Class of 2021 Senior Newsletter #1
First Edition, August 17th, 2020
WELCOME TO SENIOR YEAR!
Welcome to your senior year! I can't imagine that this is anywhere close to what you thought the start of your senior year would look like. I certainly would have liked the opportunity to get to know each of you more during the last few months of your junior year. But when we are faced with weird or new situations, we make adjustments and do the best we can.
This newsletter is going to be the first of many that you get throughout the year. You'll get them through email, through Naviance, and through my Google Classroom (side note, if you do not have access to my Google Classroom, please let me know!). I will be straightforward and say that the majority of the information will be for students who are looking to continue their education after high school. I know that there are lots of students who might not be looking to go down that path, so if you are looking for information and can't find it in these newsletters, please do not be afraid to reach out and ask me (that goes for anything!). My philosophy is to help my students meet their goals in the quickest, most cost-effective way possible. For some that means college, but for others there are alternative routes. I want to work together with all of you to figure out what those routes are.
With all that being said, we can all acknowledge that this year is going to look a little different than most. I ask that you work with me to push through the ups and downs. I also ask that you keep me on my toes. Please don't be afraid to ask questions or bring up topics. I am still so new to Lakeland. I have so much left to learn, and I want to do that with you! If I don't know an answer I will find someone who does.
This newsletter will be primarily focused on walking you through a few topics that I have already been asked about, and that you should be thinking about as your senior year begins. They are:
- Schedules & Graduation Requirements
- Testing
- The CommonApp
- Navigating Naviance (Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation - there's a lot of really crucial information here!!)
- Senior Profiles
- College Communications
- Scholarships
- FAFSA
I want to wish you all nothing but the best senior year. It'll be different, but that doesn't mean we can't make the most out of it. Please know that I am here for anything you need - and that goes well beyond applying to college! Don't ever be afraid to reach out for any reason.
All my best,
Mr. Watters
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
4 English Credits
3 Math Credits
3 Science Credits
3 Social Studies Credits
2 Art/Humanities Credits
1 full Physical Education Credit
0.5 Health Credits
7.5 Elective Credits
EQUALS 24 TOTAL CREDITS
Additionally, you will need to complete a minimum of 20 service hours by May 1st to graduate. You can find the tracking sheet for service hours here.
If you notice that there is something missing from your schedule that should be there, especially if it is a graduation requirement, please email me as soon as possible. You have access to your transcript on Infinite Campus to check for yourself. There is definitely a chance that I missed something - don't let that go unnoticed!
Testing
Upcoming SAT testing dates and deadlines are:
September 26th (registration deadline of August 26th)
October 3rd (registration deadline of September 4th)
November 5th (registration deadline of October 7th)
December 5th (registration deadline of November 5th)
March 13th (registration deadline of February 12th)
May 8th (registration deadline of April 8th)
Upcoming ACT testing dates and deadlines are:
September 12th (registration deadline of August 28th)
September 13th (registration deadline of August 28th)
September 19th (registration deadline of August 28th)
October 10th (registration deadline of September 17th)
October 17th (registration deadline of September 17th)
October 24th (registration deadline of September 17th)
October 25th (registration deadline of September 17th)
December 12th (registration deadline of November 6th)
February 6th (registration deadline of January 8th)
April 17th (registration deadline of March 12th)
- Please note that many colleges and universities have decided to go test optional for the 2020-2021 application period. This means that you can submit test scores if you would like, or think they will benefit you, or you can choose not to submit if you think it might be a detriment to your application. Institutions are aware of the challenges that students are facing in their attempts to take the SAT, and what that rollercoaster might do to their SAT scores. I strongly encourage you to learn about the application requirements of the schools that you are considering prior to taking the SAT or ACT.
- An important consideration is that you are given the ability to send your SAT scores to up to four colleges for free. I encourage you to use these if you are planning to submit your scores. We cannot send test scores to schools for you. Schools typically only accept score reports that come directly from the test provider. This means that you will have to pay the test provider to send your scores to schools.
The CommonApp
You can create a CommonApp account here: COMMONAPP WEBSITE
What You'll Need to Complete The CommonApp
CommonAPP/Naviance Matching
You will need to match your CommonApp account with Naviance in order to get transcripts sent to the schools you are applying to.
Please watch this video. It walks you through how to create a CommonApp Account, and how to match your CommonApp and Naviance accounts:
CREATING A COMMONAPP ACCOUNT AND MATCHING NAVIANCE WITH THE COMMONAPP
The CommonApp and Transcripts
Naviance
Ahh, speaking of Naviance!...
If you forget your account password, there is a link on the Naviance Student main page that you can click to reset your account. If you have forgotten the email address you used to register, or just can't get logged in, let me know and I will get it taken care of.
The "Explore" Option
I strongly encourage you to explore not only on Naviance, but by Googling careers, looking at the O*Net Online Career Database, job shadowing, and any other way you can think of. If you have any questions about your exploration, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Please watch this video. It shows you exactly where to go to explore careers on Naviance.
Transcripts on Naviance
If you apply to a college, that college will require a copy of your high school transcript in order to be accepted. You will need to request to send a transcript to that college through Naviance.
Please watch this video. It walks you through how to request a transcript on Naviance. REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT ON NAVIANCE
A plea from Mr. Watters - please only request transcripts be sent to schools that you have already applied to. This will lighten my load a bit and help me get transcripts out to schools a little quicker.
Letters of Recommendation on Naviance
If you are applying to college, you must request a Letter of Recommendation right on Naviance. This will allow your teachers to communicate directly with the college, and ensure that the college will receive the letter.
Please watch this video. It walks you through how to request a Letter of Recommendation through Naviance.
REQUESTING A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION ON NAVIANCE
*** It is important to note that you should always ask your teacher for a Letter of Recommendation before you submit the request on Naviance. Your teachers will be getting many requests, and good letters take time to write. It would be very beneficial for you to ask teachers for Letters of Recommendation soon to give them plenty of time to write them. ***
*** Some teachers will also want more information from you so that they can write the best letter possible. This will be the case for me as well, especially since I have not had much time to get to know you. Keep reading to find out what that looks like. ***
Senior Profiles
It is good practice to have a document ready to give anyone you ask for a Letter of Recommendation. This should include accomplishments, activities, work, personal qualities, and anything else you think has helped make you who you are today.
The counseling department has created a Senior Profile document to help guide those thoughts and self-reflective activities. There are lots of questions that are meant to make you think about yourself, and reflect on where you have been and where you plan to go. You are not required to answer every single question, but you should include as much information as possible so that your recommender can write you the best letter possible.
If you follow the link below, you will be able to make a copy of the Senior Profile sheet. You can complete this right in Google Docs, or print it out and jot down your thoughts. There will be an assignment created in my Google Classroom around the first day of school where you can submit your Senior Profiles to me. I will use them to write any letters for you, and can distribute them to teachers if you ask me to.
If you have any questions about the Senior Profile, please don't be afraid to ask!
College & Career Communications
For now, there is only one to note:
If you have any interest in attending Dickinson College, Jesse McDonald, who is Lakeland's school representative from Dickinson, is conducting virtual interviews. If you have any interest in participating in a virtual interview with Dickinson College, please click on the link below.
Scholarships
For now, you can start getting familiar with scholarships by looking through the Scholarship Search tab in Naviance.
Please watch this video. It walks you through how to access Scholarships through Naviance.
FAFSA
Now Breathe!
Remember, I AM HERE FOR YOU. Reach out. We might not be in the building, but I can still be there to help you through whatever you're carrying with you. Enjoy the last little bit of summer. Get ahead, relax, and bring a fresh mind to this new, weird school year. I am so looking forward to seeing all the great things you will do!
Until next time,
Mr. Watters
Lakeland School Counseling Office
Classes of 2022, 2024, & 2026
Make an appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/MrsdeQuevedo
Mr. Watters - zwatters@lakelandsd.org
Classes of 2021, 2023, & 2025
Make an appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/MrWatters
During this time out of school, it is best for you to contact us via email, or set up an appointment. From there we can set up other means of communication.
Email: lhsguidance@lakelandsd.org
Website: http://counselingatlakeland.weebly.com/
Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States
Phone: 570-254-9485
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lhscounselors/
Twitter: @chiefsguidance