Announcements & Events

 
VIRTUAL FINANCIAL AID NIGHT FOR SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS
Tuesday, April 5th at 6:30 PM
 
A spring session of our fall financial aid presentation is being added for the convenience of our families.
 
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The video link to view the webinar:
 
https://youtu.be/dEjRZK442UE
 
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Program Flyer:
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IUZbPvyFX2vR6f2VfsmSNeChGXT5A_ye/view?usp=sharing
 
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Hackettstown High School “The Sophomore/Junior HS College Aid Prep Program”
 
“The Sophomore/Junior HS College Aid Prep Program” will cover the financial aid process and the important items to consider while applying to college.

-What Sophomore and Junior parents should know and be doing now
-The impact of Test Optional/Blind going forward on the Financial Aid process
-The Federal and State changes to College Financial Aid
-Scholarships Available before Senior year in High School
-The impact of divorce and remarriage on Financial Aid Opportunity
-How to handle Rising College Cost
-How to evaluate colleges on the out of pocket cost
 
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Want to ask Ed a question?   Email:
 
Are you interested in the Principiaprep's new scholarship program?   Watch their video here:
 
 
 
 
The Local Scholarships are now available!  These awards are only available to HHS students graduating this June! You should have received an invitation to the 2021-22 Local Scholarship Google Classroom. In this classroom you will find all of the information and materials to apply for HHS's Local Scholarships. These awards are only open to students graduating from HHS this year and will be presented at the Senior Awards Ceremony in June.

If you have questions please contact Mrs. Cardell via email at LCardell@hackettstown.org.

The deadline is Friday, April 1st at 3:00 PM!
The deadline is Friday, April 1st at 3:00 PM!
The deadline is Friday, April 1st at 3:00 PM!
NO EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING EXCUSED ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL!
Attention Sophomores and Juniors:
 
Centenary courses are available for the Fall of 2022.  Students are eligible to take Centenary University courses during their junior and senior years.  Please reference the document below for classes currently available.  If you are interested in taking classes, please sign up for additional information in the Guidance Office by April 15th.
 
 
 
The state of New Jersey requires all students to take (and demonstrate proficiency on) a state designed assessment in order to graduate  ( https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment ).  This has been a requirement for decades but was waived for a year or two because of COVID.  Not only is the requirement back but the junior class is the first to take a new assessment called the NJGPA (New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment).  Here's some information about this new assessment:
  • This is required.
  • This test is computer-based.  Please bring your fully charged chromebook to the testing site.
  • This test will be given from Tuesday, March 15 through Friday, March 18.  (Make-ups are the following week, exact dates and times to be announced.)
  • There are four units to the test and students will take one unit each morning from 7:50 to 9:45.  
    • Grades 9, 10 & 12 will have 115 minutes in their first-period class while Juniors take the NJGPA.  
    • From 9:50 to 2:48 the entire school will follow the Late Arrival bell schedule.
  • There are two units of math which will assess skills in Algebra 1 and Geometry.  Please bring a calculator.  If you don't bring a calculator you will have to use the online calculator on the testing platform.
  • There are two units of ELA which will assess skills from 10th grade English.  Please bring headphones / earbuds that work with your chromebook.  I'm told that there is a video / audio section on the ELA test
 
Students will be receiving a test ticket in a week or so from me and distributed by their English teacher.  The ticket will tell them where to report for the NJGPA.
 
Students must demonstrate proficiency (a passing score) in order to graduate.  The graduating classes of 2023-2025 will be able to achieve this in one of three ways:
  • Score proficient on both sections of the NJGPA test.
  • Score proficient on an approved alternative assessment (like the SAT, ACT, ASVAB, etc.).  The "cut score" or score you have to get in order to be proficient has not yet been determined by the state.
  • Complete the Graduation Portfolio Assessment with us in your senior year.
 
One final item ... Juniors will also be required to take a Science test in the spring (after Easter) but more information about that will be distributed in a month or so.
 
 
Hackettstown High School will be hosting the d SATs during the school day for interested students. 
 
 
The Registration Form for the SAT can be found to the right under Forms & Links. 
The deadline to register and make payment is Friday, February 25th.
 
 
  • The SAT will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. 
    • Because these are "school day" tests, interested students will not register on the Collegeboard website. 
    • Registration will be done through the guidance office.  The registration form can be found to the right and the fee charged by CollegeBoard is $55.
    • Alternatively, students can take the SAT at other schools on a Saturday test date.  Please go to www.collegeboard.com to check local availability and to register/pay for these tests.  The guidance office cannot register you for a Saturday test at a different school.  Guidance counselors can, however, answer your questions if you have any difficulties with the process. 
 
We've completed meeting with all students and have entered their course requests for next year in the computer.  These can be viewed on either the Student or Parent Portal under Course Requests.  A final phone message was sent home  on 2/24 requesting families to take one final look at what has been chosen and to email the guidance counselor if there's any issues.  Counselors will be unable to make changes once the Administration begins building the master schedule for next year.
 
---- PREVIOUS INFORMATION ----
 
Scheduling presentations and the course catalog are available on the website at www.hackettstown.org > HPSD Schools > High School > Guidance > Scheduling & School Profile > 22-23 Scheduling Presentations & Course Catalog (for High School Students and Families).
 
  • Guidance counselors are meeting with students in virtual presentations beginning on 1/18/22.
  • Students & Parents may make course requests on the student and parent portals until the deadline of Sunday, February13th.  
  • Guidance counselors will meet with students individually to check prerequisites and finalize course requests sometime between Monday, February 14 and Friday, February 25.  
Seniors- still need to meet your standardized testing requirement for graduation?
Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores- Possibly interested in enlisting in the military?
Curious what careers may be open to you?
The ASVAB (Armed Services Assessment Battery) test can help all of you! 
The ASVAB will be given at HHS on March 16th at 7:50 am in the library. There is no commitment to the military to take the test. Sign up in Guidance if you are interested.
Please refer to the Flier under the Forms and Links tab for additional information. 
 
Student and parent portals are being opened so that the mandatory documentation can be completed.  This documentation must be completed for portal access and to see student schedules.
 
Student schedules are now available to view and print.
 
IMPORTANT: All applicants from HHS to Centenary must see the informational flier (to the right side of this page) for details regarding applying to Centenary University, their Instant Decision Day and their Full-Tuition Partnership Scholarship. This information is specific only to HHS students. Due: Nov. 1st.
 
Oct. 4th- Information Sessions in Guidance during lunches
Before Oct. 29th- Applicants must sign up for an Instant Decision Appointment on the Senior Guidance Google Classroom 
Nov 1st- All admissions and scholarship application materials are due to Centenary.  
Nov. 19th- Instant Decision Day! Applicants will meet in guidance with a Centenary representative during their appointment time to receive their admissions decision in person. There is no commitment to attend Centenary.
For students applying of for the scholarship, there will be at least one additional interview later.
 
VIRTUAL FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30 PM
 
Did you miss the Financial Aid Night or would you like to review what was presented?   Watch the full presentation at the link below:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqT08RU6XsI
 
The "College Aid Presentation" covered the financial aid process and the important items to consider while applying to college during the pandemic.
 
  • New Changes to the Fafsa form
  • Changes to the Federal loans
  • Loan Forgiveness
  • Care Act Updates 
  • State Financial Aid Changes
  • The Impact of Early Decision and Early Action on Financial Aid
  • New Deadlines for the College Process 
 
Want to ask Ed a question?   Email:
 
Are you interested in the Principiaprep's new scholarship program?   Watch their video here:
 
 
It is never too early to learn about the option West Point Military Academy offers, as well as their rigorous application process.  The earlier you start- the better!  No matter what your grade level is, feel free to join their virtual information session on October 5th. Please see the posted information on the right side of this page under "Forms & Links" as pre-registration is required!
 
 
Due to continuing health concerns, the in-person College Fairs held by Hackettstown High School and other Warren County Schools are not happening this school year. 
 
The Naviance platform, however, is a great way for students and parents to connect with college representatives.  (Please see College Visit - Naviance Instructions to the right.)
  • Through Naviance, college representatives are scheduling times to meet specifically with Hackettstown students.  This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn information in a small group, virtual meeting.
  • Also through Naviance, colleges are posting information about rep meetings, virtual tours, help sessions and more that any high school student can attend.
 
Parents should ask their son/daughter for the Naviance login information for access to this information.  Students should see their guidance counselor after the start of school if they've misplaced that information.
 
Instructions:
 
Students will need to log into their Naviance account.  Locate the "What's New" tab on the lower right hand side of the home page.  Then, find the event you are interested in attending and click on the "More Info" hyperlink.  The link to the meeting will be available on the day of the session.  
 
Registration:
 
 
In order to assist the colleges and universities with planning for virtual visits, we have added a registration process.  The directions are the same as in the past.  However, students should log into their Naviance account, look under College and College Visits, find the date of the visit and click the "Register Now" icon on the right side of the page.  


On the day of the visit, you will log into Naviance and the link for the session will be available in the same section.

Please reference the registration example below this announcement. 

 
 
 
 
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
  • Sunday, August 29
  • Sunday, September 12
  • Tuesday, September 28
  • Sunday, October 3
  • Sunday, October 24
  • Tuesday, November 2
  • Sunday, November 14
  • http://virtualcollegefairs.org/
 
New Jersey School Counselor Association (NJSCA)
 
 
The deadline to submit requests for schedule change requests has passed.
 
  • Students must begin the school year attending the classes listed on their schedules.
  • A drop/add form must be downloaded (available on the upper right of this webpage), completed and signed by a parent/guardian.
  • Email the completed form back to your guidance counselor.
  • Because of safe social distancing protocols and class caps, opportunities to change classes are extremely restricted this year.
  • Students will be called down for an in-person meeting only if necessary.
  • Counselors will consider every request and do their best to accommodate students.
Attention Seniors:
The Guidance Office will be hosting an Instant Decision Day for Warren County College on March 14, 2022.  If you are interested please sign up in the Guidance Office.  Instant Decision is not early decision nor is it binding.  You will be scheduled to meet with a WCCC representation in which they will make an immediate decision on your application and provide you with scheduling options, discuss any credits you are being awarded for Dual Enrollment, and given a student ID.  Please ensure you sign up in guidance no later than Thursday, March 10th and complete the application online prior to your meeting.


Here is the link to the application:  https://mywarren.warren.edu/ICS/Admissions/
Sallie Mae is hosting a virtual event

College Admission Tips

During this virtual event we’ll demystify the admissions process and you’ll gain valuable insights directly from admission professionals.

Topics will include:

Importance of high school academic choices

To take the ACT/SAT, or not

Applying to colleges

Essays and letters of recommendation

Campus visits: in-person and virtual

Your online presence
 
‍Wednesday, March ‍23 at ‍7pm ET | ‍6pm CT | ‍5pm MT | ‍4pm PT

We will be joined by:

Cara Franke

Director of Recruitment

University of Kentucky


Matthew Hyde

Dean of Admissions

Lafayette College


Mary Wagner

Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management

University of South Carolina
 
If interested here is the link to register:
 
https://salliemaebank.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=salliemaebank&service=6&rnd=0.37126955120157157&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsalliemaebank.webex.com%2Fec3300%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26%26%26EMK%3D4832534b00000005593346e0919757a97a0d5da3c6fa6ebf08df2e80c4130494f6c78fd9d62dd7ca%26siteurl%3Dsalliemaebank%26confViewID%3D215763518385819138%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAAV89Ixu09ixeatB9jyNlX8jUCxItCWYA_G-7SawwrHWuQ2%26
FORMS & LINKS