Counseling

Bella Vista High School Advanced Placement Program  

Bella Vista is proud to offer the challenge and rigor of 21 Advanced Placement courses. Our hope is that the diverse AP classes offered will appeal to a wide range of students. AP courses are high school classes taught at a college level, which allows students to develop content mastery and critical thinking skills that are expected in college. Taking AP courses is also looked upon favorably by colleges when making student admission decisions. Students will receive a weighted grade for AP courses. Students may also receive college credits for receiving passing grade on AP tests.

AP Exam Registration:

It is that time of year to begin registering for the AP Exams in May!  Taking the AP Exams is an important component of all AP courses. Though not required, students are encouraged to register for the corresponding AP Exams for the AP courses they are enrolled in. College Board sets all AP Exam test dates and these can be found at https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates

All registrations for AP Exams must be completed online and can be paid either online with a credit/debit card or by mailing a check. Registration and payments cannot be completed in person at Bella Vista High School. AP exams will cost $105 per exam for the 2025-26 school year. Financial assistance is available to students who qualify.

AP Exam Registration must be completed online by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5^th at 11:59pm at: www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/050912

• Only students who have registered & paid on Total Registration will have an AP Exam ordered for them
• If you have already taken an AP Exam in previous years, you already have an account, make sure you know your username and password. 
  • DO NOT create a second account!
• Accurate registration and payment are the sole responsibility of the student/family.
• Students that fail to order their tests by November 5^th will not be able to take the AP exam for the 2025-26 school year.
• If a student needs to cancel their test after November 5^th, they will incur a cancellation fee of $45.00 per test.

AP Exam registrations that are not fully paid by Wednesday, November 5^th, 2025 will be canceled.

AP Classroom:

Any student taking an AP course must be enrolled in AP Classroom on the College Board website. Each AP course and class period has a unique join code that can be given by the teacher or AP Coordinator. Students must join AP Classroom regardless of their decision to take the AP Exam.  Do not create a new account if you cannot remember your login information and you will need to contact College Board directly for help with logging in as I do not have access to any College Board student information. 

AP Resources for Students:

• Students have access to many resources through AP Classroom on College Board’s website
• College Board’s AP YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/advancedplacement
• Study Books available in the BV Library, available to check out. Please email Mrs. Sloan to do this at ssloan@sanjuan.edu
• Reach out to your teachers!
• Read through the courses on the College Board website- Gives insight to what topics might be included on the test
  • https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/course-index-page

If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Sowa, katie.sowa@sanjuan.edu

The Bella Vista College and Career Center (the CCC) is a valuable center for planning life after high school. The CCC is staffed by BV parent volunteers who work with counselors, teachers and staff to provide information and other resources to all students – those who plan to attend a college, those who plan to enter a vocational or occupational training program, and those who just aren’t sure.  

WHERE: The CCC is located inside the Bella Vista Library, behind the check-out counter.

WHEN: The CCC is open during library hours mid-September through mid-May. For assistance from trained volunteers, stop by during lunch hours as well as before Open House and Back to School Night. We encourage all parents and students to stop by for a visit.

CONTACT: Please stop by during lunch, call (916)971-5083 or email the CCC Volunteers at bellavistacollegeandcareer@gmail.com.

Interested in becoming a CCC Volunteer?  

Email bellavistacollegeandcareer@gmail.com or call (916)971-5083

Resources and information provided by the CCC can be found be visiting the CCC website:

College & Career Center

Enrollment Steps

1. First-time students - create an OpenCCC account  

• Need Social Security Number/Dream Act to apply
• Use a personal email address (school accounts will block important emails)
• Write down your account number and password somewhere you can find later
• Check your email for a reply containing your college ID# and forward to your counselor.

2. Apply online for the specific college for the specific semester

•  All new students must do this through CCCApply
• Returning students who have a gap in enrollment at that college
• If you are a continuing (current) student, then you need to submit a supplemental enrollment form each semester instead of a CCCApply application. You can find the Supplemental Enrollment Form in eServices (click on the Tasks tile). The form asks you to review and update your contact information, education goal, and major.

3. Submit paperwork with specific courses - see requirements in chart below

4. Register for classes - see options in chart below

Resources

• Sierra College Academic Enrichment - How to Enroll video
• ARC Info Session : Learn about ARC programs, services, and if it is the right fit for your college and career journey
• Take a Tour of ARC

Bella Vista Course Catalog

Course Registration 2025-26

Counselors present course registration information in English classes to all 9th- 11th graders in the spring and then meet with students to discuss their course requests in the week following the presentation. Students are given a course registration packet that is due back to their counselor the following week, if turned in late, students will lose priority in their first choice requests.

*Students will put their course requests into Naviance themselves, using the course registration form as a guide. All students are required to return the student/ parent agreement of school rules and policies as well as the zero period and AP course agreement forms if they are taking either of those courses. 

There will be two dates in March that incoming 9^th grade students will have the opportunity to attend course registration with a parent or guardian. Each date will have multiple sessions that is broken down by students last names. Course registration packets are mailed home 2-3 weeks before the first event and the applicable forms should be completed and brought to the course registration day. This is the only opportunity to meet with a counselor regarding course selection before the start of the school year. Due to the demands of the current school year, in person appointments cannot be accommodated for these families until after the school year begins in September. 

8th grade articulation is scheduled for March 20 (last names A - L) & March 27 (last names M - Z).

2025-2026 Course Registration Classroom Visits:

All BV Students 9^th-11^th Grade: Class Presentations March 3 - March 7, Packet Pickup: March 10-14 (in English classes)

Counselors will visit English classes in the fall to go over graduation requirements and important college and career readiness topics. In the event your students misses their presentation, please visit the counseling secretary for power point presentation.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete a minimum of 220 units
2. Complete the required courses (see  below) not including electives necessary to complete graduation requirements
3. Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 shall register for 6 periods a day each semester

San Juan Unified graduates will be prepared for life after high school. Our graduation requirements support the expectation of rigor and provide opportunities for students to be ready for college and a global, technology-driven workforce.

Total Credit Requirement

• Traditional Schedule – 220 Credits
• Block Schedule – 280 Credits

More Information

Individual schools may have additional requirements. A-G consideration courses must be passed with at least a C- grade. For more information about requirements, college A-G requirements and sample course plans, please visit our website at www.sanjuan.edu/collegecareerready.

Some colleges or scholarship organizations may recommend a letter of recommendation from a counselor. In order to be considered, please be aware of the following:

*No letters are given directly to students. Recommendations will be sent directly to the college or provided in a sealed envelope.  

*Requests must be made NO later than 3 FULL weeks in advance. Late requests will not be honored.

*Counselors do not have the capacity to write letters unless required by a college/university or scholarship organization. Students must provide the details about where the recommendation needs to be sent along with a deadline date. More information will be communicated by counselors in the fall. 

*NO letters will be written for students who have not completed a request form AND a student brag sheet (link below).

*Parent brag sheets are highly recommended, and the link can be found below. This information may be used to provide information and background as counselors write a recommendation letter. Information in the forms may be included in the recommendation letter.

PLEASE THOROUGHLY COMPLETE THE FORMS BELOW IF YOU NEED A RECOMMENDATION.

Student Brag Sheet

Parent Brag Sheet

The counseling department wants to make sure families are receiving important information each year. Counselors will host a parent information night for all grade levels in the early fall.  Parents will start in the cafeteria at 6:00pm on Tuesday, October 7 and will then move into breakout sessions on a variety of topics.

Class of 2025 school profile letter with data collected from the graduating class of 2024. Profile letters are updated and available shortly after the start of the school year.

Download Profile Letter 

Bella Vista Course Change Policy

Bella Vista schedules students into classes based on course requests, prior grades, and teacher recommendations.  Students and parents may request a course change through their counselor within the first ten (10) school days of the semester.  A student choosing to drop a course after the ten day window will receive a drop "F" grade on their transcript.  If a teacher identifies misplacement beyond ten days, s/he may initiate a level change by the end of the first grading period.  The student's grade will transfer to the new course.

 Criteria for requesting a schedule change:

• You are enrolled in a class that you have already passed or taken and do not need.
• You took the class in summer school and passed it.
• You have a hole in your schedule that needs to be filled.
• You need a level change for an academic course (example: Honors to regular or a Math level change).
• You want to Request to change an elective (not guaranteed that we can accommodate your Request).

Students cannot supplement their classes in high school by going to outside entities without prior school approval.  ISPE is an example of a District offered course that also in not allowed without approval.  Counselors and Administrators must first sign off on student requests for taking outside courses, as we need to make sure the course meets the same standards as the class that is required by the high school and SJUSD.  Students are only allowed to use outside courses to supplement high school courses if they have an impacted schedule.  Once a student is given the credit for that outside class, they must remain impacted, and cannot take a TA or Open period.

Fall 2026 Schedule Change Process:

• Students may request a schedule change via Google Form through the links that will be posted the first day of school.  Students will need to be the ones to complete the Google Form through their San Juan Account (students will fill out according to their last name).
• Students may request a schedule change in person by visiting the Counseling Office during lunch time and speaking with their counselor beginning August 18.  

 Counselors will not accept schedule change requests via email. 

Please know that schedules can change within the first day 10 days of the semester due to balancing class numbers to get teachers within contracted student numbers for the year. Students will receive a printed copy of their schedule when changes occur. 

Google Form Links will be posted the first day of school.

Last Name A-C: https://forms.gle/mpFg7A5yiFLDcNDA8

Last Name D-H: https://forms.gle/7ZCCH1tsLCfUKMJy6

Last Name I-Mn: https://forms.gle/v1hFdnJj9SuUFSPj8

Last Name Mo-Sa: https://forms.gle/qKMqvERCGTHe1p6EA

Last Name Sb-Z: https://forms.gle/HYjRpmqpfjyMaJbX8

https://www.sanjuan.edu/academics/counseling

SJUSD Career Technical Education

https://www.sanjuan.edu/academics/career-and-technical-education

SJUSD Mental Health Support

 Student Support Services / Mental Health Supports for Students, Staff and Families (sanjuan.edu)                                                                                                                       

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A REFERRAL OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT?

San Juan Unified students, families and staff can now find referrals to pre-screened mental health providers through the Care Solace service. A SIMPLE, FAST and SAFE tool for substance abuse and mental health help ~ a TRUSTED community of care in partnership with San Juan Unified School District. 

Care Solace - San Juan Unified School District