Bright Futures
The PTSA launched a new initiative for the 2023-2024 academic school year entitled Bright Futures. The program is designed for Apex High School students and their parents as they navigate high school and prepare for life beyond AHS. Throughout the year, programs will be offered to enhance students’ ability to successfully meet the challenges of life outside school and upon leaving AHS for higher education, trade and technical education or employment.
2023-2024 Schedule
September 2023- "10 Things Not To Do When Writing Your College Essay"
In September, the PTSA hosted the first program of our new Bright Futures initiative for the 2023-2024 academic school year. The program presenter, Gina Wilner from Advantage College Planning gave an excellent program on the “10 Things Not To Do When Writing Your College Essay”. There were over 100 parents and students in attendance. This program launches our College Essay Tutoring program.
At this session there was a call for parents to volunteer as tutors and attend a one-hour, virtual training session to learn from Ms. Kayla Gonzalez, AHS English Teacher on how best to help students “shine” on their essays. Students were offered the opportunity to send their essay to one of our tutors, schedule a 30-minute virtual session and discuss the grammar, spelling and content of their essay to strengthen it. There were nine (9) parents that volunteered to tutor students.
September to November 2023- College Essay Tutoring
Bright Futures hosted the College Essay Tutoring program to our senior students. Fifty-two (52) students took advantage of the program and had their essay reviewed by one of our trained tutors. At the end of the program, a survey was administered to the students, and they overwhelmingly found the program beneficial to improving their confidence in writing the essay as well as strengthening the essay itself.
November 2023- "Interviewing 101"
In November, Bright Futures hosted a program for AHS students and parents to help students get information on how to better interview for a job, internship, apprenticeship or even a scholarship called “Interviewing 101”. Ms. Teia Robinson, Director of the Information Technology Academy provided the 25 program attendees with valuable tools for effectively interviewing as well as moderated a panel of local hiring managers. The two outstanding panelists were Mr. Tony Holmes, Chick-fil-A operator and Steven Woods, Store Manager at Apex Lowes Foods. Each of these managers gave practical, real-life situations and experiences with interviewing. Students had the chance to ask questions and get tips on what to wear to an interview, what questions are good to ask as well as how to demonstrate their own personalities when interviewing. Students and parents attending the session felt it was beneficial and expressed their appreciation to Ms. Robinson and the panel. The program was a great example of learning life skills for today as well as for future use.
January 2024- "Making Your Summer Count"
Bright Futures welcomed back Gina Wilner, College Consultant with Advantage College Planning for her presentation on how to make students’ summer activities work for them when applying for college whether used in the college essay or the application. “Making Your Summer Count”. The summer activity can be used to highlight the student when seeking a job, applying for a scholarship, internship, or apprenticeship. Information was presented by grade level, so the program met the needs of all students and parents in attendance. Ms. Wilner gave examples of students who used their hobbies such as photography, volunteer opportunities and planned educational opportunities to leverage when applying to the universities of their choice.
May 2024- "What's Next After AHS?" Symposium
This incredible program featured numerous sessions for all students and parents as they prepare to be College Bound, Technical/Trade School Bound, or Employment Bound as well as answer questions regarding students with unique requirements such as school affordability, financial aid, sports recruiting, academic assistance or community job training. To see the program schedule, click HERE. For view slide presentations for some of the programs, click HERE.
