LAHS School Counselors - April
Useful Information for Students and Families
Updates during COVID-19
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
We continue to hope you stay safe and healthy during this uncertain time of COVID-19. We miss all of our students.
Depending on what is going on in the lives of our families, we all have been impacted by the changes in the past few weeks. We are all facing different challenges but ultimately we are all in this together. In this month's newsletter, we will be continuing to update and work hard to add resources that will help you and your students take action for the future.
Fondly,
Mrs. O'Connor and Mrs. Fennell
Scheduling for 2020-2021 Classes
The Powerschool portal is open and available for all students. The portal will be open for changes until May 1st.
Please see the website for questions regarding how to select classes with guided tutorials and/or the Course Selection Guide.
Updates on Testing
Continue to monitor the daily/weekly updates from these testing organizations:
The JUNE SAT has been canceled! College Board will be offering lots of testing options starting in August. Please monitor the sites for information.
SAT coronavirus updates - official update from the College Board.
ACT update for US students - official update from ACT.
AP Updates for Schools Impacted by Coronavirus - official update and AP class schedules from the College Board.
Updates on College Search and Future Planning
Everything is new and different, especially future planning. EVERYONE is adjusting and changing, including colleges, universities, and other future options. Here are some helpful tips for thinking about your future planning:
List of College Virtual Tours - a spreadsheet compiled by Rebecca Chabrow, listing colleges in the U.S, U.K, and Canada that are offering virtual campus tours.
https://explore.cialfo.co/webinars
Cialfo is a college search platform that is developing virtual online fairs and is a fantastic way to gather information on colleges and universities you are interested in learning more about for your future planning.
Staying Connected in the time of Coronavirus - an article by our partners at the Common App.
List of colleges that are test-optional - a FairTest resource for test-optional colleges in the U.S.
College Tour Worksheet - a PDF college tour worksheet by Texas Gear Up.
Colleges and universities are going to be constantly re-structuring. Please be visiting their websites for updates and the most accurate information.
PHEAA Finanical Aid Webinar
PHEAA will be offering a webinars to gain a complete understanding of the financial aid process. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Agency (PHEAA) will be providing an overview of how to apply for all types of financial aid, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which are mandatory for federal student and parent loans. This will also be a great opportunity to have PHEAA representatives answer questions you may have.
PHEAA continues to receive great interest in Financial Aid Webinars (our April webinars have reached maximum capacity) - as a result, PHEAA will be offering additional webinars in May on the following dates from 6-7 pm: May 7, 14 and 21. Feel free to share the below links with your students and families.
Click Here to register for the May 7 webinar from 6-7 pm
Click Here to register for the May 14 webinar from 6-7 pm
Click Here to register for the May 21 webinar from 6-7 pm
** UPDATE - APRIL 23rd and April 30th webinars are FULL
Click here to register for the April 23 webinar
Click here to register for April 30th webinar
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our representative, Tiffanie DeVann at tdevan@pheaa.org
Scholarship Info
It's never too early to start looking for scholarships.
Great resources for scholarship info- it's never too early to create an account.
FastWeb Great article
Naviance
Please remember you can always use a little extra time to be starting your College and Career Search progress by using Naviance, which is our future planning platform.
www.student.naviance.com/lewisburghs
IF YOU HAVE NOT RESET YOUR PASSWORD, you need to!!
Your prior password was your computer log-in information.
email: last_f
password: lunchID
When you put this in, it automatically sends a password reset to school email.
To log into school email - search Office 365 and put same above info in (computer log in).
** Please save your new password in a safe place since you only have access to your password.**
Try the CollegeSearch or under the "About Me" tab, the assessments.
Mental Health and Stress Management
If you find yourself struggling with your mental health and have thoughts of harming yourself or others, or need support please call or text the following:
CMSU Crisis Hotline: 1-800-222-9016 ** Local option**
National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
National Crisis TEXT line: SHARE to 741 741
Trevor Project Lifeline (LGBTQIA): 1-866-488-7386
TrevorText: START 678 678
BE IN TOUCH with your counselors (oconnor_e@lasd.us or fennell_v@lasd.us )or social worker Jared Curry is also available curry_j@lasd.us .
What does a normal healthy day look like for kids in this abnormal time?
- Get dressed
- Create a schedule: When will you shower, work, do chores?
- Plan your week: What will you do each day (work, home projects, etc.)? Keep variety.
- Go outside: Walk or jog. Exercise and sunlight are medicine, and exercise is an evidence-based treatment of depression. Some of my students are doing online workouts offered by gym or by various websites.
- Be intentional: Pick up a hobby. Tap into curiosity, and see this as an opportunity.
- Beware of too much social media: Some social media is good for social connectedness with friends and family.
- Be a helper: Giving back and helping others lifts our mood.
- Limit your time spent listening/looking at news sources. Make them reliable (i.e. CDC)
(National Association for School Psychologists, blog post by Dr. Steven Hoff, professor)
LAHS School Counselors
Please email (we do not have access to our voicemails)
oconnor_e@lasd.us (A-K) or fennell_v@lasd.us (L-Z)
now through the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
Follow us on instagram too @LAHSGuidance
Website: www.lasd.us
Location: 545 Newman Road, Lewisburg, PA, USA
Phone: 570-522-3225
Facebook: facebook.com/LAHSguidance