FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHT - PLANNING AND PERSPECTIVE

Portrait of a Graduate skills!  All students, are encouraged to sign up for 8th periods in the CCC over the next few months.   We'll have workshops about interview skills, deciphering the high school transcript, and using Naviance Student to explore strengths and interests.  Students should reference the student intranet for more information about dates and topics.  

Planning! Academic Advising continues for the Class of 2022 and will begin soon for the Classes of 2023 and 2024 with their assigned counselor.  Students can begin their course selections in StudentVue. More information can be found here.  

Junior College Planning Book recommendations:  

• The Truth About College Admissions, A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together | Brennan Barnard & Rick Clark
• The Price You Pay for College | Ron Lieber
• The Thinking Student's Guide to College | Andrew Roberts

Perspective! Many Class of 2021 students will receive their admissions decisions for their Early Action schools this month.   While these decisions may bring elation, sorrow, and/or a mix of emotions,  please remember these important words from Marie Bigham, former board director at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC): 

"Whatever the outcome, keep this in mind: admission acceptance, denial and deferment are strictly a reflection of the process.  They are not an indictment about parenting or a statement about success for your  future.  Don’t get stuck on one or two places. Remind yourself that there are many outstanding options, really a broad breadth and depth of colleges available to you."

We are here to support all TJHSST students through high school transitions, so please don't hesitate to reach out to anyone in Student Services if you have questions or concerns. 

Class of 2021 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) | March 19, 2021

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) will be given at McLean High School on Monday, April 12 for seniors who attend Region 2 High Schools (Annandale HS, Falls Church HS, Justice HS, Marshall HS, McLean HS, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology). 

The ASVAB is only being offered to seniors who plan to enlist in the military after graduation and need to take this test for enlistment. Students should complete this Google Form by March 19, 2021 to register for the test.  Students must be signed into their @fcpsschools.net account to complete the form.

Class of 2023 PSAT 10 | Intent to Participate | April 19, 2021

On Monday, April 19, 2021 tenth graders will have the opportunity to take the PSAT 10 at TJHSST.  FCPS will cover the cost for any tenth-grade student to take this test.

To help the school prepare for testing, students are asked to complete this GoogleForm by Friday, March 19. This form asks about participation in the test, the need for bus transportation, and interest in free breakfast or lunch on the day of the test.  The form must be filled out using the student’s school @fcpsschools.net account.

Due to health and safety protocols, FCPS sites cannot accept walk-ins on the day of the exam. If you have questions about the PSAT 10 administration at TJHSST, please contact our Assessment Coach, Lisa Broadhead at @email.

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES*

The FCPS curated list can be found in Naviance Student.  Step-by-step directions for finding enrichment opportunities in Naviance Student. 

Some recent updates include:

• HBCU Fair  | Edison High School's 11^th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Fair | February 22, 2021 | 9am - 3:30pm | FCPS website for students (G Suite log on required)
• NACAC Virtual College Fairs |  February 28, 2021 and multiple other dates
• Building a Smart College List, Coalition for College | March 23, 2021 | Register here. 
• Lebanon Valley College Health and Biomedical Sciences Summer Program |  July 26-28, 2021
• E.L.I.T.E  Leadership Academy, Latinas Leading Tomorrow | deadline March 1, 2021 
• GMU Global Health Scholars | deadline March 1, 2021
• Reynolds Young Writers Workshop | deadline March 8, 2021
• Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), STEM camps | deadline March 15, 2021 
• Virginia Girls State Program | event date June 20 – 26, 2021 | Contact:  Ms. Smith, TJHSST Counselor
• GW Department of Biomedical Sciences Summer Immersion Program | deadline May 31, 2021 
• TERP Young Scholars | deadline June 1, 2021
• UMBC Data Science Academy | multiple dates
• 2020 Rewind Moments, Movements, and Monuments Contest | 6th Annual Poetry & Annual Writing Contest by Fairfax county alumnae chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. | deadline February 26, 2021

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES*

The FCPS curated list can be found in Naviance Student.  Below are some recent updates:

• SMAC’s Cancer Fighter Scholarship – deadline Feb. 15, 2021

• Women’s Cyber Security Scholarship – deadline Feb. 22, 2021

• American Chemical Society Scholars Program – deadline March 1, 2021

• Microsoft Disability Scholarship – deadline March 1, 2021

• National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity – deadline March 1, 2021

• SEG Foundation Scholarship – deadline March 1, 2021

• Amazon Black Employee Network Scholarship – deadline March 4, 2021

• 2021 GRANVILLE P. MEADE SCHOLARSHIP - deadline March 5, 2021 *application instructions in the TJHSST 2021 Google Classroom

• Information Security Undergraduate Scholarship – deadline March 8, 2021

• Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship – deadline March 11, 2021

• Fairfax Alliance of Black School Educators (FABSE) Scholarship – deadline March 12, 2021

• Beyond the Burroughs National Scholarship Fund – deadline March 15, 2021

• Virginia Smiles Scholarship – Katie Higgins Memorial Scholarship – deadline March 29, 2021

• Izaak Walton League of America Scholarship Arlington-Fairfax Chapter, Inc. – deadline April 1, 2021

• Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) Scholarship – deadline April 1, 2021

• Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship – deadline April 1, 2021

• Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship – deadline April 1, 2021

• Phi Beta Kappa High School Awards – deadline April 10, 2021

• The Rotary Club of Alexandria CTE Scholarship – deadline April 23, 2021

• USGIF Scholarship Program – deadline May 16, 2021

• Washington Korean Women’s Society Scholarship – deadline May 25, 2021

• Tribeca Capital Group Scholarship – deadline June 15, 2021

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES

Students should research all Merit Scholarship opportunities that are offered by the colleges to which they plan to apply and follow the college's application timelines for these specific opportunities.  Some popular scholarship sites: 

Scholarship Sharing Database

College Board Opportunity Scholarships

RaiseMe | Earn money for college starting in 9th grade based on achievements in school and life.

FastWeb

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and Financial Aid resources | Visit www.collegeaccessfairfax.org for virtual resources or to register for workshops.

PARENT/GUARDIAN WORKSHOPS 

Is it Over Yet? How to Help your Child Cope with the Pandemic and the Eventual Return to Normalcy: A Webinar for Families | Friday, February 26, 2021 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Bateman for a webinar focused on parenting strategies to help children cope with the challenges of the pandemic. Register here. 

• Coping with general stress, changes in daily life/routine, uncertainty about the future, loss of regular activities and social interaction, virtual school, etc.
• Executive functioning to assist with the challenges of virtual school
• Managing anxiety about health and safety
• Building resilience in children to reduce risk of separation anxiety, social anxiety, etc. once the pandemic ends

Register for upcoming virtual sessions at the link above or visit the FCPS Parent Resource Center video playlist here.

Questions?  Reach out to Student Services.

*The information provided is for your information and review. Scholarships and enrichment programs offered by organizations other than FCPS are neither sponsored nor endorsed by FCPS, the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent or TJHSST. Students and parents should carefully review all application requirements. Parents/Guardians need to confirm the details, accuracy and relevance of any program chosen for their student.  This document contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network.  Neither FCPS nor TJHSST controls the content or relevancy of these outside pages.

External opportunities may utilize an online technology, or video and web conferencing tool that has not been assessed or approved for use in FCPS by the FCPS Department of Information Technology.  Students should gain permission from their parent/guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity.  Families should review and agree to the Terms of Service and User Agreements for any technology platform used to facilitate these opportunities.