School Counseling

Our mission in the Fruitport High School Counseling Department is to work collaboratively with students, parents, and teachers to provide the best educational experience for each individual student. 

We offer a safe place, where students have an opportunity to discuss, explore and evaluate their abilities, needs, difficulties and hopes with someone who cares and can help.  We offer parents an opportunity to identify and explore their concerns for their children in a professional and confidential setting.  We offer FHS staff help in understanding the obstacles some of our students face in being successful.

Some of the School Counseling activities throughout the year include:

  • Classroom Lessons at all grade levels.
  • Financial Aid Night for parents of seniors.
  • Yearly review and update of students' Educational Development Plans.
  • Student scheduling.
  • Eighth Grade Orientation Night.
  • Short-term individual counseling.
  • Workforce Wednesday - Career Exploration Opportunities 
  • Scholarship Information

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION 

Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities are available to all students without regard to race, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, age, religious beliefs, disability, status as homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy. No student shall, based on sex or sexual orientation, be denied equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities.

FHS Classes

At Fruitport High School we strive to maintain a strong balance of required and elective courses. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are available in our core courses to challenge any of our students.

Elective courses consist of either career preparation or fine arts. In the category of career preparation, we offer courses in business and industrial technology.

Our fine arts department offers students the opportunities to study choir, dance, music, ceramics, photography, drawing, and painting. The department pages provide descriptions of these classes when they can be taken, and what prerequisites are needed to take the class. 

If you would like a print out of all classes FHS offer click here. 

If you are in CTC and want to know which classes offer credit click here.



Click on the link below to find course descriptions. 

ART 

BUSINESS 

ENGLISH 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE 

HEALTH 

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY 

MATH 

MUSIC 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

SCIENCE 

SOCIAL STUDIES 

CTC CLASSES 

ALL MVU Courses 

Fruitport High School Graduation Requirements (22 credits)

English Language Arts ( ELA) - 4 credits 

English 9

English 10 

English 11

English 12 

 

Mathematics - 4 credits 

Algebra

Geometry

Algebra II 

Math - all students must take a Senior math

 

Social Studies - 3 credits 

World History

U.S. History 

Government/ Economics 

 

Physical Education & Health - 1 credit 

Health 0.5 credit

Physical Education 0.5 credit 

*waiver given if completed 2 seasons of Marching Band  

 

Science- 3 credits 

Biology 

Chemistry A / Physics A 

Chemistry B / one additional science 

Visual, Performing and Applied Arts - 1 credit 

World Language- 2 credits 

Electives - 4 credits 

VALUABLE INFORMATIONAL VIDEO 

This is a great place to begin your career awareness. Click the icon above, and begin exploring! Ask your school counselor if you have questions. 

 

Apprenticeship opportunities 

"MI Apprenticeship, managed by the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) and its partners, aims to make apprenticeship work for companies and job-seekers. Whether you’re an employer seeking to hire apprentices or a job seeker looking for long-term success, we’ll help you navigate the world of registered apprenticeships."

 

Professional Trade Career information and opportunities 

"The need for professional trade talent has never been greater. These highly skilled individuals are in extraordinary demand for careers in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction and automotive.

Professional trades let you leverage your talents, work ethic and know-how to do things that matter. To help design and build our future in jobs that are vital to keeping Michigan healthy, strong and growing. And while these individuals are making a difference in the community, they are also bringing home the kind of paycheck that will make a difference in their lives. Oh yeah, and if you’re still not convinced, these careers often require less schooling and less debt than a traditional four-year degree.

To elevate the perception of professional trades and showcase the opportunities in a variety of rewarding careers, Going PRO in Michigan was created. For generations, these types of careers have been treated as inferior. But now, it is time to level the playing field."

 

Muskegon Made Career Development Partnership Program

"Muskegon Made is a county-wide comprehensive work-based learning system for students in grades K-12. All students in Muskegon County will have access to the same career exposure opportunities. Elements of employability skills are taught to students throughout the system to ensure successful work-based placements that capstone the overall program.

Muskegon Made grows with each and every student. As the students move through grade levels, opportunities for career fairs, job shadows, and talent tours are arranged."

Hot Jobs in West Michigan 

"If you’re in the market for a new job, this is the list for you. The Hot Jobs! list can help guide you to new employment in a high-demand career. We’ve analyzed online job posting data and surveyed employers to create a list of the 100 highest-growing and most in-demand jobs in West Michigan."

Below are a list of informational resources for students exploring workforce occupations. 

O*NET

"The O*NET Program is the nation's primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and U.S. economy. From this information, applications are developed to facilitate the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce.

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration(USDOL/ETA) through a grant to the North Carolina Department of Commerce."

Occupational Outlook Handbook

"The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations."

Occupational Employment Statistics

"The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available."

CareerOneStop

"A source for career exploration, training, and jobs." 

 

 

 

Pathways and Career Clusters

Career Pathways are careers that are grouped together because many of the people in them share similar interests and strengths. All pathways include a variety of occupations that require different levels of education and training. Selecting a Career Pathway provides a focus into which one can begin directing energies and determining a tentative career “fit” though it is always acceptable to change one’s mind. By identifying with a pathway students are aided in selecting courses, extra-curricular activities, and part-time employment. Career Pathways provide a plan for all students regardless of their interests, abilities, talents, or desired levels of education. All pathways have equal dignity. The following six (6) Career Pathways have been developed by the state of Michigan.


The U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) has identified 16 career clusters representing career opportunities for the 21st-century economy. These clusters will frame student opportunities as they pursue postsecondary education and a wide range of career opportunities from front-line to professional and managerial careers.

CAREER PATHWAYS INFORMATION 


Arts and Communication 
Careers in this path are related to the humanities and performing, visual, literary, and media arts. These include architecture; graphic, interior, and fashion design; writing; film; fine arts; journalism; languages; media; advertising; and public relations. 

• Are you a creative thinker? 

• Are you imaginative, innovative, and original? 

• Do you like to communicate ideas? 

• Do you like making crafts, drawing, playing a musical instrument, taking photos, or writing stories?



Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology 
Careers in this path are related to the business environment. These include entrepreneur, sales, marketing, computer/information systems, finance, accounting, personnel, economics, and management. 

• Do you enjoy being a leader, organizing people, planning activities, and talking? 

• Do you like to work with numbers or ideas? 

• Do you enjoy carrying through with an idea and seeing the end product? 

• Do you like things neat and orderly? 

• Would you enjoy balancing a checkbook, following the stock market, holding an office in a club, or surfing the Internet? 


Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial Technology 
Careers in this path are related to technologies necessary to design, develop, install, and maintain physical systems. These include engineering, manufacturing, construction, service, and related technologies. 

• Are you mechanically inclined and practical? 

• Do you like reading diagrams and blueprints, and drawing building structures? 

• Are you curious about how things work? 

• Would you enjoy painting a house, repairing cars, wiring electrical circuits, or working with woodworking?


Health Sciences 
Careers in this path are related to the promotion of health and treatment of disease. These include research, prevention, treatment, and related health technologies. 

• Do you like to care for people or animals that are sick or help them stay well? 

• Are you interested in diseases and in how the body works? 

• Do you enjoy reading about science and medicine? 

• Would it be fun to learn first aid or volunteer at a hospital or veterinary clinic?

Human Services 
Careers in this path are related to economic, political, and social systems. These include education, government, law and law enforcement, leisure and recreation, military, religion, childcare, social services, and personal services. 

• Are you friendly, open, understanding, and cooperative? 

• Do you like to work with people to solve problems? 

• Is it important to you to do something that makes things better for other people? 

• Do you like to help friends with family problems? 

• Do you like reading, storytelling, traveling, or tutoring young children? 

Natural Resources and Agriscience 
Careers in this path are related to agriculture, the environment, and natural resources. These include agricultural sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, fisheries, forestry, horticulture, and wildlife. 

• Are you a nature lover? 

• Are you practical, curious about the physical world, and interested in plants and animals? 

• Do you enjoy hunting and fishing? 

• Do you like to garden or mow the lawn? 

• Are you interested in protecting the environment?


Career Cruising is a Web-based career guide that is available to all Fruitport High School students.  Through classroom guidance lessons in Middle School and in High School, FHS students learn the many features of Career Cruising and how to complete an Educational Development Plan (EDP). 

Ours is a fast-changing world, with a multitude of career options.  Many of the jobs of today did not exist ten years ago, and this trend will continue.  Students need a good understanding of their career options and information on how to achieve their career goals.  Career Cruising is designed for individual, self-directed use.  It's easy and fun to use and provides career matching, career exploration, post-secondary education planning and EDP development. 

We encourage all students to spend extra time using this program at home.  While formal instruction is provided to freshmen and sophomores, we require that juniors and seniors update their EDP on their own.  Juniors should update prior to their individual Junior Counseling Appointment in February and seniors by January of senior year.    

Fruitport High School students can access Career Cruising by visiting the website below.

External LinkCareer Cruising website

Below are Career Cruising Instructions. 

PDF DocumentCareer Cruising instructions

Please contact your student's counselor with any questions about the use of Career Cruising.


Michigan's Public Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Ferris State University
Grand Valley State University
Lake Superior State University
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Northern Michigan University
Oakland University
Saginaw Valley State University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Michigan - Dearborn
University of Michigan - Flint
Wayne State University
Western Michigan University


Michigan's Private Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Adrian College
Albion College
Alma College
Andrews University
Aquinas College - MI
Baker College
Calvin College
College for Creative Studies - College of Art
Cleary College
Concordia University (Ann Arbor)
Cornerstone College
Davenport University
Finlandia University
Grace Christian University
Great Lakes Christian College
Great Lakes Junior College
Hillsdale College
Hope College
Kalamazoo College
Kendall College of Art and Design
Kettering University
Kuyper College
Lawrence Technological University
Madonna University
Marygrove College
Northwood University
Olivet College
Rochester University
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Siena Heights University
Spring Arbor University
University of Detroit Mercy


Michigan's Community Colleges
Alpena Community College
Bay College
Bay Mills Community College
Charles Stewart Mott Community College
Delta College
Glen Oaks Community College
Gogebic Community College
Grand Rapids Community College
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Henry Ford College
Jackson College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kellogg Community College
Kirtland Community College
Lake Michigan College
Lansing Community College
Macomb Community College
Mid Michigan Community College
Monroe County Community College
Montcalm Community College
Muskegon Community College
North Central Michigan College
Northwestern Michigan College
Oakland Community College
St. Clair County Community College 
Schoolcraft College
Southwestern Michigan College 
Washtenaw Community College
Wayne County Community College
West Shore Community College

Course Request Protocol

Requests are considered based on the following criteria: 

  • to correct deficiencies
  • to adjust for dual enrollment
  • to correct an error in placement
  • to correct obvious errors in scheduling 

Schedule Adjustments Protocol: 

All adjustments are completed during the first week

of the semester. No exceptions. 

Dual enrollment for FHS is through Muskegon Community College. Click on this link to find the steps and detailed process to become part of the dual enrollment program. 

Dual Enrollment FAQ

Interested in attending college early? Check out the information below. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Finnerty. 

Dual Enrollment and Early College FAQ

Early College Brochure

 

 

 

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 

DUE FOR ALL STUDENTS DECEMBER 1 EACH SCHOOL YEAR. 

Checklist by Grade Level 

9th grade 

Assessments 

❏ Matchmaker Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Personality Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Mission Complete - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Learning Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Skills Lab Assessment 

Lessons (Complete a minimum of 2)

❏ Personality Styles Lesson 

❏ Exploring Careers Factors Lesson 

❏ Getting Experience Lesson 

❏ Study Skills and Habits Lesson

 

10th grade 

Assessments 

❏ Matchmaker Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Personality Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Mission Complete - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Learning Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Skills Lab Assessment- Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

Lessons (Complete a minimum of 2) 

❏ Work Values Lesson 

❏ Careers and Lifestyle Costs Lesson 

❏ Workplace Skills and Attitudes Lesson 

❏ Program Prospects Lesson

 

11th grade 

Assessments 

❏ Matchmaker Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Personality Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Mission Complete - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Learning Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Skills Lab Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Optional, but recommended - Create the beginnings of 1 new college application, in the College Planning Tab under Goals and Plans, that you can refer back to in your 12th grade year 

❏ Optional, but recommended - Search and add at least 1 scholarship in the College Planning Tab under Goals and Plans, that you can refer back to in your 12th grade year 

Lessons (Complete a minimum of 2)

❏ Choosing a College Lesson 

❏ Career Demand Lesson 

❏ Entrepreneurial Skills Lesson 

❏ Work/Life Balance Lesson

 

12th grade 

Assessments 

❏ Matchmaker Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. ❏ Personality Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Mission Complete - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Learning Styles Assessment - Saved from last year. Get started if not already complete, or review if updates are needed. 

❏ Skills Lab Assessment 

❏ Optional, but recommended: Review the FAFSA basics know-how in the Knowledge Hub of the College Planning Tab under Goals and Plans 

❏ Optional, but recommended: Create your FSA ID for completing the FAFSA under the Knowledge Hub/FAFSA link found within the College Planning Tab under Goals and Plans

❏ Optional, but recommended: Apply for Federal Student Aid by filling out the FAFSA form linked and labeled “Get Started” under the Knowledge Hub/FAFSA link found within the College Planning Tab under Goals and Plans 

Lessons (Complete a minimum of 2)

❏ Career Backup Plans Lesson 

❏ Job Interviews Lesson 

❏ Defining Success Lesson 

❏ Career Path Choices Lesson


 

 

Future Focused Series Link 

Here you will find information on career development including interviews with local business owners talking to local students about their occupation, career opportunities, educational requirements, and explanation of how their business operates. 

This is a great resource for our students to find out more about a variety of career fields. 

 

Ms. Jennifer Finnerty 

Students A- K 

231.865.4043

jfinnerty@fruitportschools.net

 

Mrs. Marissa Higgs

Students L-Z

231.865.4042

mhiggs@fruitportschools.net


 

Click here to watch a very helpful tutorial address what the NCAA Clearinghouse does, and how to register. 

What High School Athletes Need to Know About the NCAA Eligibility Center ( VIDEO) 

 

Click here to watch a very helpful tutorial that gives you some ideas on when to register. 

When to register for the NCAA clearinghouse and pay money( VIDEO) 

NCAA Clearinghouse (website to register) 

NCAA requirements 

https://web3.ncaa.org/hsportal/exec/links?linksSubmit=ShowActiveLinks

NAIA information 

The Personal Curriculum (PC) is a process to modify specific credit requirements and/or content expectations based on the individual learning needs of a student. It is designed to serve students who want to accelerate or go beyond the MMC requirements and students who need to individualize learning requirements to meet the MMC requirements.

Please contact your student's guidance counselor for more information.  

Ms. Finnerty (last names A-K)  

Mrs. Higgs (last names L-Z)

CLICK HERE TO PRINT A FORM - General Education Students 

CLICK HERE TO PRINT A FORM - Special Education Students 

 

 

Test-Out Policy

Any high school student who wishes to receive credit in a course which s/he is not enrolled may do so by taking the final examination for the course and receiving a grade determined by the assessment used in lieu of a final examination. 

Credit for a course earned by a student through this process may be used to fulfill a course or course-sequence requirement but not used to determine the student’s GPA. The student may not receive credit for a course in the same area but lower in the course sequence. 

Application for this is required by May 1 st in the School Counseling office. 

High school credit shall be granted in any course to a student enrolled in high school but not enrolled in the course who exhibits a reasonable level of mastery of the course's subject matter as outlined below: 

  1. The student will be granted high school credit by attaining a grade of not less than C+ in the final examination in the course. 
    1. A final examination is a comprehensive examination, which addresses all components of the course curriculum. 
    2. A non-comprehensive examination that is offered during the time set aside for final examinations is not considered a "final examination" for purposes of obtaining credit through the testing process. 
    3. No final examination will be created solely for the purpose of providing a student with an opportunity to test out of the course. 
  2. If there is no final examination in the course, the student will be granted high school credit by exhibiting that mastery through the basic assessment used in the course, which may consist of a portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation. 
    1. The course teacher, department chairperson and/or building principal will determine the assessment criteria to determine if the student has exhibited a reasonable level of mastery of the course's subject matter. 
    2. A student is eligible to demonstrate mastery of the course's subject matter at the same time that students currently enrolled in the course are required to demonstrate their mastery of the course's subject matter. 
  3. Credit earned under this policy section shall be based on a "pass" grade and shall not be included in the computation of the student's grade point average for any purpose.
     
  4. Credit earned under this policy section shall apply equally to all students and may be counted toward graduation. 
     
  5. Credit earned under this policy section shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement for a subject area course. 
     
  6. Credit earned under this policy shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement as to course sequence. 
     
  7. Once credit is earned under this policy section, a student may not receive credit thereafter for a course lower in course sequence concerning the same subject area. The Superintendent shall grant a high school student credit in any foreign language not offered by the District providing s/he meets the competency criteria established.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT A FORM