Maria Carrillo maintains a systematic and comprehensive guidance program for all students. Counselors and the counseling office staff provide services to students and parents to help achieve a positive and productive high school experience.
Counselors are available to assist and advise each student about academic concerns, personal problems, career choices, employment opportunities, course selections, college/professional/technical school choices, financial aid information and scholarship applications; they also assist in student orientation, information, services, and appraisal. In addition, counselors help students select the most appropriate program of study to best ensure success in high school and to plan for the years beyond graduation.
Counselors meet with student individually during the school year in order to provide them with personal assistance. Student requests to see a counselor are made through the Counseling Office; parents may call 528-5449 for an appointment to meet with their student's counselor. The counselors, Ms. Coppinger, Mr. Donaldson, and Ms. Speaks, are available for consultation by appointment.
Our school psychologist, is available to provide in-depth diagnosis, help with student placement, and individualize a student's program. Counselors, teachers, administrators, and parents can request the assistance of the school psychologist.
Upon parent request, the Counseling Office, through the school's receptionist Ms. Wood, will make an effort to provide appropriate make-up work missed during a prolonged (three or more days) absence. For absences of fewer than three days, students can make their own arrangements with their teachers.
TESTING INFORMATION
Students who are planning to apply for admission to a California State University, a private college, or an independent university need to take either the SAT I or the ACT test in their junior year. Juniors who are planning to apply for admission to a University of California need to take the SAT II in addition to the SAT I or the ACT. Please see your counselor as soon as possible to pick up the registration booklet. Remember: Registration deadlines are four to six weeks before test dates!
COLLEGE BOARD ONLINE: http://www.collegeboard.com/
Where you stay current with all College Board programs and services:
- Search for colleges and scholarships
- Explore college opportunities
- Register for SAT and CSS/Financial Aid Profile
- Practice on SAT and AP test questions
- Apply to college
- Learn what students need to know and do
CONCERNS
If you should have a concern about a particular course or teacher, please contact that teacher first to see if s/he can address it. If you would prefer to have your daughter/son's counselor involved to help facilitate a meeting, call the Counseling Office and leave a message for the counselor.
If no resolution is found, or the concern is not addressed, it would then be appropriate to contact an administrator at the school.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND
Often there are students at school who, because of financial constraints, find that they are unable to fully participate in, and enjoy, high school life. The staff at Maria Carrillo High School has a Student Assistance Fund coordinated by Cindy Coppinger, one of our counselors. Therefore, we are requesting any financial help you might be able to provide financial assistance to augment our Student Assistance Fund. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact Ms Coppinger at 528-5790.
HIGH SCHOOL VARIABLE CREDIT ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students in the Santa Rosa City Schools' District who are enrolled in a regular high school earn units of credit in each class, each semester, with a passing grade and courses participation. Credits are earned based on positive attendance. It is extremely important that your daughter/son attend school regularly so that they earn full credits toward graduation.
For a class which meets one period daily, a student may not be absent more than 10 (ten) periods in a semester to receive full credit.
For a class which meets in a block (a block is equivalent to two periods), a student may not be absent more than 5 (five) block periods (which are equivalent to 10 [ten] single class periods) in a semester to receive full credit. For a class which meets in a combination of single periods and block periods, a student may not be absent more than 10 (ten) total periods in a semester to receive full credit. As a result, it is possible for a student to earn different credits in different classes based on class attendance.
A student will be counted absent when not in class or when s/he arrives 10 (ten) minutes after the first period begins and 5 (five) minutes after all other periods begin, regardless of the reason, except when participating in a religious observance, when enrolled in short term independent study, when making a court experience, when taking part in a school activity or school business, when called to administrative, counseling or other school offices, when suspended from a classroom or school or when taking an educational trip which has been pre-authorized by an administrator.
You will receive notification if your daughter/son has 5 (five) days of absences (or 3 [three] days of absence in a block schedule) within a course; you are encouraged at this point to contact the school for a conference. You may appeal this loss of credit by requesting an Appeals from the Counseling Office. They may be received no earlier than the last week of the semester for which the appeal is made and no later than one week after semester report cards are issued.
An Appeals Panel, which is comprised of an administrator, counselor, and teacher, will consider the credit loss appeal.; a family may also request a school parent and/or student be on the panel.
USEFUL WEBSITES
Last Updated: 12-14-2006