Greetings from the Counseling Department! We are actively delivering guidance lessons (a component of our “Get Connected, Stay Connected” curriculum) to the World History classes, Junior Advisement, helping seniors who need letters of recommendation, and continuing to monitor students with academic and/or personal concerns.

Get Connected to Naviance!

Access Naviance, a web-based service designed to assist in making decisions about colleges and careers.  Log on at https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=gbhs.

Username = Firstname.Lastname

Password = GBHS Student ID

NEED CREDITS TO GRADUATE in English, Math, Science, Health, or History?

ONLINE CREDIT RECOVERY (SPRING SESSION)

Online Credit Recovery is designed for those who have failed critical courses for graduation and need to makeup credits.  If you have failed ("F" grade) English 9, 10, or 11; Algebra 1; Geometry; Biology; Earth Science; Health; World History; or US History then this might be for you!  Applications are now available. Sign-ups are now through January 17^th.  Orientation is December 6^th and December 8^th at Independence High School with classes starting January 10^th.  Stop by the office and pick up an application and return it by the January 17^th deadline.

ONLINE A-G RECOVERY (SPRING SESSION)

An online A-G recovery program is now available for those who received a “D” grade in any of the following courses:  English 9,10,11,12, World Studies, U.S. History, Government, Economics, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Earth Science, Biology, Physics, or Ceramics 1.  This program is designed for those who plan on pursuing direct admission to a 4-yr. university and failed to get the prerequisite minimum “C-“grade required to meet admission standards in a required A-G course.  Applications are now available. Sign-ups are now through January 17^th with classes to begin on January 10^th through Independence High School.  Stop by the office and pick up an application and return it by the January 17^th deadline.

Freshman Focus – We’re encouraging ninth graders to:    Continue working on good study habits, time management, and goal setting with the 4-year plan by using the Naviance tool at https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=gbhs.  Know different college’s requirements for acceptance.  Learn your strengths and talents.  Use the Career Center, books, internet resources, etc. to evaluate career possibilities.  Don’t decide to “teach” or go into “business” and then later discover it is not suited to your personality.

Resources:

For college planning: start a file with www.csumentor.edu and http://connection.naviance.com/gbhs (Naviance)    

For help with academic struggles:  www.studygs.net

Tenth Grade Focus/ Class Advising – Sophomores currently enrolled in World History or AP European History, will be participating in an advisory session with counselors where we review how to read transcripts, graduation requirements, college options, testing requirements and timelines for college, and resources (including Naviance) to help.  Encourage your student to complete the Career Interest Profiler through Naviance.  The Sophomore Advising Guide is available for download at the counseling website http://granitebayhigh.org/domain/30. These advising sessions will be offered again to World History classes in the spring.   

We’re encouraging Sophomore students to:  Continue taking rigorous classes.  Take AP, and Honors classes if appropriate.  Start thinking and looking at college and careers by exploring websites or catalogs.  Reassess career options and their changing likes and needs.  Make choosing a career a matter of contemplation.  Seek further opportunities to explore the world out there.  Volunteer or work in areas in which you are interested.  Learn. Study. Grow.  Do extra-curricular activities.  Make school your primary focus.

Resources:

For career search info:  www.cacareerzone.com and www.californiacareers.info which has a great career planning guide

College search info: www.californiacolleges.edu and http://www.princetonreview.com/college-education.aspx    

Important Info for Junior Students!!!

Junior Advising was held on Wednesday, Nov. 16th.  During this session each junior was given advising information, packet along with their transcript.  Please encourage your junior to share this information with you.  Students were advised to download the full version of the Junior Advising Guide from the counseling website or through Naviance – please encourage them to do so.  An additional transcript along with an advising letter will be mailed home shortly.  

We’re encouraging Juniors to: continue taking rigorous classes. If you need help, ask!  Begin/continue keeping track of deadlines.  Take the ACT and/or SAT I and SAT II tests in the spring.  Prepare for standardized tests. Learn how the test is given, what type of questions are on it, and so on.  Visit colleges.  Discover new trends and predictions for careers for the future.  Continue your volunteer work. Continue involvement with extra-curricular activities.

Resources:

Access free practice SAT or ACT tests at: www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org

College Bound Seniors – College bound seniors applying to private colleges have been keeping us busy with letters of recommendations and the college counselor forms.  We have been very appreciative of how great the students have been about following our request to give us a minimum of two weeks advance notice.  Any due dates that fall during the winter break (Dec. 22^nd – Jan. 9^th) must be handled by Dec. 7^th – plan accordingly.

Note:  Please remember to utilize the Senior Advising information on the counseling website and Naviance.

Post High School Jitters?  Students unsure about career possibilities or college or technical programs available after high school (not uncommon!) are encouraged to utilize Naviance, an internet career exploration program that can be accessed from home.  Access information is available through the Career Center or at the Library website http://gblearningcenter.weebly.com/ (click on Naviance on left side).

Resources:

Check out http://gblearningcenter.weebly.com/career-websites.html for free college and career search resources.

Spring Semester Schedule Changes – Students desiring a spring schedule adjustment will be given an opportunity to pursue this by meeting with an administrator during lunch on Dec. 6^th- 9^th. Only change proposals with administration approval will be processed.

New semester coming soon! – Just a reminder that after we return from Winter Break we roll right into the spring term.  All Students will pickup a spring schedule on the first day of the new term on Tues., Jan. 10^th before school.

Schedule Change Policy:  Remember that we have a two-week “drop-F” policy which means any necessary changes must be made within the first two weeks of the term. Because of the 4X4 schedule, most academic changes must be made during the first week of the term.  After the tenth day of the spring term (Jan. 24^th), a student will receive a “drop F” grade from any class being exited.  Exceptions will be made only for teacher initiated/approved level changes within the same subject area.

The Many Paths to a College Degree – We shared this last year in our newsletter but thought it was worth repeating….There is a great deal of stress and anxiety at this time of year for seniors and sometimes students have the mistaken belief that there is only one path to that desired college degree.  Some have the misperception that the community college isn’t really college.  Neither belief, of course, is correct.  The community college is an excellent choice for many students for several reasons.  Many students simply are not emotionally ready to be away from home right after high school.  With all that freedom comes a multitude of choices for an eighteen year old – some are ready for that experience, others are not.  Community colleges are also a great financial bargain.  Colleges require students to fulfill general education (GE) requirements during their first two years of college.  Students can match up their course work at the community college with the four year institution they are planning on attending so that they can live at home without the additional expenses, fulfill those GE requirements, and transfer as a third year college student to the campus of their choice.

          While it is true that there are a higher percentage of students at the community college whose grades were not competitive, it is a “second chance” for those students.  Those students, as well as the already serious students, have the opportunity to transfer to outstanding universities after completing their GE requirements.  All community colleges have special arrangements with some four-year schools including all UC’s except for UCLA and UC Berkeley.  Sierra College also has agreements with Sonoma State and Sacramento State.  These guaranteed transfer agreements are typically entered into once a student has completed approximately half of their transfer requirements (for most students this is around 30 units).  If students follow through with their remaining transfer requirements and hit the minimum GPA requirement (varies by 4 yr. univ.) they are guaranteed acceptance as a transfer student.

          So if your student is not quite ready for the four-year college experience, encourage them to create an alternate four-year college plan.  As always, we try to encourage students to keep focused on a plan, take as many academics as they can, and know that they will reach their goals!

          The counseling office is busy as ever with our springtime focus on spring and summer Credit Recovery registration, online registration and advising for next school year, required college testing for juniors, final college & career decisions with seniors, the process for course changes for next year, and helping students stay focused with the end quickly approaching.

We have been working hard to provide relevant information in a timelier and readily accessible format. Hopefully you will find it helpful in providing current school news, academic resources, social/emotional resources, test-taking strategies, stress management help, college and career searches, college handbook, study skills help etc. 

College and Career Handbook Online http://www.rjuhsd.us/2314101214125257563/site/default.asp

Be sure to check out this wonderful resource for up-to-date information on SAT/ACT testing, college application procedures, college visitation guidelines, career search info, NCAA info, alternate routes to your dream college, financial aid and scholarship info. and much, much more!

It’s Time to Start and/or Continue Your College/Career Search @

www.CaliforniaColleges.edu    

CaliforniaColleges.edu is the state’s official website that provides information about higher education and career planning in California for students and parents.  It has been developed in collaboration with the California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), California Community Colleges (CCC), Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), and the California Department of Education.  You will find it is a great place to start the college/career planning journey with guidelines for exploring colleges/careers, paying for college, how to navigate the admissions process, how to pick the college right for you etc.

GREAT RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS:

Guidance Counselors

If your student needs help with homework, study habits, stress management, time management etc. or seems to be struggling in school (defined as getting D’s and F’s) and you can’t figure out why, please contact your student’s counselor for further help.

Homelink:

Remember you can access your student’s classroom assignments, current grade, attendance status, transcripts etc. from home on your own internet-connected computer.  To create a student or parent account, please visit this address http://rosevillehsd.net.

Study skills: www.studygs.net, http://lsc.sas.cornell.edu/Sidebars/Study_Skills_Resources/SKResources.html

Stress Management: www.stressmanagementtips.com

College Searches:  www.collegeboard.com, www.princetonreview.com,   www.californiacolleges.edu

Career Searches:  www.cacareerzone.com, www.californiacareers.info                   

SAT and ACT Practice Tests:  www.collegeboard.com, or www.actstudent.org

Volunteer Work:  www.roseville.ca.us/hr/volunteer_center/default.asp

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!