April 2008 - HS Guidance Office Notes

HS Guidance Office Notes

Career planning
Parents are encouraged to work with their students in exploring career options. The school’s media center computers have the COIN program with excellent career information. COIN also has a good college data bank and search program. The following web sites provide excellent career, college and scholarship information:

Note: Students who took the PSAT in October, 2007, may set up a My Road account through the College Board website. Access codes are on the PSAT/NMSQT score report forms.

College admissions testing
The following dates are still open for spring college admissions testing. These are the last testing dates until fall. Registration materials are available in the Guidance Office or online at www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org.

FAFSA deadline
Parents of college-bound seniors should note that May 1 is the deadline for mailing/filing the FAFSA.

Planning ahead for juniors
In addition to his work in preparing next year’s schedule, Mr. Hess welcomes opportunities to meet with juniors to review their planning beyond high school. Students and/or parents are encouraged to sign up for such appointments as time is available.

Summer Programs
Some colleges and universities offer summer programs for high school students. These vary from one week to one month or longer. The guidance office has a file of information on such programs. Interested students and parents are welcome to review the materials. Examples of some of these programs are as follows:

• Millersville University offers a July Science Training Program for academically talented students in grades 8-11.
• PA College of Art and Design offers a variety of art courses.
• Penn State University offers various programs in sciences, landscape architecture, journalism, weather, engineering and nanoscience.
• Susquehanna University offers a Leadership Institute for Entrepreneurship.
• Kutztown University offers a Summer Reading Skills Program at a Lancaster site. This program emphasizes reading and study skills.
• Hospice of Lancaster County offers teen volunteer training and teen bereavement support. Teens aged 13–18 are invited to participate in the Soul Mate Teen Volunteer Program. Also, a teen grief workshop will be offered May 3. For more information, call Kathleen Forney at (717) 295-3900.

Volunteer programs
Summer time is a good time for students to participate in some kind of volunteer service activity.

• LMS welcomes volunteers for campus tasks such as tidying up the grounds, organizing closets, data processing, painting, etc. Contact the school office at 299-0436.
• Mennonite-related camps (Camp Hebron, Black Rock, Tel Hai and others) provide both employment and volunteer opportunities for the summer.
• Lancaster General Hospital’s Student Volunteer Program is especially recommended for students considering a future career in health care. Brochures for this program are available in the Guidance Office. Application deadline: May 7.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster is looking for high school student volunteers for next school year’s after-school programs. Students commit to one after-school session per week. They help with homework, craft projects, field trips or just being a friend to younger children. Interested persons should contact Emily Good at (717) 397-7567.
• United Way Volunteer Center offers teens many volunteer opportunities with Lancaster area service agencies. For information, pick up a brochure at the Guidance Office or call 299-3741.

Courses for HACC credit
Students who are taking US History AP, Intro to Lit or Advanced Composition for HACC credit next year should be aware of a multiple-step process for registering with HACC for these classes. Students not previously enrolled at HACC have already completed application forms. At a later date (TBA) they will register for the individual courses. They will need $50 tuition for each HACC course. (The US History course is two HACC courses combined; the fee is $100.) Checks should be written to Harrisburg Area Community College. Students taking English courses for HACC credit need to achieve a qualifying score on a placement test that was administered April 3.

Miscellaneous notes:

• College-bound seniors should have received Financial Aid Award letters from colleges to which they’ve applied. Students and their parents may meet with Mr. Hess to discuss these letters and the college decision process.
• May 1 is decision date for college-bound students. By this date students should confirm their plans with the college they are planning to attend. This generally includes sending in a tuition deposit. It is also a courtesy for students to inform other colleges (where they were accepted) of their plans to decline the offer.
• Students who took courses for HACC credit this year will need to arrange with HACC for this credit to be transferred to the college they attend. HACC charges $3.00 for each transcript processed. In the May senior class meeting, students will be given forms for requesting HACC transcripts.
• Parents are encouraged to stay in communication with teachers of any courses in which students may be at risk of failing. In order for seniors to participate in commencement activities with their class, all credit requirements must be completed before commencement.
• For our awards assembly on May 16 we are compiling a list of merit-based scholarships seniors are receiving from their colleges or other sources. Seniors were asked to hand these in at their April 16 Advisory Group meeting.