Click Here for Mr. Hanna's Scholarship Update!

Counseling Services

Catalina Magnet High School’s Counseling Center offers an array of services for students and parents, including course planning for all four years of high school, transcript review from other schools, career planning, planning for college, a career, or the military, and counseling for students’ social concerns.

Who is My Counselor?

For general scheduling and high school planning, students with last names A-L are served by lead counselor Tammy Hille and M-Z by Noriko Sayanagi. Mark Hanna is an expert at college applications, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and is a wizard at helping students find the grants and scholarships that make a college career possible.

Counseling services for English Language Learners and their families are offered through Catalina's English Language Development Department by Mary Cassidy.

When Can I See My Counselor?

Although some drop-in appointments are available, counselors are able to schedule longer sessions for students who plan ahead. Please see the phone numbers at the left of this page, drop your counselor an email, or come by the Counseling Center's front desk to schedule an appointment.

Do I Have Enough Credits to Graduate?

At several points throughout the year Catalina’s counselors check each student’s academic progress and confer with those who may be behind in the number of credits they need to graduate in four years. Students, especially those who have brought credit from another school or who have earned credits through online programs or summer school, are urged to make an appointment with their counselors at least once a year to make sure their records are up to date.

Credits required for graduation are listed below. For more detailed information, please see the Catalina Course Description Handbook.

To receive a diploma, all Arizona high school students must also, per state law, pass the Reading, Writing, and Math portions of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS). For more information about the AIMS, please click here. You can also use practice tests constructed by the Arizona Department of Education.

Graduation Credit Requirements*

Class of 2012		Class of 2013 and Beyond

Subject # Credits Required Classes English 4 Math 3 Algebra I (or equivalent), Geometry (or equivalent), and Interm. Algebra (or equivalent) Science 3 Biology by end of sophomore year Social Studies 3 World History/Geog. (10th), American History (11th), American Government - (.5) AND Economics (.5) (12th) World Language 0 Fine Arts or CTE 1 Health .5 Physical Education 1 Electives 6.5 Total Credits 22

Subject # Credits Required Classes English 4 Math 4 Algebra I (or equivalent), Geometry (or equivalent), and Interm. Algebra (or equivalent) and a 4th year of math Science 3 Biology by end of sophomore year Social Studies 3 World History/Geog. (10th), American History (11th), American Government - (.5) AND Economics (.5) (12th) World Language 0 Fine Arts or CTE 1 Health .5 Physical Education 1 Electives 6.5 Total Credits 23

* Please note that what is listed above are minimum graduation requirements for earning a high school diploma. Students who wish to enroll in a four-year college or university will have other requirements they must meet. See Mr. Hanna and/or your counselor for more specific guidance if you plan to attend a college or university after graduation.

I Have No Idea What I Want to Do after Graduation. Can You Help?

Every student at Catalina has begun an Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP), an online tool that helps the student list his accomplishments, skills, interests, and future plans. This is a great place to start in thinking of life after high school. Students and their parents may access these plans at www.azcis.intocareers.org. The username is the student's first initial and last name followed by the graduation year. The password is the student's matriculation number. Example login: mstudent2011. Example password: 0123456789.

Other helpful links:

• http://www.onetcenter.org/tools.html Career Research Tool, Assessments
• http://online.onetcenter.org Occupation Search
  
• http://www.bls.gov/oco Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition

But nothing helps a student clarify his thoughts and plans like discussions with her family and with a counselor. Please make an appointment to come see us!

I Want to Go to College, But the Application Process is Confusing - and I'm Not Rich!

Students who have any interest in college or university – and that should be every student! – are urged to make an appointment with Mr. Hanna no later than the beginning of their junior year. Mr. Hanna will explain and help register students for the college application exams – the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. As students’ high school graduation comes nearer, Mr. Hanna will work with the student on the FAFSA application, applications for particular colleges, and on grant and scholarship opportunities. In 2010-2011 our seniors were awarded more than $5.4 million in college grants and scholarships, a Catalina record. If you are just beginning to think about college, Mr. Hanna highly recommends you look at the college search engine at www.collegeboard.com to get some ideas of where you might like to go to school.

For juniors and seniors who have begun their grant and scholarship searches, please click here for Mr. Hanna's scholarship update -- and make an appointment today to see him.

I’m Behind in My Credits. How Can I Get Caught Up?

Counselors can offer students many options for credit recovery, including TUSD’s Weekend Academy, summer school, and online classes sponsored by TUSD or outside institutions. Some of these options are offered at no or very low cost to students. Please see your counselor for details.

IMPORTANT: Students who want to take a credit recovery class MUST get the approval of their counselor and a Catalina administrator. It’s important that the student takes the correct class for credit recovery. Also, TUSD Board Policy limits the number of credits a student may take outside of the district to 2 for the student’s high school career. Don’t be disappointed by accidentally completing a class that you don’t need or that Catalina cannot accept for credit – check with a counselor first!

I'm Ahead in My Credits. Can I Graduate Early?

Motivated students are sometimes able to accrue the credits necessary for graduation in less than four years. Accelerated graduation plans are handled on a case-by-case basis and must be personally approved by the student's counselor and Principal Rex Scott. Please see Mr. Scott if you'd like to pursue early graduation.

I’m Having Some Trouble with My Friends. Can You Help?

Our counselors are available to help with any problem that might be harming a student’s educational progress. We are eager to help with social and personal problems and will be happy to listen and counsel and, if appropriate, meet with the student's friends, teachers, and family to work toward resolution.