DHS Counseling Connection
First Marking Period 2019-20
Welcome to DHS!
Please welcome the newest additions to the Counseling Dept.
- Kristen Stevenson, Counselor joins us from St. John's in Frederick. Some of you might have met her already this summer. She brings enthusiasm and builds strong relationships with students and families.
- Roxanne Plummer, Counseling secretary joins us from Magruder High School. Ms. Plummer is very excited to be a part of our school community! Please give her a warm welcome when you come into the counseling office.
- College Career Information Coordinator (CCIC): Congratulations on Ms. Tunstell on her new position at the University of Maryland. We are hoping to hire our new coordinator soon!
Back to School Night
Senior Parent Information Meeting Sept. 19 6:00 PM Auditorium.
Parents are encouraged to attend this informative senior year timeline meeting. Learn about graduation requirements and senior expectations.
Back to School Night Sept. 19 7:00 PM
Follow your child's schedule, meet teachers and get to know the expectations for each of their classes.
MyMCPS Help Training will be available to all parents in the Media Center from 7- 8 PM or you can email Catherine Ward at catherine_e_ward@mcpsmd.org
We look forward to meeting the parents of Class of 2023 and catching up with all DHS families!
Why is Naviance Important?
Please take the time to activitate a parent account to be apart of the process and track your child's progress.
We will be meeting with the 9th, 10th, and 11th graders during quarter 1 to complete the following Naviance lessons:
- 9th grade-Creating/updating their high school course planner
- 10th grade-Complete the career interest profiler and update the high school course planner
- 11th grade-Complete the Supermatch college search and update the high school course planner
PSAT Information
PSAT is Wednesday, October 16th
Who is testing?
11th grade - have to pay a fee and complete a registration. 11th graders who do not take the PSAT will take the Accuplacer
10th grade - take the test for free
9th grade - not testing; 9th graders will be participating in a Digital Literacy lesson
Financial Aid Workshops
David Reeder, Director of Financial Aid, Mt. Saint Mary's College Oct. 1 6:00 PM Media Ctr
Heidi Fletcher, Financial Consultant, Leading Lights Oct.14 6:00 PM Media Ctr
Join us for expert advice on how to pay for college with Q&A opportunity.
FAFSA Workshop
Join us for a "Hands On" FAFSA Workshop. Don't miss out on this opportunity in completing a crucial step in the college financial aid process.
Career Center Information
September
Sunday, September 15, 2019 @ 5:00pm The Gates Scholarship Due https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 @ 9:30am- University of Maryland Baltimore County
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 @ 9:30am- Virginia Commonwealth University
Monday, September 23, 2019 @ 9:30am- Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 @ 12:15pm- Wilson College
Thursday, September 26, 2019 @ 9:30am- University of Maryland Eastern Shore *Will Be Conducting ONSITE Admissions* Please apply online
Friday, September 27, 2019 @ 12:00pm- University of Maryland College Park
October
Tuesday, October 1, 2019- FAFSA Application Opens
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 @ 9:30am- Fairmont State University
Wednesday October 2, 2019 @ 10:15am- Messiah College
Thursday, October 3, 2019 @ 9:45am- University of Miami
Monday, October 7, 2019 @ 8:30am- Towson University
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 @ 9:30am- Montgomery College
Thursday, October 10, 2019 @ 9:30am- Shepherd University
Monday, October 14, 2019 @ 9:30am- Coastal Carolina University
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 @ 9:30am- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 @ 12:00pm- Roanoke College
Monday, October 21, 2019 @9:30am- Educational Systems Federal Credit Union *Presentation on the importance of Financial Literacy Seminar*
Monday, October 21, 2019 @ 9am-12:00pm- National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair in Baltimore * You must register https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/baltimore-national-college-fair/ * ONSITE Admissions
Monday, October 21, 2019 @ 6:30pm-8:30pm -National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair in Baltimore
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 @ 9:00am- 11:30am- National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair in Baltimore *You Must Register*
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 @9:30am- Mount St. Mary’s University
Thursday, October 24, 2019 @ 1:45pm- University of Richmond
Friday, October 25, 2019 @ 12:00pm- Lynn University
Friday, October 25, 2019 @ 11:59pm- The Horatio Scholarship Closes https://scholars.horatioalger.org/horatio-alger-scholarship-applications/
Sunday, October 27, 2019 @ 1:00pm-4:00pm- National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair Washington DC * You Must Register https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/greater-washington-dc/ * ONSITE Admissions
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 @ 9:30am- West Virginia University
Thursday, October 31, 2019 @ 9:30 am- Washington College
Thursday, October 31, 2019 @ 5:00pm- Coca-Cola Scholarship Due https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/ccsf
November
Friday, November 1, 2019- Ron Brown Scholarship Applications are Due https://www.ronbrown.org/Media/Default/MediaGalleries/ApplicationPDFs/2019RBSPScholarshipApplication.pdf
Monday, November 4, 2019 @ 9:30am- Gettysburg College
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 @ 9:30am- University of South Carolina
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 @ 9:30am- Carroll Community College
Thursday, November 7, 2019 @ 8:45am- Rutgers New Brunswick Campus
College Application Information
Step 1: Complete the following information on Naviance Family Connections:
· Senior Information Summary
· Resume
· Game Plan
Step 2: Complete and submit your college application(s) to college(s) you are applying to. If YOU ARE APPLYING TO COLLEGE(S) THROUGH THE COMMON APPLICATION: www.commonapp.org
Complete the Common Application and electronically sign the privacy notice waiving or not waiving your right to see your recommendations and allowing DHS to release your transcripts (this process is called the FERPA Waiver). Choose DHS as your High School and add at least one college to your colleges list.
Next, match your Common Application Account in your Naviance/Family Connection Account:
Log in to your Naviance/Family connections account. Click on the “Colleges” tab then “Colleges I’m Applying to” tab. A pink box will be at the top. Click “match.” Enter your COMMON APPLICATION email address and check to be sure your birth date is correct. Click “match.” *If you are having troubles matching your Common Application Account please see Mrs. Carey, Registrar in the counseling office or College Career Information Coordinator.
Step 3: Request SAT or ACT scores sent directly from College Board and/or ACT to each college you are applying to. DHS CANNOT send scores.
Step 4: Request Teacher Recommendations. You should personally ask teachers if they would be willing to write you a recommendation and how they would like to send it; i.e. Naviance vs. paper copy. After they have agreed, you can then request through Naviance by clicking on the “Colleges” tab, “Home,” “Letters of Recommendation” and use the “Add Request” pull down tab to request or cancel request for Teacher Recommendation. If a teacher prefers not using Naviance, you will need to provide each teacher a business-size stamped addressed envelope for each college.
Step 5: Complete the Transcript/Counselor Recommendation Request Form(s)
With your first transcript request(s) you will also need to turn in a completed Authorization to Release Pupil Records signed by your parent if you are under 18. You should also bring the completed Senior Information Summary from Naviance if you are also asking for the Counselor to write you a recommendation to be sent with the transcript(s). .
· Make an appointment to turn in your paperwork to Mrs. Carey, Registrar in the counseling office.
· Bring transcript fees (first 3 are free; all others are $3.00 each)
· Allow 3 weeks for processing
· Check with college approximately four weeks after the submission deadline to ensure that all materials have been received.
School Closings and Early Release Days
School closed: Sept. 30
Early release: Oct. 4; Summer SSL hours due
Open house: Oct. 7; Columbus Day
School closed: Oct. 9
Spirit week: Oct. 14-18
Early release: Nov. 8; 1st MP ends
Early release: Nov. 11; 2nd MP begins
Early release: Nov. 12
Report card distribution: Nov. 20
Early release: Nov. 27
School closed: Nov. 28 & Nov. 29
Counselor Assignments
Mrs. Stevenson.......... Cp-F............... Kristen_Stevenson@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Djouha................. G -K............... Coleen_Djouha@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Kohajda.............. L-Po.............. Fran_Kohajda@mcpsmd.org
Mr. Jurado.................. Pp-U.............. Marcus_Jurado@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Poker.................. V-Z................. Kristy_A_Poker@mcpsmd.org
Resources
Support for attention and learning disorders:
https://www.chesapeakeadd.com/
Community, Education, and Human Service Resource:
Mental Health Awareness
Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” ~Buddha