Welcome to Seaholm Counseling!

Dear Seaholm Families:

State testing is taking place in all Michigan high schools beginning April 12^th, 2023.  Please note the testing dates, times, and requirements by grade level. It is important that every effort is made for students to be present and on time on the days of testing. These are NOT “opted-in” assessments.  All 9^th, 10^th, and 11th-grade students must complete their required assessments, see the schedule below.

The Michigan Merit Exam (MME) is a state-required test for all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. 

For freshmen, students will take PSAT 8/9.

For sophomores, students will take PSAT 10.

For juniors, the students will complete three assessments: SAT with Essay (Students must complete the essay portion of the test.), ACT WorkKeys, and the M-Step tests. 

All parts of the MME must be taken to fulfill federal, state, and district requirements. Students who miss any testing will be scheduled for required makeup testing, which will inevitably result in missing class and important instructional time.  Please encourage your student to get a good night’s rest and to eat a healthy breakfast for all testing days. 

Thank you for your support!

Attendance Schedule

All students with approved CollegeBoard accommodations will be notified of their testing location.

Altered Bus Schedule

• All buses for AM pick-up will run on the regular AM schedule.
• OSTC - Buses for OSTC will run their normal routes for seniors. Juniors will not be attending OSTC as they will be testing.  Seniors attending OSTC will attend classes upon their return to Seaholm.

Students Should Bring:

• #2 Pencils with erasers (not mechanical)
• Layered clothing (due to fluctuations in temperature)
• An approved calculator - -Information can be found at: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/taking-the-test/calculator-policy .  A limited number of calculators will be available – we cannot guarantee we will have one to loan.  Students need to bring their calculators.

Students Should Not Bring:

• Cell phones/Electronic Devices/Apple Watches/Smartwatches - Cell Phones:  please encourage your student to leave their cell phone at home or in their locker or car.  Cell phones are strictly prohibited for all testing.
• Backpacks/Bags
• Food/Drinks

Tips for Student Success:

• Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast.
• Answer every question. Students are not penalized for incorrect answers, so they should fill in a bubble even if it is a complete guess. (25% chance to get it right!)
• Narrow down your answer choices. Each option that is eliminated increases their chance of getting a correct answer.
• Students need to pace themselves. Practice moving from question to question throughout the time allotted. Students don't get any extra points for answering more difficult questions. Feel free to move on to easier questions when stuck and come back if there's time.

RESOURCES:

PSAT, SAT, AND M-STEP What Parents Should Know About Assessments (michigan.gov)

ACT WorkKeys http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/workkeys-for-job-seekers/ncrc.html

Counseling Department Secretary - Carey Balow cbalow@birmingham.k12.mi.us 248-203-3751

Mission Statement

The Birmingham Counseling Program's "whole-child" approach is an integral part of the educational mission of the Birmingham Public Schools. The comprehensive guidance program will empower students to make responsible academic/personal-social, and college/career choices to gain self-knowledge and understand the uniqueness of others. Counselors will provide opportunities for academic achievement, personal /social growth, and college/career exploration for every student.Counselors will coordinate, consult, and collaborate with staff, parents, and the community to help all students be successful lifelong learners in a global society. 

Our Beliefs

• All students will learn.
• All students will be successful.
• All students develop and grow at their own rates.

We provide the following services: 

• Provide Guidance Curriculum, a.k.a. information you should know
• Provide social and emotional support
• Provide career and college counseling
• Provide academic support

The District’s Emotional Health & Wellness Website https://sites.google.com/bps-schools.com/bps-emotional-health-wellness/home

GREAT NEWS! You can now follow Seaholm's Counseling Department on Instagram. Our username to search is seaholm_counseling. Keep your eye out for weekly posts regarding social/emotional learning, mental health awareness, character ed., relationship building, goal setting, mindfulness, stress management, important counseling dates/tips, and much more!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Balow, Counseling Secretary at cbalow@birmingham.k12.mi.us or 248-203-3751.