A Message to Middletown High School Students and Their Families
Without a doubt the first half of 2020 has been unique and challenging. We recognize how difficult it is for people, young people especially, to see the country in such civil unrest and uncertain times.
We are here to say that we embrace the diversity of our community, ranging from families that have been deeply rooted in the area for generations, to families who have more recently found our community and moved here, and everyone in between. We believe that everyone - new, old, white, black, brown, straight, LGBTQ+ - has a right to hold their values close, be heard, not feel marginalized, and have a seat at the table as part of the ongoing conversation to promote inclusion and kindness for everyone. We know sometimes the conversations can be uncomfortable, but also know that without engaging in them there is no progress. Counselors strive to be that trusted adult on the front lines of regular day-to-day school life and are invested in valuable relationship building. We want you to know that we are here for you, we hear you, and we stand with you, no matter who you are.
MHS Counselors
Meredith Bagnell - meredith.bagnell@fcps.org 240-236-7404 Brad George - bradley.george@fcps.org 240-236-7436 Paula Langley - paula.langley@fcps.org 240-236-7405 Erin Phelps - erin.phelps@fcps.org 240-236-7402
INFORMATION FOR SENIORS
DIPLOMA PICK UP: Diploma pick-up was Tuesday, June 16. f you were unable to go during that time, please contact Ms. Naff at crystal.naff@fcps.org and arrange a time this summer to pick up your diploma. NOTE: A parent can pick up and sign for the student's diploma if they have a written note signed by the student giving permission.
SENIORS - TRANSFERRING CREDIT FOR FCC DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES:
FCC TRANSCRIPTS – Seniors who took FCC courses and want college credit for these courses, you must request OFFICIAL transcripts from FCC to be sent to the college you will be attending.
Official FCC transcripts can only be requested at https://www.frederick.edu/current-students/transcript-services.aspx and there is a charge for ordering.
Unofficial transcripts can be printed and viewed for free at any time on their PeopleSoft accounts.
SENIOR SURVEY: Complete to ensure delivery of final transcripts to colleges
Please take a few minutes to complete your mandatory Senior Survey in Naviance.
If you have not logged in to Naviance since January 27, you need to make a new password.
Your Username is still your 8-digit student ID.
If you need to make a new password go to the login screen (https://student.naviance.com/middleths) and click “forgot password,” enter your FCPS email address, check your FCPS email (using gmail.com and logging in through your FCPS account), and if the Naviance password reset email is not in your inbox be sure to check your spam folder.
The survey is a questionnaire designed to gather data related to each student's high school experience and post-secondary plans. Information gleaned from the survey responses provides data that is useful for decision-making at the state, system, and local school level.
The Naviance Survey is found at:
Students should please take the time to read each question and enter their answers accurately.
Please have the total amount of scholarship money OFFERED (from any college offers and private and local scholarships), whether or not accepted.
If seniors have any questions, they should email their counselor.
This survey collects information from every senior, not just college-bound seniors.
All seniors are required to complete their senior survey.
IMPORTANT:
COMPLETING THIS SURVEY ALSO ENSURES THAT FINAL SENIOR TRANSCRIPTS ARE SENT ELECTRONICALLY TO THE COLLEGE THE STUDENT IS ATTENDING!
Senior Class Advisers Lisa Boyll lisa.boyll@fcps.org 240-236-7562 Cindy Anderson Cynthia.anderson@fcps.org 240-236-7504
2020-21 MHS SEMESTER 1 DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS: This message is for you! If you have signed up for FCC courses at MHS OR at FCC for SEMESTER 1, you needed to finalize your enrollment by June 9, 2020.by following these steps:
Dual Enrollment Steps and Instructions: Due Tuesday, June 9
If you have not yet completed and emailed your documents to Mrs. Bertulaitis, please do so ASAP.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Check Naviance for paperwork and requirements for these and other scholarship opportunities! These are the current deadlines. Naviance is frequently being updated as we get more information about any extensions of due dates or submission addresses or requirements, so check your Naviance account often. If you need your transcript in PDF format, please email your counselor (emails listed below).
To Access Scholarships On Naviance, Click on the following Tabs: Colleges Tab Scholarships and Money Scholarship List
Go to Naviance to access this information.
Due to the current school closure, if a Letter of Recommendation or an unofficial/PDF version of the transcript is needed, please email your counselor.
MHS PTSA Scholarship Award
Congratulations to Maria Nikolaitchik for being awarded a $500 senior college scholarship from your MHS PTSA! The scholarship is focused on recognizing students for outstanding leadership in service to their community and who serve as models to their fellow students. Candidates needed to describe a service activity during their high school career which had a clear benefit on the community and were judged based on their demonstrated positive spirit, initiative, and generosity.
Congratulations again to Maria!
Your PTSA wishes the Class of 2020 a successful future and is inspired by the leadership and strength that were demonstrated throughout the very difficult circumstances this semester. What a great group of individuals!
Respectfully and with much hope,
Your MHS PTSA Board of Directors
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Students who were unable to pick up their books at the designated times may contact the front office to pick up at a later date. You also may email Ms. Naff at Crystal.Naff@fcps.org. All books must be signed for by the person picking up the book.
MVA FORMS
While Maryland is under a State of Emergency and schools remain closed, the MVA is allowing parents to certify that their child has demonstrated acceptable school attendance. Any student under the age of 16 applying for their learner's permit can use form DL-300A (06-20) "Verification of Identity and/or School Attendance by Parent or Guardian". The form can be downloaded at the MVA website by going to https://mva.maryland.gov/Pages/form/driver-licensing.aspx, and scrolling down until you see the "Verification of Identity and/or School Attendance by Parent or Guardian" link in red. The form is only available online. Click here to go to the form directly.
Once the Governor lifts the State of Emergency, the MVA will no longer accept form DL-300A (06-20).
2020-2021 VIRTUAL SCHOOL LEARNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT The FCPS Frederick County Virtual School (FCVS) oversees virtual courses for high school credit.
Virtual Outside of School (VOS)
VOS is designed for students who are independent, self-motivated learners. It offers fall and spring honors and elective courses for grade improvement or original credit.
Students must be currently enrolled and entering 9th-12th grade with consistent access to a computer device and high-speed internet. Students should expect to work independently 8-10 hours/week.
Face-to-face required sessions may be replaced by video conferencing pending social distancing protocols.
Find details and registration materials at https://education.fcps.org/fcvs/ by selecting "School Year Learning Options."
Do not delay! Enrollment is limited, and is first-come, first-served. Final deadline to register, if space is available in the course, is August 24. Email completed forms to your school counselor.
FCC Foundation Scholarships Online applications only - due by Tuesday, June 30
Students can only apply online. No paper applications will be accepted. Students can upload transcripts (official or unofficial), letters of recommendation, and other required documents directly into the system.
To apply:
Go to: FCC Foundation Scholarships
The Frederick Community College (FCC) STEM Scholars Program
This program provides students who have academic talent and financial need with additional support while they pursue their STEM-related academic and career goals on a full-time basis. STEM Scholars is designed to serve students with little or no prior college-level experience. The competitive scholarship program offers participants up to $13,000 in financial aid, as well as the training and mentoring needed to be successful in their STEM programs and prepares students to transition to the next stage of their educational and career pathways. The program will consist of three cohorts of ten students starting in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, and Fall 2022. FCC STEM Scholars is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Go to: FCC Stem Scholars for more information and to apply. Deadline extended to July 15th!
CLASS OF 2021 - RISING SENIORS US Naval Academy Preliminary Application Website Open
The preliminary application for admission to the Class of 2025 through the Academy's Admissions website is open at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/. USNA conducts a rolling admissions process, and therefore, completing your application early is highly encouraged. Please know, however, your preliminary application must be submitted by December 31, 2020.
Although USNA has reduced or postponed external outreach efforts due to current public health concerns associated with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please know that the Office of Admissions remains fully operational. We have posted a Naval Academy Admissions Brief on YouTube for students, parents and educators to familiarize themselves with our admissions process. All counselors are available to conduct virtual visits and attend virtual college fairs as requested.
Stay connected in the meantime through theAdmissions website at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/ and social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates. Additionally, staff is available daily via live chat from the “Contact Us” chat widget on the USNA Admissions website.
National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAD) Coronavirus Update Information
NACAC’s College Admission Status Update is a central resource of information about changes in college admission as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The website currently includes information provided to NACAC by colleges and universities worldwide. You’ll find information on each institution’s plans and policies for admission events; for consideration of high school transcripts and standardized test scores; for decision and deposit dates; for summer and fall semester plans; and more.
NACAC
The Free HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Back to School College Fairs - July 2020 through March 2021 Students who are interested in attending an HBCU should consider filling out the Common Black College Application (CBCA), which for a limited time is only $20 to apply to 55 colleges and universities. There are 7 upcoming virtual college fairs being held from July 2020 through March 2021. To get more information about the college fairs and the CBCA please go to: HBCU College Fairs and CBCA Application
COLLEGE BOOT CAMP: Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors and their parents: Take the stress out of the college search process with the 2020 College Admissions Summer Bootcamp! Register now for a 3-day college search workshop changed to an ONLINE format at: www.myecap.org
Student Session: Monday-Wednesday, July 13-15, 10-4 PM Parent Session: Monday, July 13, 6:30-8 PM See the flyer Email: myecap@gmail.com
Frederick Community College Accepting Applications for Parents Lead Complete online application by July 15
Frederick Community College is accepting applications for the Parents Lead program, designed specifically to help parents attend FCC and earn a degree. Students in the next cohort will begin classes in fall 2020. Created for financially-eligible parents, the program provides specialized curriculum and advising services, as well as FCC Foundation scholarships for childcare while parents attend classes, or for other costs associated with child rearing. The cohort-based program includes a combination of online and on-campus evening or day-time classes and can be completed in as few as five semesters. Additional financial aid is also available to assist eligible students at FCC with tuition and fees.
Parents Lead is designed to support students pursuing a degree at FCC. Each applicant will meet with an academic counselor to discuss degree and certificate options.
Space in the Parents Lead program is limited. Interested parents should complete this online application by July 15 for best consideration. After applying, applicants will be invited (and required) to schedule an appointment with Parents Lead Advisor/Adult Services Director Janice Brown (jbrown@frederick.edu) to review how the program works, assist with steps needed to enroll at FCC, connect to other sources of financial assistance for their education, and answer questions.
Parents Lead scholarships are provided by the FCC Foundation. For more information about the Parents Lead program, click here.
ONLINE ENROLLMENT
Online enrollment is now open for students NEW to Frederick County Public Schools!
Parents may enroll their child in FCPS by creating an account here in English or here in Spanish. Additional information is online at https://www.fcps.org/student-services/enrolling-a-student. All new enrollments, including pre-kindergarten (pre-k) and kindergarten, occur online in a secure virtual environment.
2020 SAT TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES
These dates include a new administration on September 26 and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5. Given the spring administrations canceled due to coronavirus, College Board is seeing very high interest in students wanting to register for the SAT. As a result, there is a greater volume than usual of students trying to register. Students may expect interruptions and delays online.
Please note that as the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic continues to evolve, College Board will continue to monitor and will let you know if circumstances change closer to the test dates.
All SAT testing dates listed above are Saturdays. Learn more, register and get free practice at College Board
CEEB/ETS High School Code: 210755
2020 ACT TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES
On April 15, 2020 ACT announced that they would offer students additional summer ACT Test Date options and ACT Testing Online at Home, with remote proctoring to launch this fall/winter for U.S. students. For more information, see: ACT COVID-19 Update
All ACT testing dates listed above are Saturdays. Learn more and register at ACT CEEB/ETS High School Code: 210755
Mark your calendar: ACT will be giving away a $15,000 scholarship + $5,000 technology package to 14 lucky students this school year. Eligible sophomores, juniors and seniors who register for the ACT® test between 9.3.2019 and 6.26.2020 are automatically entered for a chance to win. It’s that easy!
Selective Service Registration This is a reminder that all males are required by law to register for the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Preregistration can be done at 17 years, 3 months and the registration held until the 18th birthday. Failure to register can create future issues: the inability to receive federally funded college loans and grants, to obtain federally funded training and certification programs and federal employment. To register, go to SSS.gov
Counseling Office Staff
Last Names A-D: Meredith Bagnell, 240-236-7404 Last Names E-K: Brad George, 240-236-7436 Last Names L-Rod: Erin Phelps, 240-236-7402 Last Names Roe-Z: Paula Langley, 240-236-7405
Registrar: Niki Dillard, 240-236-7401 Counseling Secretary: Jennifer Bertulaitis, 240-236-7403
Fax: 240-236-7580 Visit the MHS School Counseling Page