WBHS Counselor Connection & News
News & Info for the WBHS Community June 10, 2020
In this issue:
- Message from the Principal
- Parent Resources
- AP Information for 2020-2021
- Xello Requirement for 9th-11th Grade Students
- College Prep Newsletter from Mrs. Essig sent to juniors & their parents
- Class of 2021- Common App and College App Boot Camp for rising seniors - Sign Up!
- Junior Leadership Oakland open to rising 9th-12th grade students - apply now!
- NACAC Virtual College Fair
- Enjoy your summer!
- Scholarships
- OCC Chancellor's Scholarship Due Date Extended
- Jackie Robinson Scholarship Due July 1
- Hispanic Scholarship Due July 1
- Indigenous Recognition Program Due July 1
- Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Due July 1
Message from the principal
Hello Laker Nation,
As the principal of West Bloomfield High School, I want to share my full support behind Dr. Hill’s statement that was sent to the West Bloomfield community. As a learning community, we pride ourselves in our diversity, inclusion, and unique differences. We strive to create an environment where all students can learn and grow together, in a safe and constructive manner. In order to continue our growth and support of that vision, we need your help. Please join us in strong opposition to racism and discrimination. We invite you to work with us in strengthening race relations in our community and our nation, through the greatest growth vehicle we know, education. We intend to examine our own bias as a learning community, looking to embody our district’s mission to educate students to be their best in, and for the world. That work starts here, with you and with us.
It is important to me, and to West Bloomfield High School to explicitly say that black lives matter. Our black students, families, community, and staff members are an integral part of our social fabric, strengthening the richness of our culture in West Bloomfield. I acknowledge the advantages that life has presented me, for no reason other than, I am a white male. I choose to stand with our black students to confront the social injustices that are present in our nation and to improve the experiences for them in the school community. Racism and discrimination impact all of us in some way. When a group of people is marginalized and underserved, it is important for us all to stand together to show support and to work to right the wrongs of the past. It is with optimism that I hope that no other group of people will experience the social injustices, and need the support of all other groups, that our black community needs right now. I am proud to say that I am a part of Laker Nation and I truly believe we are a place that the world can look to for how to treat one another.
We hope to instill a message of empathy for all people and to provide space where our faculty and students can speak their thoughts, learn through listening, and engage in speaking up and out for what they believe to be important and true. Please know that as a school, and as a district, we are actively working to provide forums for dialogue, events for support, and opportunities for community involvement. Please visit the resource below to engage your child in meaningful conversation about race, inclusivity, diversity, and standing up against injustice and racism. Embracerace.org has published an excellent document about talking to your child about race, which can be helpful in starting an important conversation in your home.
Dr. Hill’s message is just the beginning of this work. Improving race relations, and securing justice and equity for our community starts with us. I am looking forward to growing a better future in West Bloomfield, and in the world, for our students.
Educationally Yours,
Eric Pace
Additional resources:
How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism, Parent Toolkit: https://www.parenttoolkit.com/social-and-emotional-development/advice/social-awareness/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race-and-racism
Talking Race with Young Children, NPR:https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716700866/talking-race-with-young-children
Ten Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids about Race, MomsRising: https://cecr.ed.psu.edu/sites/default/files/Ten%20Tips%20for%20Teaching%20and%20Talking%20to%20Kids%20About%20Race.pdf
How to Raise Race-Conscious Children, BuzzFeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/erinwinkler/tips-for-talking-to-children-about-race-and-racism
CLASS OF 2021 - Common App & College App Boot Camp - Register now!
*** PLEASE NOTE THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE PLANNING THIS AS A TWO DAY, VIRTUAL EVENT. IF RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED, WE WILL TURN THIS INTO AN IN PERSON EVENT ON THE SAME DATES. STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE UPDATES.
We are excited to offer the WBHS Common Application and College Application Boot Camp! As of right now our event will be a two-day, virtual event. If restrictions are lifted, we will contact you for details about an in person event. The program will take place on August 12-13 from 8:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (times subject to change) on both days.
· You - This program is for students at all phases of the Common App/College App process! We will show you how to navigate the Common App, how to invite your recommenders, where to enter your essay and how to select your colleges in Common App. We will even make sure you know how to order SAT/ACT scores, use Parchment, work on essay writing and discuss how to create your resume. This will be a very productive, hands-on day! We have workshops for all phases of the process. This is a day for you! (Sorry parents... this is a student only event).
· Create your account - If your college list includes a college using the Common App, please create your Common Application account in advance of our day.
· Gather your materials - Please carefully review the list below and bring this information with you.
· Essay- Ms. Nadler and Ms. Mulcahy will be available to discuss the Common Application essay, help you get started, select a topic, seek feedback and editing. If you started this process, be sure to bring your essay.
· Device- You will need your laptop or device with charger as this will be a hands on, working event! You should leave the boot camp with your Common App/College App near completion.
· Lunch -If we are able to meet in person, we will have pizza, salad and drinks available. You are welcome to bring your own lunch if you desire. (Please have breakfast before you come so you are energized for a productive morning!)
· Transcripts - We will have a copy of your transcript for you if we meet in person.
· BOOT CAMP SPACE- We have limited space available in the boot camp. If you know of others interested in attending, please share this link with them. Likewise, if your plans have changed and you can no longer attend, please let Mrs. Essig know right away.
We are here to support you! Please fill out the form below to reserve your spot in the College App Boot Camp.
Requirement for 9th-11th Grade Students:
Dear Students,
We hope this email finds you well! This week, your social studies teachers will be posting an assignment to complete your career profile in Xello, formerly Career Cruising. Per the new career education law, all students must complete the assignments in Xello each year to be eligible for graduation. Please review the attached PDF directions to complete the assignment.
You must have your STUDENT POWERSCHOOL LOGIN in order to complete the assignment in Xello- your parent login will not work. If you do not have your student login information, please email Mrs. Tunic: renee.tunic@wbsd.org.
If you have individual questions about Xello, please email Mrs. Brody: karen.brody@wbsd.org
Once you are finished with the assignment in Xello, please upload your goals document to complete the assignment for your social studies class. We appreciate your cooperation!
Thank you,
WBHS Counseling Department
Juniors - Check your email!
If you missed any of the College Prep Workshops, Mrs. Essig shares the links to her workshops.
THIS IS A MUST READ FOR EVERY JUNIOR AND THEIR PARENTS!
Junior Leadership Oakland
Open to all rising 9th to 12th Students
Dates: June 22-24, 2020 Times: 9am until noon
Place: Online
Learn more about the new Junior LO program in the video here. https://youtu.be/3HrFqPSeGHA
Apps due June 12 https://leadershipoakland.com/apply-jr-lo/
2020-2021 AP INFORMATION
Message from Mrs. Brody regarding AP exams for next year:
This year's AP exams were highly unusual and innovative, and for the most part worked to students' advantage. We won't see the actual scores until the middle of the summer, but we are hoping for wonderful results. When we return in the fall - in whatever format will exist --- it will be time in September to enroll for the next set of AP exams.
We want to remind families now to save up for those exams. We expect the price to be the same at $120 per test (and we will see if there are any changes). The due date for registration this past year was Oct. 31, and we expect a similar date for the coming school year.
Plan ahead!
NACAC Virtual College Fair Dates
- Sept. 13 — Students Fall Kickoff
- Oct. 12
- Nov. 8
Student registration for NACAC Virtual College Fairs will open later in the summer. For now, students can sign up for our email list and we'll let them know as soon as registration opens.
Questions?
Please contact us at virtualfairs@nacacnet.org if you have any questions. Enjoy your summer and thank you for staying in touch!
Summer vacation is here! Enjoy!
Mrs. Essig's Recommended Articles
SCHOLARSHIPS - Where to look
Please note that Ms. Essig posts all scholarship information on our Twitter account. You do not have to have a Twitter account to read the posts. We post opportunities in the newsletter twice and then remove them. Please follow the Twitter page for the most up-to-date opportunities!
https://twitter.com/WBHSCounseling
Look for #WBHSScholarships2020.
How do I find scholarships?
1. Apply for Financial Aid after October 1st. www.FAFSA.gov
2. Check with each college in which you are applying for merit based scholarships and deadlines.
3. Check for memorial and alumni scholarship opportunities at each college in which you may qualify.
4. Check with student’s/parent’s employer, banks/credit union, religious & civic affiliations, etc. for scholarships.
5. Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/WBHSCounseling Click on the hashtag #WBHSScholarships2020.
6. Read the Counselor Connection
7. Conduct a search by using a national search engine, such as www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com, www.myscholly.com, etc. Be sure to create an email address just for these searches as students will receive a lot of email. There is no need to pay money for these services! Watch for scams!
8. Check Careeronestop: https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx
9. Beginning Class of 2020,College Board Opportunity Scholarships. https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/
10. For more information: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships#how-find
11. Remember it takes work to receive most scholarships! You won't know if you don't try!''
*** Please a note that WBHS cannot endorse or properly "vet" the sheer number of scholarships that come our way. It is up to the student/family to determine.
National Recognition Programs for Your Students
Dear Colleague,
We’re writing because one or more of your students in the class of 2021 were invited to apply for the College Board National Recognition Programs. Our recognition programs aim to create pathways to college for underrepresented students by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities and scholarship programs across the country.
For the past 37 years, we've recognized Latinx students through our National Hispanic Recognition Program based on PSAT/NMSQT® performance. Last fall, we launched three additional programs to recognize African American, Indigenous, and rural and small town students.
With the expansion of our National Recognition Programs, recognized students will also receive culturally relevant college exploration and planning supports through the following partnering organizations:
•
The Jackie Robinson Foundation—African American Recognition
•
Hispanic Scholarship Fund—Hispanic Recognition
•
Indigenous Education, Inc.—Indigenous Recognition
•
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation—Rural and Small Town Recognition
The application deadline is July 1. Visit our website to learn more about eligibility, the application timeline, and your role as an educator. Your eligible students and their parents will receive communications from College Board in the upcoming days encouraging them to complete the application. If you have any questions, please email CBRP@scholarshipamerica.org or call 866-545-8467.
Sincerely,
Jati Baeza
Senior Director, Recognition Programs
College Board
The College Board National Recognition Programs are neither affiliated with nor endorsed by National Merit Scholarship Corporation or the National Merit® Scholarship Program.
Chancellor's Scholarship OCC - Deadline Extended
MI Student Aid Scholarship Search Tool
Scholarship links
Calendars/Schedules
Important Contacts
WBHS Counseling Department
A-CU Kelly Casinelli
CV-HA Joanne Wegrzynowicz
HB-LO Karen Brody
LP-PO Felicia Neumann
PR-TE Lisa Thompkins
TF-Z John Hepper
College & Career Counselor Noelle Essig
Administrative Staff
Mr. Eric Pace, Principal
Ashleigh Larkin, Assistant Principal
Eric Pierce, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Jamie Glinz, Assistant Principal
Dr. Stephanie Griffin, Assistant Principal
Email: noelle.essig@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/west-bloomfield-high-school/counseling-office
Location: 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)865-6768
Twitter: @WBHSCounseling
OK2SAY
1-855-565-2729
Text - 652729
https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Text - HELLO to 741741