Counseling Center

Looking for Resources on Mental Health and Wellness?  Head over to South Counseling LinkTree 

Looking for Resources on Academic Support?  Click on Academic Support Page

Who is my student’s Counselor?

COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS 2021-2022

Mrs. Cathy Beach - Counseling Center Receptionist  (313) 432-3519 beachc@gpschools.org 

How do I get in touch with my student’s counselor?

Click here for Counselors emails and phone numbers

How do I request a schedule change?

The following are eligible reasons for a schedule change:

• Scheduling error

• Lack of prerequisite class/grade requirements

• Moving to a more challenging course level

• Failure to complete a course in the spring semester or in summer school which would make the student ineligible for a chosen course

• A transcript for a new student indicates a schedule change is necessary.

Requests for any other reason, including those based on extenuating circumstances, will be reviewed and must be approved by the administration. You may complete this form to request a change. Generally speaking, level change requests (like Honors Freshman English to traditional Freshman English or AP US history to traditional US History) require a month or so of honest effort before those requests will be reviewed. 

SENIOR PARENTS:  

Counselors will meet with all Seniors on Friday to review the college application process and ensure that all seniors who still need to make testing arrangements for the ACT or SAT have the information they need.  During this important information session, we will cover the following topics:

• Using Naviance for the College Application Process

• Timetable for college preparation

• The College Application Process

• Important info on college visits and Financial Aid Night 

• The letter of recommendation process

• Important testing dates for Senior year

• How to request an official high school transcript

• Early Decision and Early Action possibilities

• How to share important information with your counselor for letters of recommendation

Everything we share with your student in this meeting is also easily referenced online at the counseling center website.  

We will follow up with a Senior Parent Evening on the following Monday in the auditorium.  We will cover the same items stated above in our student meeting. Date/Time/Location will be shared via weekly eblast closer to the date.

An important message on college application timing. 

When college advisors suggest that you “apply early” to a school for your best admissions opportunity, I’d like you to think of that date as by October 15. We strongly encourage applications for seniors who intend to apply to the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) or Michigan State University by October 15 to meet the Early Action deadline of November 1. Students with complete applications at these schools by this date will receive a decision from the school by the end of January 2023

JUNIOR PARENTS: The following Friday, after meeting with seniors, counselors will meet with all juniors in small groups.   At the meetings, we will provide the juniors with information about making the most of this important high school year.  This will include understanding the impact of grades and test scores, standardized testing in the junior year, college night, post-high school planning, and more.   We will follow up with a Junior Parent Evening the next Monday in the auditorium. We will cover the same items stated above in our student meeting. Date/Time/Location will be shared via weekly eblast closer to the date.

Wednesday, October 12^th, the PSAT/NMSQT will be given at South.  All juniors will take this test in preparation for the Spring state-required SAT.   While this is the practice test for the SAT, it is also the test that juniors take to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Freshmen and sophomores will also take this test for practice. Registration for the test will be done in school.  If students are interested in preparing for the PSAT or SAT, a fantastic and FREE resource is on Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org). They are the only test prep partner of the College Board, so they will have the latest SAT preparation.  The best part is that it is all free.

FRESHMAN PARENTS Welcome to Grosse Pointe South!  Counselors are happy to meet with you and your student.  Parents and students can make appointments by calling 432-3519.  Please check here regularly to see important information from the counseling team.