HS Guidance Office Notes

Guidance staff responsibilities:

• Ernest Hess, director of guidance services: scheduling for grades 10-12, career and college counseling, testing, transcripts and records, Career and Technology Center referrals, service assignments, and senior check-ins.
• Dorcas Lehman, guidance counselor and campus pastor: personal and pastoral support, 9th grade counseling and scheduling, referrals to IU instructional support, Student Support Team and psychoeducational evaluation.
• Lois Whitcraft, guidance counselor: school-to-work connections and guidance support for Learning Support students, Peer Assistance (PALS) Program, and crisis counseling.
• Stacy Shenk, guidance counselor (newly provided through the Intermediate Unit): primary middle school counselor, junior check-ins, SAP team, middle school SST, transfer student check-ins.

College Admissions Testing (registration materials are available in the guidance office or online):

	REGISTRATION DEADLINES	TESTING DATES
SAT	October 2 October30	November 3 December 1
ACT	September 21 November 2	October 27 December 8

Note: Lancaster Mennonite does not administer ACT and SAT tests. Students register to take the tests in local schools near their home.

We recommend that college-bound students take the SAT or ACT in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year. Colleges generally give students the benefit of their highest scores, whether they are the most recent ones or not.

The following tests will be given on October 17:

• Grade 9—Terra Nova measures the student’s level of development in key academic areas (reading/language arts, math, science and social studies).
• Grade 10—PLAN is a practice test for the ACT college admissions test. In addition to measuring student achievement in key academic areas, it includes a career interest survey.
• Grade 11—PSAT/NMSQT is a shortened form of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Students need to register in advance in Advisory Groups for this test and will be expected to pay $13.00 on the morning of the test.

For each of these tests students will receive an information bulletin one or two weeks before the test date. Parents are encouraged to review the information in these bulletins. Score reports for all these tests are given to students in December and January.

Tips for seniors planning for college fall of 2008:

1. Take the SAT or ACT in October, November or December.
2. Visit colleges and speak to college reps who visit LMH from now through December.
3. Send college applications during October, November and December—before Christmas is strongly recommended. Request that Mrs. Grosh in the guidance office send transcripts at least ten days before they need to be sent. Request forms require student and parent signatures.

Note: In a September 5 class meeting all seniors were given packets of information regarding transcripts and college applications. The packet includes a paper to be completed by parents, to be returned to the student’s adviser.

Web sites available with career, college and financial aid information for seniors and parents.

1. www.collegeboard.org—comprehensive info on SAT, colleges and financial aid; includes a helpful parents’ page.
2. www.act.org—comprehensive info on ACT, colleges and financial aid.
3. www.educationplanner.org—comprehensive info on careers and colleges.
4. www.careercruising.com (user name: lmhs; password: careers)—excellent career information.
5. www.fastweb.com—general college and financial info.
6. www.campuschamps.com—info for student athletes.
7. www.schoolsoup.com—extensive database of scholarship information.

College information
The guidance office receives information regarding college and other post-high school training opportunities. In addition, college representatives frequently visit our campus.

Encourage your junior and senior student to check the bulletin board and make appointments to visit with these college reps. We particularly encourage students to consider the opportunities available at Eastern Mennonite University, Bluffton University, and Bethel, Goshen, Canadian Mennonite, and Hesston colleges where we have articulation agreements.

Representatives from all of these schools will be on campus Thursday, October 18, to meet with prospective students and/or parents. To schedule an appointment, call Chris Grosh at (717) 299-0436 ext. 315.

Parents of college-bound students will find the paperback book, Panicked Parents’ Guide to College Admissions full of useful information.

College fairs

• Conestoga Valley High School: Monday, November 5, 6:30–8:30 p.m., with over 200 colleges represented.
• Cocalico High School: Tuesday, October 9, 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Kids coping with loss
Kids coping with loss are welcome to participate in Hospice of Lancaster County’s Coping Kids Program. For more information, call 391-2413 or 733-0699.

Volunteer award offered
A Prudential Spirit of Community Award seeks to honor students who have contributed to their communities through volunteer work. For more information call Mr. Hess at ext. 305.