Dear Parents and Guardians,
What a year it has been! This time last year we had just shared our summer newsletter that featured information on parenting teens in a pandemic, and here we are today, discussing how to immerse ourselves back into the world. It is pretty incredible to think of all that we have been through and accomplished together this school year.
As if this year didn't provide enough challenges and learning curves for us, we also launched a new educational management system! Our team has spent the last several months preparing for the transition to our new program, Blackbaud. Students were introduced to this new system back in February when they selected their course preferences for the 2021-2022 school year. We have been hard at work learning this new platform, building the master schedule for next year, and crafting each student's individual course schedule. I am so grateful for the dedicated team we have leading these efforts. They have spent countless hours in training, entering and transferring data, and in meetings with consultants. Thank you for your grace and patience as we continue our diligent work to have our students' schedules accessible in Blackbaud in July. Should your student require a change in their schedule due to an academic misplacement, counselors will be available August 9th-12th to meet with students.
The members of our Student Services team will continue to be available for students seeking support through June 15th before they step out for a much deserved summer break. If you would like to speak with someone in our department, please call or email your student’s school counselor and they will get in touch with you. In addition to the support available from our own professionals, our staff members are familiar with a range of additional community-based resources to connect you with.
This time of year is always bittersweet for us as we say goodbye to our graduating class. The Class of 2021 has achieved remarkable personal, academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments under some pretty extraordinary circumstances. 100% of the graduating class is attending college next year and over 95% have earned academic scholarships totaling over $39.5 million! It is with immense pride that we send our Blazers out into the world to spread their wings and share their talents!
Wishing and your family a safe and enjoyable summer.
Best,
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Rachel Behren, LCPC, NCC, CMHIMP
Director of Student Services
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A CONTINUED FOCUS ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Introduced earlier this school year, one of our department's major focuses has been on social and emotional learning (SEL). Social and emotional learning is the process through which we acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to:
- Recognize and manage our emotions
- Set and achieve positive goals
- Demonstrate caring and concern for others
- Establish and maintain positive relationships
- Make responsible decisions
- Handle interpersonal situations effectively
Our areas of concentration during the spring semester have been:
- Healthy Relationships
- Anger Management
- Managing Anxiety
- Mindfulness
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COLLEGE COUNSELING CORNER |
HELPING OUR STUDENTS STAY CONNECTED THIS SUMMER
**Our College Counselor, Mrs. Granholm, will have limited part time hours during the months of July and August to work with our rising seniors and their families. You may contact her at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.**
With the end of the school year close at hand, we want to introduce you to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission College Q&A free texting service. Through this service, over the summer students can simply text their college planning and financial aid questions and an ISAC staff member will respond. Students will also receive targeted text reminders about college going and financial aid deadlines.
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SAVE THE DATE!
College Application Workshop
When: August 10th
Time: TBD
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COLLEGE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES
Did you know that StriveScan has a library of over 300 recordings of college information sessions? This incredible resource is free for you to use. With a click of a mouse, you can hear from admissions officers from all around the nation, and across the globe. This is an amazing resource to supplement your own college research. Check it out today!
Want to check out some virtual campus tours? Check out your college websites. There are some fantastic options available including both pre-recorded and live-streamed options.
Another cool site is CampusReel. Here, you can watch short videos and take informal campus and residence hall tours hosted by students.
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TEST PREPARATION RESOURCES |
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NAVIANCE TEST PREP
Trinity High School’s Student Services Department uses Naviance, a comprehensive website that you and your student can use to help in making decisions about courses, colleges, and careers. It also has an interactive test preparation program for the ACT exam.
Students have access to a full-length diagnostic test. After completion, Test Prep will create a personalized study guide to assist students in enhancing their ACT test scores. Naviance Test Prep allows students to:
- Plan a study schedule according to your student's test date or when they wish to be fully prepared
- Determine and strategize their test readiness to success
- Review necessary knowledge for each exam through lessons, flashcards, practice questions and tests
- Enjoy the Game Center while boosting their test-taking strategies
ACADEMIC APPROACH
Academic Approach is offering a PAID Practice ACT for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. To participate, students must meet one of the three criteria below. Upon completion of participation, they will be compensated $25 (Amazon e-gift card). They will also receive a score report with recommendations for improving your scores.
To participate, they must meet one of the following criteria:
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Student must have taken an official ACT (administered by the ACT) between December 2020 and May 2021 and report their official scores upon registration OR student must be registered for or plan to take the June 2021 ACT and report their scores once they receive them. Student will receive compensation for their participation once they have taken the Academic Approach practice test and submitted their official scores.
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Student must have taken an eligible ACT practice test with Academic Approach between December 2020 and May 2021. Academic Approach will work with students to determine whether their previous practice test is eligible. Student will receive compensation for their participation once they have taken the Academic Approach practice test and confirmed that their previous practice test is eligible.
- Student must sign up for and complete two Practice ACTs with Academic Approach. Students taking two practice tests will receive an additional $25 compensation (total of $50 Amazon e-gift card).
The practice test will be proctored online (via Zoom) and may be taken during any of the Saturday/Sunday test dates included in the registration form. Each test event begins at 9:00AM CST.
To sign up, please complete this registration form. Once the information is received, a confirmation email with additional information about the test event will be sent.
Please contact Jaycie Ryrholm, Director of Research and Development, at [email protected] with questions.
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2021 SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Elective courses meet for three weeks - June 28 - July 16, 2021 from 8:00 am - 12:15 pm
Each course meets 4 hours per day, 4 days a week.
The dates are the following:
Week of June 28 - July 2 - Monday through Thursday
Week of July 5-9 - Tuesday through Friday
Week of July 12 - 16 - Monday through Thursday
The fee for each course is $750.00. Students may choose ONE of the two elective courses. Please complete the registration below by indicating the course you wish to take.
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Have you checked out Trinity's Virtual Calming Room? It was designed to assist students in locating different strategies and tools for managing their emotions. It is our hope that the tools may provide helpful outlets and practices for our Blazers and their families.
Our newest addition is our Faith Formation page which was designed to help our students cultivate a prayerful life, connect faith to justice, and empower them to preach.
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INFORMATION PARENTS CAN USE |
Looking for the latest information in adolescent development, post-secondary trends and other hot topics? Here are some great articles and resources that you may find helpful in your household:
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! |
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Simply open your camera's smartphone and hover on the QR Code above to access our virtual office. Our virtual office interactively links to some of our most used resources. |
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TRINITY'S STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT |
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Rachel Behren
Director of Student Services
Keila Green
School Counselor
Katie Granholm
College Counselor
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Maura Clark
School Counselor
Victoria Herling
School Counselor
Molly Puttin
Scheduler/Registrar
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