Counseling Today - April 2025

April 7, 2025

Here is your April newsletter! We encourage you to also follow us on Instagram for more regular reminders and updates.

We are proud to say that our counseling department is a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), with CDH having earned RAMP status during the summer, 2023. We are the only private high school in Minnesota to have this designation and it is good until 2028. Feel free to read more about this great honor, what it took to earn, and what it means for our students! 

If you need to contact us, take a look at our contact page on the school website to determine the best person to help address your needs.

School Counseling

All CDH Students

Bring out the Brilliance will be up and running again for the end of this school year. CDH’s Counseling Department offers these academic skills sessions on Tuesdays during both Flex periods. If your student is struggling in a class, looking for support with test prep, organization, or time management, this is the small group for them. Reach out to Brother Michael in counseling for more information.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are on Thursday, April 17, 2 - 6 pm, fully virtual. Counselors are available for conferences.

AP Exams

The AP exams will take place the first two full weeks in May. Registration is now closed. AP has changed formatting of the exams to fully digital or hybrid. There are no longer paper-only exams. If you have any questions, please email Peggy Mansur. The schedule is as follows:

* These exams are hybrid as opposed to fully digital. 

All students should bring the following items with them:

• Student ID - make sure the lanyard is on and visible when checking in.
• Students should bring 2 sharpened #2 pencils with good erasers (non-mechanical) and/or 2 black or blue ink pens. These can be used with scratch paper, even if the exam is fully digital.
• An AP-approved calculator if their test requires or allows one.
• A watch (optional and cannot be a smart watch) to pace yourself
• A snack to eat and water to drink during the break if you’d like

Do NOT bring any of the following items:

• A backpack (leave it in locker room, classroom, or elsewhere)
• Any electronic device other than a permitted calculator (this includes a cell phone, smart watch, fitness band, headphones, camera, etc.)
• Textbooks, dictionaries, scratch paper, notes, or other aids
• Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or correction fluid/tape
• Reading material

Juniors

ACT

Juniors took the ACT (no writing) on March 25. Students who properly completed their online MyACT account will be able to view their scores online, some time in late Spring. Tuition accounts will be charged $58 per test, regardless of if a student took it or not. The only exception is students who opted-out of the exam by the January deadline.

College Counseling

Sophomores & Juniors

CDH Education Fair

The Cretin-Derham Hall and Hill-Murray annual College Fair is Thursday, April 10, 6:30 - 8 pm in the Joe Mauer Fieldhouse. 10th and 11th grade students along with their parents are encouraged to come! There will be nearly 100 colleges in attendance!

Before the fair, please visit www.StriveFair.com to create a barcode on your phone that can be scanned by colleges if you would like them to have your contact information for future communications. It is easy to do and will save you time at the fair!

Juniors

Junior Meetings

This is your final chance to schedule a meeting for post-high school planning with your student and their college counselor. Please click the appropriate link below to sign up. 

Students with last names A-K see Mitchell Reynolds: Sign up here 

Students with last names L-Z see Laura Nelson: Sign up here

Seniors

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid 2025-2026) opened on December 1. Start at www.fafsa.gov to create an account. This FAFSA uses your 2023 tax information. Feel free to contact Ms. Nelson or Mr. Reynolds with questions.

May 1 - College Decision Day

Seniors! Thursday, May 1 is College Decision Day! Please feel free to wear your College sweatshirt over your CDH uniform.

You will most likely have all of your admissions decisions and financial aid packages by now. Be sure to read the entire decision letter as it will contain important information about making a deposit, housing, orientation, and other next steps. Most colleges and universities require an enrollment deposit by May 1 to secure your spot in the class entering in the fall 2025. 

NCAA Recruited Student Athletes

You must request your final AMATEURISM CERTIFICATE from the NCAA Eligibility Center before you can be eligible to practice, compete and receive athletics aid in college. This is a quick but vital step in the process. Contact Mr. Brewer with any questions.

Chemical Health Counseling

All Students

Chemical Health Week was celebrated at CDH March 21 - April 1, 2025.

As part of our ongoing commitment to prevention and wellness, we invited the following speakers to address chemical health for our CDH students over the past couple weeks:

9th Grade: Prevention Solutions on March 31 and April 1

Prevention specialists from Prevention Solutions within the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation worked with our 9th graders on Monday, March 31 and Tuesday April 1 during their Values classes. Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care for youth and adults. Prevention Solutions provides alcohol, nicotine, and other drug education to schools and communities around the world. 

 

10th Grade: Know the Truth on March 21 

Know the Truth addressed sophomores Friday, March 21 during their English classes. This is the substance use prevention program of MM Adult and Teen Challenge. They have led over 10,000 presentations and have spoken to over 460,000 students in over 160 high schools and middle schools. They share stories of personal struggles with substance use and present students with information about the dangers of alcohol and drug use.

11th Grade: PEASE Academy on March 24

Michael Durchlag, academy director, and select students presented to the Juniors, Monday March 24th during their English classes. Located in the heart of Dinkytown, P.E.A.S.E. Academy: an acronym for Peers Enjoying a Sober Education, is the oldest recovery high school in the United States, serving students in recovery since February 1989. Michael explained how the cycle of addiction begins and students shared their personal stories of recovery.

12th Grade: Step Up Program on March 28

Students from The Augsburg University StepUP Program came to speak to the seniors, Friday March 28th during their religion classes. The StepUP program is a college recovery-based support program aimed at providing structure for enrolled students. This college recovery program is meant to give students a full, enriched collegiate experience with the support and encouragement they need to stay sober. Students shared their recovery journeys and took questions from the students about their experience.

Parents: Two Hazelden Prevention Specialists as well as Dr. Jules Nolan held a parents workshop Monday March 31

Dr. Nolan is a psychologist, author, speaker and expert on mental health and parenting. An invited speaker both nationally and internationally, Dr. Nolan talked about stress, anxiety, perfectionism and motivation in parenting adolescents. The facilitators offered support and guidance in how parents can help their children enjoy a drug-free adolescence.

 

Important Dates

April 10

Mid-Trimester grades due

CDH Education Fair

April 16

Online parent/teacher conferences

April 17 - 21

Easter break - no school

April 28

Awards Ceremony

May 1

College Decision Day

May 5

AP Biology exam

AP Microeconomics exam

May 6

AP Chemistry exam

AP Human Geography exam

AP US Government and Politics exam

May 7

AP Computer Science A exam

Counseling Data

March is complete! We had 415 visits to the counseling office, despite spring break. This month included many walk-in visits to the registrar for class changes as we began trimester 3, especially amongst the older students who have more wiggle room in their schedules and class options to choose from. Also, many juniors have still been completing their Junior Meetings with the college counselors.