LCHS Counselor Connection
August 2018
Counselor Connection is Back!
Counselor Connection is back and will be issued six times a year. The counseling department also periodically sends texts through the Remind app and will send additional pertinent information (in between newsletters) via Naviance.
Both parents and students can sign up for Remind texts using the following codes:
Class of 2019 Text to 81010 @19LCH
Class of 2020 Text to 81018 @20LC
Class of 2021 Text to 81010 @LCHS21
Class of 2022 Text to 81010 @22LC
A warm welcome to the new members of our counseling team: Mrs. Andrea Rasmussen and Mrs. Ashley Park!
New Alphabet Breakdown:
Andrea Rasmussen: A-Clo
Ashley Park: Clu-Hal
Melissa Kukta: Ham-Koz
Susan Maljian: Kp-Nom
Amy Hernandez: Non-Shr
Kandy Basmajian: Shu-Z
and Rachel Zooi: Wellness Planning
GENERAL INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LCHS Counseling Website*
The link to our counseling website has moved. From the home page, we are now an icon on the bottom of the page and also have an icon under the parents and student pages.
*Please note that the counseling page is currently under construction, therefore some information may be outdated. Please check back periodically for updates.
Important Dates
Please check the LCHS School Calendar for all upcoming events. Please subscribe to it to receive information on all-school events.
Here are the important dates for the 2018-2019 year. We strongly recommend you add them to your personal calendar and/or print the handout for your refrigerator door! Here are the upcoming events in the month of August and September.
NACAC Conference and a Big Thank-You to the 9/12 PTSA
Four members of the counseling department will attend the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference in September. This conference offers the latest information regarding college admission and allows the counselors to make connections with various admissions offices throughout the country. The counselors will gain valuable knowledge in how to assist your students.
We would also like to thank Mrs. Tamar Tujian, 9/12 PTSA President, and Mrs. Doreen Aitelli, 3rd VP of Volunteers, and all of the parents and staff members who helped at registration!
Meet over 200 College Reps this fall! Sign up on Naviance
Juniors and Seniors, please be sure to check your access to Naviance. You can access your Naviance account via LCHS School Website. You can access the instructions with pictures here.
Step 1 - Visit https://www.lchsspartans.net/
Step 2 - Go to “Students” on the top left hand corner.
Step 3 - Click the icon that says, “Naviance.”
Step 4 - Access your account using your school email. If you haven’t registered, you will need an access code. Please contact your counselor for more information.
Step 5 - Once you are in Naviance, please go to the bottom right hand side of the screen to see all upcoming college visits.
STEP Classes
The STEP catalog will be distributed on Wednesday, September 5th, and sign-ups will begin on Friday, September 7th, 2018. The LAST DAY to sign up is Friday, September 14th, 2018.
If any student has not requested two STEP classes by the deadline, they will be assigned a STEP class by the office.
Tutoring Information
Testing Information
PSAT Sign-Up in September
AP Test Sign-Up Updates
Community Events for College and Career Planning
NACAC's Performing & Visual Arts College Fair
Pasadena City College STEM SATS
Pasadena City College is hosting STEM SATS (short for Saturday) workshops for High school students on our main campus. These are FREE 3 hour workshops for students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.) If you know of any students that would benefit from attending these fun and hands on STEM workshops, that expose students in the field of STEM, please encourage them to register using the following link.
Harvard Princeton UVA Wellesley Yale Information Session in Glendale
Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 07:00 PM until 08:30 PM
Glendale High School
1440 E Broadway
Glendale, CA 91205
United States
RSVP: https://apps.admissions.yale.edu/portal/events?id=e01e9f93-b367-4728-96f4-60a097d94888
Admissions representatives from Harvard, Princeton, UVA, Wellesley, and Yale will discuss academic programs, campus life, selective college admissions and financial aid. Please bring your friends and family.
Hopkins Visits You
Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 PM
Fairmont Preparatory School Theater,
2200 W. Sequoia Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801
While visiting the Homewood campus is a great way to get a feel for Johns Hopkins, it is not always possible. Admissions counselors offer presentations and programs across the country and around the globe in fall, spring, and summer. Join Johns Hopkins admissions representatives at presentations nationally and globally to learn more about academics, student life, the application process, financial aid, the city of Baltimore, and more.
RACC Mini-College Fair at LCHS
Friday, October 5th from 2:00pm-3:00pm.
Quad area outside in front of the North Gym
What is RACC?
The Regional Admission Counselors of California (RACC) is an organization comprised of 149 admission professional from 108 institutions outside of California who work with students, their families, and counselors throughout California. All of these out-of-state institutions are NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) and or WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling) members. They have dedicated the necessary resources for a regional office to serve California schools and provide information about educational opportunities outside of California.
Scholarship Information
August Scholarships
FRESHMAN FORUM
Welcome to High School! Get involved!
Tips for Studying!
- Plan backwards for your exam day (i.e. break-up the amount you need to study so when it comes to the day of, you’re reviewing).
- Find a study partner(s).
- Take regular breaks. Try studying for 20-30 minutes then take a 5 minute break.
- Snack on brain food.
- Sleep. Did you know when you sleep your brain is working double time when you’re snoozing. Your brain works to condense the material/things you learned throughout the day and tossing out what it doesn’t need. Getting good (and consistent) sleep improves your ability to memorize, recall, and build on what you know.
Pledge to Work Hard Now!
Start an Activities Journal
SOPHOMORE SCENE
Stay involved!
College/Career planning
Whether you know the specific career for you or aren’t sure, it’s never too early to start your college/career process. Log onto your Naviance account to find more information on careers or career clusters as well as colleges and the majors they offer. Here are a few other online college and career exploration resources:
College Board’s Big Future
Free online career Quiz
Online campus Tours
JUNIOR JUNCTION
Welcome Juniors!
You are on the threshold of a very important and exciting year. There are a lot of new opportunities to explore as you think about life after LCHS.
We, in the counseling department, are here to advise, to listen, to guide you through this year.
PSAT Sign-Up for Juniors
College Visits
Naviance
Extracurricular Activities
Hone into the activities and volunteering opportunities that you love and are passionate about. Remember college are not looking for a long list of activities but ones that your really care about. So narrow down your activities and focus on one or two that are the most important to you. It is helpful to keep a log of your hours outside of school which are designated to these extracurricular activities. When applying to colleges, they will ask you to list the extent of your commitment, which include how many hours a week and for how many weeks a year.
SENIOR STOP
Welcome to your Senior Year!
Upcoming Events from the Counseling Office for Seniors
Friday, September 7th: All seniors will attend the “Facing the College Application Process” presentation that will take place through Gov/Econ classes during the school day. Please make every effort to be present that day. Students who took Gov/Econ over the summer will be invited to attend one of the sessions. Topics covered will include Naviance, Letters of Recommendation Protocols, Brag Sheets, College Lists and more.
Wednesday, September 12th: Parents of seniors are invited to attend a senior parent information night before Back to School Night starts. We will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. and will end by 5:45 p.m. to allow for families to attend Back to School Night activities. Topics covered will mirror those presented to seniors on Sept. 7th.
Ongoing: College Rep visits will begin soon! Make sure to check out the list of all of the amazing colleges coming to campus and maybe even learn something new from a college you had not previously considered! Sign-ups take place in Naviance. Some colleges host their own events off site in the evenings. When in doubt, consult with the college website for exact details.
Financial Aid Night: Financial Aid Night workshop scheduled for October 3, 2018. Topics include Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CSS Profile, Types of Financial Aid Eligibility, Determining Financial Aid Eligibility, How to Apply for Financial Aid, Common Scholarship Application Errors to Avoid.
Friday, October 5th: RACC Mini-College Fair at LCHS! 2:00pm-3:00pm. in the Quad
ADVICE TO SENIORS FROM THE CLASS OF 2018:
“DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Start your applications and essays as soon as you can. Don't wait for the last minute.”
“If you have the option to apply early to your top choice schools, do it and do the regular application for the rest. I found out I got in to my two top choice schools in December, and it was a relief!”
“Do your best, but take care of yourself. At the end of the process, recognize that you did your best, and be proud of it.”
“Stick with it. Take your shot and don't be afraid. Your successes will follow you far in the future, your failures will be forgotten in a short amount of time.”
“The application process is a pain in the butt, but it's all worth it when you start getting into schools. Also, try not to worry too much, you will get in somewhere.”
“DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Even when people told me not to procrastinate, I thought it was still okay to do so, little did I know it made everything much more stressful.”
“Small stuff doesn't matter even though it might seem that way. Find a balance of what you want to do vs what you have to do. Start early.”
“Go somewhere that accommodates your needs. Happiness is the most important factor in life.”
“College apps take up a lot of your time but don't stress about them too much! Also- only apply to schools you are actually considering going to. There is no use to write those extra essays.”
“Start your college applications ahead of time and don't procrastinate.”
“Go with your gut when choosing a college. Prestige doesn't matter if you don't like the feel you are getting from the school.”
Links for Seniors
- LCHS Guide for Seniors
- LCHS College Planning Website
- California Community Colleges
- University of California
- California State University
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- Colleges that Change Lives
- WUE
- SAT
- ACT
- Test Prep Options
- Eligibility in the Local Context (fact sheet)
- Glendale Community College Scholars Program
The Regional Admission Counselors of California (RACC) is an organization comprised of 149 admission professionals from 108 institutions outside of California who work with students, their families, and counselors throughout California. Click here for the RACC Directory of institutions.
- Colleges That Require or Recommend SAT Subject Tests
- Letter of Recommendation Protocols
Upcoming College Visits
Here is the list of colleges that have already scheduled a visit. Please be sure to follow the instruction on how to participate in the college visits. Only juniors and seniors are allowed to attend the representative visits at this time. Signs-up windows are now open and will close 1 day prior to the event. If you have a college or university listed in your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” tab in Naviance and that school will be visiting LCHS, you will also receive a notification 1 day prior to the event.
Please know that the list changes rapidly as we add more colleges to our list. Please download the calendar link to the all college visits by adding the following URL (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://services.intersect.hobsons.com/hs/calendarfeed?token%3Dec4d9eb4-1584-4194-998a-9a190d7dc929&sa=D&ust=1534979877617000&usg=AFQjCNFviDIMG5ojqjM97YdfBrEtz10QtA) to your Google Calendar to get the most updated information.
Here is the step-by-step instruction with pictures as to how you can do that.
Wellness Matters
Peer Support Now Available at LCHS
LCHS is happy to announce the approval of a new course entitled Peer Support, along with its team of students selected through a teacher/counselor/administrator nomination and application process last spring.
Twenty-two students in grades 9-11 will dedicate themselves to enhancing the climate of care and promotion of wellness on campus. The course provides training and research experiences as students learn to provide one-on-one peer support, including skills in self-awareness, effective listening and communication, and decision-making. The Peer Support Team will also learn techniques for referring students to appropriate resources.
English teacher, Mrs. Lucy Pelletier and counselor, Mrs. Rachel Zooi are working in partnership to lead the program. For more information, please contact Mrs. Zooi at rzooi@lcusd.net.
Suicide Prevention Workshop
3rd Annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Workshop will be held by USC Verdugo Hills Hospital on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Please click the picture below to see the flyer.
Raising Healthy Kids
A talk presented by Dr. Madeline Levine, Challenge Success Co-Founder. Save the date for this first event in LCUSD’s annual Family Learning Series on Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-8:30, in the LCHS Auditorium.
Published by the La Cañada High School Counseling Team
4463 Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada, CA 91011
Phone: 818.952.4200 Fax: 818.952.4214
www.lchsspartans.net
School Code: 051312
Please note: Links to websites are offered for your convenience in accessing related information, but do not constitute an endorsement of the website or its content. LCHS takes no responsibility for the views, content or accuracy of the information presented by an external website.