Student Services
Fall 2021 Newsletter
Who is my student’s School Counselor at BHS?
Mr. Joe Bavlnka: Last names A-G
Mrs. Stacey Endicott: Last names H-N (12th grade), H-O (9th, 10th, & 11th grade)
Mrs. Ann Renn: Last names O-Z (12th grade), P-Z (9th, 10th and 11th grade)
FRESHMAN
WELCOME!! Your main job this year is to start off your high school career in top form! Strive for the best grades you’ve ever earned, meet new people, experience different extracurricular activities, get involved and find your niche! Find a positive peer group who value the same things that you do. Make the most of it! Stay in touch with your Link Crew Leaders! Ask questions! This is the foundation of your high school! Enjoy your year!
SOPHOMORES
Goal setting time! Sophomore planning conferences will take place in October. Start thinking about this meeting with your counselor to discuss your ACP(Academic & Career Plan) for high school and beyond. Be thinking about what questions you may have about how to achieve your goals. Make sure your XELLO activities are up to date.
Juniors
It’s a big year! Start narrowing down your interests and looking into schools, jobs and programs that will meet your needs after you graduate. Take campus tours and college visits with your family to help make your decisions.
FACE TO FACE AND VIRTUAL CAMPUS VISIT DAYS
One of the best ways for a prospective student and his/her parents/guardians to determine if a college is a good choice is to visit the campus. Typically, students should start looking at colleges during their junior year, and visiting campuses of interest. In addition to providing the opportunity to meet with admission personnel, campus visits allow a student to see the campus via a guided tour. Students who want to meet with faculty, coaches or other university staff may also have appointments prearranged.
Nothing gets you more excited about college than visiting a campus! It’s also one of the best ways to get acquainted with the ins and outs of campus life. Guided tours are filled with facts on what to expect from your academic and student life. You’ll also meet with an admissions representative, preview programs, meet with folks from student services, admissions, financial aid, academic departments, and possibly current students!
However, due to COVID-19, campuses may have limited in-person tours. Please use the links found on the University’s Admissions page to visit the campuses virtually.
College Representatives/Military Recruiters Visiting BHS
Another great way to receive information from a specific school or branch of the military is to meet with a representative. Reps schedule visits regularly and will be setting up meetings during Enrichment and Lunch periods throughout the fall. Please check the Student Services Google Classroom for announcements and watch the screen in Student Services for the schedule of upcoming visitors. You might even score some college swag or get an application fee waived!
Seniors
It’s finally here! Your last year! Make it a good one! Keep your grades and attendance in check! The colleges and employers are watching and asking!
It’s important to finish strong.
If you are college bound, you should be working on applications! If you have any questions, please stop in Student Services and make an appointment to meet with your counselor!
If you are asking people to write letters of recommendation, please visit the Students section of the High School Webpage. Go to Student Services/ School Counseling/ Scholarships/Letter of Recommendation Request Form to complete the formal request.These recommendations can be used later for Scholarships as well so remind your writer that you may be back in January to request another copy; tweaked to reflect scholarship rather than college entrance.
INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL AID
If your senior son/daughter has applied or plans to apply to college, this will be an important meeting to attend!
Join the UW HELP team as they introduce the basics of financial aid, the different types of financial aid, and how to better understand the true cost of attendance at a UW System campus. Prospective students and families are encouraged to attend. Registration is required.
College Goal Wisconsin will be held at UW Baraboo on Wednesday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lange Center on the UW Baraboo Campus
Although a technical college or university education is expensive, financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans are available to make college affordable. To understand the process to apply for financial aid, seniors who are planning to continue their education after high school are encouraged to attend College Goal Wisconsin with their parents/guardians. College Goal Wisconsin is an event in which families can receive free assistance completing the FAFSA. This is the form that colleges require students to complete to be considered for financial aid. Students complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov. Students applying online will receive their FAFSA application results faster than if applying by mail. Information submitted over the internet is completely secure and the process is easier because only questions are asked that apply to the student’s situation. At College Goal Wisconsin, there will be financial aid officers from various colleges across the state to answer questions while the family is completing the FAFSA.
If you are interested, please stop in Student Services and pick up an informational brochure.
Early College Credit Program (ECCP) and Start College Now (SCN) Paperwork due OCTOBER 1
Any students planning to take college courses on the UW Platteville/ Baraboo Campus or Madison College during 2nd semester of this school year, were invited to attend the Early College Credit Program (ECCP) and Start College Now (SCN) meeting during homeroom on September 17 in the Commons.
Students, please remember that the packet you received is due back to Student Services no later than OCTOBER 1. If you have any questions, please stop in Student Services and see your counselor or Mrs. Ireland.
Test Optional Post-Secondary Institutions
This list of colleges and universities have gone test optional for the admissions process this school year and potentially beyond. Please continue to check with your individual institution for their most up-to-date information and policies regarding ACT test scores.
Senior Attendance
Due to COVID 19, the Senior Attendance Policy may be temporarily adjusted for the 2021-2022 school year.
Per School Board Policy 345.62 High School Graduation Exercises (Commencement), Seniors must attend school at least 90% of the school days/class periods in both the first and second semesters of their senior year.
The 90% is defined as missing no more than 9 full days or 45 class periods (four class periods plus homeroom/enrichment), or no more than 9 of any one class period per semester, including homeroom/enrichment. Students on a reduced school day are required to be in attendance 90% of their scheduled class periods, and may not miss more than 9 class periods per semester in any one class.
The following absences are not included toward the 90% attendance:
Family emergencies communicated to a school administrator
- School activities
- Absences due to religious or tribal obligations
- Absences excused via a professional note, school nurse, or social worker
- Pre-approved and documented post-secondary visits
- Pre-approved family trips that cannot be scheduled at any other time
- Funerals
The principal or the principal’s designee may use discretion in excusing a student’s absence for extenuating circumstances.
- The school will monitor student absences. If a student is on trend to exceed the total number of allowable absences, the high school administration will convene a meeting with the student, student’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), and school social worker to develop a plan of services to improve attendance.
- If a student exceeds the total number of allowable absences, a letter will be sent stating that the student is ineligible to participate in the graduation ceremony. However, the parent/legal guardian and/or student may request a meeting with the high school administration for the purpose of creating a plan detailing how the student may participate in the graduation ceremony.
- Participated in practice for graduation and abides by the rules for participation in the ceremony established by the principal (free from the influence/use of drugs and alcohol, proper dress, no noisemakers, etc.).
This policy is in place for all seniors, including those who have reached the age of 18. It will not prevent students from receiving their diploma if they have met the credit requirements.
Senior SEIP
Per School District of Baraboo Board of Education Policy 345.6, students are required to complete and participate in the Senior Exit Interview Portfolio process (SEIP) in order to graduate from Baraboo High School.
The timelines for portfolio items due varies depending on whether a senior is an Early Grad or Regular Grad. However, every student must submit a completed portfolio and participate in the interview process in order to meet graduation requirements.
Early Graduates
If you are planning to graduate at the end of first semester, you must submit a letter of intent to graduate early (see Board Policy 345.61). Please speak with your counselor to get more information. An outline of the letter can be picked up from Mrs. Ireland. The letters are due October 15th.
