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Counseling

Our Mission

The mission of the Manchester High School Counseling department is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program to address the academic,career and personal/social needs of all students. In coordination with students, staff, parents and community resources, the school counselor and department staff will facilitate a positive and supportive program that will help provide a school community that is safe, healthy, and growth promoting for all students.

Students and parents can self-enroll in the MCHS School Counseling Canvas Course by clicking on the following link: https://mychesterfieldschools.instructure.com/enroll/JR83EK

Enrollments are done by appointment ONLY!
Please call (804) 739-6284 to make an appointment.

Manchester School Counseling Department
Phone: (804) 739-6284
Fax:
(804) 639-6974
CEEB Code: 471870

Need to see a counselor?

We are happy to announce the School Counseling Department is going electronic! A google form can now be used by students to request an appointment, tell a counselor something you need, or simply ask a question! We know it is often difficult for students to leave class to see a counselor…this google form can be accessed using a student’s Chromebook from class or home! Simply type the following code into Google and the form can be accessed.

At Manchester, one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is the Virginia Wizard.

Let the Wizard help you choose a career, get the information you need to pursue your career, enroll in one of Virginia’s community colleges, pay for college, transfer to a four-year college or university, and get answers to your questions about your future.

See your school counselor today to schedule a time to take the Virginia Wizard!

Virginia View
Dream it. Plan it. Do it! Dream about a job that may be in your future. Start planning for high school and beyond. As you begin planning your future, have fun trying the Career Start games and activities!

SnagAJob
As the #1 source for hourly and part-time jobs, they connect job seekers with more than 100,000 active job listings from top employers across the country.

Bridges
A daily updated career exploration and planning resource that engages students and supports educators. It features an online library of easy-to-use career articles, self assessment and career planning tools, lesson plans and many other online resources .

The Job Resource
Companies may post ads for job openings, free of charge; college students may post resumes on the web and update them as often as they wish.

Military Careers

National Guard
Rep: SSG Jason F. Ellsworth
Phone: (804) 608-8627
Email: jason.f.ellsworth.mil@mail.mil

Army

Marine Corp

Navy

How to Start a High School Freshman Year the Right Way

You’ve just finished middle school and are at the top of the student ladder, but you’ve realized that come the end of summer, you have to go back to the bottom rung. For a number of reasons ranging from academic to social, high school is intimidating. Now is a good time to think about putting some strategies in place for starting your freshman year the right way.

Instructions:

  1. Plan to attend freshman orientation.   Manchester High School’s  Freshman SMART Day is  September 3, 2015 (8:30-2:00).  There is a $15 cost to cover your T-shirt, lunch, and refreshments.  If you have not already registered, please contact the front office at 739-6275.

  2. Talk with upperclassmen. If you know any upperclassmen or meet some at orientation, get them talking about their experiences in the high school. They can fill you in on extracurricular activities, the fastest routes to your classes and study tips that work for them, and you’ll get to know someone you can rely on for information.

  3. Prepare yourself for more work. It’s time to accept that starting high school means a larger workload. Don’t panic: you’re building on skills you already have, but you’ll be expected to work more independently and you’ll have more assignments to tackle.

  4. Reassess your study habits. Once you’ve gotten your class requirements, you can take some time at home to figure out when and how much you’ll need to study. You may already have great study habits and won’t have to adjust all that much or you may have to cut out some down time to make room for your increased workload.

  5. Spread your wings. Starting high school marks a new time in your life and there will be many more extracurricular opportunities and sports to choose from. Round out your freshman education by joining a new sport or club to nurture your interests and to make new friends.

  6. Seek help when necessary. If you’ve done everything you can to start your freshman year the right way and still find that you’re having trouble with your grades or adjusting socially, see your School Counselors. They are trained as experts in all things high school and should be able to get you on track or get you additional help for a great freshman year and beyond.

Chesterfield County Tutor List (see attachment below)

It’s never too early to start looking ahead…here are a few resources for you!

Big Future presented by the College Board

The College Board (SAT, AP, PSAT) has produced an interactive website to assist students in their college search process. Check it out.

Sophomores are no longer the newbies! Get ready for a great year! What you can do to better prepare for your future…

  1. Take an AP Course(s)
    This not only helps you to prepare for the heavy workloads you will get in college, but it also shows college admissions boards that you are a diligent student. If you are not up to the challenge or your school does not offer AP courses appropriate for you, then take as many high level/honors courses as you can, without jeopardizing your GPA.

  2. Take the PSAT
    Your SAT scores are going to make or break your college application, so it’s important to start preparing for this test the right way. Taking the PSAT is a great way to understand your test taking skills. If you do well, you could be eligible for a scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. If you don’t do well then it means that you have more time to prepare for the real SATs.

  3. Dedicate Time Outside Of Class
    College admissions boards care about what you do with your time outside of class just as much as your course loads. Try out for sports teams if you are athletic, sign up the Art Club if you are interested in the creative fields, or do something out of your comfort zone like trying out for the lead of a school musical! If you have already found what extracurricular activities you enjoy being part of, that’s great! As your next challenge, try taking on some leadership roles.

  4. Meet With Your School Counselor
    They are there for a reason—use their resources! They can help you research colleges of interest and schedule your classes accordingly. School counselors are also the ones who have direct contact with college admissions officers, so build strong relationships with them if you want to get an extra nudge when applying.

  5. Use Your Summer Wisely
    Whether you are volunteering at a local animal shelter or taking on your first internship or job position, don’t waste your summer bumming around. This is the time for you to set your path straight to get into the college of your dreams. Use this time to craft your art skills if you want to go to art school or practice taking the SATs if you didn’t do so well on your PSATs. Whatever it is, don’t waste it!

Helpful Resources
Chesterfield County Tutor List (see attachment below)
Big Future presented by the College Board
 
The College Board (SAT, AP, PSAT) has produced an interactive website to assist students in their college search process. Check it out.
Chesterfield Technical Centers
Students will learn more about the Tech Centers during their sophomore year.  Each center will offer an open house in February 2015.  Applications will be available in February and have strict deadlines.  Students are able to attend the Tech Center during their junior or senior year. Each program counts as 3 electives in their schedule.

PSAT
The PSAT is a standardized test that provides students firsthand practice for the SAT. The PSAT is given to all sophomores and interested juniors in October each school year. All sophomores and juniors will be automatically signed up to take the PSAT this year.

The PSAT measures critical reading skills; math problem-solving; and writing skills. Each student who takes the PSAT receives an itemized score report which provides important feedback regarding a student’s strengths and weaknesses relative to preparation for college. You can practice for the PSAT!

Students taking the PSAT gain access to My College Quickstart, a college and career planning website offered by the College Board. In addition, certain scores on the PSAT qualify a student to take a dual-enrollment course the following school year.

For juniors, taking the PSAT gives students a chance to enter scholarship programs through the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Juniors will take the PSAT this year
 
The PSAT is a standardized test that provides students firsthand practice for the SAT. The PSAT is given to all sophomores and interested juniors in October each school year. All sophomores and juniors will be automatically signed up to take the PSAT this year.

The PSAT measures critical reading skills; math problem-solving; and writing skills. Each student who takes the PSAT receives an itemized score report which provides important feedback regarding a student’s strengths and weaknesses relative to preparation for college. You can practice for the PSAT!

Students taking the PSAT gain access to My College Quickstart, a college and career planning website offered by the College Board. In addition, certain scores on the PSAT qualify a student to take a dual-enrollment course the following school year.

For juniors, taking the PSAT gives students a chance to enter scholarship programs through the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Now is the time to take the SAT or ACT

The ACT and the SAT are the two most widely used college entrance tests today. Typically, students will take either test during the junior and/or senior year of high school. Many colleges and universities use either test score as a factor in their admission decisions. It is recommended that students consider taking both tests since they may do better on one test versus the other. Each test is different though they serve the same purpose. Below you will find generalized information about each test. To learn more, please visit their respective websites.
 
For more information on SAT and ACT tests, please visit the following links:
College Planning Timeline for Junior Year
If you believe college is in your future, begin the process now.  Here are helpful links for you!
Virginia Opportunities Workbook
This booklet is a wonderful college planning resource with information specific to Virginia. This step-by-step guide was created by the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC).

Big Future presented by the College Board
The College Board (SAT, AP, PSAT) has produced an interactive website to assist students in their college search process. Check it out.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The office of Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, provides grants, loans, and work study funds for college or career school. Interested seniors can fill out the FAFSA form beginning on October 1. Prior to that date, seniors can visit FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of student aid.

Chesterfield Technical Centers
Students are able to attend the Tech Center during their junior or senior year.  Each program counts as 3 electives in their schedule.  Each center will offer an open house in January.  Applications will be available in February and have strict deadlines.
NCAA

Student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college.  NCAA asks that student athletes send their transcripts after their junior year grades have been posted. For the most up-to-date information, students should always reference the NCAA Eligibility Center website.

Sign up for School Counseling Google Classroom to see important post from the School Counseling Office.
 
Senior Post High School:
College Planning Senior Timeline:
College Application Information:
  • Complete your college application and mail it with your application fee by the due date (if applicable).
  • College Secondary report forms (if you have any) should be submitted to the School Counseling Office.
  • Request your transcript via Parchment services (after November 2nd)
  • Please provide an activity sheet or resumé if you wish to have it included with your transcript
  • Teacher recommendations must be mailed separately by each teacher unless the college specifically states otherwise. Please provide your teacher(s) with a stamped, pre-addressed envelope. It will be the responsibility of the student to follow up with teacher recommendations. If your application requires a counselor recommendation, make sure you notify your counselor personally, at least two weeks prior to your deadline.
  • If SAT Subject Tests and/or AP Test scores are required as part of the application process it is the student’s responsibility to send them directly from College Board.
 
Virginia Opportunities Workbook
This booklet is a wonderful college planning resource with information specific to Virginia. This step-by-step guide was created by the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC).

Big Future presented by the College Board
The College Board (SAT, AP, PSAT) has produced an interactive website to assist students in their college search process. Check it out.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The office of Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, provides grants, loans, and work study funds for college or career school. Interested seniors can fill out the FAFSA form beginning on October 1. Prior to that date, seniors can visit FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of student aid.

Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP)
Lisa Herbert is Manchester’s GRASP Advisor. She is at Manchester one day a week and is eager to meet with students and their parents as they navigate the process of paying for college.  Mrs. Herbert will introduce herself to seniors in October.  In order to make an appointment, please email Lisa at the following email address: manchester@ grasp4virginia.com or contact the School Counseling Office at 739-6274.

Transcripts
Graduated prior to 2009:
Your files have been put on microfiche and are not on file at Manchester. You must call (804) 639-8900, ext. 1651 to request your transcript. Include your name, social security number, high school (Manchester), and the year you graduated. Provide the address where you want the transcript sent.

Graduated after 2009:
Parchment…all seniors must request their transcripts via Parchment.  Students will be given a registration code to sign up for their personal account.  This is a free service.

Paper Copy Transcript:
A transcript request form can be picked up in Counselling or printed from Manchester’s website.

§  The first transcript you request is free of charge, provided that you request it at least 10 school days before the due date.  *(If your first transcript is not requested at least 10 days before the due date, then the cost is $2.00 for processing.)

§  Each transcript after the first requires a $3.00 fee. Please allow 10 school days for processing to assure delivery by due date. *(An additional fee of $2.00 is required if the request falls less than 10 school days of the due date.)

Transcript requests will NOT be accepted after 2:00 p.m.

A high school diploma tells admission officers at colleges, universities, and career and technical schools that the bearer is ready for the rigors of post-secondary education. It also tells potential employers that the graduate possesses the reading, writing, and computational skills required for success in the workplace. In order to graduate from a public high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a student must meet the criteria established by the Virginia Department of Education.

The standard and advanced diploma options are the two most common options available for students. Other diploma types offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia include the Modified Standard Diploma; the Special Diploma; the Certificate of Program Completion; the General Achievement Diploma (GAD); and the General Education Development Certificate (GED).

Please note that requirements do vary based upon the year when a student begins the ninth grade.

The purpose of school counseling is to build skills for academic, career and personal/social development. School counseling in Chesterfield County Public Schools is a planned, sequential program of services that is comprehensive in scope and developmental in nature.

Academic counseling helps students and parents learn about curriculum choices, plan an appropriate program of studies, arrange and interpret academic testing and seek post secondary academic opportunities.

Career counseling helps students acquire information and plan for work, jobs, apprenticeships and post-secondary education and career opportunities.

Personal or social counseling helps students develop an understanding of themselves and the rights and needs of others, resolve conflict and define individual goals that reflect their interests, abilities and aptitudes. Such counseling may be provided in groups in which generic issues of social development are addressed or through structured individual or small group counseling sessions that focus on specific student concerns (for example, divorce, anxiety or aggressive behavior).

At Manchester High School
Our school counselors take great pride in getting to know our students. Whether we are enrolling new students; answering a scheduling question; brainstorming with students about what to do after they leave Manchester; or maybe just offering an empathetic ear to challenges at home, we care about our students.

Each year we work with our students on a variety of issues. During the freshman and sophomore years, our goal is to develop a relationship with your child in order to help him or her adapt to high school. During the junior and senior years, our goal is to help your child further explore options for life after high school. We meet with students individually and in the classroom setting through a variety of classroom guidance lessons. Please review our school counseling department calendar each year to review our plans for the current school year.

Beyond the general services offered as described above, the Manchester School Counseling Department offers a number of other services and programs, e.g. College Night, financial aid workshops, orientations, and student scheduling. The department also coordinates all mandated testing, sends transcripts, and coordinates award assemblies with the administration..

SAT/ACT Help: Kaptest
College Representative Visits
 
Requirements for attending a college information session:
  • You may be a senior or junior.
  • You must obtain a College Visit Pass from Mrs. Glowinski in the College and Career Center (located within the School Counseling Office)
  • Every college visit is limited to 30 students and some may have an academic or minimum GPA requirement.
  • CTC students are welcome! We can arrange for a late bus to take you there, but you must give us at least a day’s notice.

Opportunities for Seniors

Scholarship Information
Scholarship Tips for Students and Parents can be found here!
This information will be updated monthly and published in Orange Aid
 
FAFSA help! See details attached below!
 
**Students and parents may sign up to visit with our GRASP representative in the school counseling office to discuss college financial aid needs.** Find out more information at www.grasp4virginia.com
 
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money made available by federal and state funding and private sources in the form of grants, loans, wages, and scholarships.
 
How is Financial Aid calculated?
Eligibility is based primarily on prior year income, assets, and family size.
 
When to apply for Financial Aid?
Applications are available after October 1st of each year for the following academic year.
 
How can I obtain an application?
The best way to apply is online (see next question) or you may pick up application materials in the guidance office.
 
How do I apply online?
Visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Request a PIN for yourself (the student) and one for parents if the student is a dependent.
Once the PIN is received via email in 2-4 days, the application can be completed and submitted.
 
Can I renew my FAFSA online?
Yes. All you will need is your PIN and updated financial information.
Is it quicker to apply online?
Yes. An online application is processed by FAFSA in 2-3 days. A mailed application takes 4-8 weeks to process.
 
What are the deadlines?
The priority deadline for each college or university can be different.  Go to each college financial aid website to determine the priority deadline.
 
Scholarship Information
Increasingly students are finding that web-based scholarship sites provide the easiest and most comprehensive approach to search for scholarships to help offset the increasing burden of paying for post-secondary education. Be wary of scholarship scams! If you have to pay money to get money, it’s probably a scam.
  • OrangeAid
  • An updated scholarship bulleting published by Manchester School Counseling Department. Includes many local/regional scholarships. For information regarding scholarships listed on the OrangeAid, please see Mrs. Dejarnette in the Guidance office.
  • Fastweb
  • The largest and most accurate personalized scholarship search that compares your background with a database of awards. Only those awards that fit your profile are identified as matches.
  • FinAid: Specific Majors or Course of Study Scholarship Opportunities
  • A list of several scholarship databases as well individual scholarships and awards aimed at assisting students pursuing specific majors or courses of study.
  • Central Scholarship Bureau
  • The Central Scholarship Bureau is a nonprofit organization founded in 1924 with the mission of providing grants, scholarships, and interest-free loans for postsecondary education.
  • SchoolSoup
  • SchoolSoup claims to have the largest online scholarship search engine in the world. It matches individual preferences and profiles to private, public and need-based award money.
  • Unusual Scholarships
  • A compilation of interesting, esoteric and unusual scholarships such as the Left-handed Scholarship, scholarships for twins, etc.

Transcripts

Graduated prior to 2012:
Your files have been put on microfiche and are not on file at Manchester. You must call (804) 639-8900, ext. 1651 to request your transcript. Include your name, social security number, high school (Manchester), and the year you graduated. Provide the address where you want the transcript sent.

Graduated after 2012:
Please fill out the form below.  We can send official transcripts or you can come to the Manchester School Counseling office with a picture ID to make your request. The $3 charge covers the cost of copying, processing, and mailing your transcript.  Please allow 5 Business days for processing.

You can find transcript request forms by following the links below:

  • Transcript Request – Current Student (if under 18 – must submit a Transcript Release Form in addition to the request)
  • Document Request Form-This form is used to request copies of documents from a former student’s record (immunizations, IEP, attendance, transcript, etc.).
Scheduling can be a CRAZY time of year!  We will help walk you through it!
 
SCHEDULING FOR THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BEGIN JANUARY 2020.

Parents of students who will attend Manchester High School for 9th grade next school year are invited to attend an information session in the Manchester HS auditorium at 6:00 PM on Thursday January 24th.  Information will be shared about scheduling, AP courses, Early College Academy and an elective fair will be set up for parents and students to view.

1) Counselor will go into English and PE classes to discuss the general guidelines in the scheduling process.

Scope of Offerings checklist….. You can use this as a ‘first draft’ to check off the classes you are initially thinking about taking. You will need 7 classes total: all your core classes and then electives. BUT, you have to make sure you have at least 2 alternate electives as well, in case your first choice electives don’t fit in your schedule or are not offered next year. 

TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THE SCHEDULING GUIDE! Think about what you’ve taken already, what you might like to take, and through process of elimination your schedule will start to work itself out. The key for you here is to think about electives. So, if you get down to a handful of electives you want to take, but aren’t sure, the descriptions are included so you can find out more about them – what the prerequisites are, what grade you have to be in, etc. If you have questions, we are here to help! 

2) ***RECOMMENDATION CARDS – February 3rd and 4th*** (see scheduling card below) On February 3rd and 4th, you will take a course recommendation card around to all your classes so that your core teachers can recommend you for a) what course you should be in next year and b) what level. But these cards are not just for your core recommendations; this is where you write down the elective courses you have FINALLY decided you want to take. Write down ALL of them, even the backup electives! It is important to take this process seriously because when you fill out this card, you are making a commitment to the electives you choose. EACH STUDENT MUST TURN IN A COMPLETED RECOMMENDATION CARD at the end of the day on the 4th. You will have a copy to take home too!  On Wednesday February 5th you will enter the schedule into Student Vue during an extended AEP.
 
3) Scheduling with your counselor

Counselors will take the recommendation cards and make a preliminary schedule from the information students and teachers have filled in. Counselors will then meet with juniors one-on-one in their offices to go over transcripts and verify one last time their course request for the upcoming year (February 17-March 6). Freshmen and sophomores will meet with their counselors during PE classes to verify the course requests they have chosen March 9th-20th for sophomores and March 23-28th for freshmen).

If taking a Dual Enrollment course, students must apply to JTCC and have qualifying scores before the Dual Enrollment deadline.

4) Course Request Verification Letters Go Home

Parents will receive a copy of their student’s proposed 2020-2021 schedule on April 3rd. These will be due back no later than April 15th. If there are any errors that you notice on the proposed course request, this is the final opportunity to make corrections. Because of master scheduling and staffing requirements, there are no schedule changes allowed after this process.

Provisional Placement Form:
 
NO SCHEDULE CHANGES AFTER April 15th!
 
9TH GRADE SCHEDULING GUIDE – see scheduling guide (9th) below

CHESTERFIELD TECHNICAL CENTER:  

Applications for CTC are online this year.  Apply at www.TheTechCenter.info.
PRIORITY DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28th, 2020.  Students can turn in applications after the 28th but will not be considered in the first round of decisions.
 
DUAL ENROLLMENT:  Students interested in Dual Enrollment classes will need to complete the following:
  1. Apply online to John Tyler Community College
  2. Turn in a printed copy of the application and a P-2 form with parent signatures to your School Counselor
  3. Score a qualifying score from either the PSAT/SAT/ or Compass Test.

SCHEDULE CHANGES for the current 2020 school year:
 
Elective change requests will not be honored unless there is an extenuating circumstance.
 
Level changes are considered on a case by case basis.
The last day to drop a course without penalty is October 8, 2020. A request to drop must be deemed appropriate by the teacher, counselor and administrator. A drop after that deadline will result in an “F” for the year on the student’s permanent record. Any student signed up for an AP course must remain in that course at least through the end of the first interim grading period.
 
For any scheduling change request, a schedule change request form must be filled out brought to the Counseling Office

Coordinator: Cammie Nicely
12601 Bailey Bridge Rd, Midlothian, VA 23112
Phone: (804) 739-6284
Fax: (804) 639-6974
CEEB Code: 471870

How to Get a Copy of Your Official Manchester Transcript

Chesterfield County Public Schools has partnered with Parchment.com for all transcript requests and education verifications for all current high school students and alumni.  Parchment provides efficient and secure electronic transcript delivery nationwide with up-to-date tracking through email notifications for all registered users.

Processing Time:

Please allow a minimum of seven (7) business days for processing of all requests.  Transcripts ordered through Parchment over the weekend or holiday breaks will not be processed until school re-opens. Please keep this in mind as many college application deadlines fall around the holiday seasons.

Current Students:

  • Seniors will be registered for this service via their English classes.  They will be given a registration code and a Transcript Release form to be completed by their parent/guardian, or the student if they are 18 years of age.
  • Students should NOT register from home for this service.
  • Parents/Guardians should NOT create an account on behalf of the student.  This results in that account having to be deleted and new orders having to be placed by the student.
  • Parchment requests are Free.
  • When you order your transcript from Parchment, you choose the college you want it sent to.
  • After you request your transcript from Parchment, you MUST fill out your Blue Card in School Counseling Office.  This tells us the deadline for your college and whether or not you need a letter of recommendation.
  • If you need a hard copy of your transcript (ex: scholarships), please visit the School Counseling Office.  The first transcript is free of charge provided that your request is at least 10 school days before the due date.  Thereafter, it is $3 charge with a 5 day notice and a $5 charge for immediate requests.  School Counseling Office only accepts cash or check.
  • If you need an unofficial copy of your transcript, request one from Parchment and choose Self-View.  Please note that transcripts cannot be emailed to personal email accounts.

Alumni:

  • To set up your Parchment account, click here Parchment. No registration code required.
  • Place an order for your high school transcript to be delivered to your required destination(s) (ex: college, university, employer, third-party verifier, recruiter, yourself, etc.).
  • If your destination does not accept electronic transcripts, Parchment provides paper delivery via mail during order processing. **Please note that Parchment does charge fees for service.**
  • To request additional documents (i.e., immunization, SAT/ACT Scores, IEP Documents) download the Additional Record Request Form.

Questions? 

Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

Thank you again for using Parchment to request your transcript. If you have any questions about Parchment, select the Parchment help link for details. As always, you may contact your School Counseling Office for additional questions.

Documents & Forms

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