From The
Desk Of The Guidance Department
Scholarship Information:
~The Billerica Dollars For Scholars application website will
close on March 26, 2017. Click here to
access the DFS website.
~Regarding Naviance scholarships: check back often throughout the duration of
the late winter/spring. The deadlines
for scholarships in Naviance vary. This
list will be updated regularly, and you won’t want to miss an opportunity! Click here to access the Naviance website.
~When searching for scholarships, the most important rule is
this: Don’t pay money to get money! It typically is a scam. If you’re not sure it is a scam, please
contact your child’s guidance counselor to discuss.
Scheduling Portal For Course Selection Opens Tuesday
The scheduling portal will open on Tuesday afternoon for
students in grades 9-11 to select their courses for the 2017-2018 school
year. You will know when it has opened
because Melinda Cripps will send out an email to alert you. The steps to access
the portal are listed below.
STUDENT
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
1. Review the
Program of Studies to learn more about the courses you can choose. Click here for the link to the 2017-2018
Program of Studies.
2. Go to the ASPEN
website. Click here for the Aspen
website.
3. Enter your ASPEN
login and password. If you do not know your login and password, please email
portalhelp@billericak12.com
4. Click on the MY
INFO top tab.
5. Click on the
REQUESTS side tab.
6. On the top of
your screen, you will see a message that gives an overview of the 2017-2018
course selection process. Below this,
you will see “Primary Requests”. Click
the select buttons to choose the courses you are interested in taking. In this area, you will also see which courses
your teachers have recommended for you.
7. Below the
“Primary Requests” is a section called “Alternate Requests”. Click on the select button and choose your
alternate requests. These are your
back-up courses, in case you are unable to get into a primary requested
class. You must choose alternates.
8. Below “Alternate
Requests” is an area for you to write a note to your counselor. Some people may choose to use this function,
and others may not feel the need to.
9. MAKE SURE TO
POST once you have completed your course selections. This is SUPER IMPORTANT, since this is how
your course selections are saved in the computer.
PARENT
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
Review the Program of
Studies to learn more about the courses you can choose. Click here for the link
to the 2017-2018 Program of Studies.
Go to the ASPEN
website. Click here for the Aspen
website.
Enter your ASPEN login and password. If you do not know your
login and password, please email portalhelp@billericak12.com
Click on the FAMILY top tab.
Select your child. If
you have more than one child, select the child for whom you will be working
with.
Click on the SCHEDULE side tab.
Then, click on the REQUESTS side tab.
On the top of your screen, you will see a message that gives
an overview of the 2017-2018 course selection process. Below this, you will see “Primary
Requests”. Click the select buttons to
choose the courses you are interested in taking. In this area, you will also see which courses
your teachers have recommended for you.
Below the “Primary Requests” is a section called “Alternate
Requests”. Click on the select button
and choose your alternate requests.
These are your back-up courses, in case you are unable to get into a
primary requested class. You must choose
alternates.
Below “Alternate Requests” is an area for you to write a note
to your counselor. Some people may
choose to use this function, and others may not feel the need to.
MAKE SURE TO POST once you have completed your course selections. This is SUPER IMPORTANT, since this is how
your course selections are saved in the computer.
The portal will remain open until Sunday, March 26th at 11:59
p.m. It will close promptly at that
time.
Guidance counselors will meet with each student individually
over the three weeks following course selection. This brief meeting will be to review
students’ course selections for progress towards graduation, alignment with
college aspirations, and career exploration goals. Juniors will be brought to Guidance by their
Physics teacher, during the week of March 27-March 31. Sophomores will meet with guidance during
their Chemistry class, during the week of April 3-April 7. Freshmen will meet with guidance during their
English class, during the week of April 10-April 13. Teachers will bring their students to
guidance during an assigned day/time to meet with their counselor. If your
Junior student isn't in Physics, or if your Sophomore student isn't in Chemistry,
please know that Guidance will reach out to these students individually to
arrange a meeting.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s course
selection process please feel free to reach out to his/her guidance counselor
directly. The number for the guidance
office is: 978-528-8760. We look forward to working with both you and
your child.
ELA MCAS This Week
This week, sophomore students will take ELA MCAS. Last week, we informed students that MCAS
rooms are posted in the hallway across from the Guidance Office. If students haven't yet checked to see where
they are testing, they can check early tomorrow morning. Here is the testing schedule:
Tuesday: ELA Composition Sessions A & B
Wednesday: ELA
Composition Sessions 1 & 2
Thursday: ELA Composition Session 3
Students should get a good night's rest, eat a good
breakfast, and wear comfortable layered clothing in order to help them perform
their best.
