Counselor Connection
La Canada High School
LCHS Students in Action!
Spartan News!
Make sure to check out the Spartan Newspaper´s newest video broadcast outlet, LCTV! Every week we will provide highlights of everything Spartan--from sports teams to clubs to school events, we´ve got you covered. If you would like to be featured in one or more of our videos, please contact lchsspartan@gmail.com
http://www.lcspartan.com/lctv.html
The student voice of La Cañada High School. Check out www.thelclens.com for a community perspective of the student, by the student, and for the student. Contributions and ideas are welcome and all students are encouraged to get involved and share their perspective.
9th-11th Grade Announcements
NO Block Day this week due to Challenge Day
For students planning on taking the March 5th SAT or who would like a jump start on preparing for the June 4th test, The Princeton Review will begin their prep course starting on January 16th. Sign up now to learn strategies and take practice exams leading up to the SAT on March 5th. Click here for details.
For all future college athletes, LCHS will be hosting an NCAA information night on January 19th at 6:30pm in the auditorium. We will present on the changes to NCAA eligibility and how parents can help in their student's recruitment process. We look forward to seeing you on January 19th.
The LCHS Student Showcase is coming up: February 4 in the IRC 4:30-7:00
FOUR great reasons to go:
1) you can support your fellow LCHS students and mentors
2) you can find out about the inspirational projects and opportunities available to LCHS students
3) you can practice and promote your own (or your group's) presentation (during STEP classes in January "Showcase" student ambassadors will be circulating through STEP classes giving information on registering, or students can ask their STEP teachers for a pass to Room 323 throughout January to get registered)
4) you can "shmooze" with other interested students, teachers, parents, school board and chamber of commerce members in the community
Presentation topics from the past have been: Astronomy Institute, Biotechnology Institute, Medical Institute, Yosemite Institute, Fashion Design, Business, Architecture, “Teach Science Labs” Institute, and Independent Projects for first semester of 2015-16 school year.
New Presentation topics: This year, we are inviting presentations from ASB leadership, TEDx talks, Engineering Club, Sports Medicine, Equestrian Club, Culinary Arts, Drama/Theater, Choral Music, Jazz Band, Drum Line, Art Portfolios, Yearbook, LIterary Arts Publication, Debate, Graphic Arts, Photography, Day of Code, and Computer Science topics.
For more information, click here or email Patty Compeau: pcompeau@lcusd.net
Please be advised that the PSAT results night event on January 7th has been rescheduled for February 9th at 6:30pm in the LCHS theater. Due to the changes in the testing format, The College Board is delaying the distribution of test results to ensure the accuracy of the scores for this new test. We look forward to having you and your student join us on February 9th to receive your score report, analysis and interpretation of scores, next steps for students, and a question and answer session with Princeton Review. Please join us for The Princeton Review PSAT score results night on February 9th at 6:30pm in the auditorium. Please note this is a change in date. We apologize for any inconvenience. Students will receive score packets and a breakdown of what those scores mean. We look forward to seeing you on February 9th.
Official SAT:
If you want to take the LAST Current SAT version– Today is the last day to register for the January 23rd test with a late fee. Sign up through Collegeboard.
Official ACT:
January 15th is the last day to sign up for the February 6th ACT exam with a late fee.
Are you wanting to learn interesting things from Claremont College students? Splash is a one-day weekend event (February 28th) where you will come to Harvey Mudd College and take some super-cool classes of your choosing taught by students from the Claremont Colleges. The 2015 course catalog can be found here. Link for further information: https://claremont.learningu.org/learn/index.html
For scholarship and other financial aid opportunities, please visit http://connection.naviance.com/lchsca Click on the college tab, then click on scholarships. Mrs. EricKson will also keep hard copies of any local scholarships on file in the counseling office. She is available in the front office between the hours of Noon-3:45 p.m.
Thinking of summer learning opportunities? Start here for some of our archived summer program information (some application deadlines start as soon as January): Summer Programs for High School Students
SAT and ACT Prep Opportunities Click here for a list of local options and La Canada student discounts.
FYI: Mark your summer calendar! The counseling department has confirmed our fall registration dates. Incoming seniors, juniors, and sophomores will register on Monday, August 8th. Incoming seniors will register from 8:00-10:00 am, incoming juniors will register from 10:30 am-12:30 pm, and sophomores will register from 1:00-3:00 pm. Incoming freshman will register on Tuesday, August 9th @ 8:00-10:00 am.
Senior Stop
NO BLOCK SCHEDULE THIS WEEK DUE TO CHALLENGE DAY
Financial Aid Night Part 2: Filling Out Your FAFSA
TONIGHT, Jan. 12, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m. in the LCHS Cafeteria
Financial Aid Night 2 is intended for senior parents who will be completing a FAFSA for the 2016-17 college term. Mrs. Leslie Husa from the Office of Financial Aid at USC will be back again to offer instructions and tips for completing and filing your FAFSA.
The only way to be considered for Federal Aid, as well as State Aid (i.e. Cal Grant) is to complete and submit a FAFSA by the priority filing deadline of March 1, 2016. LCHS is pleased to announce that we are now able to upload Cal Grant GPA verification information electronically, and therefore students NO LONGER NEED to submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification form to the office. All they must do is complete the FAFSA and make sure to list a California school in the top slot. LCHS encourages all seniors to complete a FAFSA.
Mrs. Husa has provided the Power Point Presentation slides in the event that you would like to download them ahead of time (copies will not be provided during the workshop), as well as a few other select handouts: Financial Aid Night 2 Handouts
We look forward to seeing you tonight!
Mid-Year Transcripts
A mid-year transcript is a transcript that includes all of your grades through the first semester of senior year. All colleges on the Common Application REQUIRE a mid-year transcript. Colleges using their own institutional applications will each have their own individual requirements, and therefore some may require a mid-year, some may not. It is your responsibility to research specific university requirements. If you have applied to Cal State Universities, now is the time to check your CSU Mentor portals to check whether or not specific campuses require you to send a mid-year. If they do, you should see your counselor to request a mid-year be sent to those CSU schools in addition to the Common App schools (and any non-Common App schools) on your list (if applicable). FYI, the UCs do not require mid-years.
Some seniors pre-ordered mid-year transcripts during the college meeting with their counselor, and therefore transcripts for these students will automatically be sent to the colleges in their Naviance list. No further action is required unless you need to add schools to the list of mid-year recipients.
If you did not pre-order your mid-year transcripts, you should see your counselor ASAP by doing a walk-in during non-class hours or by making an appointment using the clipboards on Mrs. Erickson’s desk in the front office. Mid-years can be ordered during the window of January 4-15. Mid-year transcripts are $5 each, payable by cash or check made out to LCHS. The transcript request form can be found HERE.
If you are unsure as to whether or not to send a mid-year, please refer to the website for the college in question and/or check your application portal. If you cannot remember if you ordered mid-year transcripts, please email your counselor or make an appointment when we return in January.
Mid-year transcripts will be processed and sent from January 19 through the 31st. Colleges are all aware that mid-year grades cannot be delivered until they have been finalized by the high school, so do not fret about a deadline that comes up before the 19th.
Counseling Corner Resources
LCHS has been talking about "Developmental Assets" including a recent staff training/refresher presented by Wendy Sinnette and Jim Cartnal
Tweet! Tweet!
- Click here for La Canada Flintridge Community Prevention Council resources available
The LCHS Counseling Department is on Twitter! Come follow us for important reminders, announcements, and upcoming events. Our Twitter handle is @LCcounselors
- These short video segments featuring Denise Pope and Madeline Levine are based on current research and offer practical strategies to parents on topics such as How Parents and Kids Define Success Differently, Increased Stress in Kids, Developing Self Regulation, Finding the Best Fit College and many more click here