
WHS Counseling News Hub
February 2, 2024
COLLEGE
FAFSA
2024-2025 FAFSA Student Aid Index Update and Timeline
The office of the U.S. Department of Education has released an updated index and timeline for students applying for Federal Aid for the 2024-2025 school year. Institutions will begin receiving batches of FAFSA information starting in the first half of March and will fully process applications in the weeks following.
Click HERE for the full article
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis - FAFSA Alerts
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis Advising Director, Teresa Steinkamp, has issued the following important alerts to college applicants and their families. Her advice is relevant to all who have completed the FAFSA and need financial aid to enroll for 2024-25.
ALERT #1 – YOUR STUDENT AID INDEX (SAI) MAY BE WRONG AND IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT. If you have been able to complete and submit a 2024 FAFSA already, the SAI estimate that you received may be incorrect, since calculations for inflation were not made by the Department of Education. Once fixed, corrected calculations may decrease SAIs and make students eligible for more aid than originally forecasted.
ALERT #2 - DO NOT COMMIT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE FUNDING ALREADY KNOWN AND IN PLACE. Since no one knows exactly when (or if) the fix will be made to the FAFSA calculations, and therefore how admissions and financial aid offices will respond, students should HOLD OFF ON COMMITTING to colleges until FAFSA applications have been processed with the corrected SAI calculation and official financial aid packages are formally offered.
Students and families are worried and frustrated after attempts to complete the new FAFSA. We share those feelings. Every day, our six full-time advisors are working with families and students in the office, on the phone, via email, and on school campuses around the metro area to support and encourage students seeking postsecondary education. Navigating this transition has definitely been (and continues to be) very challenging and Foundation advisors are keeping a close eye on new developments from the Department of Education.
Do not give up; just wait to commit. We can help. For assistance with your application or financial aid questions, please contact us at 314-725-7990 or email info@sfstl.org to be put in touch with a student advisor. For more information on the initial FAFSA delay, including quotes from Teresa Steinkamp: FAFSA deadlines delayed due to congressional push to make changes – The Lancer Feed
Scholarships
Naviance - Searching for Scholarships
Students can view all the scholarships West High advertises in Naviance which includes local and national offerings. These are updated on a regular basis so check back often! To access this from your student account, click on Colleges from the main menu at the top of your screen then choose Scholarship Search.
Scholarship Search Tools
There are many tools that can be utilized to search for scholarships. Click HERE to visit these resources that are listed on our Counseling website.
Click HERE for our Local Scholarship Page
Events
Mentors4College Webinar - Make the Most of Your High School Summers
Thursday, February 8th | 7:00 - 7:30 pm
Wondering what you can do this summer to make sure you are on a strong path for college? Interested in volunteering, working or doing independent research? Want to challenge yourself by enrolling in academic enrichment programs and pre-college classes with students from across the country? Perhaps you want to spend time visiting college campuses near you and do your own research about careers, degrees and college options or start learning about scholarships and financial aid? Whether you are a freshman, sophomore or junior, there are opportunities for you to make your summer a productive one. Join Mentors 4 College for a brief webinar as we highlight summer opportunities and help you get started researching which options are right for you.
Click HERE to register
WHS Rep Visits
All scheduled rep visits can be found on the College Visits Page HERE. Click HERE to see how to sign up for WHS Rep Visits. Below are the upcoming visits for the next two weeks. All visits will meet in the College & Career Center in Counseling.
Please remember to sign up by 7:00 am the day of the visit in order to receive your pass to leave class.
University of Missouri-Kansas City (MO) | 2/7 @ 9:45 am
Kansas State University (KS) | 2/9 @ 10:45 am
Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg, Lock Haven & Mansfield (PA) | 2/9 @ 12:30 pm
University of Missouri-Columbia (MO) | 2/12 @ 9:45 am
Illinois Wesleyan University (IL) | 2/14 @ 10:45 am
SUMMER PROGRAM
Baylor Talent Identification Program
Baylor TIP, Grades 8-12 - Baylor Campus
June 9 - June 15, 2024
Anatomy
Every second, your body produces 25 million new cells. The entire surface of a person’s skin is replaced every month, and laid end-to-end, an adult’s blood vessels could circle the equator four times. Embark on a fascinating journey through the intricacies of the human body. Through lab activities, discussions, and practicals, deepen your understanding of the complexity of human anatomy, from the skeletal framework that forms our foundation to the network of organs that keeps us alive. Whether you aspire to a career as a healthcare professional or researcher, gain a deeper understanding of the marvel that is the human body.
Baylor TIP Camp is primarily residential, but families may select a day camp option. Students will stay in the dorms with Resident Assistants Sunday night through Friday nights, going home Saturday morning. Course offerings will run from 9am to 4pm, and social events and activities will be held every evening. Meals are included with registration. Students who elect to commute to camp will have the option of participating in the breakfast and staying for evening activities if they choose.
Click HERE to register
JOB BOARD
Unique Pool Management
Now hiring life guards, managers, deck supervisors, and pool attendants in various locations.
Click HERE for the flyer
CVS - Ballwin
Now hiring for a Sales Associate/Cashier starting at $15.00/hr.
Click HERE for the flyer
COUNSELING TEAM
Comprehensive Counselors
Erin Sternberg (Last names A - Em)
314-415-7519
esternberg@parkwayschools.net
click HERE to make an appointment
Jennifer Wibbenmeyer (Last names En - La)
314-415-7517
jwibbenmeyer@parkwayschools.net
click HERE to make an appointment
Jennifer Skalski (Last names Le - Ro)
314-415-7512
jskalski@parkwayschools.net
click HERE to make an appointment
Jennifer Spotanski (Last names Ru - Z)
314-415-7523
jspotanski@parkwayschools.net
click HERE to make an appointment
College & Career Counselor
Chris Lorenz
314-415-7521
clorenz1@parkwayschools.net
click HERE to make an appointment
Support Staff
Cindy Devine – Counseling Administrative Assistant
cdevine@parkwayschools.net
Lauren Rowe – College Administrative Assistant
lrowe1@parkwayschools.net