Counselor's Corner
Seasons Greetings from Ryan and Megan
Happy Holidays
It is important that students and families are aware of the February 15th deadline to add or drop Spring classes. Have you developed a plan to earn the credit you need for graduations and success after high school?
*** Important Senior Reminders! ***
- The deadline to add classes to your Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is February 15th. Please work with your Advisory Teacher and/or Counselor to ensure you have all the credits required to graduate.
- If you are working to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship it is vital that you check in with Ryan and/or Megan to make sure you are on track. More information: https://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID/AK-Performance-Scholarship
- The financial aid and scholarship deadline for all University of Alaska campuses is February 15th. You will need to complete your Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) and apply through the UA Scholarship website. The FAFSA application is located at www.studentaid.gov
- If you are interested in an trade apprenticeship program, each trade has its own individual application deadlines. If you are interested in applying to a training program please check their deadlines. A bit of advice: Take time to make an appointment with apprenticeship coordinator to ask questions. Examples are: How long is your program and how does it work? Do you have any advice for a high school student who is interested in applying.
*** Important Junior Reminders ***
- Make an appointment with your counselor in person or over video to make sure you are on track to graduate, on track to earn the Alaska Performance Scholarships as well as discuss your future interests.
- Start looking at post-secondary plans: college, trade, military, or jumping into the workforce. Consider taking classes your junior and senior years that will help you reach your goals.
*** Important 9th and 10th grade Reminder ***
- Look for summer opportunities where you can earn volunteer/work experience or take a class credit to earn credit.
- Develop your plan for graduation that incorporates your interests. Reach out to Megan and Ryan for assistance.
*** The ACT and SAT Schedules and Instructions, and the WORKEYS Test ***
What High School Credits Do You Need?
The State of Alaska and Raven Homeschool require the following minimum credits to earn a high school diploma:
Math: 3 credits
English: 4 credits
Science: 2 credits
Social studies: 3 credits (including 0.5 in AK studies/history)
Physical education: 0.5 credits
Health: 0.5 credits
Electives: 8 credits
Total of 21 credits – Remember this is the MINIMUM requirement. All students are encouraged to explore and learn with additional credits.
What Credits Do We Recommend Students Earn?
The following credit recommendations help all students be successful after high school whether they are college or vocational bound.
Math: 4 credits, preferably including Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry
English: 4 credits
Science: 3 or 4 credits (biology is usually a required course)
Social studies: 4 credits - 0.5 credits in AK studies, world and US history, government, civics, and economics.
Physical education: 1 credit
Health: 1 credit
Foreign language: 2 credits of the same language (recommend Rosetta Stone)
Electives: credits vary, depending on interest
*** Meet The Raven Counseling Team ***
Ryan Tilbury - Raven Homeschool Counselor
I was born and raised in Minnesota and made my way to Alaska in 1995. I have a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish Language. I also studied both in Mexico and Ecuador as an exchange student. I am married and have three children. My wife Jennifer is an English Professor at UAF and between the both of us we have over 30 years working with the university system. I have worked very closely with UAF, UAA, and UAS over the years and am very familiar with their programs and policies. During my early years in Alaska, I worked in fisheries research for US Fish and Wildlife, substance abuse treatment with Fairbanks Native Association, and commercial fished out of Cook Inlet. I am also an officer in the Air Force Reserve (22 years) and am currently serving at US Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii. I also am an avid outdoorsman and spend a lot of my time in the fall hiking, hunting, and fishing.
(907) 374-9432
Megan Rosendall - Graduation Coach
A little bit about me. I was born and raised in Michigan, where I developed a love for outdoor activities, including fishing, skiing, camping, biking (bicycles and motorcycles), and almost anything involving water. Before going into education, I was a director with the YMCA in Michigan and Ohio. I joined Raven in August of 2019 after spending 12 years working in the village schools for LKSD. My last 7 years with LKSD were spent as the site administrator (principal) at Kwigillingok School, a K-12 school. I truly loved my students and working with them, but felt a need to be closer to family and friends so I moved into Anchorage and joined Raven Homeschool. I have loved learning about homeschooling and what an awesome opportunity it can be.
(907) 622-6631