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MHS Guidance

MHS Guidance

Welcome to the MHS Guidance website.  Don't hesitate to get in touch with us at (573) 581-4296

Lindsey Yancey, Senior Counselor
573-581-4296 extension 3011  |  lyancey@mexico.k12.mo.us


Kate Daino, Junior Counselor
573-581-4296 extension 3013  |  kdaino@mexico.k12.mo.us

Jillayne Chancellor, Freshman and Sophomore Counselor 
573-581-4296 extension 3012  |  jchancellor@mexico.k12.mo.us

Veronica Matuz, Guidance Secretary
573-581-4296  extension 3010 |  vmatuz@mexico.k12.mo.us

Important Guidance Information

 

  • All transcript requests go through the Mexico High School Guidance Office. 

  • Mexico High School A+ Schools Participation Information

    Mexico Senior High School is a designated A+ School. The A+ Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools. The following requirements are up-to-date at the time of printing, but the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development could make changes.

    1) Be a US Citizen or permanent resident
    2) Submit this agreement to the MHS Counseling Office
    3) Attend an A+ school for two years prior to graduation
    4) Graduate with a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 2.5
    5) Have at least 95% attendance overall for grades 9-12
    6) Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring (up to 12 hours of job shadow will count towards the 50)
    7) Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and alcohol      
    8) Achieved a score of proficient or higher on the Algebra I EOC or earned a qualifying score on another math exam (ACT math score)       

    For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Education and Workforce Development.

    Mexico High School students have opportunities to perform unpaid tutoring/mentoring throughout high school, and all unpaid tutoring and mentoring opportunities must be sponsored by the school or pre-approved by the MHS Counseling Office.

     

      

    How to Get A+ Tutoring Hours at MHS:

    •  Summer School - Sign-up for Summer School Tutoring and be placed in a classroom at an Elementary School.  Listen for an announce or check the web page for sign up opportunity.  Usually have sign up sheet available in April.
    • Cadet Teaching- a high school elective credit class geared towards future teachers.  Students in the program walk to Hawthorne one hour of the day and tutor in a classroom. They also complete assignments for this class..
    • Job Shadowing - Students can count up to 12.5 hours of Job Shadowing towards their A+ Tutoring hours.  Students need to arrange the job shadow on their own outside of the school day. Students need to pick up an A+ Tutoring Time Sheet to keep track of their time.  This form must be signed by the person they are shadowing.
    • Other Opportunities- For example, Walk-Back-In-Time and Safety Town.
    • Please check with a counselor to make sure the activity follows the A+ guidelines.

    Remember to pick up an A+ Tutoring Log from the Guidance Office.

  • What is the ACT?

    The ACT is a national college admissions test that measures student's academic skills in English, Math, Science and Reading.

    • It is curriculum based - not an aptitude or IQ test
    • Standardized, timed, multiple-choice exam

    Why take the ACT?

    • Is accepted by all US colleges and universities
    • Has an optional writing test
    • Is the nation's most-taken college entrance exam
    • Includes an educational and career planning component
    • Provides four free score reports for each student (If ordered at time of registration)

    What is an ACT Waiver Program?  The ACT fee Waiver Program is designed to assist students for whom payment of the basic registration fee could be a barrier to college entrance. If you are a student that received low-income public assistance, a word of the state, resides in a foster home, is homeless, participates in free or reduced-price lunch program or family income is at or below the 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistic Low Standard budget check with your counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver for the ACT test.

    NOTE: If you miss the regular deadline, you can register during the late period but must pay the additional nonrefundable late fee.  All materials sent by mail must be RECEIVED by the last day of the late period, regardless of when they are postmarked.

    TEST FEES

    • ACT No Writing $60.00- Check ACT website to see if the colleges you are considering require or recommend the ACT Writing Test.
    • ACT Plus Writing  $85.00
    • ACT Late Registration Fee additional $36.00

    How do I register for ACT?

    • Go to the ACT website
    • Sign up or log in to your ACT web account
    • Select your test date and test option (ACT or ACT Plus Writing)
    • Select your test center (Mexico High School # 262-190)
    • Upload your photo

    Choose your college reports:

    • Send up to four score reports free by listing those colleges when you register
    • Scores are normally reported 2-8 weeks after you test (5-8 for the ACT Plus Writing.
    • Learn more about Superscore: ACT Superscore

    ACT Preparation Opportunities: 

    • Every time you go to class you're preparing for the ACT
    • Learning Library_ access test preparation through our District's network system. Go to mexicoschools.net and under Parents & Students click on Learning Library.  Register on the LearningExpressLibrary page - you must be on the school district's network to register. Once you are registered you can access the webpage from any internet connection.
  • What is FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid

    To apply for federal student aid, you need to complete the FAFSA® or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and quick, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school. FAFSA is the primary application used by Federal, State and institutional financial assistance entities in determining an individual's eligibility for grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. 


    Link for FAFSA: Federal Student Aid

    Dates for FAFSA 

    • FAFSA application available - 
    • FAFSA MU deadline -  
    • FAFSA State of Missouri - 
  • Missouri Connections - College and Career Planning

    • Missouri Connections is a web-based resource to help Missouri students determine their career interests, explore occupations, develop job strategies, and create resumes.  It is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Economic Development
    • Visit Missouri Connections online
    • User Name: mexicohs
    • Password: 2viewmoc
  • A way to look at future goals is through Career Paths and Career Clusters.

    Career paths are clusters of occupations/careers that are grouped because many of the people in them share similar interests and strengths. All paths include a variety of occupations that require different levels of education and training. Selecting a career cluster provides an area of focus and a variety of ideas to pursue. For a list of Jobs in High Demand visit the main Guidance/Counselor main page and scroll below to see the list. 

    Use the suggested plans of study to choose classes in preparation for your chosen career. Click on Career Paths on the left of this page to see suggested Plans of Study.

    Available Career Paths and Career Clusters:

    • Arts and Communications: Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
    • Business, Management and Technology: Information Technology; Marketing, Sales and Service; Finance; Business, Management and Administration
    • Natural Resources Agriculture: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
    • Human Services: Human Services: Hosptiality and Tourism; Government and Public Administration; Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
    • Industrial and Engineering Technology: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Architecture and Construction; Manufacturing; Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
    • Health Services: Health Science

Senior Information

  • 1. Conduct Guidelines - Graduation is the highlight of thirteen years of school and should be a happy and joyful occasion for all. by implementing guidelines, it is our hope the commencement program can be improved and that ALL students will have a successful and satisfying experience on this most important day. Participation in the commencement ceremony is a privilege not a right. Hopefully no graduate will have to be ejected because of his or her behavior. Its is unnecessary to itemize the kind of negative behavior unacceptable at the commencement ceremony. Any behavior which draws attention to you as an individual or detracts from the dignity of the ceremony will result in your exclusion from the ceremony.  We want our commencement to be special, we want it to have "class". Please do your part to make ours the best commencement possible at Mexico Senior High School. Should it be necessary for seniors to return to school after dismissal times, they are to report to the principal's office to secure permission before going to any other part of the building. Suspended students cannot participate in commencement. School sponsored senior functions cease as of your graduation.

    2. Dress Guidelines -  Commencement marks the beginning of life after high school. This ceremony to commemorate the successful completion of the elementary and secondary experiences should be taken seriously. To help insure that graduation from MHS is treated with the respect its due, the following guidelines are presented. Participation in the cemmencement ceremony is a privilege not a right. Students must adhere to the following established dress code to be permitted to participate. Your cooperation is essential. The following guidelines explain what is expected. Not permitted are shorts, jeans, T-shirts, flip flops, extremely informal attire inappropriate for the occasion, or any decorations or deviation from the traditional cap and gown which whould draw undue attention to you. The administrators in charge will have the final decision in denying a graduate's participation due to inappropriate atttire. Don't embarrass yourself, our family and your school.

    3. Indoor Graduation - Because of limited seating capacity of the gym, it is necessary to limit the number of guests each senior can invite to commencement exercises, if it is held indoors. The Public Safety Department has put a limit of 2400 people in the gym, therefore, each senior will have twelve tickets for persons he or she wishes to invite to graduation. In case of indoor graduation, admittance will be BY TICKET ONLY in the gym. Tickets will be issued for indoor commencement during practice to graduating seniors on Monday, May 10. DO NOT LOSE OR MISPLACE THESE TICKETS BECAUSE NO ADDITIONAL TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

    4. Graduation Pictures - A class panorama, photo, graduation photo and ceremony video will be available for purchase therefore spectators will not be allowed onto the football field if graduation is outdoors or on the gym floor during indoor ceremony.  

  • Important Senior Dates:

    • Senior Academic Night -March
    • National Honor Society Induction- March
    • Local Scholarship Deadline - March 
    • HCC National Technical Honor Society - April
    • Prom -
    • A+ requirement deadline and external Scholarship confirmation -
    • Senior Picture and Senior Ad Deadline –
    • Baccalaureate - May
    • Graduation practice - May
    • Senior fines due - May 
    • Senior Scholarship night - May  in the evening
    • Graduation - May