SDHS Guidance Department

Check here for upcoming guidance events and important dates. (Click "Agenda" for a compact list.)

The major purpose of the guidance program is to help students develop the necessary competencies to make personal choices from relevant alternatives with greater understanding of their own values, interests, and abilities.

The primary objective of the guidance program is to organize the information and knowledge necessary to establish and secure the recognition of guidance as a mode of education, interrelated, yet distinct, within the total educational program. The counselors role is one of a helping relationship: counseling students concerning the problems for which they need help; helping them to know themselves; helping them to obtain and evaluate information concerning the opportunities open to them; helping them to discover ways of opening up new opportunities for themselves; and helping them to learn to make decisions and act upon them.

OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the guidance services are to:

• Provide all students the opportunity for individual counseling.
• Provide group counseling for certain students and help them learn to accept responsibility for their own growth.
• Maintain permanent records for present and future uses by students, teachers, parents, etc.
• Provide information service to help students locate and answer questions about themselves, their environment, and their opportunities.
• Help students develop career choices through interest test, self-appraisals, and other methods of obtaining and evaluating information.
• Maintain testing programs to help students, parents, and teachers appraise their school progress and to help reassess themselves.
• Conduct parent conferences to discuss student development.
• Refer students to other helping agencies when that agency is better qualified to help.

Provide follow-up service that provides students with current information on the employment of recent graduates.

• Help students implement their vocational plans.
• Provide part-time placement service.
• Provide consultant services for faculty.
• Evaluate the guidance services.

Starting High School is an exciting, and in some cases, a stressful time. Rest assured that our Guidance Department is here to help our eighth grade students make a successful transition to their Freshman year.

Orientation of the eighth grade for enrollment at South Dearborn High School is held in February. The counselors visit the Middle School to distribute and discuss pertinent information in the curriculum guide. This information includes special emphasis about the different levels in the math, science, and language arts classes.

During the following week, a freshman orientation program will be held in the evening at South Dearborn High School for the 8th grade students and parents. The counselors and instructional leaders of each department will give an initial explanation of the high school format, curriculum, scheduling procedures, testing program and graduation requirements.

The scheduling is completed during a visit to South Dearborn High School in March. During the scheduling process, we stress to the students that selection of courses should include these criteria:

• Results of the 8th grade iLEARN
• Recommendations by the 8th grade teachers or principal
• Information from former or current South Dearborn High School students
• Future goals and plans

Please keep in mind that it is the responsibility of the parents and students to make the final selection of classes. However, the instructional leaders, the students, and the eighth grade teachers will make recommendations. If it appears the student has great difficulty with a class or has chosen a class below his/her normal academic achievement, the parent and student will be contacted and the situation discussed for a possible change. It is recommended that students plan their schedules for four years.

Below you can find scheduling documents.

• Freshman Scheduling Form 2023-2024
• Freshman Class Info Sheet 2023-2024

Have questions? Contact our Guidance Department team.

Juniors and Seniors will be allowed two days for visits to colleges (approved absences). These days will not be counted toward the excessive absence days in the attendance policy. Juniors and Seniors who wish to make a college visit must utilize the following procedure:

1. The student must obtain a COLLEGE VISIT FORM from the Guidance Department. This form requires the date of the visit, parent signature of approval and a listing of the student's current SDHS classes.

2. The student must have each of his/her teachers sign the form indicating teacher knowledge of the visitation date.

3. THE COMPLETED FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL AT LEAST FIVE SCHOOL DAYS PRIOR TO THE VISIT. Approval will be granted if the student is passing and does not have excessive absences in courses in which he/she is enrolled, and the student meets the admission standards of the college.

4. The student must show proof of the visit by returning with a signed statement from the college admissions office.

Have more questions? Contact our Guidance Department team.

Need a place to start researching colleges and universities? The following links will help you begin your search.

From Learn More Indiana
Toll-free: 1-800-992-2076

Indiana College Admissions Information
www.in.gov/collegegoweek/2471.htm

Info on Planning, Preparing and Paying for College
http://www.in.gov/learnmoreindiana/2556.htm


College Profiles - www.collegeprofiles.com
The College Profiles webs ite features in-depth college profiles with information about academic programs, athletics, campus life, facilities, expenses, financial aid and much more. From each profile, you can link directly to the home page of each institution.

 The custom search allows you to select schools by location, cost and majors offered. The collegiate athletics search criterion includes specific men's and women's sports and levels of competition.


Trip to College - http://www.triptocollege.org/
Created by Indiana Youth Institute.
Voice: 1-317-396-2732
Toll Free: 1-877-OUR-GRAD (687-4723)
E-mail: trip@iyi.org

There is a way to pay for college! Several billion dollars in financial aid has been available to help students meet the cost of education or training after high school. This money helps millions of students continue their education. It can help you, too. Some students do not apply for aid, thinking they will not qualify because their family income is too high. Eligibility for financial aid is not based on family income alone.

Post-secondary institutions, state, and other organizations award financial aid on the basis of «demonstrated need». Demonstrated need is the difference between what it costs to attend a particular college and how much the family can reasonably be expected to contribute toward those expenses. Here's how it works:

Total College Expenses:
Minus Family Contribution (what the family can pay)
Equal Demonstrated Need

How to Apply for Aid
Most college, state, or other scholarship programs will ask you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA collects financial information about you and your family that these institutions and programs use to determine your need for financial aid. You should check with each institution and program to make sure that you know what forms to file and when. Some colleges and programs ask students to complete their own institutional applications too.

Remember, applying for admissions to a college is not enough. If you think you will need aid, you must apply for it! Check the deadline for each college, state program, or other scholarship program to which you plan to apply. You should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Forms are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. A Financial Aid Workshop is hosted each January at South Dearborn High School.

INvested - INvestEd is a free resource for Hoosier students and parents looking for help with college planning and financial aid. INvestEd helps families understand how to fund college wisely to help minimize potential education debt.

Types of Financial Aid

• Grants / Scholarships – aid that does not have to be repaid.
• Loans - these usually have low interest rates and must be repaid but generally after you have graduated or terminated your college education. Student employment or work-aid - this may mean a job that the college finds for you or work you find on your own.
• Athletic or academic scholarships - based on academic or athletic excellence, not on demonstrated need. (See section on non-need scholarships)

Sources of Financial Aid

•  Institutional funds - most colleges have instituted scholarships or grants as well as loan and work programs.
• Federal funds - Pell Grant is based on family financial circumstances and may be used at the college of your choice. You can apply for the Pell Grant just by filling out the appropriate box on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). No other application is required.
• Perkins Loan Program - (formerly National Direct Student Loan) is a program that provides loans for students with need. No interest is paid until the student leaves college at which time repayment begins.
• The College Work-Study Program (CWS) - a program providing jobs for students with demonstrated need.
• Stafford Loan Program - formerly the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (GSL) – is a very important source of loan funds primarily made by banks and savings and loan associations. The GSL Program is administered by the Department of Education.
• State Funds - All states have scholarship or grant programs to help students attend the college of their choice. The State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) assists Indiana residents in attending the institution of their choice in the state of Indiana. Students apply for State funds when filing a FAFSA. Students attending Cincinnati Technical College, Northern Kentucky University, and The University of Cincinnati may be eligible for state funds.
• Parent Plus Loans – This lower interest loan is in the parent(s) name and repayment starts 6 months after the student is enrolled their post-secondary education.

State Assistance

• Higher Education Awards - are granted annually and do not exceed the cost of tuition and regularly assessed fees. In order to qualify, a student must demonstrate financial need and attend an eligible Indiana post-secondary institution. The monetary value is based on the Commission›s evaluation of the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted by the student and his/her parent(s) and the cost of education at the institution the student plans to attend. The student must be enrolled "full-time".
• Community Assistance - Community agencies, organizations, clubs, and civic and cultural groups also provide financial aid. Need is usually considered; however, other factors may be taken into account.

Non-Need Scholarship
A non-need scholarship is one based entirely on the student›s academic or other ability as compared with financial need. Many students receive assistance on a combination of ability and needs. Parents should not eliminate themselves from
consideration of assistance based on need until they consult with the financial aid office of a college.

Have more questions? Contact our Guidance Department team.

South Dearborn High School operates on a 6 period day. Each Trimester is 12 weeks long and will be equal to one semester under a traditional schedule. Five of the class periods are approximately 65 minutes long and there is one 25 minute ASAP class period each day. Students have the responsibility to register for required courses to meet graduation requirements.

Scheduling will be completed in the spring for the following school year. Individual assistance will be available with your counselor. 

Required subjects failed must be repeated. For example, you may not take Geometry unless credit was earned in Algebra I. Students interested in summer school, or other online courses must obtain prior approval from the Director of Guidance in order to receive credit for such courses.

Below you can access various scheduling forms.

• SDHS Course Scheduling Form
• SDHS Course Credit Checklist
• SDHS Schedule Change Request Form
• SDHS Curriculum Guide 2023-2024

Good Luck! We want all students to enjoy their high school years while preparing for the future. 

Have questions? Contact our Guidance Department team.

We've compiled a number of potential scholarship opportunities for our high school seniors. We do not support any scholarships that require an application fee. Please check back periodically for the most current information.

Click here for scholarship opportunities

South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars
In 2021, South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars awarded $53,500 to 38 students from the SDHS Class of 2021.

South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars is a non-profit organization providing financial assistance to students seeking two-year and four-year post-secondary educational opportunities. South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars is part of Scholarship America, a national network of community based volunteer directed chapters located throughout the country. South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars was founded in 1991 by Kathi Green, SDHS guidance counselor, and Marvin Duerstock, SDHS principal. Since then, they have awarded over $990,000 in scholarships to 988 South Dearborn graduates pursuing a post-secondary education.

The STARS program (Students Teaching and Reaching Students) peer mentoring program is designed to foster early success in the transition to high school. The STARS program places each incoming freshman a small group with a junior or senior mentor who will serve as a mentor throughout the first year of high school. These Junior and Senior mentors have been recommended by teachers and completed a challenging selection and training process This program is in the 16th year of creating success for students at South Dearborn High School.

For more information on the STARS program, please contact our Guidance Department team.

SAT Links
Please see the College Board Link below to sign up for the SAT and get valuable information about the test: www.collegeboard.org
Free SAT Practice: www.number2.com
Free SAT Prep: www.mometrix.com/academy/sat-test/

ACT Links

ACT information - This is the official webpage for the ACT testing
http://www.actstudent.org/

ACT-SAT Concordance Chart
www.act.org/aap/concordance

Download instructional materials and more
www.act.org/explore

Download sample test questions, instructional materials and more.
www.act.org/plan

Offers practice online tests with real ACT test questions. Tests for English, math, reading, and science.
http://www.act.org/onlineprep/

Workbooks students need to perform their best on the ACT/SAT
www.tcaprep.com/workbooks/

Free ACT Practice: www.number2.com

To request a copy of your transcript, visit Parchment.

This web site provides you with the ability to request transcripts through Indiana e-Transcript. Transcripts requested online are sent securely to the destinations that you select. You may track your request online, and you will also receive an email notification when we approve your transcript request, and again when your transcript is delivered electronically (or mailed to certain destinations outside of Indiana). Provided as a service to Indiana students and families by ISM Education Loan.