov. 15th-Branson Shows Inspired Scholarship
Nov. 15th-Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Requesting A Transcript:
Requesting Your Transcript (Parchment):
Contacts For Immediate Assistance:
Emergency: Call 911
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
South Dakota Helpline: 211
You are not alone. Every day people turn to 211 for information and support – whether financial, family, health, or disaster-related. The call or text is free and confidential.
Brookings Behavioral Health & Wellness: 24/7/365 Emergency Services (605) 697-2850
Avera Medical Group Behavioral Health Brookings: https://www.avera.org/locations/profile/avera-medical-group-behavioral-health-clinic-brookings/
Brookings Mental Health Resources: https://www.helplinecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/HLCRD-Brookings-Area-Mental-Health-Guide.pdf
BHS Counseling And Student Services Team:
Mrs. Jinny Struck, Office Assistant: jinny.struck@k12.sd.us;
Counseling Office Phone Number: 605-696-4124
School Counselors:
Mrs. Linda Johnson, School Counselor: linda.johnson@k12.sd.us
Mr. Gary Mork, School Counselor: gary.mork@k12.sd.us
Mrs. Hartman, School Counselor: randi.hartman@k12.sd.us