Attention Mission Valley students: Our counselor will be onsite to answer questions on Thursday, May 16th. Appointments are strongly recommended.
Attention Class of 2013: we are now accepting nominations for Honors at Graduation in the following categories:
Leadership Excellence Award
Dehesa Charter School encourages and supports its students to contribute their skills, talent, and knowledge to the benefit of our society. The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes these students that demonstrate strong leadership skills, academic excellence, and commitment to service in the community.
Creative Honors Graduation Award
The Creative Honors Award recognizes students who have shown evidence of excellence in the following: writing (poetry, journalism, short story, dramatic script, novel, memoir, etc.); visual & performing arts (dance, photography, animation, ceramics/glass, computer art, graphic art, drawing, mixed media, painting, video/film, music-talent in composition, vocal or instrumental, etc.). Qualifying students demonstrate well-rounded creative ability.
All information must be submitted by Friday, May 17, 2013and nominations are submitted by the EF and/or parent online at:
http://goo.gl/JBen4
Did you miss the March administration of the CAHSEE?
The California High School Exit Exam is a high school graduation requirement and is scheduled for May 14th and 15th.
This administration is for any 10th graders that missed the March administration or any juniors or seniors still needing to pass one or both portions. Not sure if you need to take it? Please contact our high school counselor, Arti Dua at adua@mydehesa.orgfor more information
COMMUNITY COLLEGE UPDATE: Summer and Fall schedules are now available and enrollment is coming soon! Not sure what class to take? Make an appointment now so that you are ready when it's time for you to enroll.
If you are a senior planning on attending the community college in the fall: Make sure to contact our counselor for helpful tips so that you can qualify for a priority enrollment date for the Fall 2013 session.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DAY AT MSJC!
Who: High school seniors from the local district high schools is free and open to the public
Various MSJC departments and clubs will be on hand to visit with HS Seniors
When: Tuesday, May 7th at Menifee Valley Campus and Tuesday, May 14th at San Jacinto Campus, anytime between, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Where: Menifee Valley Campus room 1018A - Eagle Access Center (EAC) and San Jacinto Campus, room 1120B - Eagle Access Center (EAC)
Why: To ease the transition from high school to college with one-on-one assistance by visiting the MSJC campus on this day. Students get the chance to hear a brief presentation, complete the MSJC online application, the Accuplacer Assessment*, and orientation. Students will get any next steps for enrollment for fall 2013. They will also be offered a tour and meet with an academic advisor.
ALSO: Bring a photo ID and have knowledge of your Social Security Number. Parking is free in Lot A and MVC and Lot B at SJC.
*It is strongly advisable to prepare for the Assessment Exam. Students do not have to assess on these days but the Assessment center will stay open later to accommodate those who want to Assess on this day. Students should be well rested, eat lunch and STUDY or REVIEW. As you may know study guides and a preview of the exam can be found at the MSJC Website at;
www.msjc.edu/StudentServices/Matriculation/Pages/Assessment-and-Placement.aspx
MSJC's DSPS Department is holding a, DSPS Summer Bridge Program the week of June 10th, 2013. One session at each campus (MVC and SJC).
DSP&S Summer Bridge is strongly encouraged for students transitioning from High School to college and may be DSP&S eligible (i.e., IEPs, 504 Plans, disability verification by treating physician)
For more information, please contact:
SJC
Wendy Gaines, DSPS Counselor, wgaines@msjc.edu
Phone: 951.487-3305
MVC
Eric Borin, DSPS Counselor, eborin@msjc.edu
Phone: 951.639.5305
TheWestern Undergraduate Exchange Are you looking at out of state colleges, but concerned about the cost of out of state tuition? Check out WUE: TheWestern Undergraduate Exchange, a program coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in Western states may enroll in participating four-year public college programs at a reduced tuition level: up to 150 percent of the institution's regular resident tuition. In all cases, WUE tuition is considerably less than nonresident tuition. Please contact our counselor, Arti Dua for more information. FINANCIAL AID UPDATES: Many scholarships require that you complete the FAFSA even if you aren't planning on taking out a student loan.
Many students are looking for "free" money, however many don't know that they must first complete the application for federal student aid. To apply for federal student aid, you need to complete the FAFSASM or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.
In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
Please click on the following link if you're ready to complete your FAFSA or if you'd like more information: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
View and download many valuable resources from the office of Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov/resources#college-prep-and-pay
To help students and families with the FAFSA, the Riverside County Office of Education has produced a 9 minute video with a lot of information. Both links are listed below.
http://www.rcoe.k12.ca.us/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BcvBRVoQhs&feature=youtu.be
Review this financial aid checklist for juniors and seniors to help plan and understand the steps and time frames for applying for financial aid:
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/G-500_PreCollege_checklist012208.pdf
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNTIES:
Common Scholarship Application
The Common Scholarship Application uses one online form to access more than 100 scholarships. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate students and adult re-entry students who are attending 2-year colleges, 4-year universities, trade/vocational schools, graduate, medical and professional schools and teaching credential programs. Scholarships range from $500 to more than $5,000 and - depending on the scholarship - can pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees and other related expenses.
*Note that almost all scholarships require San Diego County residency. Click here for more information.
High Five Scholarship is a scholarship matching service and finds hundreds of scholarships that match your personal characteristics, goals, and interests, free of charge. Please visit www.highfivescholarships.com for more information.
For more scholarship opportunities, please visit:
San Diego students: http://www.sdfoundation.com/GrantsScholarships/Scholarships.aspx
Riverside and San Bernardino students: http://www.thecommunityfoundation.net/scholarships/aboutScholarships.html
Orange County: http://www.oc-cf.org/scholarships
Fast web.com: Your FREE scholarship search solution
College affordability is a challenge faced not only by families, but also by colleges and universities that strive to remain affordable and accessible. The data provided in the 2012 Trends in Higher Education reports are intended to shed light on the current state of college prices and student financial aid.
Trends in College Pricing, which relies on data from the most recent College Board's Annual Survey of Colleges, provides information on changes in undergraduate tuition and fees, room and board, and other estimated expenses related to attending colleges and universities in 2012-13. To read more, please visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/html/costs/pricing/
Trends in Student Aid provides detailed information on the sources and amounts of financial aid available in 2012-13 to assist students and families in paying for postsecondary education: http://www.collegeboard.com/html/costs/aid/
Get Your Kids Ready for Their First Summer Job
A teenager's first summer job is not only their first exposure to work. It's their first exposure to handling money they've actually earned.
Increasingly, teenagers work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in July 2010 that more than half of 16-19-year-olds were employed during that month - the top month for summer employment.
A teen's first job is a chance for a parent to educate them on a variety of life lessons. Yet a teen's first job shouldn't be a parent's first opportunity to educate their child on managing money they've earned. Here are key steps in getting your child ready for the working world:
Put your child to work at home: Some believe that kids should never be given an allowance; they should receive money in exchange only for chores. That's obviously a family decision, but there are plenty of kids who do work around the house in exchange for money or special privileges. It's a good way to get kids thinking about the value of a dollar as long as parents don't exceed their pay limits whenever a child has a special want or need. After all, real jobs don't offer extra cash when a teen overspends; parents should work to avoid it as well.
Talk to your kids about jobs they'd like to try: This is obviously a discussion about skills and likes and dislikes, but it's also an opportunity to discuss how work is valued in a monetary sense. If your child wants to work part-time in a fast-food joint, that's fine, but if they have special skills on the computer or if they're good at teaching particular subjects, it might be worthwhile to help a child research what their special skills might earn them in the marketplace. Parents can also do some research themselves about teen work, work rules and safety by visiting the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration's Teen Workers Web site: www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/teenworkers.html.
Teach your kids to look for work like an adult: Get your kids to start looking for work months ahead of when they'll need the job. Get them to read the want ads, have them check salary averages for the jobs they're thinking about on the Internet. Have them check out prospective employers as well - the Internet will allow them not only to learn about the company, but possible problems the company has as well. There's really no reason to wait - anything you've ever done to check out a future employer, teach those skills to your teen. Also, encourage them to talk to family members, teachers and community leaders you trust about job possibilities nearby - it's never too early to learn how to network.
Don't discourage self-employment: Many kids start their working life babysitting or mowing lawns. As mentioned above, if a child demonstrates a facility with a certain skill or activity that might turn into a career, give them all the encouragement they need to develop it into a summer job and if applicable, an educational goal. That skill they develop at 14 or 15 might be a gateway to a college scholarship at 18. Also, don't fail to mention the benefit of working summer internships in their chosen interests when they get to college.
Encourage your kids to save or invest part of their paycheck: A child may be working for a number of reasons - spending money, help financing college, paying for a car and maintenance are a few. But encourage your teen to reserve part of his after-school earnings for specific goals and help them open checking accounts and appropriate savings vehicles to get them in the lifetime habit of saving part of a paycheck each week.
Take your kids to work: Kids learn by example. Taking them to work allows them to observe a particular work setting, its purpose and the way you and your co-workers operate in it. If you like your job, your child will see that, and it will help them understand that work is not just about money. If you dislike your work no matter how much it pays, they won't miss that either - and that's a valuable lesson as well.
Prepare yourself to deal with their mistakes and failures: Your child may have rough times on the job; they might lose their job or fail to get paid. Don't fight their battles for them, but be ready to offer advice that will encourage them to work well with people, always seek out better opportunities and ensure proper value for their work. Money lessons are not always about money.
For more helpful tips, please visit The Financial Planning Association at http://www.fpanet.org/
Have we met? Do you know what you need to do in order to graduate? If not, now is the time to make an appointment so that we can discuss not only high school graduation requirements, but also your plans for life after high school. We are here to help answer all of your high school questions!
Arti Dua
Guidance Counselor
adua@mydehesa.org
(760) 560-7927
