Guidance News
  

BHS Guidance Welcomes Mr. Bill Turney as 9th grade guidance counselor this year replacing Mr. Carter who retired in June.

We want to share some suggestions that may help to guide and advise our students at each grade leavel. Let's work together to help these students find personal success. Should you have any questions or soncers, call your child's guidance counselor at 240-236-8550. Students with last names A-L should call Mrs. Tuckey and students with the last names M-Z shoulda call Ms. Fisher.

All grade level students should become familiar with Myroad. This is a computer search which can assist students and parents in exploring career options and personal interests. Students will be given access numbers for this program.

9th Grade

  • Monitor Academic Progress. Make sure you see all report cards and interim reports. Access student grades on the computer through pinnacle.
  • Encourage your son or daughter to become involved in a variety of activities. Leadership involvment and service to school and community will increase their learning potential and help further explor their own interests and abilities.
  • Explore career possibilities.
  • Enroll in appropriate and challenging courses during registration.

10th Grade

  • Continue to monitor academic progress.
  • Continue to encourage involvment in extracurricular activities.
  • Register and take PSAT in October. The PSAT will be given this year on Wednesday, October 18 and is open to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. Discuss and evaluate the results.
  • Enroll in appropriate and challenging courses during registration

11th Grade

  • Continue to monitor academic progress. Colleges will request transcripts based on grades at the end of junior year, so these grades are very important.
  • Continue to encourage involvment in extracurricular activities. Admission counselors review college applications to evaluate student involvment in school and community activities. Many scholarship committees also look for service on their applications.
  • Make certain that your son or daughter registers for the PSAT. This year the test is given on Octover 18th. Eleventh grade students should take the PSAT to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program. There is a $12.00 fee.
  • Register and take the SAT or ACT in the Spring. Students who may qualify for the Maryland Distinguished scholar program (GPA of 3.7 or better) may want to take the January SAT. The other juniors should plan to take the May or June tests. Classes will be offered to prepare for these tests.
  • Examine and plan for post-secondary career choice. Prepare for college, technical school, military, or the work force. Talk about college options. Consider location, size, cost, available majors, reputation, competitiveness, SAT/ACT mean scores and available financial resources. Make lists and visit as many as possible.
  • Visit college fairs and shadow appropriate career options.
  • Utilize the "Get a Jump" guide given out by the counselors.
  • Wednsday, September 21st, attend college application process night.
  • Attend the parent/student counselor meeting set up in guidance all 11th grade parents will be invited to attend this individual conference with their student to help plan for college and career choices.

12th Grade

  • Continue to monitor academic progress. It is important for seniors to know that colleges do monitor grades mid-way through the year to make sure that students are maintaining the appropriate grades.
  • Continue participation in activities.
  • Set up a calendar of testing dates, application deadlines, and scholarship deadlines. Students must pay attention to announcements, bulletin boards and college and scholarship deadlines.
  • Register for SAT/ACT if necessary. Students may use October, November, or December test dates. Pay attention to registration deadlines. Applications to college may be sent in before you receive the schores back from the college board.
  • Meet with military recruiters or potential employers as appropriate.
  • Obtain and complete college applications. All applications should be sent out by the "Holiday Break" in December. Give the guidance office at least 3-4 days to complete the secondary reports and write personal recommendations.
  • Continue to make college visits and attend college fairs. (Oct.3 6;30-830 FCC 100th college fair)
  • Choose about five colleges that you wish to attend and fill out applications.
  • Parents and students should attend financial aid workshop on November 14, 2006 at 1 pm.
  • Fillout FAFSA(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) These forms will be available in guidance at the end of November. you will receive detailed information about how to complete these forms and about other available financial resources at the Financial Aid Workshop, FAFSA forms should be mailed after Januare 2, 2007.
  • Apply for any appropriate scholarships. Many scholarships are available throught the guidance office and students should plan to stop in every couple of weeks to check on new ones. Follow the directions on the applications and pay close attention to the deadlines.
  • Make final decision about post-secondary plans.
  • Wednesday, September 21 attned college application process night.
  • Other resources available:
    • Bhs.edu, click on guidance, use links to college and career sites.
    • www.collegeboard.com
    • www.fastweb.com
    • www.finaid.com
    • www.fafsa.gov
  • Come to Guidance or go to the website for the BHS career and college bulletin with information on colleges, apprenticing programs, scholarships, etc.