WBHS Counselor Connection & News
News & Info for the WBHS Community Sept. 4, 2019
In this issue:
Welcome back!
Schedule Changes
WBHS Open House - Tonight!
FAFSA Workshops - Class of 2020
College Rep Visits - Juniors and Seniors
Message to Juniors
PSAT Registration
AP Registration
Yoga
Making an appointment to see your counselor
Mrs. Essig's Top Picks - Articles of Interest
Boston University - Local Meeting
Looking for a job? Employment Bulletin Board
Midwest Student Exchange
Daily Schedule/Calendar
WBHS District Calendar
Scholarships -
Class of 2020 College Board Opportunity Scholarships
Check Twitter Daily for Additional Scholarships @WBHSCounseling #WBHSScholarships2020
Welcome Back!
The newsletter is emailed to students and parents. If the parent is not receiving the email, please ask the child to check the parent email address in PowerSchool to make sure it is accurate.
Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook @WBHS Counseling. All scholarship opportunities are posted on Twitter. You do not need a Twitter account to read the posts. https://twitter.com/WBHSCounseling
Parents and students have the ability to monitor academic performance via the PowerSchool App. Parents and students each have login accounts. After you download the app, enter “STXN” to identify West Bloomfield High School. If you need assistance obtaining your login information, please email us.
Schedule Changes
Missing Class
Wrong level of class (i.e. in chemistry class, but should be in biology)
Did not complete prerequisite
Scheduled for the same class twice
Student already completed the course.
If your situation applies, please fill out a schedule change request form found in the Counseling Office and return immediately. Thank you for your understanding.
Open House
FAFSA Workshops - Space is Limited - Class of 2020 student with parent/guardian
West Bloomfield High School is hosting a FAFSA Workshop for current seniors attending college in the fall of 2020. Parents and students should attend together to complete and submit the FAFSA. Prepare to attend the workshop by gathering relevant information on the FAFSA Checklist as well as creating FSA IDs. One parent in the household and the student must each create a FSA ID at least one week prior to completing the FAFSA.
1. View the FAFSA Checklist
2. Create a FSA ID (use the FSA ID Worksheet to record your information)
3. Click on the Sign Up link below. Space is limited.
Click on the link here to sign up:
College Representative Visits to WBHS - Juniors and Seniors!
Every fall WBHS will host over 50 colleges and universities during the day to meet with current juniors and seniors. Below is a link to the visits currently set up. Please know that this list is updated daily! Out of respect for the representative's time, if you sign up, please make sure you attend. Click on the link to learn more! All meetings take place in the College and Career Center unless otherwise noted.
Senior Seminars -
Topics:
Receive a copy of the WBHS Senior Packet
College Search – What should I be doing now?
Common App – Do I need to fill this out?
Financial Aid/Scholarships – Where do I look?
Parchment – How do I create an account and send my transcripts?
SAT/ACT Scores – How do I send scores to colleges?
College Rep Visits – How do I sign up to see college reps coming to WBHS?
Q and A – Mrs. Essig, how can you help me?
5 sessions have already taken place... we have 4 more dates coming up!
Click on the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/PaYHT8CgB3USogRq8
Message to Juniors - Class of 2021
GRADES - As you know, the junior year is an important year for your college and career planning. As we've mentioned before, this is the last set of grades that a college will see as they make their admission decisions.
COLLEGE REP VISITS AT WBHS - Juniors have the opportunity to meet with college reps coming to WBHS. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about colleges that spark your interest. Click here to sign up: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLKsDVUJvYV0WTcS7jhtCcA0RNFijKs0qMrScXyclsE/edit?usp=sharing
PSAT - Taking the PSAT is a great way to practice for the SAT. See more information in this newsletter concerning registration.
ACT/SAT TESTING - In April, all juniors will take the SAT. It is a requirement for graduation in the State of Michigan. We encourage you to do some test preparation so that you are comfortable with the format of the test. Khan Academy offers free test prep for students and can be extremely helpful. Click on the video below to learn test prep advice from last year's seniors.
YOU'VE GOT THIS - Navigating the college and career search process, can be overwhelming. But know that you are not in this alone and our Counseling Office and College and Career Center staff is here to help! Be sure to follow Mrs. Essig on Twitter @WBHSCounseling and read every Counselor Connection Newsletter.
PSAT - REGISTER NOW!
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be offered in October by the Educational Testing Service. This 2 hour version of the SAT (4 hours with registration info) measures verbal, mathematical abilities and writing skills important in college work. WBHS students have had the opportunity in the spring to take the PSAT 10 and PSAT 9, which is an additional practice format. That opportunity will continue for sophomores and freshmen this coming spring. However, for juniors who wish to seek recognition and financial awards through the National Merit Program, this test is required.
This PSAT functions as practice for the SAT, as a competition for scholarships, as a signal to colleges to send out recruitment information and has clear-cut feedback about skills needed for college success. Students will need to supply two sharpened #2 pencils (mechanical pencils are NOT recommended!) and a calculator. The following calculators are not permitted: cell phone calculator, pocket organizers, calculators with a QWERTY keypad, mini notebooks, calculators with paper tape, calculators that make noise or talk, calculators that require an external power source such as an electrical outlet.
The cost of the PSAT exam is $25.00. The registration form below - ALONG WITH FULL PAYMENT OF $25 – must be turned in from WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11 – WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2 IN THE COUNSELING OFFICE. You may bring a check or money order (payable to West Bloomfield Schools) OR you may bring CASH in the exact amount. All payments should be made prior to Test Day, 10/12.
WHEN YOU DROP OFF THE DEPOSIT AND REGISTRATION FORM in the Counseling Office, you should pick up a copy of the PSAT Student Bulletin and Fact Sheet. These booklets will be available by Sept. 23 (so you may need to return to get it!!!)
The test will be given at WBHS on Saturday, October 12,2019 at 8:00 am and will last approximately 4 hours. This test is only given once a year, there is no possibility of make up.
If you qualify for any special accommodations, please contact your counselor as soon as possible for registration information!!!
Click on the form below to see the registration form.
Student Yoga! Sign up now!
SUSTAINABLE YOGA PRACTICE & STRESS REDUCTION TOOLS WITH LINDA KAY E-R.Y.T, R.Y.S
WBHS STUDENT CARE, SUPPORT, SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY
Everyday we learn more about the negative effect that stress plays on our overall health, happiness, and performance. This groundbreaking course has been designed specifically to help WBHS students manage stress levels and to develop tools to manage stressful situations productively. Each session will include a physical yoga practice, breathing or pranayama exercises, and strategies to manage stress.
Dates & Time: Class will be held each Wednesday from 2:30 PM-3:30 PM.
The dates are as follows:
September 25th
October 2nd
October 9th
October 16th
October 23rd
October 30th
November 6th
November 13th
November 20th
December 4th
December 11th
December 18th
January 8th
January 15th
Location: Room 120
Cost: One-time fee of $25.00 for the entire 14-session program! Tuition includes course materials, use of yoga mats and props. Full participation is rewarded with a yoga mat for you to keep! Cash or check made payable to West Bloomfield High School accepted.
If cost is a barrier, please see Mrs. Larkin in the counseling office,
so that she can work with you to investigate alternative means to cover the cost.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-YyGn9tyTj75S47WzUo_8kS4jUqQd2BkEtHYpYasK5o/edit?usp=sharing
IMPORTANT NEWS: AP REGISTRATION NOW OCCURS IN THE FALL ONLY! AP MONEY IS DUE THIS FALL!
If you plan to take any AP Exams this year, you must register between the dates listed below. THIS IS NEW AND IT IS MUCH EARLIER than in the past! Please pay attention to these details. Click on the flyer to learn more.
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019– Thursday, Oct 31, 2019 at 2:30 pm $115.00 per exam
Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 – Monday, Nov. 11 2019 at 2:30 pm $120.00 per exam (late fee)
Any exam that is cancelled AFTER Nov. 15 automatically forfeits at least $45.00 in fees to AP.
The later a test is cancelled, even less of the fee is returned. (This does not apply to 2nd sem. courses such as Micro Economics which has separate deadlines)
Registrations that have not been paid for by Nov. 11 will be cancelled and exams will not be ordered. Please contact Mrs. Brody if you would like to register for an exam not listed.
How does my student make an appointment to see their counselor?
Students - Follow these easy steps to schedule an appointment:
1) Students, please access this link: https://goo.gl/esufJc
2) Find your counselor's name and click "schedule an appointment.”
3) Choose the next available open appointment, write a brief description of what it is you want to talk about, click save and you are done. You will need to be logged into your student email and will receive a confirmation email once complete.
4) You will use this email as your pass to show your teacher. Your teacher will write you a green pass to leave the classroom. You may always come to the counseling office for a signed green pass. We suggest you save this link for your convenience.
Parents –Please call or email your child’s counselor to set up an appointment
Mrs. Essig's Top Picks
Would you like to attend college out of state but can't afford out of state tuition?
Learn more about the State of Michigan's Financial Aid Programs
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!
SAT Prep/Khan Academy Scholarship Opportunity
A little practice goes a long way. With Official SAT Practice, focus on exactly what you need to work on most as you prepare for the SAT.
Students in the class of 2020 who use free Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® can earn a chance at a $1,000 scholarship. The College Board will award 150 Practice scholarships every month from January through October 2019.
How to Qualify
Practice for six hours on Khan Academy® to qualify and earn one entry in the monthly drawing. Earn one entry for each additional hour you practice, up to a total of 20 hours.
Get Started
- Join College Board Opportunity Scholarships program.
- Sign in to your College Board and Khan Academy® accounts.
- Link your College Board and Khan Academy® accounts.
- Start practicing for the SAT on Khan Academy®.
- Practice for six or more hours.
Practice Scholarship Tips
- What is Official SAT Practice?
College Board and Khan Academy® partnered together to offer a FREE and personalized Official SAT Practice program to help you improve your SAT scores. There are thousands of practice questions, video lessons, practice tests, and more.
- How do you link your accounts?
Create a Khan Academy® account on satpractice.org and link your College Board and Khan Academy® accounts. Next, click the prompt to agree to send your scores from the College Board to Khan Academy® to successfully link your accounts. Watch this video for guidance.
You must link your accounts for your practice hours to count toward the $1,000 Practice scholarship.
- How can you earn entries?
Spend six hours on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®practicing for the SAT to earn your first entry. Earn one entry for each additional hour you practice, up to a total of 20 hours.
Class of 2020.... start your college exploration and you might win a scholarship!
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. Pat Watson, Principal
Ashleigh Larkin, Assistant Principal
Eric Pace, Assistant Principal
Eric Pierce, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Jamie Glinz, Assistant Principal
Email: noelle.essig@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/Domain/8
Location: 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)865-6768
Twitter: @WBHSCounseling
Quick Links
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