ON Student Services Newsletter
September 2022
National Suicide Prevention Week is September 4–10
We will have a table in the commons with drawings, resources, swag and more!
Please join us in wearing purple & teal on Friday September 9th.
College Now and AP Exam Info.
College Now Info – The enrollment for College Now credit through JCCC is open! The deadline is Friday, September 16th, so do not wait to take care of all of the steps to apply, submit prerequisites, enroll and pay. All of the information needed can be found here: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/8747 Contact Mrs. McQuay at ymmcquay@olatheschools.org if you need a copy of your transcript to upload to your JCCC account and contact Ms. Etherton at nmetherton@olatheschools.org with all other questions.
AP Exam Registration Info – Registration and Payment for AP Exams is now open! Students register to take the exam through their College Board account and payment is made directly to the district through TouchBase. The deadline to register and pay is Tuesday, Nov 1st. All of the information needed can be found here: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/9587 Contact Ms. Etherton at nmetherton@olatheschools.org with questions.
Kansas City Metro EXPO Fair
The Kansas City Metro EXPO Fair is being held at Olathe North High School on Monday, September 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM! This college fair will allow students and parents the opportunity to meet with College Admissions representatives, as well as visit info sessions on Financial Aid (presented by Johnson County Community College) and First Generation Students (presented by Hispanic Development Fund). Additionally, every student who attends will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card from Amazon or an Apple product! We already have 70 Colleges and Universities signed up to attend with more joining every day. Save the date – We will see you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Van Winkle at lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org or schedule a meeting with him here: https://calendly.com/lvanwinkle!
ACT Testing Information
Who should take the ACT?
Any student planning on attending a 4-year university. Many schools have waived the ACT scores for the class of 2022 however, it is still required for many scholarships at universities. It is unclear at this time, what will be decided for the class of 2023.
When should I start taking the ACT?
We recommend starting by the end of Sophomore year. The June test is a great test to get started in the process. For an additional $20 students can get a copy of the test booklet and their answers about a month after they take the test. This is a great learning tool to see areas where you need to make improvements. The test information release is offered for the April, June, and December tests.
Most students will take the ACT 3 times. We also recommend being finished by the end of the summer before Senior year in taking the test. The ACT is offered in June, July, September, October, December, and April each year.
What should you do to get ready for the test?
Practice! Research has shown the more you look at the test and prepare the better you will do. We also recommend taking a prep test.
How does a student register for the ACT?
Students will need to register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. They will need to set up an account to register and pay for an exam. Students on free/reduced lunches can talk to a counselor and use an ACT waiver for 2 free exams. This account will be where students will check their testing location and confirm their registration.
From Mr. Van Winkle, College Advisor
My name is Mr. Logan Van Winkle and I will be the College Adviser here at Olathe North for the 2022-2023 school year! This will be my second year at the school and I am so excited to continue my work here. My job is to help students figure out what they want to do after graduating from high school.
Despite “college” being in my job title, my goal is to meet students where they are at. Whether you are interested in college, trade schools, military, or the workforce, I am here to help in any way that I can. Please utilize me as much as you need. It is what I am here for. Schedule a meeting at ANY time, using this link: https://calendly.com/lvanwinkle
Contact Information:
Email: lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org
Phone (Google Voice): (913) 738-2103
Social Media: @OlatheNorthCCC (Twitter/Instagram)
To Schedule a Meeting: https://calendly.com/lvanwinkle
Upcoming ACT Dates:
- September 10, 2022 (Deadline to register has passed)
- October 22, 2022 (Deadline to register is September 16th!)
- December 10, 2022 (Deadline to register is November 4th!)
College Rep Visits:
- September 12, 2022 – University of Chicago
- September 13, 2022 – Avila University
- September 16, 2022 – Kansas State University
- September 19, 2022 – Pittsburg State University
- September 23, 2022 – Wichita State University
- September 27, 2022 – Oklahoma State University
This is a time to meet with College Representatives on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays during A/I time from 10:40 AM to 11:10 AM in the front office (unless otherwise noted)!
To sign up for any of these Rep Visits, fill out this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDs3XRM6k-zNiKDiC9qPklBMbrvygPCKTSyPCS8RDHyx0swA/viewform
If you have any questions, please contact me via email, phone call, or stopping by my office.
Follow Me:
Don’t forget to go follow @OlatheNorthCCC on Twitter and Instagram! I am trying to update both as often as possible to make sure that you all get the most up to date news and information. I will also be having giveaways and Senior/College Spotlights throughout the year! Don’t miss out on the fun – Go follow me TODAY!
Do you need to take the Accuplacer test?
Accuplacer refers to a testing system that can be used to determine if post-secondary students have the skills and knowledge needed to start taking college-level courses, regardless of whether they're enrolling in a career-training or traditional college program. The purpose of the Accuplacer tests is to evaluate the mathematics, reading and writing skills of test-takers. Some individuals may also take the Accuplacer tests during high school to determine if they are ready to pursue postsecondary studies or to identify areas where they need to improve to be ready for college.
Many students who are going to a 2-year university take this test in place of the ACT or SAT. It can also be used when enrolling in College Now clases.
JCCC Testing Services offers the ACCUPLACER placement test through scheduled on-campus appointments. The test is not timed, and there is no charge.
STEPS TO TAKING THE ACCUPLACER:
- Enroll at JCCC and get a JCCC ID number: https://www.jccc.edu/admissions/enrollment/.
- Once you have enrolled at JCCC, you will be informed about when you need to take the Accuplacer test. You can schedule a test at https://www.jccc.edu/student-resources/testing-centers/testing/.
- Accuplacer study materials can be found here: https://studentportal.accuplacer.org/#/home.
- Show up for your scheduled appointment with your JCCC ID a current official photo ID. Score reports are available immediately after testing. You are allowed one retest during the dates specified by Testing Services.
For further information regarding scheduling or testing, you may contact Testing Services by email at testingservices@jccc.edu or by phone at 913-469-4439.
Senior Spotlight
Senior Counseling Meetings
This week ON counselors met with Senior students in their English classrooms to discuss plans after high school. We are now calling Seniors into the counseling office for individual meetings. Below is is the information Seniors were given during Senior talks.
You can go to college — BigFuture can help you get there.
Betting ready for college? Count on BigFuture to help out. BigFuture is the College Board’s free college planning tool, designed to support students like you from your first thoughts about college to your first day on campus. BigFuture will help you:
- Handle the college planning process.
- Find the college where you’ll thrive.
- Take a look at your interests and career options.
- Make informed choices.
- Discover your big future.
Check it out here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/.
Free WorkKeys test for SENIORS
On Wednesday, October 12, seniors at Olathe North (that did NOT take it last year) are offered the opportunity to take an OPTIONAL, but Free WorkKeys test during the National Testing Day. SIGNUPS END THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15!
The WorkKeys on October12: ACT WorkKeys® assessments measure foundational skills required for success in the workplace, and help measure the workplace skills that can affect job performance. Individuals who successfully complete the three WorkKeys assessments—Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents—earn the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (WorkKeysNCRC®). A student planning on going into a post-secondary training such as a technical school, going into the workplace, or going into the military likely will not need to take the ACT. They might see a bigger benefit to take the ACT WorkKeys.
Want to sign up for the WorkKeys? Go to the link below.
https://forms.gle/fP3yA4pkhB85W8C68
If you have questions regarding WorkKeys testing, contact Jim Tarwater: jtarwateron@olatheschools.org or in room 216 at ONHS.
Scholarship Search Resources:
Scholarship Guidance: https://scholarshipguidance.com/scholarships
Student Scholarship.org: https://studentscholarships.org/2021scholarships.php
Transcripts
All official transcripts must be requested through Xello. Please see instructions below:
Xello Student Account Login Directions
Xello Transcript Request Directions
If you have trouble accessing your transcript, or if you would like an unofficial copy for yourself, please contact Mrs. McQuay in the counseling office.
Olathe School District H.E.L.P. Clinic
Any situation that causes an interruption in the learning process is a serious educational concern. Students who are finding school difficult because of poor study skills, adjustment concerns, or relationships with others can find help through the clinic. Parents who want to learn more effective ways of encouraging and motivating children in school can also turn to the clinic.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is a service provided by the Olathe Public Schools. All services are free of charge to any student enrolled in the Olathe Public Schools, either in a remote environment or onsite.
- Individual and family counseling consists of short-term counseling (six sessions) for students and their families.
- Small group counseling with other grade-level or near grade-level peers serve those who would thrive learning and growing from a group structure. Groups would meet for six sessions.
- Play therapy is a technique where the child's natural means of expression, namely play, is used as a therapeutic method to assist him/her in coping with stress or life difficulties. Play therapy is used effectively at the H.E.L.P. Clinic with children ages 5 to 8 years old. Play therapy may not be used with every child and is available on a limited basis.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is staffed by professional school counselors, school psychologists, social workers and other school-based mental health providers. All clinicians are Olathe Public Schools employees or retired employees who have an active license in school mental health. These accredited and experienced professionals have a sincere interest in assisting students and families to better deal with challenges that impact students' abilities to achieve educational success.
Check out the H.E.L.P. Clinic website for more information: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/3522
Olathe North Student Services Team
Rachel Gunderson (students with last names A-D): rmgunderson@olatheschools.org
Nicole Etherton (students with last names E-Li): nmetherton@olatheschools.org
Tammie Milke (students with last names Lo-Ri): tmilkeon@olatheschools.org
Carrie Parazin (students with last names Ro-Z): cnparazin@olatheschools.org
Logan Van Winkle (College Advisor): lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org
Molly Askew (Student Support Liaison): msaskew@olatheschools.org
Need Support Now? If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
ASVAB Testing for Olathe Juniors and Seniors
Are you a junior or senior student that might have an interest in the military? Then the ASVAB test administered by the military on Wednesday, October 12 may be a good choice for you to take on the National Assessment Day at Olathe North! There is NO COST to the student and there is NO OBLIGATION to the military. The reports provide great information about you and your strengths and can provide valuable insight to possible career choices in your future. Take it at Olathe North in an environment where you are comfortable.
Sign-ups have started and will end soon so register today! There are limited number of slots available so sign up now. If you register and decide to take another test and wish to change, send Mr. Tarwater an email to make the change.
Jim Tarwater (jtarwateron@olatheschools.org)
Link to sign up for the ASVAB test on the October 12 testing day: