BRET HARTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2025: Columbia College will be hosting FAFSA/Dream Act Zoom Sessions during the months of January and February to assist students with one-on-one questions and troubleshooting the FAFSA and CADAA applications. Learn more at https://5il.co/363fw. For more resources visit Columbia College Financial Aid at https://gocolumbia.edu/financial_aid/.

TeenLife's Summer Programs 2025 Guide has been released and is a great resource for college-bound high school students. Browse the entire guide at https://5il.co/35bfj.

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello Senior Families, I have received some inquiries from you about the FAFSA and the information needed to complete it. Previously, I shared emails that included webinars, checklists, and tips to guide you through the FAFSA process. Here is an additional resource for you: Why Complete the FAFSA? • Access to Financial Aid: Many colleges, universities, and scholarships require the FAFSA for eligibility. • Maximize Your Opportunities: Submitting your application early can help ensure you meet priority deadlines for the most aid. How to Get Started: 1. Create your Going Merry Account: Student Account or Parent Account, 2. List our school in your profile. 3. Complete the FAFSA Preparation Assignment and review the FAFSA Insights presentation. 4. Go to the FAFSA page and get started! 5. Need Help? Consult Going Merry's FAFSA Knowledge Base, or email the Going Merry team of financial aid advisors at fafsa@goingmerry.com. Also, please contact Tira Lawthorn at (209) 588-5077 Office or (209) 353-3136 Cell, if you need one-on-one guidance. She is an excellent local source for all our families." Have a wonderful holiday season, see you in January." - Ms. Godfrey

CLASS OF 2025: "There will be an application workshop on Friday during Pond in the Learning Center. Please have your student fill out the google form in order to attend. >>> https://forms.gle/inADRx5jsj6trv4MA. They will assist with: 1. Community College Applications, 2. FAFSA questions, and 3. Promise Application. They can also answer any questions students have regarding attending ANY Community College in California in the Fall of 2025. If you would like to come, parents are welcome to attend as well! Check in at the front office and head on over to the learning center! Please contact me with questions." - Sherryl Godfrey

CLASS OF 2025: Check your email for information about small rural town financial aid help from Ms. Godfrey.

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello Class of 2025 Families! THIS JUST IN FROM SALLIE MAE! The wait is over-the 2025-26 FAFSA® is open! We know time is precious, so we created two resources that should make completing the FAFSA® faster and easier. Our FAFSA ® quick start sheet ( https://5il.co/31put) can help students and parents prepare so that their FAFSA® experience is a smooth one. • A timeline of when to file the FAFSA ® • Guidance on getting the needed FSA ID before filing the FAFSA ® • Documents needed, and no longer needed (there were changes last year-this isn't your father's FAFSA ®!) • In addition, the FAFSA ® Guide by Sallie walks you through all the FAFSA® questions to help users answer correctly so that they can maximize their financial aid for school. Some aid is first come, first served, so it's best to complete the FAFSA® as soon as possible. However, if you aren't ready for these resources just yet, go ahead and open each resource, hit the ⭐ next to the web address on your browser, and come back to it when you're ready. Sallie Mae also has a ton of resources for families, check out their financial aid page here: https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/financial-aid/. Please contact me with questions" - Ms. Godfrey

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello! We have invited Columbia College's Financial Services representatives to host a few workshops in January during pond for current Seniors. Families are welcome to join on a sign up basis, and more information will be coming prior to December break. If you would like to get started NOW- the CSU representatives are hosting their own workshops throughout November and December. CSU Stan State Fin. Aid Workshop >>> https://www.csustan.edu/financial-aid-scholarship/deadlines-workshops/workshops Cash4CollegeFAFSAWorkshop >>> https://csac.ca.gov/c4c." - Ms Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello Senior Families! The FAFSA is coming soon! Here are some things you can do to prepare. Watch this 4 minute video to complete the 25-26 FAFSA, opening Dec. 1st >>> FAFSA 25-26 Demo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=UoanDnCzCNg#:~:text=Watch%20our%20FAFSA%20Demo%20before%20you%20complete,expect%20and%20how%20to%20avoid%20common%20mistakes.) Here is a 2 min. video how to create an FSA ID (which you can do before it opens, sometimes it takes up to 7 days to complete.) >>> Create an FSA ID ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv7nPnBfzwU.) We also have people available for individual help. Even if you aren't going to Columbia College, the MEOC program can help you, they work with students throughout Calaveras County. MEOC Main Page through Columbia College: MEOC (https://www.gocolumbia.edu/trio/triomotherlodeeducationalopportunitycenter.php). MEOC application. >>> Apply to MEOC (https://columbia-eoc-pub.studentaccess.com/appform/default.aspx?guid=6f5d2147-706b-495b-95e0-33a2bb4559c5.) MEOC representative - you can call her and set up an appointment! Tira Lawhorn, Transition Specialist, MEOC, 209.588.5077, lawhornt@yosemite.edu. I wish you the best of luck getting financial aid for your future." - Ms. Godfrey

If you missed College Night this past Wednesday, October 30th, you can review the slideshow at https://5il.co/30ixc. Questions can be directed to Ms Godfrey.

Kickin’ around the idea of a career in the armed services? If not, why not take the ASVAB anyways?! The ASVAB will be administered on Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 AM in RM 27. Sign up using this form, and don't forget to press submit! https://forms.gle/Ag1bBJJqtqBzYDMC8. Questions, contact Ms Godfrey. “What is the ASVAB? The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.” - https://www.officialasvab.com/

CLASS OF 2025: "This is a final reminder that if you are interested in attending Columbia College's CLAIM JUMPER DAY ON THURSDAY SEPT. 26TH please turn in your permission slips! Here is what will happen on that day! We leave at 8:30 from the lower gym on the bus, and come back after 1pm. The day will begin with a modified campus tour that will include many special presentations and demonstrations from programs like Hospitality/Culinary, Automotive Technology, Welding Technology, Fire Academy, Emergency Medical Services, STEM majors and much more! Groups will then proceed to Carkeet Park for an info fair filled with many Columbia College special support programs, academic programs, Clubs, Dorms, etc. Lunch will be provided by Taqueria Sonora. Students will be given a 'passport' to complete at the info fair. Everyone will receive a free t-shirt! Please fill out the permission slip and turn it in to Ms. Godfrey in Room 27!"

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello Parents and Guardians of the Class of 2025! I'm sending an email to let you know I have officially invited you to the google classroom where you will find everything you need to know including dates, testing information, forms, documents,etc. regarding the Class of 2025's Senior Year. If you have trouble accessing, please let me know and I will forward to the tech dept. Many of you are already listed, but for those who aren't, the invitation may have gone to your spam folder. There is a link in the mail that should get you invited into the classroom. In other news, this past month I have conferenced with quite a few of you to discuss post graduation planning- if you are interested in a Senior Conference and haven't yet signed up, you can sign up using this link. >>> https://forms.gle/6WRymEfZLJLdSvxw8. Senior Conferences take up to 30 minutes, and will include: Transcript overview, Graduation Status - College eligibility - GPA - Class Rank, Career aspirations, Timeline of College Applications, College Application process - deadlines, FAFSA information and Financial Aid/Scholarships, Trade/Tech School Info, Other: depending on the student! Looking forward to a wonderful school year!" - Sherryl Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor

"The SAT test requirements are slowly creeping back into the college application process starting with the Class of 2025. On October 22nd I will be administering the SAT. If you are interested in taking it, sign up using this form. https://forms.gle/s1DmiPPvtSnh1PuLA. You must pay and sign up by September 13th. See Ms. Sugar in the main office for payment instructions. There can be no exceptions to this deadline as it set by College board. Here is a link to see which colleges will be requiring the SAT/ACT for the Class of 2025: https://blog.collegevine.com/colleges-requiring-sat-act. From College Vine: 'While the increased prevalence of test-optional policies started with the pandemic, many institutions, including some of the most selective colleges, have extended or even made these policies permanent. However, a range of prominent public universities and tech schools, particularly in the South, have been requiring tests again for a couple of years now, and for the 2024-2025 cycle, half the Ivy League will once again be requiring all applicants to submit a test score.' Please contact me with any questions you have." - Ms. Godfrey

CLASS OF 2025: "Hello Senior Families! It's time to conference about future planning! I will be meeting with ALL SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2025 In the next few weeks. If you are interested in joining the conversation with your student, please sign up using this google form. Please only sign up for one day and time. https://forms.gle/UR8vtAukpd8UuyM26. This is the best time to chat about future goals, course selection, summer opportunities, and everything related to future choices. There is a limit of one time slot per family, and each conference will last approximately 30 minutes. If none of the times fit any spot in your schedule, please email me and we will work something else out. Looking forward to a wonderful school year!" - Ms. Godfrey

CLASS OF 2025: "Columbia College is excited to announce Claim Jumper Day 2024 on Thursday, September 26th! This event is designed to introduce prospective [senior high school students] from our local and nearby high schools to Columbia College, and promote the educational opportunities that exist inside and outside the classroom. This event will showcase the unique programs and services that Columbia has to offer, and how to continue to stay engaged following this one-day event. [The] Event Time is 9am-1pm. The entire event is FREE and includes lunch and free giveaways.." - Columbia College Outreach and Retention \\ More information visit https://5il.co/2rsm5. Permission slips can be obtained from RM 27.

CLASS OF 2025: "Calling all Seniors interested in going to Columbia College next fall - Sept 26th we will be attending the Claim Jumper Day -leaving around 8:30 am and returning between 1-2pm. During this event you will get a school wide tour, free lunch! and have the opportunity to chat with an advisor about future planning, as well as learn about the dormitories, sports, etc. Fill out the permission slip located on my google classroom and return to me in room 27, or the main office to Ms. McCamey. Looking forward to having you along!" - Ms Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor

BACK TO SCHOOL ONLINE FORMS: "Bret Harte Families, Back to school forms have been moved ONLINE! Required annual forms historically mailed in June, are now available on the Campus Parent Portal . Online review of forms by parents/guardians will take less than 30 minutes and your progress will be tracked. Below is a list of documents to be viewed, completed and/or signed: • Back to School Newsletter • Freshman & New Student Orientation Information • Picture Day Information • School Calendar • Bell Schedule • Attendance Procedures • Dress Code • Housing Questionnaire • Student Purchases Order Form • Student Vehicle Application • Household Income Survey Information • Yearbook Information • Title I Parent Engagement Policy • Robo-Doc Telehealth Program Authorization • Bus Application and Schedule • And, more! Parents/Guardians, log into your Campus Parent Portal account on a desktop browser or on the mobile app. Navigate to MENU > DOCUMENTS for each student enrolled in the District. Review each online form. Forms listed as Needs Attention require completion and a signature. To review but opt out of submitting your signature, simply select Decline and Submit. The deadline to complete online forms is the second Friday of the school your or Friday, August 23, 2024. Services are available to assist parent/guardians in completing online forms. Contact the school office at 209 736-2507 or rmccamey@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us for assistance. Contact Technology for Campus Parent Portal assistance at igrycel@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us." -Bret Harte Union High School District

CLASS OF 2024: "Go Columbia Day May 22nd \\ IF YOU ARE GOING TO COLUMBIA IN THE FALL - you need to attend the field trip Wednesday, May 22nd. FREE LUNCH! You will be speaking to a counselor and picking your classes, creating accounts, get a tour, and free tshirts too! Permission slips are due Monday MAY 20th (After Frog Jump). Please make sure you have ALL the information filled out. If you need a permission slip, come see me in room 27 asap, as all your teachers need to sign the form before you can turn it in, it may take a day to complete. The permission slips are on my Classroom, and I have attached a copy here as well." - Ms. Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor

CAREER/COLLEGE COUNSELING UPDATE: “The eighth annual Los Altos Hacks, a completely free hackathon, will be on April 6-7, 2024. It is a 100% free hackathon with thousands of dollars in prizes, fun activities, swag, stickers, shirts, and so much more! All meals and snacks will be provided, and entrance is free! It is a great opportunity for students to network with other students with similar interests, as well as speakers and guests from highly renowned companies. To register or learn more, visit https://www.losaltoshacks.com/ or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @losaltoshacks for updates. Los Altos Hacks VIII will take place at the Juniper Aspiration Dome in Sunnyvale, CA on April 6-7.” – Ms Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor

ACADEMIC COUNSELING UPDATE: "Hello! It's that time again, SPRING! This is the best time to chat about future goals, course selection, summer opportunities, and everything related to future education choices. Please sign up using this google form. There is a limit of one time slot per family. If none of the times fit any spot in your schedule, I will send out another form in May." - Ms Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor >>> Reservation link: https://forms.gle/anfnSX42KsC24DRS6