HS Guidance Office Notes

Student test results
Students in Grades 9–11 have been given the score reports from their October tests. Mrs. Lehman and Mr. Hess spent a class period at each grade level discussing with students information regarding career and educational planning. Students were given information to be shared with parents.

College bound seniors
College bound seniors are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA. Most students/families are eligible for some form of financial aid. FAFSA applications should be completed and submitted by the end of February or sooner. The web site fafsa.ed.gov provides a step-wise explanation of the process. It is recommended that the FAFSA be submitted online; however, a paper copy may be requested by calling 1-800-433-3242. After filing the FAFSA the student will receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) which will also be sent to the colleges the student designated. Included on the SAR is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which colleges will use as the basis for determining a student’s eligibility for financial assistance.

Scholarships
Seniors applying for scholarships should note deadlines. Many are due within the next several weeks. The Scholarship Search service of Fast Web (www.fastweb.com) is highly recommended. Students are encouraged to check the scholarship files in the guidance office. A summary of some of these will be given to seniors in an Advisory Group meeting.

Financial Aid Night
Harrisburg Area Community College offers a free information evening on college costs Thursday, February 28, 6–7:30. The information applies to all colleges. Call 358-2992 to register..

Resource for Hispanic persons
The guidance office has a CD Rom disk, “An Interactive Guide to the Top Colleges and Universities for Hispanics,” available for loan. If interested, contact counselor Ernest Hess.

College in high school
Next year students will have the opportunity to enroll in three courses for credit from Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). Courses include US History (11th grade), Intro. to Literature, and English Composition. Parents with questions may contact LMH teachers Sheri Wenger and Jane Moyer, who teach the courses.

Student Support Teams
Student Support Teams (SST) are a strategy for intervening in case students have major difficulty succeeding in their school program. This may be due to academics, family life or other factors. An SST includes the student’s teachers, several other teachers and a guidance counselor, along with the student and parent(s). The team reviews the student’s goals and the factors which seem to be preventing success, then plans strategies for addressing the student’s situation. Parents or students may request an SST meeting by contacting Mrs. Lehman or Mr. Hess.

Assistance Core Team
The Assistance Core Team (ACT) is a new program at the Lancaster Campus begun this spring to help students who are experiencing significant barriers to success at school, including things like mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse. Find out more about ACT at www.lancastermennonite.org/act.

Grief retreat
Coping Kids, a children’s program of Hospice of Lancaster County, offers a “Soul Mates Teen Grief Workshop” on May 3 for students who have experienced a loss due to death. Anyone interested in registering for this retreat should contact the PATHways Center for more information—(717) 391-2413.

College-bound students
Spring testing dates for college-bound students are as follows:

                                   

	Test Date	Registration Deadline
SAT	May 3	April 1
SAT	June 7	May 6
ACT	April 12	March 7
ACT	June 14	May 9

For both tests, online registration is encouraged. Materials also are available in the guidance office. We encourage students to take at least one of the above college admissions tests in the spring of the junior year and again in the fall of the senior year. When registering, it is important to include LMH’s School Code Number: 392120

HACC Open House
HACC will hold an open house for high school juniors and seniors and their parents Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at their Lancaster campus.

Summer programs
The guidance office receives information on high school summer programs, held on various campuses across the country. See Mr. Hess for details.

Summer volunteer opportunity for seniors
HACC invites seniors to volunteer for a week to help in the Kids’ College, an enrichment program. Pick up an application at the guidance office or call Lori Smith-Mitchell at (717)358-2859 for information.

Ministry opportunities
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary offers high school students an opportunity to explore ministry through !Explore: A Theological Program for High School Youth. Participants receive an intensive three-week training plus an internship with a mentoring pastor. For information visit the AMBS Web site at www.ambs.edu!explore. Eastern Mennonite Seminary offers a similar program called LEAP. Check leap.emu.edu.

Stacy Shenk on leave
Congratulations to guidance counselor Stacy Shenk on the birth of her son, Blake Wilson, on February 3. During her leave, we expect Tracy Habacivch, who works at Locust Grove and New Danville, to assist part time at the Lancaster Campus.