|
I know there is a push to move right from the Halloween season into the December holidays, but let’s slow our roll! Each year, there is more scientific evidence supporting the value of GRATITUDE - a perfect way to celebrate November. Most recently, I heard a great podcast from, Hidden Brain featuring Psychologist Thomas Gilovich, who studies the barriers that prevent us from feeling gratitude and how we can overcome them. I love the adage: It’s not happy people who are thankful; it’s thankful people who are happy. It not only feels right, but science backs it up neurologically! One way to build happiness in your life is by keeping a gratitude journal. Studies show that you will sleep better and wake up more refreshed and connected in our world. Check out the Ted Talk on Gratitude from Br. David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar. He advises us to Stop, Look, and Go. That is: slow down the crazy rush of life, look for the opportunities life presents us to have gratitude and serve others, and then go do it! What a great recipe for the holidays in particular.
ALL PARENTS:
The quarter ended on November 3rd. Report cards will be finalized and available for review on Parent Portal on November 14. Report Cards will not be mailed home so it is important that you log in and look at your student’s grades. This is the time to evaluate grades and review class selections. If students are struggling in an honors or AP level class, please contact the teacher to discuss if a student should consider moving to the curricular alternative. The school policy always encourages students to challenge themselves to the extent possible with the curriculum while ensuring that they are not overwhelmed and out-paced. Students have until November 17 to make a level change without the previous grade penalizing them. Call their counselor if you have any questions about this policy.
If you have a question or concern about a class or grade in a particular class, we encourage you to contact the teacher directly via their email or their voicemail number. Both of these can be found on the school’s website. Any problem that may not be resolved via direct teacher contact can certainly be referred to us, but the conversation with the teacher should take place first.
SENIOR PARENTS:
Transcripts will not be sent to colleges until students complete the College Application Notification form. This is critical, and if it is not completed will delay your application review at the university. Students can find this form on the counseling website.
There are many early action and early decision deadlines in the first half of November. It’s not too late to apply to hundreds of great schools! Don’t delay – apply today.
We are anxious to talk with seniors who are still undecided about college or other post-graduation choices. Please encourage your student to make an appointment to see their counselor if they are in this situation. It is definitely not too late to start the planning process if they have been undecided up to this time.
FINANCIAL AID ALERT!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a gateway to college scholarships and student loans. It is currently undergoing an overhaul and simplification, so while you would normally file this beginning in October, this will not be available until December. To prepare you could create an FSA ID. Some colleges, universities, and scholarship programs use the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE as part of their financial aid process for some or all of their financial aid applicants. Here is a current list of institutions that use this process: Check with the Financial Aid office at the colleges where your child is applying. If the Financial Aid office requires the PROFILE, then check the deadline for applying.
JUNIOR PARENTS:
The state of Michigan exams (M-STEP) are scheduled to take place at South in April and include a free SAT. However, that doesn’t mean that the ACT is off-limits for our students. The ACT is still accepted everywhere, and students typically find themselves well-prepared to take this test. Students can still sign up to take the test at North by going to www.actstudent.org. We encourage students to sign up and take an additional ACT or SAT before the end of their junior year at Grosse Pointe North. Macomb Community College and U of D High School are good alternatives as second-choice test centers. If he or she has not already signed up to take an additional test, please have your junior student register online. The South school code that they will need to register is 231-802. We recommend either April or June test dates.
Students wishing to take the SAT should make sure to register soon for their preferred testing dates so they will be assigned to the test center of their choice. As with the ACT, students can now sign up for multiple test dates. They do not need to wait until they have taken the test once before registering for a second test. Go to www.collegeboard.org or to the Counseling Center for more information. Again, the South school code for the SAT is the same as for the ACT: 231-802.
FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE & JUNIOR PARENTS:
We anticipate that the PSAT scores will be available online by the December holiday break. Your student should look for an email in their school account notifying them to log in to College Board and check their results. Paper copies of the results will not be sent to schools until sometime in January.
MINDFULNESS IS simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).
~ James Baraz
| 
