Counselors’ Corner January 2026

Happy New Year, Matanzas High School Students and Families! 

As the calendar turns to a new year, it’s the perfect time to hit the reset button and refocus on your goals. January isn't just the middle of the school year; it’s a fresh start, a new chapter waiting to be written.

This year, make a commitment to yourself.

• Own Your Learning: Be present in school and your classes on time, daily. Engage in your classes, be an active participant in class discussions, and ask questions. Every subject holds a key to understanding the world, and your future place in it.
• Embrace the Challenge: That challenging course, the difficult project, the new club, activity or sport, these are the things that fuel growth. True progress happens outside your comfort zone. If it’s hard, just know that you're learning and growing from these experiences. 
• Prioritize Well-being: Remember that success isn't just about grades, it’s about balance as well. Take time for friends, for family, and for yourself. A healthy mind is a prepared mind.

Your journey is yours alone, but we, your School Counseling Team, are here to support every step of it. Let's make 2026 a year of growth, meaningful connections, and incredible achievement!

Senior Local Scholarships Deadline Approaching! 

The Flagler County Education Foundation offers scholarships to Flagler School seniors planning to attend college and trade schools after graduation. Seniors can apply for scholarships provided by local businesses and organizations who support the development of our youth with their generosity. The program also includes several memorial scholarships that local families have established to commemorate loved ones. 

Scholarship opportunities are listed on the Education Foundation’s online application platform. Seniors, please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and complete the application by the deadline of January 16th 2026! If you have any questions please contact the Flagler County Education Foundation; Flagleredfoundation.org; AsbillM@flaglerschools.com

Scholarship Opportunities

Please visit the Guidance Page for links to scholarship opportunities and search engines. The College & Career Prep packet that was provided to all seniors in September includes a wealth of information. Please also review the College & Career Prep Presentation. Slides 14 and 15 in particular include scholarship information as well as Bright Futures, and financial aid info. You should take 5 minutes to complete the Bright Futures application. Please be sure to follow the Bright Futures application instructions that are included in the prep packet. 

Please review the College & Career Resource Sheet, and check out the Scholarship & Financial Aid section for options. We placed an asterisk next to great opportunities such as Raiseme, Weird Scholarships, Going Merry, and Scholarships.com. 

Please keep your eye out on Schoology, Parent Square, MHS News Items, and the MHS Scholarship Page. We send out Scholarship opportunities through these platforms regularly. Students can also check the Scholarship Wall outside of the Registrar's Office (5-216) for options. 

Florida Financial Aid Application (Bright Futures) 

Seniors, have you completed your Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA - Bright Futures Application)? In order to secure your award money Seniors MUST complete their FFAA application prior to graduation! The application takes 5 minutes to complete! Completing this application opens a Bright Futures account for you, so you can track your progress towards eligibility. Be sure to follow the instructions provided to you in your Senior College & Career Prep Packet when completing the application. Remember that you need 100 volunteer and/or paid work hours posted to your transcript as part of the eligibility requirements for the top Bright Futures award. Please turn your community service/paid work hours sheets, along with pay stubs or other evidence of paid hours, into the Guidance Secretary. 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid 

One of the best ways to get money for college is by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early. The website has a wonderful FAFSA customer service support page including phone, email and chat features. Completing the FAFSA is time sensitive, and we know that students that complete it early get the better financial aid packages. The FAFSA opened on October 1st, and there is FAFSA information in the College & Career Presentation and packet that we provided all seniors with in September. 

Senior Page 

Please bookmark and consistently check the Senior Page, MHS socials, Schoology and Parent Square for updates, important information, dates and deadlines. Don’t wait to order your cap and gown! Visit the Jostens website to order! For any questions about your cap and gown order or senior activities and events, please contact the Senior Sponsors, Ms. Alred (AlredB@flaglerschools.com; Rm 6-152) or Ms. Graifer (GraiferS@flaglerschools.com; Rm. 1-202) 

Dual Enrollment Students - Daytona State College Graduation Application 

Are you completing your AA degree in Spring or Summer 2026? Would you like to participate in DSC's graduation ceremony? Apply to graduate through your MyDaytonaState portal!

First day to apply for graduation: January 20, 2026

Last day to apply for graduation: March 1, 2026

Commencement ceremony participation to walk deadline: March 23, 2026

Registered Walkers: April 1st - April 30th at the Daytona Campus B100 R208 (packet contains info protected by FERPA laws and will be issued to the student only) 

Summer Completers that do not wish to walk in Spring ceremony- Last day to apply: July 31, 2025

Commencement Ceremony: Tuesday May 12, 2026 Ocean Center Daytona Beach FL

Degree Conferred: Approx. May 20, 2026

Diplomas Mailed: June 5, 2026 

Cap, gown, tassel purchase: Visit Daytona State Graduation Shop by Jostens online (Student is responsible for all DSC graduation fees and purchase of cap, gown, tassel, etc) 

You must apply for graduation even if you do NOT wish to walk in the ceremony - You may walk in the ceremony no matter what your grad status is. For more information visit the Graduation Page on the Daytona State College website. After you have applied for graduation, you must Register to Walk in your portal under ACADEMICS/ REGISTER TO WALK, before the 03/23/2026 deadline to participate in Commencement.

Summer and Fall Daytona State College Dual Enrollment

If you’re planning on taking dual enrollment Daytona State College classes in the Summer and Fall of 2026, please save the important dates and deadlines below. 

Summer 2026

April 2nd - Registration for Summer 2026 begins

Summer enrollment is available to returning students only - students new to the DSC Dual Enrollment program may not begin in the Summer semester

April 30th - Flagler Schools internal deadline for Summer course registration 

Fall 2026

December - March 12th - New students must complete their application, orientation, new student advising session, and placement within this period - the course search opens in March, so students should be completed with all preliminary enrollment tasks in order to begin their course search once it opens

March 13th - April 1st - Review the course search, plan schedules, select classes and possible alternates 

April 2nd - Registration for Fall 2026 begins - to be eligible for enrollment, students must have applied, met minimum testing requirements, planned classes with a DSC adviser, and be ready to submit completed forms 

May 15th - Flagler Schools internal deadline for Fall course registration 

 What other exams can be taken to meet the scores needed? 

Did you know that Juniors and Seniors that have not yet met their ELA and/or Algebra graduation test score requirements can take other exams to meet the scores needed? Check out the ACT, SAT and CLT exams!

Classic Learning Test (CLT) 

• Register at CLTexam.com; CLT (BE SURE to choose the 11th/12th grade exam) cost - $69 
• See Overview and Prep and Starting Your Exam; and take the CLT Practice tests available in your CLT account! 
• The CLT is not offered at MHS but you may be able to register for an AT HOME REMOTELY PROCTORED CLT
• Visit CLT Financial Assistance for qualification info 
• What are the CLT scores needed to meet the concordant score graduation requirements? 
  • For ELA - CLT - Sum of 39 on Verbal Reasoning and Grammar sections
  • For Math - CLT Quantitative section - 14 or above 

American College Testing (ACT)

• Create an account and register for a test at https://www.act.org/content/act/en-florida.html
• Flagler Palm Coast High School Test Center Code: 100185; FPC School Code; 10201
• Cost - $65 (English Math, Reading); Writing Add on Fee - $25; Science Add on Fee - $4 (fees subject to change)
• Visit ACT Fee Waiver Eligibility for qualification info-waivers can be picked up from the Guidance Secretary 
• ACT science as well as writing are optional 
• What are the ACT scores needed to meet the concordant score graduation requirements? 
  • For ELA - ACT English and Reading subtests (averaged) - 18 or above 
  • For Math - ACT Math subtest - 16 or above 
• Study Resources -  Free ACT Practice Tests; ACT Test Prep; ACT Tips and Strategies 

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) 

• Create an account and register at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat 
• Matanzas High School Test Center Code: 10759; MHS School Code; 102007
• Cost - $68; late, change, etc fees apply (fees subject to change) 
• Visit SAT Fee Waiver Eligibility for qualification info-waivers accessed through your College Board account
• What are the SAT scores needed to meet the concordant score graduation requirements? 
  • For ELA - SAT EBRW section - 490 or above
  • For Math - SAT Math section - 420 or above 
• Study Resources - Bluebook; Build Your SAT Plan; Practice Tests; SAT Practice 101; Khan Academy Test Prep