ON Student Services Newsletter
October 6, 2020
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Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences Information
Fall conferences will be held October 12-15. Due to COVID-19, conferences will not be held in a traditional manner. Regardless whether students are enrolled in remote or in-person learning, conferences will be held the same way for all students; scheduled via Zoom or phone call. Email conferences are also possible.
Parents may be contacted by individual teachers to schedule a conference. If you have a concern or wish for an update on your child’s progress, please do not wait for an email and contact the teacher directly. Zoom conference appointments may need to be prioritized for students with academic or emotional needs.
Please continue to monitor ParentVUE for your student’s academic progress. As always, any time that you have questions about how your student is doing in class, contact the teacher.
ACT Testing Information
Who should take the ACT?
Any student planning on attending a 4-year university. Many schools have waived the ACT scores for the class of 2021 however, it is still required for many scholarships at universities.
When should I start taking the ACT?
We recommend starting by the end of Sophomore year. The June test is a great test to get started in the process. For an additional $20 students can get a copy of the test booklet and their answers about a month after they take the test. This is a great learning tool to see areas where you need to make improvements. The test information release is offered for the April, June, and December tests.
Most students will take the ACT 3 times. We also recommend being finished by the end of the summer before Senior year in taking the test. The ACT is offered in June, July, September, October, December, February and April each year.
What should you do to get ready for the test?
Practice! Research has shown the more you look at the test and prepare the better you will do. We also recommend taking a prep class.
How does a student register for the ACT?
Students will need to register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. They will need to set up an account to register and pay for an exam. Students on free/reduced lunches can talk to a counselor and use an ACT waiver for 2 free exams. This account will be where students will check their testing location and confirm their registration.
ACT Prep Fall Opportunities
If you are taking the ACT in October or December, please consider doing some prep before you take the test. Research shows that preparing for the test can raise your composite score 3 points and sometimes more! Remember-the more practice you do the more comfortable you will be on test day.
Here are some Fall offerings:
- Prepworks online ACT Test Prep through the Olathe Schools: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10274
- https://powerprepinc.com/act-test-prep?category=Online
Remember you can also practice on retired tests. If you have taken the free ACT test prep classes at North and need more practice tests, please contact Mrs. Parazin and she can help you get some more practice tests. cnparazin@olatheschools.org
College Now
The deadline to enroll in College Now classes through JCCC is Friday, Oct 16th. Your teachers should already be sharing enrollment info and CRN’s with you, but all info needed (directions to enroll, CRN’s, Financial Aid forms) can also be found on the ON Counseling website, which also has a direct link to JCCC’s College Now website.
There are 2 main changes in the College Now world this year that are important to know!
1. Students can now submit ACT scores directly to their JCCC student account if they are high enough to meet pre-requisites for certain classes. That process is outlined below:
Go to the College Now Testing Information Page, scroll down to the bottom and click on the blue “request placement waiver” button. From there, you can upload your ACT Score Report, which you should be able to download from your ACT account. If you have issues, you can also email Mrs. Sherraden at jasherraden@olatheschools.org for a copy of your official transcript and try that instead.
2. There are still 2 opportunities for Financial Aid, but this year the JCCC Grant can be submitted online directly to JCCC. If you apply for the All-Fund, you still MUST provide proof that you applied for the JCCC Grant and include that with your ALL Fund Application, which needs to be submitted directly to Mrs. Etherton (nmetherton@olatheschools.org) This proof can be in the form of a copy of the JCCC Grant OR a copy of the email from JCCC confirming that it was submitted.
Send any questions regrading College Now to Mrs. Etherton at nmetherton@olatheschools.org.
Scholarship Corner
Daughters of the American Revolution (November 1 to January 31)
DAR offers 26 scholarships for graduating high school seniors, college, and graduate students in specific areas of study. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the US.
To apply for DAR’s Scholarships visit the online application portal found on the DAR website at: https://dar.academicworks.com/.
Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution offers the following additional scholarships:
- Nellie Love Butcher Music Scholarship (deadline of Feb 1st)
- KSDAR Scholarship-awarded to a male senior who is a descendant of a proven DAR line who is sponsored by a DAR chapter (deadline of Feb 1st)
- Judd Smith Brooks Scholarship-for males only (deadline of Feb 1st)
Contact Mrs. Parazin for more information on Kansas DAR scholarships
Horatio Alger Scholarship (Deadline: October 25, 2020)
$25,000; 106 Awards
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must:
- Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States; be progressing normally toward graduation in spring/summer of 2021 with plans to enter a college in the United States.
- Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States.
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/9417/horatio_alger_scholarship_scholarship.php
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship (Deadline: October 30, 2020)
$160,000; 40 Awards
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must:
- Be a high-achieving high school senior with financial need who plans to attend a four-year college.
- Be have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Applications can be found by going to:
Voice of Democracy Scholarship (Deadline: October 31, 2020)
$30,000; 50 Awards
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must:
- Currently be in high school between the grades 9-12.
- Be enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States.
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/9228/voice_of_democracy_scholarship_scholarship.php
The Heisman High School Scholarship Program, presented by Acceptance Insurance
All High School students graduating as part of the class of 2021 are encouraged to apply. Applicants will have the chance to win up to a $5,000 college scholarship along with the possibility of attending and being highlighted during the ESPN televised Heisman Trophy Presentation Ceremony.
Community-minded scholar-athletes can learn more and apply at https://heismanscholarship.com.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (Deadline: December 6th, 2020)
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation's (HHF) 2020 Youth Awards educational grants program is now accepting applications! The 22nd Annual Youth Awards will award students who are in the graduating Class of 2021 with up to $1000 in educational grants to fund their higher education or a community-based project.
Students can apply and find more information at www.HispanicHeritage.org
From Ms. Taylor, College Advisor
Senior Checklist
· Create FSA ID (username and password for FAFSA)
· Submit FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
· Register for December ACT by November 6th
· Apply to ALL 4-year colleges by December 1st
· Send transcripts to colleges via Xello
· Ask teachers and/or counselor for a letter of recommendation with at least 2 weeks’ notice
· Schedule a virtual 1on1, FAFSA, or Fun Friday with friends meeting with Ms. Taylor here.
· Complete Senior Survey sent to you by your counselor
· Checkout the OCTOBER SENIOR CHALLENGE to enter to win a prize
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
· 2021-2022 FAFSA opens OCTOBER 1
Transcripts
All official transcripts must be requested through Xello. Please see instructions below:
October Virtual College Visits
Pre-register for a Virtual Visit here.
10/1: Middlebury College
10/5: Creighton University
10/6: Avila University
10/7: Davidson College
10/8: Regis University
10/12: Cleveland University
10/13: Yale University
10/19: University of Pittsburgh
10/20: SUNY at Purchase College
10/21: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- Prescott
10/22: University of Tulsa
10/26: Washburn University
10/27: Simpson College
10/28: Southern Methodist University
10/29: University of Oklahoma
October Rep Visits will be from 3:15-4:00pm.
National Bullying Prevention Month
More than 1 out of every 5 students report being bullied. A worldwide pandemic has created unique challenges for students, parents, and educators. The growing movement for racial equity and social justice have highlighted the need to unite communities for a better future. It is more important than ever to join together in creating a world that is kinder, more accepting, and more inclusive.
Olathe School District H.E.L.P. Clinic
The H.E.L.P. Clinic's goal is to support Olathe parents and students with the education and training opportunities that will have a positive impact on the quality of a student's educational experiences and life, and Help Each Live Productively.
View the H.E.L.P. Clinic brochure in English (PDF)
View the H.E.L.P. Clinic brochure in Spanish (PDF)
Any situation that causes an interruption in the learning process is a serious educational concern. Students who are finding school difficult because of poor study skills, adjustment concerns, or relationships with others can find help through the clinic. Parents who want to learn more effective ways of encouraging and motivating children in school can also turn to the clinic.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is a service provided by the Olathe Public Schools. All services are free of charge to any student enrolled in the Olathe Public Schools, either in a remote environment or onsite.
- Individual and family counseling consists of short-term counseling (six sessions) for students and their families.
- Small group counseling with other grade-level or near grade-level peers serve those who would thrive learning and growing from a group structure. Groups would meet for six sessions.
- Play therapy is a technique where the child's natural means of expression, namely play, is used as a therapeutic method to assist him/her in coping with stress or life difficulties. Play therapy is used effectively at the H.E.L.P. Clinic with children ages 5 to 8 years old. Play therapy may not be used with every child and is available on a limited basis.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is staffed by professional school counselors, school psychologists, social workers and other school-based mental health providers. All clinicians are Olathe Public Schools employees or retired employees who have an active license in school mental health. These accredited and experienced professionals have a sincere interest in assisting students and families to better deal with challenges that impact students' abilities to achieve educational success.
Enrollment information is available in the brochure mentioned above.
The clinic is located in the Mill Creek Campus, 300 E. Loula Street, Olathe, Kansas. The phone number is 913-780-7049 and the email is HelpClinic@olatheschools.org.
Olathe North Student Services Team
Angie Wartick (Last Names A-E)
Nicole Etherton (Last Names F-L)
Tammie Milke (Last Names M-Q)
Carrie Parazin (Last Names R-Z)
Rachel Gunderson (IEP, KSD, and International Students)
Brionna Taylor (College Advisor)
Molly Askew (Student Wellness Advocate)
Erin Davis (School Psychologist)
Matt Sidarous (School Psychologist)
Kelley Hull (Social Worker)
Ben Mustain (Social Worker)
Emergency Resources
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255, Text: 741741
Johnson County Resource Connection: https://ims.jocogov.org/rc/default.aspx