Parent Action Plan

Parent Action Plan - 9th Graders

The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year. Please contact your school counselor if you have any questions.
The grades your child receives in 9th grade will be reported on their high school transcript.

Last Half of Middle School

• Encourage your child to meet with the school counselor to talk about career options and appropriate course work.
• Encourage your child to actively listen and participate in the school scheduling/course selection workshop.
• Attend the scheduling fair with your child to learn more about the courses offered at the high school.
• Talk to your child about the classes they choose. Make sure to sign off on their course selection sheet.
• Help your child explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations.
• Attend the Freshman Orientation in August.

 

Fall

• If your child begins an elective class and determines that it is not a good fit, they must meet with their school counselor within the first two weeks of school.
• Encourage your child to meet with the school counselor during the first quarter. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about post secondary options. Learn more about the high school counselor's role.
• Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check PowerSchool regularly.
• If you do not know your PowerSchool logon, call your child's school counselor.
• Keeping up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, allows you to celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Post secondary schools often encourage active involvement in extracurricular activities. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.

 

Winter

• Start thinking about post secondary funding options. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover costs. Start by reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid.
• Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.
• Encourage your child to talk with their school counselor about their career path to determine the most beneficial classes to take.

 

Spring

• Some 10th grade classes allow students to earn college credits for a small fee while doing the regular classwork. Please visit this link for a list of eligible classes and costs associated. Contact your school counselor if you have additional questions.
• Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
• See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.
• Encourage your child to discuss possible summer camps with their school counselor and visit our website for summer camps.

Parent Action Plan - 10th Graders

As your child settles into the high school experience, it’s a great time for him or her to take on new challenges. It’s also not too early to explore career goals and post secondary options. Use the list below to help make 10th grade count. Please contact your child's school counselor if you have any questions.
Summer

• Visit a college campus or trade school together. It’s a great way to get your 10th-grader excited about continuing their education.
• Get the facts about what post secondary educations cost. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Help your sophomore explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Learn how to use exercises like these to make a career worksheet.
• Assist your child in finding a job shadowing experience to explore various career options.

 

Fall

• If your child begins an elective class and determines that it is not a good fit, they must meet with their counselor within the first two weeks of school to develop a plan.
• Encourage your child meets with the school counselor during the first 9-weeks of school to talk post secondary options.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check PowerSchool frequently to keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. If you do not know your logon, please contact your child's school counselor.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Post secondary schools often encourage extracurricular activities. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.
• Encourage your 10th-grader get ready and do their best on preliminary exams. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT this fall can help your child prepare for college admission tests. Sophomores can also use their score reports to figure out which academic areas they need to work on. Learn more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

 

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT results together. Your child’s score report indicates his or her academic strengths and weaknesses. Review the report together and talk about ways to improve in areas that need attention. Help him or her log in to My College QuickStart to get personalized feedback based on his or her PSAT/NMSQT score report.
• Start thinking about post-secondary funding options. Most families get help paying for costs. Read 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid to learn more.
• Encourage your child to talk with their school counselor about their career path to determine the most beneficial classes to take.

 

Spring

• Some 11th grade classes allow students to earn college credits for a small fee while doing the regular coursework. Contact your school counselor if you have additional questions.
• Make a college wish list together. Talk with your 10th-grader about qualities he or she may want in a college in terms of location, size, majors offered and so on. Check out How to Find a College That Fits You to learn more about deciding on college must-haves.
• See how much you need to save for post-secondary education. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are in terms of your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out five ways your high schooler can stay motivated this summer.
• Encourage your child to discuss possible summer camps with their school counselor.

Parent Action Plan - 11th Graders

Junior year usually marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when post secondary planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things you can do this year to support your child and give him or her the best options.

Summer

• Get the facts about post secondary costs. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Explore financial aid options. These include grants and scholarships, loans, and work-study programs that can help cut down the costs. Find out more about how financial aid can make college affordable.

 

Fall

• If your child begins an elective class and determines that it is not a good fit, they must meet with their counselor within the first 2 weeks of school to develop a plan.
• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor during the first quarter to explore post-secondary admission criteria. Learn more about the counselor's role in applying to college.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Help your child stay organized. Work with your 11th-grader to make monthly to-do lists to keep on top of the tasks required to get ready for applying to post secondary schools. For more time-management tips, see 8 Ways to Take Control of Your Time.
• Help your junior get ready for the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is a preliminary test that helps students practice for the SAT and assess their academic skills. Juniors who score well on the test are also eligible for scholarship opportunities. Find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

 

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT results together. Your child’s score report comes with a free SAT study plan. This online, customized plan is based on your child’s test scores and can help him or her work on areas that need improvement. Learn more about this individualized SAT study plan.
• Help your child prepare for college admission tests. Juniors should take college admission tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, in the spring so they can get a head start on planning for college. Please check our website to view registration deadlines and testing dates.
• Have your child check with the school counselor to see if they may be eligible for a fee waiver for the SAT/ACT test.
• Discuss taking challenging courses next year. Some 12th grade classes allow students to earn college credits for a small fee while doing the regular coursework. Please visit this link for a list of the eligible classes. Contact your school counselor if you have additional questions.
• Encourage your child to take AP Exams. If your 11th-grader takes AP or other advanced classes, have him or her talk with teachers now about taking these tests in May. Read more about the AP Program.

 

Spring

• Search together for colleges that meet your child’s needs. Once you have an idea of the qualities your child is looking for in a college, help him or her enter these criteria into College Search to create a list of colleges to consider applying to.
• Attend college fairs and financial aid events held at the high school. These events allow you to meet with college representatives and get answers to questions. Your child can ask the school counselor how to find events in your area. We also list all upcoming events on our website.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Help your high schooler look into discipline specific camps or find a job, internship, or job shadow.
• Visit colleges together. Make plans to check out the campuses of colleges your child is interested in. Use the Campus Visit Checklist to learn how to get the most out of these experiences.

Student Action Plan - 12th Graders

Senior year is a whirlwind of activities. This is a big year for your child as he or she balances schoolwork, extracurricular activities and the college application process. Use the suggestions below to help you and your child successfully navigate this important time.

Please NOTE: You must use a personal email when taking any post-secondary steps below. Your school email will not receive outside emails.

Exploration

Visit the Exploration site to find visitation days, major explorations, college searches, etc.

Applications

After applying to any post-secondary school, you must send an official transcript.

Post-secondary schools have their applications available on their school websites. Some schools utilize the Common App, which allows you to complete one application and send it to multiple schools. The list of schools is on the Common App website.

If your prospective college is not a "Self Reporting" school, you must complete the transcript request form below:

Request Transcript Here!

Testing

The majority of post-secondary schools require that you take the SAT's or ACT's. At this time, several colleges are waiving the SAT/ACT Requirement but you would need to check with your prospective school. Some scholarships do require that an SAT be taken, so it is advised that students take the SAT's at least once. Students can check with their counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.

SAT's - Register Here!      ACT's - Register Here!

Student Athletes

All students wanting to play a Division I or Division II sport in college, must register with the NCAA. 

**Note: You must also send you SAT scores directly from CollegeBoard to the NCAA. The NCAA will not accept your SAT scores from the high school.

Financial Aid

Application Opens October 1st

1st: FAFSA (Federal Financial Aid) - Must be completed every year!

www.fafsa.gov

Documents needed:

Social Security Number

Driver’s license number, if you have one

Your W-2 forms

Current bank statements

Records of other untaxed income received, including workers’ compensation, child support, etc.

Your federal tax return from the prior year

Note: It helps if you move directly from the FAFSA to PHEAA, information will 

2nd: PHEAA  (State Financial Aid)

www.pheaa.org

Note: Make sure you put your colleges on the forms.

2021 Financial Aid Workshop PowerPoint

Scholarships

#1: College/University Scholarships - Each college/University will post scholarships on their “Financial Aid” page on their website. 

#2: Scholarship Search Engines: (There are more but these are 2 examples)

www.collegeboard.org

www.fastweb.com

https://www.chegg.com/scholarships

https://www.usnews.com/education/scholarships/search

#3: Remind App - Use Code: @cahssch

Note: You can also find the scholarships on the HS Scholarship Page

#4: Local Scholarships - Available in late March or early April (Students will receive notification of when applications are available through the Remind App.)

Senior Year Schedule

Summer

• Visit post-secondary campuses together. Use the Campus Visit Checklist to learn how to get the most out of these experiences.
• Find out a college’s actual cost. Once your 12th-grader has a list of a few colleges he or she is interested in, use the Net Price Calculator together to find out the potential for financial aid and the true out-of-pocket cost — or net price — of each college.
• Encourage your child to get started on applications. After applying, students MUST request an official transcript to be sent through the counseling office.
• Help your child decide about applying early. If your senior is set on going to a certain college, he or she should think about whether applying early is a good option. Now is the time to decide because early applications are usually due in November. Read about the pros and cons of applying early.

 

Fall

• Work together to apply for financial aid. October 1st is when you can start applying!
• Learn about college loan options together. Borrowing money for college can be a smart choice — especially if your high school student gets a low-interest federal loan. Learn more about the parent's role in borrowing money.
• Take advantage of dual enrollment/college in the classroom options when possible. Make sure to check with prospective colleges/universities to verify credit transfer.
• If your child begins an elective class and determines that it is not a good fit, they must meet with their school counselor with in the first 2 weeks of school to develop a plan.
• Your child will meet with their school counselor within the first 9 weeks to discuss post-secondary options. Learn more about the counselor's role in applying to college. There are in-house college and military visits through the counseling department where students can ask the representatives questions.
• Athletes wanting to play a DI or DII sport in college need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and have their SAT or ACT scores sent directly to the NCAA Clearinghouse through their testing account.
• Create a calendar with your child. This should include application deadlines and other important dates. Your child can find specific colleges’ deadlines in College Search. If your child saves colleges to a list there, he or she can get a custom online calendar that shows those colleges’ deadlines.
• Many seniors retake college admission tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, in the fall. Check our website for registration deadlines and testing dates.
• Offer to look over your senior’s college applications. But remember that this is your child’s work so remain in the role of advisor and proofreader and respect his or her voice.
• Help your child find and apply for scholarships. He or she can find out about scholarship opportunities at our website, along with the college/university's financial aid site.
• Your high school student will need to request and complete scholarship applications and submit them on time. DEADLINES are critical!
• Encourage your child to set up college visits. A visit is a great way for your child to learn more about a college and for a college to learn more about your child. Get an overview of the interview process.

 

Winter

• Encourage your child to take AP Exams. If your 12th-grader takes AP or other advanced classes, have him or her talk with teachers now about taking these tests in May. This could result in college credits.

 

Spring

• Help your child process post secondary responses. Once your child starts hearing back about admission and financial aid, he or she will need your support to decide what to do. Read about how to choose a college.
• Review financial aid offers together. Your 12th-grader will need your help to read through financial aid award letters and figure out which package works best. Be sure your child pays attention to and meets any deadlines for acceptance. Get more information on financial aid awards.
• Help your child complete the paperwork to accept a college’s offer of admittance. Once your child has decided which college to attend, he or she will need to accept a college’s offer, mail a tuition deposit and submit other required paperwork. Learn more about your high school senior's next steps.
  Your child MUST complete the final transcript request form to have their final transcript sent to their post-secondary school placement.