The HHS Counseling Newsletter
March/April 2024 Issue #4
For All Students
Our Social Worker, School Psychologist, and Mental Health and Wellness Counselor offer additional support for all students at Harriton
They are available to talk with you about yourself and others you care about.
Ms. Mara Manfre, Social Worker
Happy National School Social Work Week, Ms. Manfre! March 3rd-9th
Dr. Andi Fina, School Psychologist
Ms. Alex Maravelias, Mental Health and Wellness Counselor
Department Programming for 2023-24
Career Symposium - Guest Speakers Needed!
Attention parents/guardians: we are looking for 60 dynamic speakers to present about their career for our Career Symposium, which will be held in-person on Friday, May 17 from 12pm-2:40pm.
Please reach out to your networks (family, friends, neighbors, etc.) and if there is anyone you feel would be a great fit, please have them fill out this form: https://forms.gle/8Qrb6oTbQ1AXHEkp6 After they complete the form, we will reach out to them directly with more information. Completing the form does not guarantee or commit them to presenting.
Reminder: The first Digital SAT is on Saturday, 3/9!
Attention all students taking the March SAT on Saturday, March 9 at Lower Merion High School: Since this is the first SAT being administered digitally, we want to remind you to bring your laptop, fully charged, to the testing site. Additionally, you must have your exam set-up complete via the Bluebook app ahead of the assessment. These two steps are crucial. School counselors will be available on Tuesday (3/5) in Room 170 and Wednesday (3/6) in the Student Services Office during Lunch and Learn to help students complete these steps. Good luck!
Extended Advisory - Monday, March 11
On Monday, March 11th, we will have an extended advisory for students to complete the following department programming:
9th Grade - Mid-Year Reflection in Naviance
10th/11th Grade - Virtual College Fair (headphones are required for this activity)
12th Grade - Senior Project Assignments
More information will be shared as we get closer to the date!
March 15 is the last day to order an AP Exam!
Course selection is complete for 24-25!
All rising 9-12 grade students have met with their counselor to choose courses for 2024-25. If you missed your meeting, please email your counselor to review courses that have been selected for you.
Is your email up to date?
The Counseling Department has noticed a large number of bounced parent/guardian emails while sending information to families. If you no longer use an email address that we have on file in PowerSchool, please contact our Registrar, Kate Wosczyna, with the new address: wosczym@lmsd.org.
Summer School Registration Begins April 1st.
The summer school registration window will open on April 1, 2024, and run through May 3, 2024. The summer school season will run from June 17, 2024 to August 2, 2024. More information will be shared closer to the April 1 registration date.
For Seniors
Senior Reminders
- Enter each college decision you receive into your Naviance account under "Colleges I'm Applying To"
- Withdraw or decline offers when you are certain you will not attend. You can do this by sending an email to the general admissions office email address.
- Complete all necessary Financial Aid forms – FAFSA is always required and the CSS Profile is sometimes required. See the FAFSA and CSS Profile banners below for access.
- Update your teacher recommenders when you are adding colleges that were not there originally
- Many colleges are still accepting applications - please see your counselor or Dr. Bell for help.
- When you have made a final decision, set your attending college in Naviance. Deposit to 1 college by May 1st (or later, because of this year's FAFSA difficulties). If you are on a waitlist, you must still deposit to your 2nd choice college to secure your spot. You will need to send a final transcript - more info to come about how to request your final transcript.
Applying for scholarships and appealing financial aid packages.
Seniors - check out the Scholarship Google Doc below - there are many March and April deadlines!
Also, click here to read about how to appeal your financial aid package or report extenuating circumstances.
Transitioning to college with a healthy mindset
The college years are so critical for understanding and talking about mental health, and why NAMI partnered with the Jed Foundation to develop the Mental Health College Guide.
College decisions are coming - learn about possible decision types!
For Juniors
Junior Post-High School Planning - Spring and Summer Timeline
- Schedule your junior meeting with Ms. Burke (see reminder below)
- Explore colleges and careers in Naviance
- Prepare and plan for the SAT or ACT - see registration links below
- Take time to visit colleges virtually and in person by registering online with each college's admission website and/or social media pages - this is an excused absence
- Begin to build your "Colleges I'm Thinking About List" in Naviance
- Introduce yourself to the Common App and the Essay prompts
- Ask two teachers that know you well to write a letter of recommendation for you
- Complete the Junior Questionnaire and turn it in to your counselor by May 31- a copy is provided below. The parent questionnaire/brag sheet is also due by May 31. For juniors, you may fill the questionnaire out in Naviance. Click on your initials in the top right corner of the Naviance homepage, then select the Surveys from Your School Link. The survey is called High School Student Questionnaire.
- Attend the virtual LMSD summer workshops in July and August: Writing the College Essay and Navigating the Common Application and the SRAR - more information to come
College Testing Links
For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Neumann University College Fair
This event is open to students and their families. There are day and evening sessions. Student registration is not required.
Date: April 17, 2024
Location: Neumann University, Mirenda Center
Session 1: 9:00-11:30am
Session 2: 6:00-7:30pm
Webpage: College Fair | Neumann University
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024, 09:00 AM
Neumann University, Neumann Drive, Aston, PA, USA
Career Symposium
The Career Symposium is returning to in-person and will be composed of three 35-minute sessions (25 minutes of presenting with 10 minutes for Q&A). It will be open to all students grades 9-11. We will also have a special bell schedule on the day of the symposium. Stay tuned for more information!
Friday, May 17, 2024, 12:00 PM
Harriton High School, North Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
Main Line Regional College Fair - Villanova University
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 06:00 PM
Finneran Pavilion, East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA
For Sophomores
Sophomore Counselor Meetings to be held this spring
Sophomores will be invited to schedule a meeting with their counselors later this spring. At that time, they can review their individual goals and begin taking steps to develop their post-secondary plans and discuss college planning. Sophomores may look at the upcoming Virtual College Fair AND the Career Symposium as opportunities to think about and develop their career and college goals.
For Freshmen
Freshmen - we are visiting your English classes!
Naviance Tip
Check to see that all of your tasks are completed in Naviance! Tasks can be found on the bottom right side of your Naviance home page. See your school counselor if you have any questions.