Counseling Office Newsletter
March 22, 2024
What's Happening
Senior Awards Night Preparations
Anticipation and excitement are building for May and for all of the special events focused on celebrating our seniors. The senior distinction lists have been set and GHS is building up momentum for this year's Senior Awards Night. The Counseling Office needs one final element from students/families to help celebrate all of your accomplishments: scholarship information! You can use the button below or the button on the GHS website to complete the form. The deadline to complete the Awards Night form is 04/15/2024.
**Caution: The student can only submit this form once, so please read the instructions carefully**
Devil U Deadline
Sophomores who are interested in participating in Devil U junior and senior year, the application and letters of recommendation are due to the Counseling Office by April 5th. Interested students were given the information during course registration. They can come to the Counseling Office if they have any additional questions.
Did You Know?
JROTC
Did you know that Greeneville High School has an Air Force JROTC program?
Oftentimes, students think this is only for students that are planning on joining the military after high school. While this can be a great way for students to gain helpful skills for the military, JROTC can be a great opportunity for any student. In today’s post, we are going to debunk some JROTC myths and share how this might be a great class for you to add to your schedule next school year!
Myth #1: JROTC is only for students who plan on joining the military.
Fact: JROTC can be for anybody! JROTC is a leadership program that teaches students important skills that will help them regardless of what they choose to do after high school. It is not basic training and is not a recruitment tool for the military. This class will focus on things like discipline, communication skills, responsibility, and citizenship.
Myth #2: I must cut my hair and wear a uniform.
Fact: Ok, this one is kind of true. But it is not as bad as it sounds! AND there is a way to try JROTC without having to cut your hair or wear a uniform. Any second-year cadet and beyond (so anyone who has taken JROTC more than once) must follow uniform expectations. However, any student who is taking JROTC for the first time is not required to cut their hair or wear the uniform. So if you want to try JROTC, don’t let the uniform stop you!
Myth #3: JROTC will not meet any graduation requirements.
Fact: JROTC can meet MANY graduation requirements! If students participate in the JROTC for more than one semester, JROTC has the potential to meet Lifetime Wellness, PE, Personal Finance, and US Government requirements. Ask your counselor if you have more questions about how this works
As you can see, there are many benefits to taking JROTC. Don’t rule it out as a great addition to your schedule!
If you have more questions about the AFJROTC program at GHS, reach out to your counselor or MSgt. Jason Talmage: talmagej@gcschools.net
Major Tyler Stabiler: stabilert@gcschools.net
Street Talk
P.E. Substitutions
Did you know that there are substitutions for taking P.E.? You can take Marching Band, JROTC, and/or play a high school sport instead. Any of those can take the place of your P.E. graduation requirement.
Marching Band and JROTC require no additional action required to get the credit. If you play a sport, the GHS Counseling Office carries "substitution cards" that your athletic coach must sign.
Registrar tip: Make sure your substitution card is turned in BEFORE the end of your 7th semester (if possible). You want that A/100 to be factored in with your 7th semester GPA.
(SEL)f Care
Why Is SEL Important?
I have used this platform for the past two years to focus on diverse ways to bolster our social and emotional learning. In this issue, I wanted to do a quick refresher on why SEL is so important.
As social beings, Social Emotional Learning impacts one’s daily life because of the five competencies contained in the framework. At its heart, SEL is the process by which one learns to navigate through the world in a way that promotes success, growth, creativity, joy, and positive experiences within a social setting. It is key to becoming a well-rounded, healthy, high-functioning, happy adult human.
The Social Emotional Learning competencies include Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making. Mastering these five tasks increases the probability that an individual can navigate school, the world of work, and personal interaction with peers. It is a great foundation for being a good human being.
While Self-Awareness involves recognizing one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions, Self-Management is the ability to manage those thoughts and feelings in a way that brings about positive reactions and the realization of goals. Being successful in these areas is an excellent way to stay in good standing not only in school but in society at large.
Social Awareness is important for so many reasons. Like the previous competencies, it requires an individual to be good at understanding not only their feelings, but the emotions of those around them. Social Awareness demands a skill in ‘reading a room’ or understanding peers' feelings by engaging in empathy. This is so important when dealing with people from diverse cultures, or working with those who may hold different values or norms. Or in this case, making it through the halls of Greeneville High during a class change. Mastering these three competencies is crucial in learning environments and the work world.
The last two competencies are Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision Making. They become even more important as an individual matures and is out in the world in a more independent manner. The ability to build healthy relationships, maintain appropriate boundaries and appreciate the uniqueness of others is paramount to becoming a healthy and happy adult. Life is full of decisions such as choosing classes for the upcoming year, picking a college, or even a date for prom. Learning to make such decisions in an informed and responsible way increases the chances of an individual not only being successful in high school or their chosen fields of study, but also finding a sense of purpose and lasting happiness.
SEL is not something we often find listed on a course syllabus or as a requirement in an application for a job, but it is a crucial piece in the pursuit of Excellence. Not just the sort of excellence we hope to see in academics, sports, or in the arts here at GHS, but the excellence that comes from being a good human being.
Post-Secondary Spotlight
Best Wishes to Heidi
If you need help with the FAFSA during this transition, here are a few resources that are available:
Educational Opportunity Center
Walters State Greeneville Campus
Beverly Barberi
423-798-7993
Tusculum University Financial Aid Office
Tusculum is hosting evening FAFSA nights for community members to get assistance, but families can also make appointments during business hours (Monday - Friday, 8a-5p)
423-636-7377
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
Virtual line-by-line walkthroughs Monday nights at 7:30p.m. EST. Parents and students can register at www.collegefortn.org/fafsa.
Scholarships 💲
- the GHS website,
- GHS Student News,
- GHS Counseling Office Twitter page,
- GHS TV slideshows,
- printed in the Counseling Office, and
- here in the GHS Newsletter.
Specific scholarship details can be found on the Counseling Office page of the GHS website. Below you will find scholarship names and deadlines.
- Dr. Hal Henard Scholarship - Due 03/22/2024
- Haskell Wells and Kiwanis Memorial Scholarship - Due 03/22/2024
- Donaldean Medra Renner Scholarship - Due 03/31/2024
- Jessica Colter Scholarship - Due 03/31/2024
- Leora Bullen Greene County Democratic Women Scholarship - Due 04/05/2024
- Caroline Russell Memorial Scholarship - Due 04/05/2024
- Loyal Order of Moose Scholarship - Due 04/15/2024
- GSIA Scholarship - 04/24/2024
- Carmen Cox Business Scholarship - Due 05/27/2024
Things To Be Aware Of:
Next National ACT Test Date: April 13, 2024
- Regular Deadline: March 8, 2024
- Late Registration Deadline (late fee required): March 22, 2024
- Photo Upload and Standby Deadline: April 5, 2024
College Visits
Seniors are getting close to making their final decisions and Juniors may be wanting to get a head start on seeing what different colleges/universities can offer. Juniors and Seniors can get an excused absence for going on a college visit. Students get up to 2 excused college visits per semester. All you will need is to turn in a letter on the college's letterhead indicating your visit and turn it into the Attendance Office.
Ordering Transcripts
Transcripts can be ordered oh the GHS Website, under Records Request. Students may request up to 10 transcripts at a time. You will have the following options for requesting a transcript:
- Pick-up in person (from the Counseling Office)
- Sent electronically to a college/university
- Mail directly to an address
- Other (Use the Special Instructions box to give us a fax number or email address of a recruiter. When using the Special Instructions box, be sure to tell us who to address on the fax or email.)
Mental Health Event - March 28, 2024
Details for the Mental Health event hosted by Healthy Transitions:
Date: March 28, 2024
Location: General Morgan Inn
Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Some things to expect:
- Food and drinks provided
- Self-care tips
- Free goodies
- Door prizes
- Guest speakers
- Yoga with Loni Dinwiddie
- Kate Kelly - Empower Music Therapy
- Jacey Sizemore - Dance Therapy
- Vendors
- Bee Well Day Spa
- Greene County Anti-Drug Coalition
- Strong Futures - Ballad Health
- Greeneville Police Department
- HOPE Center
- Isaiah House 117
- Mary Kay
For more information, contact the Healthy Transitions team at:
423-361-2633 or 423-306-2519
Grade Level Next Guides
College for TN designed Next Guides as resources for students to help prepare for what's next after high school graduation. These guides are broken up by grade level to help students and families focus on what is important for that grade level. You can find these guides attached below. We hope you find them helpful!
Counseling Office Staff
Counselor: Julia Romero romeroj@gcschools.net
Counselor: Tonya Ridley ridleyt@gcschools.net
Counselor, Lead Counselor: Julie Beyersdorf beyersdorfj@gcschools.net
Counselor: Giuliana Collett collettg@gcschools.net
Registrar: Page Streeter streeterp@gcschools.net
Administrative Assistant: Cierra Greene greenec@gcschools.net