Student Services & Post-Secondary Planning News
Upcoming Dates
April 19: Midwest College Showcase (virtual), 6pm-8pm
April 20: Midwest College Showcase (virtual), 7pm-9pm
April 20: Beyond Borders: Applying Abroad (virtual), 7:30pm
April 22: NOVA Medical Education Open House and Health Expo, 11am-2pm @NOVA Medical Campus Springfield
April 24: Seniors must have their service learning hours logged in x2VOL to receive credit and get the black service learning cord to wear at graduation. Details
April 25: NOVA Help Session @Madison for Seniors during Warhawk Time. Get help with NOVA admissions, holds, majors/programs or registration. Seniors complete this form to sign up.
April 26: Flash Forward: Postsecondary Education & Employment Options @Woodson HS, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Details available here
April 29: NOVA Annandale Campus Showcase Event @NOVA Annandale Campus, 10am-2pm. Flyer here and register here.
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will host a free Saturday event for high school students (and families) who are considering dual enrollment, currently participating in the dual enrollment program, and/or interested in attending NOVA after high school graduation. NOVA will showcase the Annandale Campus, academic programs, and general NOVA resources and services available to students. Registered students will be eligible for raffle giveaways. Lunch will be provided.
April 29: George Mason University High School Outreach Event, 10am-12pm @GMU in the Engineering Building, Room 1101.
- Session will include useful, explanatory, and instructive talks about the place of statistics in sciences and everyday applications, types of jobs statistics majors get, and some fun and recreational activities that make use of statistics. Along with a brief discussion of the undergraduate courses offered by our department, research interests of our faculty, and a question-and-answer session. Contact: Ilhan Izmirli, iizmirl2@gmu.edu
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
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Changes Coming to FAFSA: Better FAFSA Better Future
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will get its first major redesign in over 40 years. The goal is to make applying for federal student aid easier for students. FAFSA simplification will be implemented in phases, with full implementation of major provisions in the 2024-2025 Award Year. These changes will provide:
- A more streamlined application process
- Expanded eligibility for federal financial aid
- Reduced barriers for certain student populations
- A better user experience for the FAFSA form
The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be released in December 2023 (in previous years the FAFSA opened on October 1. There are plans to return to the October 1 date in the 2025-2026 Award Year). Visit StudentAid.gov for financial aid information and updates. Here is a recent article from Federal Student Aid regarding the changes.
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SOLs Coming Soon
SOL Test Dates at Madison HS: (all testing will begin at 8:10 AM)
- Seniors still in need of a verified credit for graduation: April 26
- Reading SOL (English 11/AP Language): April 27 & 28
- Biology SOL: May 12 & 15
- Geometry and Algebra 2 SOLs: May 16
- Algebra 1 SOL: May 17
Testing notifications will be send via email by April 14th to both students and the enrolling parent. Students will be notified of their specific test location approximately one week before each test. If you become aware of an unavoidable conflict with a date your student is scheduled to test, please let our assessment coach, Mrs. Frate (jlfrate@fcps.edu) know as soon as possible.
Students are required to use their FCPS laptop. If your student does not have a school computer, loaners will be provided on the day of the test. Please encourage your student to bring their FCPS laptop to school on a regular basis prior to the SOLs so their computer can get regular updates.
More information about SOL testing can be found here on the Madison website.
The Spring 2023 Testing Calendar is available here.
Questions about SOLs? Reach out to your student’s counselor or to our assessment coach, Mrs. Frate (jlfrate@fcps.edu).
Volunteers Needed for AP Test Proctoring
Madison HS will administer over 2,700 AP exams this May and we need your help!
AP testing is quickly approaching and Student Services needs parent volunteers to serve as proctors for the duration of each AP test. Your support is essential to our test security and ability to implement a successful program.
AP testing will take place May 1-5 and 8-12 during both morning (8:00am to 12:30pm) and afternoon (12:00pm to 4:00pm) blocks. Review the testing schedule and available volunteer slots on our Sign Up here. (Note: Parents/guardians cannot proctor a test that their student is taking.)
Questions? Contact Alice Whitener at alwhitener@fcps.edu.
List of Colleges and Universities Still Accepting Applications
NACAC’s College Openings Update: Options for Qualified Students is available. This resource provides families with a list of colleges and universities that are still accepting applications from qualified first-year and transfer students for the fall term. The list indicates if the institutions have financial aid and/or housing available.
- The 2023 College Openings Update is now available on NACAC’s website.
- Colleges will update their information as availability changes on their campuses.
- The College Openings Update will be removed from the NACAC website at the end of July.
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FCPS Military Night Recordings Now Available on YouTube
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Enrichment Opportunities
Recently Updated in Naviance
Naviance > Colleges > Scholarships & Money > Scholarship List
Scholarship Opportunities
Recently Updated in Naviance for Seniors
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Local Scholarships | FCPS Facilitated Scholarships
General Scholarships
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