Career Center
The Career Center is a hub with helpful programming and information for all grade levels - drop-in sessions, college admissions visits, advisory presentations, and more! Interested in any of the events listed above? Click the link below to access the calendar and sign up!
Scholarship Workshop - $ FREE MONEY! $
Are you a senior worried about paying for college? We strongly encourage you to sign up for our Scholarship Workshop on Thursday, March 7th in the Career Center to learn about which scholarships are right for you and how to apply. Remember, scholarships are free money to be used for school that you don't have to pay back! Click the link below to sign up.
Scholarship Opportunity For Juniors: Horatio Alger Scholarship Program
National and State Scholarships will be awarded to juniors (Class of 2025). Maine juniors will be selected for National Scholarships of $25,000 (plus an all-expense paid trip for a National Scholars Conference in Washington, D.C. in the Spring of 2025). Maine juniors will be awarded State Scholarships of $10,000. The application deadline is March 15, 2024 (a few weeks away!).
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be enrolled full-time as a high school junior or senior (dependent upon scholarship type), have faced and overcome great obstacles in your life, (i.e., display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity), want to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree, involved in co-curricular and community service activities, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, and demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income).
Click the link below to apply, and reach out to your school counselor if you have any questions!
Junior Preview Days!
See the information below about awesome opportunities for juniors this spring, and use the links listed after each school to sign up! Seniors are also welcome to these events.
Financial Aid: The FAFSA form is now open!
The new FAFSA form has officially gone live and FAME has been helping students and their families work through the bugs that may arise. Click the link below for solutions for common issues regarding this year's FAFSA form, and read the blurbs below for more recommendations from FAME!
FAME is available to support you through this process and will be holding virtual FAFSA Help Sessions this month (March 19th and March 27th at 6:00 PM). For additional information and tips on filling out the 2024-2025 FAFSA and for a list of upcoming FAFSA Help Sessions, click the button below!
Summer INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: HCA HEALTHCARE
Interested in healthcare after high school, but not sure what avenue? Looking for some hands-on experience to jump right into the field? HCA Healthcare is hosting a summer healthcare exploration program for high school students at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Click the link below and see the flyer for more information!
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Hiring Events!
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is holding monthly hiring events, and attending is a great opportunity for any senior looking to enter the trades after high school. See the flyer below for more information!
Seniors
We are here to help you with your postsecondary plans! If you have not had your senior meeting with your school counselor, please schedule your meeting ASAP. You can use your counselor's YouCanBookMe link or send them an email to schedule your senior meeting!
Future Plans
As you hear back from colleges you have been accepted to, please let your school counselor know! If you have other plans for after high school, we would love to share those as well! Please use the form below let us know (note: you can fill this out more than once, so every time you get an acceptance- be sure to share it with us!)
The following students have shared their college acceptances with us this month - CONGRATULATIONS!
Scholarship Opportunities
We have a brand new scholarship website this year full of local, state, and national scholarships organized by deadline, in addition to helpful scholarship search tools. Click the button below to access the MHS Scholarships site!
Scholarship Highlight: Worthington Scholarship Foundation
Mitchell Scholarship Association Webinar: Before You Click Submit: Tips for Scholarship Applications and Financial Aid Decisions
On Thursday, March 14 from 7:00pm–8:00pm, the Mitchell Scholarship Foundation will be hosting a virtual webinar with guests who have experience with college and financial aid advising to offer tips and understanding about scholarships and financial aid packages. Students who have already started a Mitchell Scholarship application will be invited, but the webinar is open to any student and family looking for more support in these areas. No registration required! Just click the link below to access the webinar.
Gap Year 101
Are you unsure what you'd like to do after high school? Consider taking a gap year, which is defined by the Gap Year Association as "an intentional period of time devoted to personal growth and exploration through experiential learning opportunities." Check out the graphics and links below for more information!
Gap Year Opportunity: City Year!
Are you thinking about taking a gap year next year? Are you passionate about volunteering and/or considering a career in education? City Year may be right for you! Make your gap year a fulfilling experience by becoming a Student Success Coach and supporting students in systemically under-resources schools across the United States! Check out the video below to hear more about the Student Success Coach role.
The benefits of being an Americorps City Year member include:
- Earning a $7,400 scholarship
- Earning a $890 bi-weekly stipend and 100% free health, vision, & dental insurance
- Discovering your interests and values
- Developing personal & professional skills such as teamwork & collaboration
- Making lifelong friends through City Year's team-based service model
- Exploring a new city and living independently
- Improving your resume
- Gaining access to 100+ university partnerships
- Joining thousands of alumni to access career opportunities
If this opportunity interests you, please reach out to your school counselor and we will get you connected with a City Year rep!
Free Community College!
Did you know graduating seniors can access free community college next year at any community college in Maine (Central Maine Community College, Eastern Maine Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College, Northern Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College, Washington County Community College)? If you are interested in this opportunity, schedule your senior meeting with your school counselor!
Thinking about attending a community college first, then transferring to a 4 year school? YCCC is hosting an event this month for any student interested in this pathway! See the flyers below for more information.
Juniors
Save the Date: SAT Test Day!
The SAT will be administered at MHS for pre-registered juniors on Tuesday, March 12th at 7:30 AM. If you would like a practice booklet, you can grab one from upstairs D pod! See the link below for more SAT prep resources.
Building Your College List
Are you thinking about college after high school? Now is a great time to start thinking about building your college list! Click the link below to see a slideshow with tips and tricks about finding your fit.
Save the Date: Junior Prom!
This year's junior prom will be held on Saturday, May 11th from 7-10 PM at Wells Reserve at Laudholm! The theme is Starry Night! Please see the information below from YCSA thrift shop and a coupon from Pam's Tuxedo!
Berwick Academy College Summer Bootcamp
Berwick Academy will be offering a program this summer for rising seniors that will cover college visits, applications and essays, and the basics of financial aid and scholarship searches. Cost is $450 for the week, and if you have any questions, please reach out to Moira McKinnon at mmckinno@berwickacademy.org! See the flyer below for more information.
Sophomores
SRTC Interviews
Interviews will be held for selected sophomores that have applied to an SRTC Career Tech program in the Career Center on Wednesday, March 20th. Students who have been selected for an interview will be emailed with their interview time and will also receive interview prep resources!
Leadership Opportunity! HOBY
HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) is currently accepting registrations for their State Leadership Seminars! Each year, 8,500 students are guided through three phases of leadership - personal, group, and service, using facilitated dialogue and abilities-based workshops. Registration cost is $275. If you are interested in being nominated for HOBY, fill out the Google Form below!
Information for all grades
Job Opportunity!
Enjoy working with kids? Want to spend time outside this summer? Looking for a job that allows for week to week scheduling that will also have you clocked out in time to have your late afternoon/evenings available? Being a camp counselor at Summer on the Hilltop 2024 may be just for you!
Check out the job posting and see if there's a camp(s) for you! Also look at the summer camp website so you can learn more about each camp! Jobs are open to people outside of Berwick Academy, so please feel free to share this with friends! The deadline to apply is Friday, March 22nd.
Course Selection
This month, your teachers will be reviewing their recommendations with you for your core classes. Advisors will hand out course selection sheets for you to fill out and you will have the opportunity to choose your elective courses for next year. Curious about the classes being offered next year? See the link below to view our Program of Studies!
Academic Support
Academic Intervention Center & Peer Tutoring!
Are you struggling in a class? Do you need help getting organized? If you answered yes to either of these questions, the Intervention Center in F106 is a great resource for you! Click the button below to access the virtual intervention center, full of links and helpful information. Students can access the intervention center either on their own or from a teacher/school counselor referral.
Students interested in working with a peer tutor (a MHS upperclassman) should email peer.tutors.mhs@rsu35.org with their name, class(es) they would like support in, and available study halls.
Community Service
Don't forget, 50 hours of community service is part of your graduation requirements. Setting a goal of completing 10 to 15 hours each year of high school will help to set you up for achieving this requirement in no time! Community Service forms are located in the D-Pod Hub, or can be printed from the MHS School Counseling Website (located within the "Information for ALL Grades" tab).
Community Service Spotlight: Tutoring at MMS
Marshwood Middle School is looking for students to meet with middle school students after school to help them with homework. If interested, please reached out to MMS Principal, Christine Goulet at christine.goulet@rsu35.org!
Your 50 hours need to be completed by May 1st of your senior year. To help, we've compiled a document filled with Community Service Opportunities. This document is regularly updated so be sure to check back often!
Community Resources
NEW Family Resource: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Sanford
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are behavioral health organizations that provide a broad range of community behavioral health services. CCBHCs focus on coordinated care and use of evidence-based practices for individuals across their lifespan, regardless of their ability to pay. We are happy to share that Sweetzer has received a grant to open a brand new mental health and substance use clinic in Sanford!
Services include, but are not limited to:
- Outpatient mental health and substance use screening, assessment & diagnosis
- Treatment for outpatient mental health and subtance use disorder
- 24/7 mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization
- Case management services
- Peer support services
- Psychiatric medication management and care coordination
If you or your family are need of services, please call the Sweetser Promise Line (1-800-434-3000) to be connected with a service provider.
Family Resource: Gather Mobile Market
Families who need access to fresh, healthy food can access the Gather Mobile Market in the parking lot of the Wentworth Douglass Hospital's Spinelli Building (15 Old Rollinsford Rd., Dover, NH). Gather will be at this location every other Monday from 12 pm to 2 pm. There are no obligations or requirements to access the food pantry. Click the button below to see where the Gather Mobile Market will be each month!
Family Resource: Footprints Food Pantry
Footprints Food Pantry (31 Old Post Rd. in Kittery) exists to reduce the impact of hunger in the community, share resources, and support the lives of those who have joined the Footprints community. They are open for food distribution on Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 PM, Wednesdays 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, and Saturdays from 9-10 AM. They also deliver to families who cannot access the food pantry in person. Please call (207) 439-4673 or access their website below for more information.
MHS Community Closet
The Marshwood High School Community Closet exists to provide new and gently used clothing, hygiene supplies, food, shoes, and other daily essentials at no cost to students in need and their families. The Community Closet empowers our school community to nurture compassion through service, and to foster awareness of our diverse population. The Marshwood Community Closet was spearheaded by the Interact Club, and is further supported by our Counseling department, Nurse, Administration, and community donors.
If you or someone you know would like to access the Community Closet, please reach out to your school counselor and/or the Nurse. This process is discrete and you can have regular access to these materials.
If you would like to donate to the MHS Community Closet, please email Emily Rumble, Interact Club advisor, at emily.rumble@rsu35 to set up a time to drop off materials. The closet is currently FULL of women's clothing, but they are in need of the following items:
- Hangers
- Men's dress clothes (ties, button ups, dress pants)
- Hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, etc. (Winter gear)
- Shoes (especially sneakers)
- Non-perishables
- School supplies (pencils, backpacks, pens, etc.)
Get Involved!
Did you know that there are over 48 Clubs and Activities to choose from at MHS? Take the opportunity to try something new and get involved!
Contact your Counselor
Did you know the MHS School Counseling website is JAM PACKED full of helpful information? Be sure to check it out and bookmark it for easy access! On the site you'll also find the links to email or book an appointment with your school counselor. We look forward to meeting with you!