Extenuating Circumstances or Non-School Sponsored Competition Absence Form (English)
Extenuating Circumstances or Non-School Sponsored Competition Absence Form (Spanish)
Counseling Center Mission:
Together with family, school, and the community, the CNHS Counseling Department commits to helping students' academic, social/personal, and career development.
Counseling Center Core Values
CNHS comprehensive school counseling program aspires to:
Be standards-based, data-driven, pro-active and preventative
Be an integral part of the total education program in collaboration with family, school, and community
Include consultation, resources, and availability to parents, school staff, and community
We embrace Developmental Relationships and Asset Development
We believe in a Positive Growth Mind Set
Counselors believe:
All students have dignity and worth
All students are capable of growth and development: Positive Growth Mind Set
All students may participate in the school counseling program
All students’ ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual differences and special needs must be considered when planning and implementing a school counseling program: Developmental Relationships and Asset Development
All students must have a plan for high school success and post-secondary goals
Counselors:
Abide by the professional school counseling ethics
Abide by all laws, policies, and rules governing schools
Hold State of Indiana School Counselor Certification
Participate in professional development
Maintain physical, emotional, and spiritual health
Please make sure you are signed up for Parent/Student Square for the MOST UPDATED Information!
SO, I want to take a college course while in High School (Early College)
NOW WHAT?
STEP 1: Contact the contact person for your college of choice to set up an appointment to discuss course possibilities, class times, etc. (Contact information located in Counseling Center)
STEP 2: Complete the Early College Application (available at the college of choice or the CNHS Counseling Center) and follow instructions for placement tests, criteria, etc. (PLEASE NOTE that the application to enroll in an Early College Course is different than the application for admission after high school)
STEP 3: Prior to beginning the course, submit documentation of registration in the Early College Course to your high school counselor. At that point, your CNHS schedule will be adjusted to accommodate your Early College Course.
STEP 4: If you want the Early College Course grade to appear on your CNHS transcript (required for AHD recipients), you must submit verification of the grade in the Early College Course to the CNHS Counseling Center within two weeks of completion.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
-2 EC courses maximum per semester
-CNHS release time= 2 periods per EC course
-High School Athletes must be enrolled in a combined total of 6 classes for eligibility purposes
-The Early College process is constantly evolving, be informed
Competency Based Credit (CBC) is a program focused on credit recovery for students who attend a high school within Bartholomew County: Columbus North High School, Columbus East High School or Hauser High School. The program offers a wide range of academic core classes that is delivered by way of a computer based educational software program. The assignments that the student must complete are aligned to the Indiana State Standards for the particular class that the student is enrolled. Each student works independently on his/her classes by way of the computer.
Students most likely to benefit from the program are those who are getting behind in credits as a result of failed classes, schedule conflicts, medical conditions or other issues making the student at risk for not graduating from his/her high school.
Counselor referral required. Contact your counselor if you are interested in this opportunity.
NorthHigh Schoolcounselors will visit the middle schools to help plan the freshman program for those students who will be entering North next year. For next year’s sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the counselors will hold class meetings to present the curriculum, followed by individual student meetings when schedules are turned in.
Appropriate Course Selection
Students should try to plan a course load that will best prepare them to meet graduation requirements and post high school plans. Students should select courses appropriate to their diploma goal, career goal and academic abilities. Recommendations from the students’ teachers this year will be very helpful in making the appropriate course selections.
Schedule Conflicts
Students will be contacted, if possible, when schedule conflicts cannot be worked out by using the alternate selection.
Schedule Changes
Schedule changes will not be made except for course conflicts, failure to meet graduation requirements, courses required for college entrance, or for other administratively approved reasons. Courses changed after the first SIX SCHOOL DAYS of a new semester will result in a withdraw failure (WF) from the course. Schedule changes needed due to having selected a course level either too difficult or too easy will be made only with written recommendations from the teacher, parent, counselor, and, in some cases, the department head. A course can be retaken if the original grade was a C+ or lower. When a course is repeated due to failure or to allow greater mastery of the subject, the higher of the two grades will be included on the transcript counting towards the GPA and class rank.
Freshman Orientation
Freshman Orientation is intended to serve as an introduction to Columbus North High School for all incoming 9th grade students and their parents. It is held a few days before school begins. Students are invited by mail to come to North to get schedules, lockers, a tour of the building, and much information about various school policies and ways to get involved in high school activities. Parents are invited to meet with the principal for a question and answer session while students explore the building. Upperclassmen are available to answer questions and give directions.
Dual Credit
Be aware that the courses for dual credits for the technical honors diploma are not the same as courses for dual credits for the academic honors diploma. They are identified in the course descriptions found in the CNHS Course Catalog. Most dual credit courses have a minimum grade requirement to receive the college credit. Also, depending on the course, the cost to receive the dual credit can range from $0.00 to as much as $600 tuition plus the cost of the textbook.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2021---Work Permits will be handled by EMPLOYERS with the state of Indiana.
What is a work permit?
A work permit must be obtained before a student under eighteen may legally be employed. Work permits may only be issued to students who are currently enrolled and are attending Columbus North High School. The hours and times to be worked are regulated by the Bureau of Child Labor, Indiana Labor Department. http://www.in.gov/dol/childlabor.htm
How do I get a work permit?
A student needing a work permit must bring a completed “Intent to Employ” form from their employer and a birth certificate as proof of age to the Counseling Center at the beginning of the school day so that it may be processed by the end of the school day. Work permits brought to the Counseling Center after 2:00 p.m. will be available the next day. A student may have only one work permit at a time.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing deadline for Indiana has been extended beyond the Commission for Higher Education’s original state deadline of April 15. The extension is intended to ensure as many Hoosiers as possible can access financial aid in the coming academic year in the midst of challenges presented by the coronavirus.
Students who did not file the FAFSA before the April 15 deadline are urged to submit the form at FAFSA.gov as soon as possible. The Commission will consider students who file past the original deadline, however, limited funding is available on a first-come basis.
The extension applies to the 21st Century Scholarship and the Frank O’Bannon Grant. There is no FAFSA deadline for Hoosiers applying for the Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant.
High school seniors are encouraged to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) prior to beginning the FAFSA. The FSA ID serves as a legal, digital signature, and both the student and at least one parent must have one. The FSA ID can be created on the Federal Student Aid website.
Students can get assistance with filing by contacting their outreach coordinator or our partners at INvestEd at 317-715-9007.
The FAFSA can be confusing, but it’s a must if you’re looking for federal student loans, as well as many grants and scholarships from federal and state governments and colleges. Even if you think you won’t qualify for financial aid, it’s a good idea to file. Many people who think they won’t qualify actually will, and they leave millions of dollars in grant money unclaimed because they didn’t file. With that in mind, here’s a quick breakdown of the “five Ws”.
WHAT do I need to file the FAFSA?
Filing is easier if you have gathered everything you need before you get started. If you are a dependent student, you will need the following information for yourself, as well as your parents. If you are married you will need this information for your spouse also.
Social Security Number (or Alien Registration Number if you are not a US citizen)
Student’s driver’s license (if applicable)
Tax return for you (and your parents, if applicable) from the prior-prior year.
Bank statements, records of investments, and records of untaxed income (such as veteran’s non education benefits and child support)
An FSA ID to electronically sign the form (students and parents will each need their own FSA ID)
NOTE: The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) can make obtaining accurate tax information easier. However, there are some stipulations on who is eligible to use the DRT, so it’s still a good idea to have the information on hand.
SEE FAFSA Tab on Counseling Center website for more FAFSA Information
TERC (Testing & Education Reference Center) is a terrific resource designed to help students increase their knowledge, improve their skills, and perform better on tests. TERC offers Academic Skills Question Banks for grades 6-12; online courses, study books, and practice tests for AP , ACT, SAT, PSAT, ASVAB, TESOL, and more. Additionally TERC offers Career Tools for a variety of vocations - firefighters, law enforcement, postal, real estate, teaching (Praxis) and more . . .
Indiana Taxpayers pay for our access to TERC, which is hosted by our state's virtual library: INSPIRE (inspire.net) (FYI: Citizens of Indiana can now access Rosetta Stone - for free - from inspire.net!)
TIPS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A WINNING COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
It is important that you present yourself in the best way possible as you prepare and submit materials. Most colleges prefer for applications to be completed online. We offer the following suggestions:
Be sure everything isneatandclean. No torn edges, no food spills, and no pages out of order.
Read all instructions carefully concerning how to complete the application forms and where to send them.
Typeyour application. Even if the applications say that it is not required, do it anyway. Your competition is tough. Computers are available for student use in the Library. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Many of your teachers can direct you to people in the building who can assist you.
If a goal statement or cover letter is required, you need to set your humbleness aside for a while andrazzle-dazzlethe college representative/scholarship committee. Tell them why you are deserving of their attention. Explain any special circumstances. Remember that a decision will be made based on what you are sending without ever meeting you.
Be sure that youfollow directionsexplicitly. For example, if they ask for a 300 word essay, don’t write 200 or 500 words, write 300 words! Tip sheets for writing good essays are available in the cousneling center.
Proofreadyour application word-for-word. Check the completed application carefully for legibility, correct spelling, correct punctuation, etc.
Ask for helpif you need it. There are plenty of people out there who want to help. They can’t help you if you don’t ask. Adults are not mind readers. For example, you could ask for help from your parents, a counselor, your favorite teacher, your minister, or your best friend.
When requestingrecommendationsfrom teachers, make sure to choose a teacher who respects your qualities as a student and as a person, not just a teacher who “likes” you. Be sure to give the teacher at least ten (10) school days to complete the recommendation. During certain times of the year, a teacher might need even more time than that. If the recommendation is to be mailed, include an envelope, addressed and stamped. Fill out all preliminary information neatly at the top that asks for your name, address, social security number, etc. Give the teacher an information sheet on you that might include your activities, your GPA, your test scores, and especially the things you have done outside of school. Attach a note that tells the teacher when the deadline is for the recommendation and also what the teacher should do with the recommendation when they have completed it. Many times, it is not appropriate for the recommendation to be given to the student. Be appreciative– while teachers see the task of writing recommendations as a part of their job, they still like to hear “thank you.”
IMPORTANT –Turn your application/recommendation inten (10) daysbefore the deadline (if you apply online, print off the “Counselor Page” or “Secondary School Report” and bring it to the Counseling Center). The Counseling Center must add transcripts and other information before it is sent off or picked up. Obviously, a late application does not make a good impression. In most cases, your application will not even be considered if it is late. Three (3) schooldaysare required to process transcripts unless you send your transcript electronically through Parchment.
The CounselingCenter wishes you success in all your endeavors and will do everything we can to make this process a positive experience for you.
Visiting the campus is one of the best ways to find out if the school is a good “fit” for you. Catalogs and videos are designed to make the campus look beautiful, the students happy, and the professors as interested in teaching as they are in publishing books and articles. An on-campus visit will allow you to get the feel of the campus. It will allow you to ask questions and see the workings of the school from your point of view. Some pointers to consider in planning a successful campus visit are:
Make an appointment one to two weeks in advance. The most selective schools require more time. Many schools have special visitation days; these will be group tours.
Juniors and seniors are allowed three (3) days each year for an on campus visit. Forms are available in the Dean’s Office. Three signatures are required in order to receive an excused absence: the Dean, the parent, and an official from the school visited. Upon returning from the visit, the student must bring the signed form to the Dean’s Office.
Ask to talk to an admissions counselor.Take an unofficial copy of your transcript along with PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores. If you are close on admission standards, ask about your chances for admission, and what you need to do your senior year to improve your chances. Ask about the retention rate. How many graduate in four years?
Take a tour of campus. This, likely, will be provided bystudents. Talk to these people about their experiences with the school. Try to talk to other students as well. Look at the library, the fitness center, the union, a dorm room, and dining facilities. Ask about rules for living in the dorm, safety on campus, and vehicles on campus.
Attend classes. If you are there when classes are in session, sit in on a typical English 101 or biology class.
Meet with a professor in an academic areathat interests you. Get specifics such as how much math and/or science is needed for this major? Is there a co-op program available? Are there special groups or associations for this major? What is the job placement rate and beginning salary range for graduates in this major?
Stay overnight if possible. Talk to students to find out about their likes and dislikes.
Be on time for your appointment.
After your visit, jot down your impressions of the campus and call the admissions office with any new questions which occur to you.
Send thank you notes to those with whom you had appointments.
If a student is considering participation in sports in college, he/she should inform their high school coach and counselor. The NCAA & NAIA requires that students complete the eligibility process prior to enrollment. Initial Eligibility forms should be completed at the end of the junior year. Eligibility Information, recruitment rules and regulations are on line at:
IMPORTANT: NCAA uses a sliding scale (Core course GPA vs. SAT/ACT scores) & requires that students complete 16 NCAA APPROVED core courses!! Please discuss this with your counselor as soon as possible to ensure you are on track!
Also, the NCAA has instituted new rules & guidelines for all "non-traditional" courses. Examples of "non-traditional" courses are online courses, independent study courses, correspondence courses, etc. In order to understand these new guidelines, please visit :http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/eligibility_center/OVN/GeneralGuidelinesandTips.pdf
