Panther Nation Newsletter
December 3, 2021
Today, Ms. Jennifer Johnston was recognized as the Colorado High School Counselor of the Year! Her hard work, dedication and love for our WPHS Panthers is evident each and every day! We are so proud of you Ms. Johnston! Thanks you for all you do for all of us each day! Congratulations!!
Our WPHS Counseling Team
Mother and Daughter
Way to go Ms. Johnston!
PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and NMSQT Scores available
Earlier this week, the College Board released scores for the PSAT/NMSQT that students took during the school day in October. Students will have access to their scores Dec. 6 and 7. Additionally, if your student took the PSAT 8/9 (grade 9) or the PSAT 10 (grade 10), their scores were emailed to their school email and your email.
All JUNIOR and SENIOR students (and underclassmen who took the NMSQT) testing with us need to have a College Board Account. Students should log in using their school email. WPHS does not have access to any scores nor can we reset accounts. If students encounter problems, they will need to seek tech help directly from the College Board.
Please join us in the conversations about test scores. Here are some questions we have been asking over the years as we look at scores with students:
Are your scores similar across different types of tests?
How do your scores compare to your school grades?
Do you feel the scores represent your ability or effort in a certain area?
What are your goals after high school?
Will your scores help you accomplish your goals after high school?
If you are not satisfied with your scores, what changes might help you improve? Is there a way we can support you as you make these changes?
If you are satisfied with your scores, what do you need to keep doing?
Have you connected your scores to Khan Academy Free SAT practice so you can get customized help in the areas where you struggle?
Don’t forget: SAT Scores are also a State of Colorado and WPHS graduation requirement. You must demonstrate proficiency in Reading and Math to qualify for a WPHS diploma. Qualifying scores on the SAT are English (470) and Math (500). Please consult the WPHS Course Description Guide (pg 12-13) under the academics tab on our website for the menu of ways to demonstrate proficiency for graduation.
If your student is unhappy with the test scores, there is still time to sign up for another SAT. Even if your student plans to take a gap year, it is still beneficial to improve SAT scores, as they will still be seen as valid by many colleges, even though five years have passed since the test was taken.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
If at any time you or your student have questions about test scores or your student’s progress toward future goals, please reach out to your student’s counselor.
This is the final push! As of Friday, there are only 13 school days left of the first semester! To help students, we have a few tutoring sessions. Students will have this information in their Advisory Google Classroom as well as with this link More sessions will be added as the need arises, so please keep checking the document for updates. Additionally, Power Lunch is always available for students to get caught up. Deadlines are different than last year, as we are no longer heavy CoVid restrictions. See the chart below. Please work with your child to ensure he or she is prepared for the end of the semester.
Message Monday - Important Information from Student Services
College and Career Center by Katie Larson
Woodland Park High School’s College and Career Center is here to help students prepare for their post high school careers. Ms. Parker and Ms. Davidson assist and support students who are exploring their options for after high school. They coordinate college visits and connect students with administrators from colleges all over America. Some of the things they help students with are college and trade school applications, financial aid, and scholarships. They also help students fill out college applications and write application essays. A few of the schools that have visited WPHS are UCCS (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs) and PPCC (Pikes Peak Community College).
College is not the only post high school option that Ms. Parker and Ms. Davidson provide insight on. They also discuss trade school and work opportunities. There are many possibilities that students don’t think of, like studying internationally or attending a trade school.
FAFSA is a free application service for federal financial aid. It is a very useful option for many students, especially those that have been unfavorably affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since it is first come first serve, it’s best to apply as soon as possible. However, FAFSA is not the only financial aid option available.
Talking to college recruiters at lunchtime and during advisory is a good thing to do. You can meet with Ms. Parker or Ms. Davidson to get advice on which options are best for you.
WPHS students visit Pikes Peak Community College with SWAP to learn about programs offered for post high school learning.
Woodland Park High School
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Email: slee@wpsdk12.org
Website: https://wpsdk12.org/wphs/
Location: 151 Panther Way, Woodland Park, CO, USA
Phone: 719-686-2068