Guidance Department - Munster High School

The Munster High School Guidance Department, teachers, administrators and other staff are ready to support MHS students throughout their four years of high school. The Guidance Department consists of five School Counselors assigned to students alphabetically by last name. All members of the department are dedicated to offering an open door atmosphere for both students and faculty.

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Free ACT Prep Materials

It's NEVER too early to start preparing for the ACT! Click HERE to access free study materials.

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To join our program, please visit the ExcelEdge website. Tuition is $345, which includes a textbook. Registration is now open and closes on December 20th, a late fee will be added after that date if the class is still available. Other classes and locations are available on the website.

Please reserve these dates:
Wednesday -- 6:30-8:30pm -- 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, & 2/19 (Practice SAT 5:30-9:00pm)

**If school is canceled due to inclement weather or other circumstances, class will be
postponed and we will add an additional week.

Contact us with any questions. If you have any questions about SAT 1600, please feel free to contact ExcelEdge at info@exceledgeinc.com / 219-838-0740. We look forward to working with you!

Get a head start on college with Indiana College Core?

What is the Indiana College Core Program?

What is the Indiana College Core Program?

The Indiana College Core allows high school students to earn 30 general education credits that can be transferred as a block to any public college or university in Indiana, as well as some private institutions. In other words, students who earn the College Core in high school may already be finished with their first year of college at a fraction of the cost.

To learn more about the Indiana College Core and put together your plan, use My College Core (mycollegecore.org) and work closely with your school counselor.

ICC Course Flyer

Click HERe to access an
informational Powerpoint

Click on the photo below to view additional
information about the Indiana College Core Program.

The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important document for determining if you’re eligible for financial aid — money to help you pay for education and training beyond high school. The easiest way to file the FAFSA is online at https://studentaid.gov/.

What is FASFA?

The FAFSA takes less than an hour to complete, and could greatly impact the ways in which you will pay for higher education. For quick, concise information about how the FAFSA works, click here.

After you file your FAFSA, your college will be able to tell you which scholarships and grants you could receive as well as how much money you can borrow in federal loans. To find more detailed information about the FAFSA, including what kinds of state financial aid is available, check out Learn More Indiana’s FAFSA guide for Hoosiers.

Click HERe to access an
informational Powerpoint

To view the 2024 Financial Aid Night Presentation, please click HERE.

Required FASFA Completion

All seniors must complete the FAFSA by the deadlines outlined by the colleges and/or the state. Families who do not wish to complete the FAFSA must complete a FAFSA waiver and return it to the Guidance Office. Click HERE to access the FAFSA waiver form.

For step-by-step instructions on how to create your FSA ID, please click HERE.

For a worksheet that will help you plan for completing the FAFSA, please click HERE.

INvestEd Indiana- FAFSA Assistance and Financial Aid Help

Families who need help with filling out the FAFSA or who have specific questions regarding how this process works should reach out to the experienced professionals at INvestEd Indiana. For nearly four decades, INvestED has been providing students and their parents with solutions to help put higher education within reach. They believe that strong choices before college are the best way to limit excessive student loan debt after college. INvestED provides free financial aid services to families, and Munster High School partners with this organization to provide the most up-to-date financial aid information available. You can learn more about INvestEd any time by visiting their website at https://www.investedindiana.org/, or by contacting them directly at (317) 715-9000.

Each year, Munster High School partners with INvestEd to present a Financial Aid Night for junior and senior families. This meeting is highly informative. Click HERE to view the PowerPoint from Financial Aid Night 2024.

Scheduling Resources by Grade Level

The four years of high school are an exciting part of your educational journey! The choices you make now can lead to successful and enjoyable careers and experiences later in life. Students and their families should put time and thought into their school schedule each year. Be sure to use the resources here to explore the course offerings available to help you develop your academic strengths, personal interests and career dreams and goals!

Freshmen Year Scheduling

Freshmen Year Scheduling Form, Course Options and Graduation Pathways

Click here to access the Freshmen Scheduling Form.

All current 8^th grade students planning to attend Munster High School in the fall need to fill out and email this scheduling sheet to their high school counselor by Wednesday, March 20th, 2024. Classes should be chosen thoughtfully, and the resources below can assist in helping your student to choose the courses that are best for them. Please download, complete, and email this form to the high school counselor listed at the above right that corresponds with your student’s last name.

For a full list of freshmen course options, click here.

All students must indicate a pathway of interest on their scheduling form.
For a description of Box 3 Graduation Pathways options at MHS, click here.

DEADLINE TO TURN IN SCHEDULING FORMS IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH!

Freshmen Year Science Class Options

Use these documents as a guide for choosing your student’s science class for freshman year. Students come to MHS from 8^th grade with varying math and science experiences, so these documents will help you to place your student in the correct course within this subject area.

If your student is in 8^th grade at WWMS, click here for the guide.
If your student does not attend WWMS for 8^th grade, click here for the guide.

2025-26 Course Selection Guide

Click here to access the 2024-25 Course Selection Guide.

This guide provides information on diploma requirements, Graduation Pathways, course descriptions and their prerequisites, as well as an overview of the various activities at Munster High School. If your student has a question about what is taught in a specific class, refer to this guide for the course description.

Box 2 Service Based Learning Activities and Points Awarded

Click here to access the Box 2 Service Based
Activities and Points Awarded Guide.

All students must complete either 8 points over 4 years in clubs/sports/activities or complete 75+ hours of paid employment in order to satisfy Box 2 of Graduation Pathways. This document gives a list of the activities offered at MHS as well as the point value per year associated with each activity. Encourage your student to get involved during freshman year! Callout meeting information for each activity will be advertised in the daily announcements as well as via posted fliers around the building once school starts in August. Students can also earn all 8 points for this requirement by participating in 1 season of a sport. Please see the Athletics link below for more information on all of the athletic opportunities offered at Munster High School.

Once students have accumulated their 8 points or their 75 hours of paid employment to fulfill Box 2 of Graduation Pathways, they will get the appropriate signatures from their coach/sponsors/employer on the Employability Skills Verification Form and write a 2-3 page, typed, double-spaced reflection paper about their experience. This form and the reflection paper are due to Guidance during senior year but can be turned in as soon as the requirement is met. Click here to access the Employability Skills Verification Form.

Click here to access the Employability Skills Verification Form.

4-Year Plan Guide

Click here to access the 4-Year Plan Guide.

A 4-year plan can be a valuable tool for mapping out your student’s years at Munster High School. With graduation requirements in constant flux in the state of Indiana, a 4-year plan is becoming important to both families and counselors to ensure that all required credits are met for graduation. This document does not need to be returned to your high school counselor; it is merely a tool for you to use as a family to help in mapping out a 4-year high school plan. The MHS school counselors plan to use a guided classroom lesson to help all freshmen create a 4-year plan beginning with the Class of 2028.

Click here to access the 9^th/10^th Grade College Planning Guide.

This document is brought to you from College Board: Big Future and outlines the basic guidelines that freshmen and sophomore students should follow in regard to preparing for college. It is never too early to think about life after high school, and there are many resources that can be found for college planning, financial aid, career planning, and more at Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Incoming Parent Presentation

Special Class Offerings

Publications

Click here to access the Flyer.

Is your student interested in participating in the publications program? Ms. Lanman has provided information on how students can work on either the Crier or Paragon staff as they progress through high school. If this is of interest to your student, they may want to consider a Photography or Journalism elective during their freshman year.

Speech & Debate

Band

If your student is currently in Band, they would want to enroll in Band for the full year. Band includes marching season in the fall and concert season in the spring as well as time spent outside of school for practices, competitions, and concerts. Orchestra classes are reserved for students who are experienced at playing stringed instruments- wind instrument players should plan on enrolling in Band. Orchestra also requires students to participate in concerts and competitions outside of the regular school day.

If you have specific questions in regards to the instrument your student plays, please contact our Band Director, Mr. Marcusiu, at ihmarcusiu@munster.us.

Choir

Click here to access the flyer.

Choir is a community for all and Mr. McGinnis welcomes new students into his program every year. Since 2020, MHS Choir alumni have earned over $200,000 in vocal scholarship funds and MHS is proud to be performing in the 2023 Salzburg Choral Festival in Austria this June. For more information on the choir opportunities at MHS, review the interactive flier and contact Mr. Luke McGinnis at lpmcginnis@munster.us.

Orchestra

Orchestra classes are reserved for students who have experience playing string instruments – wind instrument players should plan on enrolling in Band. Symphony Orchestra is an auditioned group and materials must be requisitioned from Ms. Quinn prior to enrollment in the class. Orchestra also requires students to participate in concerts and competitions outside of the school day.

Parents and students may contact Ms. Quinn for more information at lrquinn@munster.us.

Interested in Athletics?

Click here to access the Munster High Athletics School website.

This is the official website of Munster Athletics. Information regarding callouts, conditioning, and tryouts can be found in the daily MHS Announcements as well as on the Munster High School Facebook page. Immediate updates are offered on Twitter and Instagram; parents and students can follow @Munster_Sports to receive notifications.

Click here to access the list of MHS sports by season.

Click here for information on the Munster High School
Strength and Conditioning Program.

IHSAA Physicals
FinalForms Instructions

IHSAA Physicals

Click here to access the form.

IHSAA physical forms may be obtained from the Athletics Office, and all student athletes must have an updated IHSAA physical on file. For 9^th grade students interested in playing any sport, their IHSAA physical must be on file before they can participate in summer conditioning.

IHSAA physicals for the 2024/2025 school year will be valid from April 1^st, 2024-May 31^st, 2025.

Please note: This is a completely separate physical form than what is required by our school nurse and for PE participation. Parents are required to upload student physicals on FinalForms.

FinalForms Instructions

Sophomore Year Scheduling

4-Year Planning Guide

Click here to access the 4-Year Fillable Plan.

Click here to access instructions for the 4‐year Plan.

Sophomore Year Scheduling Presentation

Sophomore Year Scheduling Form

Sophomore Year Course Offerings

2025-26 Proposed MHS Course Selection Guide

Click here to access the proposed MHS Course Selection Guide.

This guide provides information on diploma requirements, Graduation Pathways, course descriptions and prerequisites, as well as an overview of the various activities at Munster High School. If your student has a question about what is taught in a specific class, refer to this guide for the course description.

Box 2 Service Based Learning Activities and Points Awarded

Click here to access the Box 2 Service Based
Activities and Points Awarded Guide.

Click here to access the Employability Skills Verification Form.

Interested in Athletics?

Click here to access the Guide.

The Guide to Athletics shows all of the athletic activities offered at Munster High School and which season each sport is offered. Coaches for each sport are listed, and information regarding callouts, conditioning, and tryouts can be found in the daily MHS Announcements as well as on the Munster High School Facebook page. Immediate updates are offered on Twitter and Instagram; parents and students can follow @Munster_Sports to receive notifications

IHSAA Physicals
FinalForms Instructions

IHSAA Physicals

Click here to access the form.

All student athletes must have an updated IHSAA physical on file with the Athletics Office. For incoming 9th grade students interested in playing a fall sport at MHS, their IHSAA physical must be on file before they can participate in summer conditioning.

IHSAA physicals for the 2024-25 school year must be dated on or after April 1, 2024.

Please note: The IHSAA physical is a completely separate physical form than what is required by our school nurse and for PE participation. Please return the IHSAA physical directly to the Athletics Office NOT the Main Office! Only the original form is accepted – we do not accept copies or faxes.

FinalForms Instructions

Junior Year Scheduling

Junior Year Scheduling Form

Junior Year Scheduling Presentation

Junior Year Course Offerings

2024-25 MHS Course Selection Guide

Interested in Athletics?

IHSAA Physicals

Click here to access the form.

IHSAA physicals for the 2024-25 school year must be dated on or after April 1, 2024.

Please note: The IHSAA physical is a completely separate physical form than what is required by our school nurse and for PE participation. Please return the IHSAA physical directly to the Athletics Office NOT the Main Office! Only the original form is accepted – we do not accept copies or faxes.

FinalForms Instructions

Senior Year Scheduling

Senior Year Scheduling Form

Senior Year Scheduling Presentation

Senior Year Course Offerings

2024-25 MHS Course Selection Guide

Interested in Athletics?

Click here to access the Guide.

IHSAA Physicals
FinalForms Instructions

IHSAA Physicals

Click here to access the form.

IHSAA physicals for the 2024-25 school year must be dated on or after April 1, 2024.

Please note: The IHSAA physical is a completely separate physical form than what is required by our school nurse and for PE participation. Please return the IHSAA physical directly to the Athletics Office NOT the Main Office! Only the original form is accepted – we do not accept copies or faxes.

FinalForms Instructions

Additional Resources

Materials from the Nurse

Information provided by Mrs. Martinez, the MHS school nurse, is linked below.

Completed forms may be emailed to Mrs. Martinez at mmartinez@munster.us or dropped off to the Munster High School main office any time after May 1, 2024.

If a student has a diagnosis that requires an action plan, please submit those forms to Mrs. Martinez yearly. Examples of such diagnoses include but are not limited to diabetes, seizures, allergies, etc.

For additional health services information, please click here.

School Physical Form

Click here to access the Form.

All 9th graders must have a completed school physical on file with Mrs. Martinez in order to participate in PE. Students without a physical will be withdrawn from the class and will need to take it at another time during high school. Physicals completed before May 1, 2024 will not be accepted for participation in PE for the Summer of 2024 or for the 2024/2025 school year. Parents must also provide updated immunization records before school begins in August. These records can be obtained from your student’s physician at the time of their physical examination.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT the same as the IHSAA Physical required to participate in Athletics.

Non-Prescription Pain Medication Form

Immunization Requirements

Summer School Information

INTERESTED IN SUMMER SCHOOL?

Detailed course offerings, information and registration opportunities will be emailed to parents from the MHS Student Services Department in late March/early April. If you are the parent of a student who is new to the district and interested in taking summer school, please contact the MHS Students Services Department in early April to inquire about summer school registration.

You can reach Student Services by calling 219-836-3200 and asking for that department or by dialing extension 3321.

2024 Summer School Details

2022-23 Dual Credit Report

The following report reviews all the dual credit that was earned by Munster High School students during the 2022-2023 school year. It also pays special attention to the Class of 2023. Lastly, it provides a breakdown of cost savings for Munster families, including some longitudinal data. Munster currently partners with Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University Northwest, and Vincennes University. Students earn dual credits both at Munster High School and through the Area Career Center in Hammond.

Below is a summary of the credits earned from each of those dual credit partners. Please note that these are credits that were earned during the 2022-2023 school year only.

College/ University	Credits Earned	Dual Credit by Percentage
Ivy Tech Community College	7,039	89.81%
Purdue University Northwest	660	8.36%
Vincennes University	144	1.82%
Totals	7,843	100.00%

Munster High School students earned 7,843 credits. The average cost of a college credit in Indiana is $300. This saved families $2,352,900.

The majority of these credits (90%) were completed for free through Ivy Tech Community College. (Source: Ivy Tech Master List of Dual Credits)

These courses include the following classes:

AP Calculus AB	Pharmacy (ACC)
AP Calculus BC	PLTW Civil Engineering
AP Economics	PLTW Digital Electronics
AP Government	PLTW Intro to Engineering
AP Psychology	PLTW Principles of Engineering
AP US History	Pre-Calculus/Trig
Creative Writing	Pre-Calculus/Trig Honors
English 11	Principles of Business Management
Entrepreneurship	Senior Composition
French 3	Spanish 3
French 4	Spanish 4
Health Services (ACC)	Trigonometry
Information Technology (ACC)	Welding (ACC)
Marketing Fundamentals	World Literature
Networking (ACC)

Munster students completed dual credit courses through Purdue University Northwest in the following classes: (Source: PNW Master List of Dual Credits):

AP English Literature & Composition (11th)

AP English Language & Composition (12th)

AP Statistics

Munster students completed dual credit courses through Vincennes University in the following classes - all offered at the Area Career Center
(Source: ACC Dual Credit Report):

Audio/Video Production

Computer/Graphic Design

Construction

Criminal Justice

Engineering/Manufacturing

PowerParent User Guide

Click HERE for PDF Version of the User Guide or follow the instructions below. .

Follow these steps below to access the PowerSchool Public Access:

1. Click HERE to access the PowerParent Portal Access.

2. Type your username and password into the appropriate spaces.
Then click the Enter button.

Your username and password were printed on your student’s first semester schedule.

If you have lost or forgotten your username and/or password, please contact the High School Guidance Office.

3. Once you have logged in, you will see the main PowerSchool screen.

From this screen you have access to:

Grades and Attendance
Grades History
Attendance History
Email Notifications
School Bulletins
Balance

5. You can access any of these resources by clicking on the appropriate icons located at the top of the screen.

GRADES AND ATTENDANCE

1. This screen shows the current grades and attendance in each class for your child. The attendance view is for the past two weeks.

You may see your child’s attendance history by clicking on the Attendance History icon at the top of the page.

2. By clicking on a Teacher’s Name, you can email a teacher directly (assuming your computer and email are setup correctly).

3. By clicking on a percentage or grade displayed, you can see all of the assignments for this grading period and the scores received on each.

4. If an assignment title is colored blue, a detailed description or additional references for this assignment are available. You can view this information by clicking on the link (assignment name).

An assignment description example is shown below.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

1. This screen allows you to set up progress reports, attendance records, and school announcement alerts which can be emailed each day, week, or month.

2. Click the appropriate checkboxes and choose a time period from the drop down menu.

3. Make sure you add your email address.
NOTE: If you wish to have this information sent to multiple email addresses, please separate each address with a comma (,).

4. Click on Submit.

NOTE: When you receive emailed progress reports, DO NOT reply to the email if you have a question. Instead, login to PowerSchool, select the Current Grades and Attendance screen, and click on the teacher’s name that you wish to contact. Replies to the progress reports DO NOT return to the teachers.

TEACHER COMMENTS

1. This screen displays any teacher comments that have been posted for your child.

2. By clicking on the teacher’s name, you can email a teacher directly (assuming your computer and email are setup correctly).

SCHOOL BULLETINS

1. This screen displays the Munster High School’s daily announcements.

BALANCES

1. This screen displays your student’s lunch account balance.

Who's my counselor?

Chrisanne Terry:
Counselor for A - Co

Peter Gregory:
Counselor for Cp - Hi

Liz Keleher:
Counselor for Hj - Mn

Cynthia Kielbasa:
Counselor for Mo - Sa

Kristen Salan:
Counselor for Sc - Z

2022-23
School Profile

lINK TO eNROLLMENT & rEGISTRATION pAGE

Resources to help prepare you for life after MHS

Senior Data
Profile

2025-26
Proposed Course Guide

Life After HS
Presentation

Transcript Release
Form

Interested in a
Trade School?

Senior Class
Presentation Resources

Common Application
Procedures

Indiana
College Core

2022-23 Graduation
Pathways Guidebook

SAT & ACT
Testing Dates