CHS Counseling Department
Announcements from the
School Counseling Department
Advanced Placement Test Registration
This year, the school division is very generously paying for all AP exams. An exam will automatically be ordered for all students enrolled in an AP course. If a student does not plan to take the AP exam for a course in which they are currently enrolled, parents must complete a form explaining the reason. AP Exam Opt-Out Forms can be picked up from Mrs. Durrer, the school counseling secretary and must be signed and returned by Friday, March 23. Students who do not submit this form by the deadline will be expected to take the AP exam.
If a student wants to take an exam for a subject in which they are not currently enrolled, they must let Mrs. Durrer know the exact name of the exam they want ordered. The school division will still pay for the exam. Students who do not take an exam for which they have been registered may have to reimburse the school system for the cost of the unused exam. If you have any questions concerning this new policy, please contact Ms. Morales in the school counseling office.
Also, if you are aware of a conflict that might prevent a student from taking an exam on the regularly scheduled date, please let Ms. Morales or Mrs. Durrer know as soon as possible to determine if a late testing exam can be ordered.
All AP students received the “Bulletin for AP Students and Parents for 2011-2012” and it should be reviewed thoroughly. The 2012 AP exam schedule can be found below and on the CHS Counseling Department's Events web page or on the College Board website.
Program Planning
Counselors visited all English classes to review graduation requirements, college expectations, college exploration, career planning, post-high school options, resources for improving grades and test scores, and how the courses selected for next year can help students achieve their academic and career goals. Counselors have also met individually with every student to review their transcript, discuss their high school and post-high school goals and develop a plan for achieving those goals. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s counselor if they have questions, concerns, or would like to schedule an appointment to meet about next year’s schedule.
CATEC Applications
Students applying for a program at the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) for the 2012-2013 school year will be scheduled for an interview in late March or after spring break. Students who miss their interview time need to contact Ms. Davis-White in the School Counseling Department as soon as possible so the interview can be rescheduled.
Regional College Fair at CHS
Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30 - 8:30 at Charlottesville High School. Admissions officers and representatives from about 100 colleges and universities will be in attendance to meet students and their parents/guardians and to answer questions about their school. It is suggested that students bring address labels to put on mailing lists and/or bring a canvas tote bag to collect information about the various schools. This event is very helpful for juniors who are exploring college options, but underclassmen are also welcome to attend.
For Sophomores
The 10th Grade Career Fair is scheduled for March 16, 2012. All sophomores were given a career assessment during the fall and students ranked their top 6 choices for speaker sessions to attend during the Career Fair.
For Juniors
Juniors who plan to apply to 4-year colleges should take a college admissions test this spring. Students who are considering applications to competitive, selective colleges and universities should also take the SAT Subject exams this spring. Up to 3 SAT Subject exams can be taken on one test date, but students cannot take a subject exam and the SAT admissions test on the same test date. Only two test dates remain for the SAT and ACT college admissions tests for this school year. Fall test dates are in September for the ACT and October for the SAT.
Test |
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
Late Registration Deadline (must pay a late fee) |
SAT |
May 5, 2012 |
April 6, 2012 |
April 20, 2012 |
SAT |
June 2, 2012 |
May 8, 2012 |
May 22, 2012 |
ACT |
April 14, 2012 |
March 9, 2012 |
March 23, 2012 |
ACT |
June 9, 2012 |
May 4, 2012 |
May 18, 2012 |
Test Fee Waivers: Students who receive free or reduced lunch are eligible for test fee waivers for both the SAT and ACT, and use of those waivers qualifies students for college application fee waivers in the fall. Please see your school counselor if you are eligible for a fee waiver.
Senior Success Conferences
In March, counselors and the principals are meeting with seniors in danger of not graduating and their parents/guardians to develop a plan for passing classes needed to graduate. Students who are failing courses they need to graduate, or who still need to pass SOL tests to meet graduation requirements should be working closely with their teachers and attending tutoring and/or remediation sessions before school, after school, or at lunch. If students are not already working with a tutor, they need to see their school counselor.
For Seniors
College-bound seniors who are interested in financial aid should have already filed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and should be regularly checking the Scholarship Updates posted in their English and Government classrooms, the Counseling office, and on the Counseling Department website. Students who have not yet filed the FAFSA should contact their school counselor or the College Guide for assistance immediately. College-bound seniors with unusual financial circumstances are encouraged to complete and submit the Scholarship Information form that was distributed through English 12 classes in September. Forms should be submitted to Mrs. Ruffner, the Scholarship Committee coordinator, in Room # M-149 in the Media Center. Seniors need to let their school counselor know the results of all their college applications, as well as which college or university they decide to attend.
Gear-Up Seniors
The deadline to submit Gear-Up Scholarship applications is coming up quickly at the end of March. The FAFSA must have been already submitted at least a week in advance to receive the information necessary to complete the Gear-Up Scholarship application. Please contact a school counselor or a Gear-Up Committee member immediately if you have questions about completing the Gear-Up Scholarship application.
For All Students
Please make an appointment to see your counselor, or drop by the counseling office during lunch, when you need assistance with academic issues, college advising, career planning, personal concerns, and/or interpersonal issues. Counselors are assigned by last name, except for English Second Language students and students with an IEP:
School Counseling Department personnel
| Counselor | Caseload | Other Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Morales Lisa.Morales@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2685 |
ESL Students | Department Chair, AP & PSAT Coordinator, Worthy Program Liaison, Scholarship Committee |
| Carol Easterlin Carol.Easterlin@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2689 |
A-D | AVID Team, Foreign Exhange Student Liaison, Young Women Leaders, Scholarship Committee |
| James Bryant James.Bryant@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2687 |
E-K | Upward Bound Liaison, Olweus Bullying Prevention Team, Principal’s Advisory Committee, Scholarship Committee |
| Melanie Key Melanie.Key@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2686 |
L-R | AVID Team, Madison House Tutor Liaison, Runaway Emergency Services Program (RESP) Advisory Board, Department Website, Scholarship Committee |
| Fallon Dodson Fallon.Dodson@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2688 |
S-Z | Project Discovery Liaison, Sisterly Love Liaison, Olweus Bullying Prevention Co-Chair, Scholarship Committee |
| Ms. Davis-White Gigi.Davis-White@ccs.k12.va.us 245-2690 |
Students with an IEP | Career Counselor, CATEC Liaison, Career Counseling Website, Scholarship Committee |
School Counseling Department Statistics: In addition to meeting with students for academic advising, college planning, career exploration, and personal/social counseling, counselors met with all 900 CHS underclassmen individually during program planning, as well as with 230 Buford 8th graders.
Please check the School Counseling Department website regularly for updates on information sessions and other events for students and parents, planning for college, course applications, resources for students and parents, college scholarships, important deadlines, and many other valuable information items and internet links.