CASTEEL COUNSELING CORNER
NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK
Our Counseling Department has earned the highest accolade by becoming RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) certified. This is a certification that is difficult to achieve and because of this few schools have earned. We are very proud of our Counseling team!!
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
REGISTRATION ~
High School registration finalization~ the students will meet with their counselor individually to complete their registration. This will be held in the College and Career Center during your English class.
** If you do not have an English class on campus please schedule an appointment with your counselor to complete registration.**
Jan. 24th & 25th - Incoming 12th grade
Jan. 26th & 27th - Incoming 11th grade
Jan. 28th & 31st - Incoming 10th grade
Feb. 7th & 8th - Incoming 9th grade
** FOR OUR INCOMING 7TH & 8TH GRADERS PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE JUNIOR HIGH SECTION**
ONLINE REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Online Registration Process using the Infinite Campus App
1. Log into Infinite Campus Portal
2. Click on: on the top left corner.
3. Click on: More
4. Click on: Course Registration
For next school year, all students can register at Casteel or at Chandler Online Academy (COA). Students can enroll full time at Casteel, taking 6 Classes, or full time at COA taking 6 Classes there, or a combination. For example, you can do 5 classes at Casteel and 1 at COA, 4 at Casteel and 2 at COA, 3 and 3, 2 and 4 or 1 at Casteel and 5 at COA. Not all classes requested at COA may be available. We encourage you to enroll at Casteel whenever possible. Those enrolled in all 6 classes at COA will be considered full time COA students and will have a COA Counselor.
5. Click on: 2022 - CCHS - Regular
6. Click on: Add Course
7. Click on: Search Course
Type in the name of the course in the search field. Any part of the name will show up in the list. If you have the course number, you can search by that as well. Click on the course to see course description.
8. Click on + sign to the left, Click “Request”. Request A and B.
9. Once requested, Click “Back”. When you have 6 classes you are done
10. Remember, add both semesters for each class (A and B) for example Eng100A and Eng100B
Seniors who are on track to graduate may take 4 classes. This is only an option senior year. To add a 5th and 6th hour release you must add “No Class 5” and “No Class 6”, both A and B.
Once you return to the previous page (Back), they will see the number of units requested, percent complete, and requested courses. Sem. classes = 2 units. Year-long class (both A and B) = 4 units
- Future 9th-11th graders – When you are done enrolling in 6 classes, you will have 24 Units. Each year long class is 4 Units. 6x4=24. Your requests will be yellow. If you have 86% you are done.
- Students taking 7 classes, 6 classes and a 0 hour will have 28 units
- LDS students: Please enroll in 5 classes at Casteel + Release Time RLT100A/B (Seminary) and 1 class at COA or a 7th class for Zero Hour at Casteel. You will have 24 units at Casteel and 2 units at COA, or 28 units at Casteel.
- RockPoint students: Please enroll in 5 classes at Casteel + Release Time ELE003A/B (Seminary) and 1 class at COA or a 7th class for Zero Hour at Casteel. You will have 24 units at Casteel and 2 units at COA, or 28 units at Casteel.
- Units at COA will not be added to units at Casteel. You need a combined 6 classes total.
If you want to remove a previously requested class, you can click on the class and then click at the bottom of the screen where it says “delete request” Click Back to delete another class
Some classes are not available for enrollment online now: Locker and Student Aide. Counselors will add those for you when we meet. Log off- Thank you.
LIVE TUTORING OPTION ~
NetTutor offers K-12 CUSD students live tutoring on-demand, question drop-off, and writing feedback. Tutors are subject matter experts trained in how to translate tutoring best practices and learning strategies to support students online.
SPRING TIME IS TESTING TIME!
It will be an odd block day 1,3,5
Late start will begin at 12:40pm. Busses will run 5 hours late.
Zero hour will be canceled.
Find practice tests here - https://cloud.e.act.org/free-practice-act-test
When we return from Spring Break, we will hold the following exams:
- 3/30 & 3/31: AzSCI – 8th Grade will be taken in science classes during block
- 4/6 & 4/7: AzSCI – 11th Grade will be taken in science classes during block
- 4/12: AASA & ACT Aspire testing for grades 7,8,9; late start day for all other grade levels
- 4/13: AASA & ACT Aspire testing for grades 7,8,9; late start day for all other grade levels
- 5/2 – 5/13: AP Exams
NEED TO SEE YOUR COUNSELOR?
If you need to report a crisis or safety concern, see Mrs. W. immediately in the front office.
UPDATES FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
High School Counselors -
Bruce Ireland (Daw-Hog) ireland.bruce@cusd80.com
Rachel O'Brien (Hol-Mik) obrien.rachel@cusd80.com
Carrie Shropshire (Mil-Sch) shropshire.carrie@cusd80.com
Jessica Burt (Sci-Z) burt.jessica@cusd80.com
UPDATES FROM THE COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER
COLLEGE & CAREER EVENTS
Throughout the fall and spring semesters the Career Center will host visits by college admissions reps, military recruiters and other college and career access advisors. Students may stop by the College and Career Center to sign up. These sessions are great opportunities to meet with reps to learn about their schools or organizations and to ask questions! Upcoming Events:
Feb 2 UofA Next Steps Visit
Feb 9 CGCC Workshop
Feb 16 CRAS Visit
Feb 17 ASU Visit
CEF & IMPACT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
FAFSA
Seniors, It’s time to get your FAFSA completed. If you have questions or need help, please stop by the Career Center or Ask Benji!
After the FAFSA
Once you have submitted your FAFSA, be sure to sign back on to make sure your FAFSA was processed correctly and to access your SAR (Student Aid Report). Please visit the Fafsa website https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/review-and-correct for information on when the SAR will be available for review, reviewing the SAR, who you will hear from and when, and also what to do if told you have been selected for verification.
If you have been notified that you have been selected for verification, this is an additional, required step to complete the financial aid process at the universities. Students who have been notified must complete the FAFSA Verification steps and submit information to the universities to which they have been admitted, as directed by each school, in order to receive FAFSA benefits. Please contact the financial aid office at each college if you have questions.
Filing the FAFSA is one of the most important steps in the whole admissions process for seniors. Not only can students qualify for Federal PELL grants, there are many scholarships and programs that require students to have at least submitted a FAFSA. The ASU Obama Scholars Program, College Attainment Grant , and the University of Arizona's Pell Pledge and Arizona Assurance Program are examples. To learn more about these awesome opportunities that offer students significant assistance with the cost of attending a university, please visit the links below.
The ASU Obama Scholars program covers most of the student's cost of attendance. It also includes a first year success coaching component. Be sure to learn about the various program FAFSA priority deadlines and make sure you have your admissions application with the application fee paid or waived, transcript and FAFSA on file with the college by the deadline date.
ASU College Attainment Grant and ASU Obama Scholars Eligibility and Program Information
ASU College Attainment Grant FAFSA Priority Deadline: July 1
Arizona Pell Pledge Grant FAFSA priority deadline: March 1
Looking for a Job? Be sure to check out our JOB BOARD, just outside of the Career Center.
MAKE YOUR COLLEGE DREAMS COME TRUE!
TheDream.US National Scholarships are for highly motivated undocumented students.
You may be eligible for our National Scholarship if you:
- Have graduated or will graduate with a high school or GED diploma or a community college associate degree by the end of the 2021-2022 academic year:
- Have a current DACA or TPS authorization or came to the country before November 1, 2016, and otherwise meet the DACA criteria; and
- You must qualify for in-state tuition* at one of our public Partner Colleges (or are admitted to one of our private Partner Colleges in your state).
*Arizona State University - you must qualify for the non-resident tuition rate.
Deadline: Feb 28, 2022
Click here for more information
Typical Deadline: March 1
Application Grade: Senior; Ages 18-25
Amount:
Target Student: Must meet one of the following: Adults who have (a) dependent(s) in their household, adults with a physical disability, adults who have experienced foster care or been disconnected from their parents or primary caregiver and are responsible for their own financial support. Must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Arizona.
Horatio Alger Scholarship Program
Typical Deadline: March 15
Application Grade: Junior
Amount: $10,000
Target Student: $55,000 or less adjusted gross family income, involved in co-curricular and community service activities and minimum GPA of 2.0
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
NEELY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
The Otto and Edna Neely Foundation awards scholarships to students who want to obtain a college education. Each scholarship, in the amount of $3,000 per academic year, is granted to a high school senior who meets the qualifications listed below. The scholarship is for four consecutive years or until the student graduates, whichever is sooner, providing the student continues to be qualified.
Applicant Qualifications:
1 Must be a citizen of the United States of America.
2 Must be a resident of the State of Arizona.
3 Must have and maintain a semester and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.
4 Must have a demonstrated financial need.
5 Must attend an accredited Arizona academic college listed on the Neely Foundation Website, enroll as a full-time student and complete 12 hours or more each semester in classes toward a degree program.
Application deadline: March 7, 2022 to Mrs. Connolly in the Career Center.
East Valley Women’s League:
Anything Is Possible Scholarship
East Valley Women’s League believes that continuing education is the key to success for all students. The EVWL Scholarship Committee is looking for two female high school students graduating from a high school in Maricopa County, AZ. They must exhibit service to the community, participation in extracurricular activities, demonstrate financial need and are in the academic middle (preference given to those with a GPA between (3.2-3.8 – unweighted).
Application deadline: February 27, 2022
https://evwl.org/scholarships/
Typical Deadline: March 2
Application Grade: Current Senior
Amount: Click here for application and details
Target Student: In need of financial assistance. Judged on: community and school involvement and future goal
Horatio Alger Scholarship Program
Typical Deadline: March 15
Application Grade: Junior
Amount: $10,000
Target Student: $55,000 or less adjusted gross family income, involved in co-curricular and community service activities and minimum GPA of 2.0
Typical Deadline: March 12
Application Grade: Senior
Amount: $650
Target Student: Chinese descent. Involved in school and community. Academic Achievement is a factor.
(Application now open!)
Typical Deadline: March through May (Varies)
Application Grade: Senior
Amount: Varies (Complete 1 application to be matched to 100+ Scholarships)
Target Student: Any, including undocumented and DACA students.
ASU FLEISCHER SCHOLARS PROGRAM - SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS
Fleischer Scholars provides deserving sophomores and juniors from Arizona high schools a great opportunity to earn college credit, receive a laptop, dive into entrepreneurship, and discover potential career paths.
Benefits
Students selected for the program benefit from a multitude of resources, and they learn necessary skills for success in college and beyond.
· Receive a free laptop
· Obtain free college course credit
· Learn the keys to academic and professional success
· Discover academic and career opportunities
· Interact with current W. P. Carey students, faculty, staff, and alumni
· Find out more about university admission and available financial assistance options
Eligibility
Required:
· Arizona high school student graduating in 2023 or 2024
· Teacher or professional recommendation
· Involvement in the school and/or community
Desired:
· First generation student
· 3.0 GPA
· Low income household
· Underrepresented youth
The program will take place virtually in June and July 2022 with an in person orientation. The program will take place for four weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will be enrolling in an online course during eight weeks of the summer.
To apply, visit ASU Fleischer Scholars Program
OTHER COLLEGE FAIRS/PROGRAMS/VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES
NACAC Virtual College Fairs - Great opportunity for all students to learn about different schools around the nation
Thinking about college? Don't miss these one-day events for high school students, transfer students, and families. A great way to connect with hundreds of colleges in a short amount of time to learn about majors, scholarships and more! To learn more and to register, visit NACAC Virtual College Fairs.
BYU-Idaho would like to invite you to join us for a special Livestream event that will be held on Feb. 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (MST). Simply click on the link below to watch or set a reminder.
Financial Aid Live StreamUPDATES FROM THE JUNIOR HIGH COUNSELORS
Junior High Counselors
Christy Cunico (Kl-Z) cunico.christy@cusd80.com
INCOMING 7TH REGISTRATION FINALIZATION ~
* If you are Open Enrollment you do not need to complete anything through Infinite Campus.
Students who are able to enter classes into Infinite Campus, do not worry about the percent completed. Only focus on achieving 24 units.
REGISTRATION FINALIZATION~
February 2nd - 4th - Counselors meet individually with students to complete registration.
These will be done through your English classes.
* If you are Open Enrollment you do not need to complete anything through Infinite Campus.
Students who are able to enter classes into Infinite Campus, do not worry about the percent completed. Only focus on achieving 24 units.
JUNIOR HIGH FAQ'S ~
Teachers are hired, and the master schedule is created, based on student requests. Please carefully consider your selections, as we will be unable to accommodate elective/teacher changes after schedules have been created. We can’t guarantee you will get all your electives but, counselors will do their best to accommodate your requests.
Q: What happens if I don’t like the teacher with which my student is scheduled?
A: While we don’t make teacher changes, it is important that we work collectively as a team to ensure student success. If there is a concern, communication is key. There is a process for parents to follow that helps ensure proper communication as well as determine needs for students who are struggling.
Electives
· Courses offered only at Casteel will be listed in our Course Registration and Academic Planning Guide.
· Semester long courses can be taken either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
· Any classes taken in Junior High will not be applied towards High School Transcripts.
· PE –
o PED800 (PE) is not a requirement for Junior High.
o This class is for 7th and 8th grade and is co-ed
o Athletic Physical Education (Also often called: APA) is a full year course, designed for 7th grade students who wish to participate on an athletic team and take Academy class in 8th grade.
o Students cannot have 2 PE electives in the same semester (dance, APA, pe, academy classes)
o Academy classes are only offered for 8th-12th graders
- Rosters are based off coach approval. *Please reach out to the Coach if you have interest in registering for an academy.
· World Language
o 8th graders ONLY- This is a full-year high school level course– make sure you’re ready!
o A 3.0 GPA (B average) is recommended for these classes
o Although this is a high school class, CUSD does not permit high school credit for 8th graders.
o If you continue year 2 of the same language in 9th grade, this will go on your High School transcripts and satisfy the 2-year world language requirement for Colleges and Universities. Please note some colleges require more than 2 years.
- Spanish 1
- ASL 1
- French 1
- German 1
- Mandarin Chinese 1
Orchestra:
Q: Do I need to have previous orchestra experience to join Beginning Orchestra?
A: No, you do not need experience to join Beginning Orchestra, everyone will be starting fresh.
Q: What instruments are available for beginning orchestra?
A: Beginning orchestra instruments include violin, viola, cello, and bass.
Q: Will I need to audition for Cadet Orchestra?
A: No auditions are required for Cadet Orchestra, however if you would like to be placed into Concert Orchestra, you will have to play an audition to be placed in that group.
Q: If I took orchestra in 6thgrade, but feel like I should start over again, can I take Beginning Orchestra?
A: Yes, if you struggled to learn your notes, you are welcome to join Beginning Orchestra to learn them again.
Q: If I want to play a new instrument should I take Beginning Orchestra or Cadet Orchestra?
A: You should take Beginning Orchestra.
Q: Are there school instruments available to rent?
A: There are some instruments available. Wait until school starts and we will know exactly what is available. If not, you will receive recommendations.
Band:
Q: Do I need to have previous band experience to join Beginning Band?
A: No, you do not need experience to join beginning band, everyone will be starting fresh.
Q: What instruments are available for beginning band?
A: Beginning band instruments include ALL wind instruments you would see in The Presidents Own Marine Band (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba)
Q: Will I need to audition for Cadet Band?
A: No auditions are required for Cadet Band, however if you would like to be placed into Concert Band, you will have to play an audition to be placed in that group.
Q: Can I join Percussion with zero experience?
A: Yes, you may, experience is preferred but if your heart really wants to go with Percussion, please set up a time to speak with Dr. Jones so he can suggest how you'll be on track to be successful in that class.
Choir:
Q: “How do I audition for advanced choir and what is the audition like?”
A: students wanting to audition for Advanced Choir need to contact Mrs. Clausen to schedule an audition. The audition consists of singing a short solo such as My Country ‘Tis of Thee, singing a major scale using solfege (do-re-mi) and sight reading.
Q: “What is the difference between the three levels of JH choir?”
A: Beginning choir is for anyone wanting to learn the basics. Open to boys and girls. No experience needed. Intermediate Girls’ choir is for girls only and focuses on learning to sing in harmony. Advanced choir is audition-based, and we learn to sing in 3–4-part harmony. Previous singing experience is necessary.
Casteel High School 7th &8th grade Fine Arts Audition Information
Orchestra Audition Information
When: May 11-13
Audition Requirements:
-Scales: Bb, Eb, A, F, G, C, D major, a, c, d, and e minor 2-3 octaves. To audition for Chamber Orchestra, you must know all 12 major and minor 3 octave scales.
-A piece of your choice that shows your range (the piece should show how high you can play, if you can shift well, if you’re good at complicated rhythms, etc.). Talk to your teacher/private teacher about a good piece for you, or you can ask Miss Choin for ideas.
Have questions? Email Miss Choin – choin.victoria@cusd80.com
Band Audition Information
Auditions are only required for Junior High Concert Band
Contact Dr. Jones, Director of Bands for audition opportunities - Jones.Malcom@cusd80.com
Choir Audition Information
Auditions are only required for Junior High Advanced Choir
When: Week of May 16th by appointment only
Contact Mrs. Clausen - Clausen.Camilyn@cusd80.com
Dance Audition Information
Auditions are only required for Advanced and Intermediate Dance.
When: May 16-18 2:45-5:00pm ** Current elementary students should arrive no later 3:30pm
Contact Mrs. South - South.Marie@cusd80.com for auditions information or check our website for more details.
UPDATES FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKER - MS. MILLER
MIND 24-7 (MENTAL HEALTH URGENT CARE)
Hi Casteel Families! Mind 24-7 is a new mental health resource that is opening in the east valley. They will officially open on 1/22/2022 and are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please see the information below and check out their website for all their services. The east valley location is at 1138 S. Higley Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206.
Mind 24-7 (Mental Health Urgent Care)
Helps individuals avoid unnecessary emergency room visits by allowing them to walk in and see a licensed mental health clinician immediately. On average, an appointment lasts only two hours from start to finish. We reduce the need for unnecessary admissions by quickly and efficiently serving those that find themselves in a real crisis and help transition to appropriate long term intense treatment as needed.
1-844-646-3247
MRS. CUNICO
Mrs. Cunico was raised in New Mexico and received her Bachelors of Science in Family Studies and her masters in Counseling at the University of New Mexico. She has lived in Arizona with her family for 6 years. She has worked as a High School Counselor for 18 years and Junior High the past 4 years. She has 2 daughters who attend Casteel. She loves being a Colt and working with students at Casteel.
OUR DEPARTMENT MISSION
Email: waaramaa.stephanie@cusd80.com
Website: https://www.cusd80.com/casteelhigh
Location: 24901 South Power Road, Queen Creek, AZ, USA
Phone: (480) 424-8100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCHSCounselingCollegeandCareerCenter/
Twitter: @CCHS_CAREER