Counseling Update
April 1, 2024
Novi High School Counseling News
Watch for this newsletter at the beginning of each month. We will include information about upcoming events and helpful resources.
If you are not a member of the Novi High School Counseling Resources Schoology Group - please add yourself using this group code: 55Q27-3WDKS
Upcoming Events:
- April 5: Test out registration CLOSES
- April 11: ACT WorkKeys, M-Step, and PSAT9
- April 16: SAT w/Essay and PSAT10
- April 22-26: UMatter Week
- April 24: AP/IB Testing starts
- April 25: High School Test Out date
2024 Novi Summer School
Novi Community School District will be offering in-person summer school this year. Online registration is open from May 2 through June 9. Classes will run from 8:00AM - 2:30PM
Semester 1: June 17, 2024 - July 1, 2024
Semester 2: July 2, 2024 - July 18, 2024 (No School July 4 & 5, 2024)
Information regarding tuition, registration, and more can be found at the Summer School district website below.
2024 Novi Test Out
Novi Community School District will grant equivalent credit for a required Michigan Merit Curriculum course if the student earns a qualifying score on a District-approved assessment, defined as a C+ or better. This is often referred to as “testing out.”
A student who earns credit in a course by “testing out” will not earn a grade in the course, and the credit will not be considered for determining grade point average or any honors earned based on grade point average.
The high school test out date is Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Novi High School. Online registration is open from March 18th to April 5th. Testing procedures, registration instructions, and general information can be found at the Test Out district website below.
2024 Summer School Interest Form
Students who plan to complete any summer coursework are required to submit this Google Form to ensure the courses and summer programs are approved.
Dual Enrollment Info Session
Students who plan to do Dual Enrollment for the first time are required to attend our Dual Enrollment Information Session on Thursday, April 4. There will be two options for attendance: during Advisory or the Google Meet that evening (students are only required to attend one).
Free SAT Practice Test
Sat, Apr 27, 1-5pm
Novi Public Library - Whole Meeting Room
College Tutors will be hosting a free SAT practice test. Taking a practice test is a great way to get familiar with the format of the test, identify your strengths and weaknesses and determine where to focus to achieve the best results.
Students must bring a calculator and two sharpened pencils and are encouraged to bring a water bottle and snack. Students can arrive at least 10 minutes early for check in and to get a seat. They must be in the room no later than 1pm. No late admittance will be permitted.
Air National Guard
During the Advisory period on May 2, we will be hosting an informational session led by TSgt. Manasseri. There will be information about careers, education benefits, GI Bill and other Tuition Assistance programs, jobs in the Air National Guard, and more! Fill out this brief Google Form if you'd like to attend and learn more! This session will take place in Lecture Area A.
Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN)
Students, staff, and families in the Novi Community School District have access to Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN). OCHN leads a provider service network with public mental health services for those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health challenge, or substance use disorder. For more information about OCHN and the services they offer, click HERE.
OCHN offers a reimbursement program, allowing families to be reimbursed up to $2,000 for services and resources such as therapy, psychiatry, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychotropic medication. The only thing that is not covered under reimbursement is ABA therapy. Anyone can apply and there is no income cap to receive reimbursement. The only qualifier is that the student is enrolled in an Oakland county school (early on - adult transition). Families simply need to complete the School Mental Health Funding Assistance Form. Note: I have been told that it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to receive the reimbursement check.
Additional information can be found on the flyer below.
Parent Guidance
We would like to share an exciting new service for YOU, the parents, at no cost to you. We have partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection to provide mental health awareness resources to families. These resources include a free website, ParentGuidance.org, with over 50 e-courses led by licensed therapists, one-hour webinars that will be held throughout the school year, and individual coaching for parents who want extra support.
ParentGuidance.org is a free program designed to help parents help their child. This is a great starting point as you look for answers regarding your child’s mental health, child development, or even your own needs. Many parents use this resource to get answers to questions about a variety of topics from licensed therapists. You can also see the Ask-a-Therapist section, where you can submit questions and review therapist responses in the library of Frequently Asked Questions with topics such as anxiety, suicide ideation, bullying, self-harm and more.
Parenting is hard and every child requires different parenting styles. Parent coaching is a confidential service provided to parents and caregivers associated with our district. If you or your family is in need of extra emotional support, new parenting techniques, ways to communicate better with others, or any type of help, go to ParentGuidance.org, select “Parent Coaching” and select "Get Started" to enroll in the FREE parent coaching services being offered. You can meet with a Parent Coach once a week for a 30-minute virtual meeting as well as message your coach throughout the week as needs arise, with no limited number of sessions! These services are HIPAA protected and what you discuss with your coaching will never be reported back to the district.
For more information about the coaching process, visit these ParentGuidance.org resources:
In addition to Parent Coaching, NCSD will be offering four, one-hour webinars, referred to as the Mental Health Series during the remainder of the 23/24 school year. These are designed to support parents on topics such as anxiety, the effects of screen time and your child’s mental health, mindfulness, and more.
The first webinar will be on Tuesday, March 19 from 6:30-7:30pm.
Use this Registration Link to pre-register for these events and receive an email reminder before the event begins. You will also be able to access the recorded webinar at the conclusion of the event.
We encourage parents to take advantage of these new resources. If you have any questions, please contact RosaLeigh Johnson, Director of Mental Health & Wellness for the Novi Community School District (rosaleigh.johnson@novik12.org).
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We post updates about important events coming up, announcements, college visits, and more!
@novihscounseling
Meet Your Counselors
To determine who your counselor is, each counselor's caseload is listed below their picture. Counselors are assigned by student last name. If you are an 11th or 12th grader pursuing an IB Diploma, you will work with Mrs. Keszei.
Ms. Leve
Ms. Chinn-Keshishian
Mr. Farmer
Mr. Kilgore
Ms. Tobis
Ms. Keszei
Meeting with your Counselor
- Academic help
- Career planning
- Schedule questions
- College questions
- Social Emotional support
- Crisis Support
How to meet with your counselor:
- Stop by the counselor table in the lunch room
- Sign up for a non-emergency student appointment
- Email your counselor with quick questions
*New Process to Sign Up for an Appointment*
Using your NHS email account, click on your counselor’s name under Schedule an Appointment below.
- Select a time that works for you. Open times are visible with gray boxes.
- When prompted, enter your name in appointment information and a brief reason for your appointment.
- Click "save"
- Check your email for an email appointment confirmation (you will also get a reminder 1 hour before).
- Create an eHallPass to your counselor for the appointment time (this should also be done at least 24 hours in advance).
- Show your notification email (or google calendar generated appointment) to your teacher if needed for them to approve your eHallPass.
Appointment Calendars:
Counselor Table:
This year, counselors will be available in the lunch room for students to ask questions or get information.
Quiet Lunch Room:
Did you know we have an alternate quiet lunch space other than the cafeteria for students? Stop in to see your counselor if you'd like more information and to take advantage of this opportunity. - Please note availability will vary during the month of May due to AP/IB testing.
Opportunities for Novi Community School District
Parent Schoology Notification Setup
AP/IB Students
Please make sure you have added yourself to the appropriate group(s) based on your courses this year for important updates and information! This is also where Summer Work will be posted if you are enrolling in an AP or IB course for next year.
AP Schoology GROUP access code: JBQW-X6P8-CBN3W
IB Schoology Group access code: Q5XZ-W4XN-56DVH
College Corner
Class of 2024 Postsecondary Planning Meeting Materials
The counseling office enjoyed the opportunity to share information with you this week about your postsecondary planning. I have attached some links below for you to reference:
College Visits
View the full list as colleges are being added daily here: College Visits
While many visits happen in the fall, additional visits will be added throughout.
Financial Aid
Scholarships are being posted each week in Schoology -> Counseling Group Resources -> Financial Aid Folder
Students and their families interested in learning about financial aid basics are encouraged to register for a virtual presentation provided by Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team.
Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:
- FAFSA application information
- Federal financial aid programs
- State financial aid programs
- Scholarship searching resources
All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.
Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter
This resource from the State of Michigan will help you have a better understanding of the sources of financial aid you have been awarded. If you still have questions, reach out to your schools financial aid office for additional support.
Join us for an upcoming virtual session to learn more about your financial aid award letter.
Career Corner
Novi offers many options for students to do some career exploration through our course options. We have created a resource to identify the career clusters that relate to our different courses and clubs. You can find this information here.
Our labor market is shifting. More than 75% of jobs in Michigan will require some time of training after high school (Michigan.gov). This does not mean everyone needs a four year degree. As you look at careers you are interested in and plan for your future it is important to know what type of training you will need to accomplish your goals. The state of Michigan offers a great resource to show the High Demand Careers and the training you will need. You can find that information here.
If you would like to discuss your career plans/post secondary goals more you can always schedule a meeting with your counselor or our Career Development Facilitator (Jennifer Kerbrat).
Novi Youth Assistance Resources
Mental Health Feature
Reference our Local Resources for Families here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Y7i_8Yufj8w384xT2sQOlHIOGccRZUwv54-eQeHPHs/edit?usp=sharing
Ms. Alex
Ms. Haase
Counseling Office
Email: christina.alex@novik12.org
Website: https://hs.novi.k12.mi.us/counseling
Location: 24062 Taft Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: 248-449-1513
Twitter: @NoviCounseling