COUNSELOR CONNECTION
La Canada High School
DAILY LCHS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Can't hear the PA Announcements in class? Did you know that all of the announcements are posted on the school website? Just go to the Student Portal on the upper left corner of the website, then "PA Announcements" on the right gold bar. (Or, you can click here for the link.) Stay informed and never miss an announcement again!
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
COLLEGEWISE HOSTS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Q & A DISCUSSION IN PASADENA
Got college admissions questions? If you've ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors when an application is reviewed or why summer activities and letters of recommendation matter to colleges, please join other local parents for a Q & A discussion. Event takes place TONIGHT, Tuesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
English Language Development Parent Night
Parent participation is very important to the ELD Program! Your Opinion Matters!
Join the English Learner Advisory Committee for a Parent Meeting (Students also welcome).
This Thursday, March 23, 2017- Click here for translated information.
6:30 p.m. at the Governing Board Room
District Office, 4490 Cornishon Ave.
(round brick building)
Please come to give your opinion of actions and services for English learners for next school year!
Learn about updates in the ELD Program!
- Ask La Canada High School Counselors your questions
Meet New Elementary ELD Teachers
Review New ELD Master Plan
Understand New Reclassification to English Fluent Guidelines
Look at New Annual Progress Monitoring
Celebrate Reclassified Students!
Translation in Mandarin, Korean, Spanish and Armenian will be provided.
Please join us!
Attention AP Students
Deadline for AP Exam Sign-Ups is this Friday, March 24th
Step 1: Print and complete the AP form under “Counseling” on the school website (lchsspartans.net).
Step 2: Take completed form and payment to Mrs. Hicklin in the counseling office before school, after school, lunch and break only – Mrs. Hicklin is not available during class time. Checks should be made out to LCHS-AP Exams. If paying cash, please have exact change.
· Fee is $100 per exam February 6th-February 24th
· Fee increases to $115 from February 27th – March 17th
· Fee increases to $130 from March 20th – March 24th
Tests will take place from May 1st through May 12th.
"Water is Life" Student Art Contest
Foothill Municipal Water District (located in La Cañada Flintridge, CA) is sponsoring its 6th annual K-12 student art contest this year.
Deadline for entries is Monday, April 3, 2017 and must be submitted to 4536 Hampton Road, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. Click here for more information.
NEW POST: LCHS ATHLETIC OPEN HOUSE
Aimed at new families to the high school, so incoming 8th graders and anyone who will have a new 10-12th grader. Event takes place from 6-6:30 in the NORTH GYM on Thursday, April 6th. We will introduce the coaching staff, Positive Coaching Alliance and Core Values and then the coaches will do a meet and greet for the reminder of the 30 minutes. This is the only time that incoming freshman and their parents can speak with the coaches until after 8th grade Promotion.
NEW POST: Challenge Success: Building Your Path:
On Saturday, April 8th, we will have guest speakers on campus for a full day, meeting with students, sharing their careers choices, and providing much-needed perspective to our students. There are already many students coming for the day, and it promises to be an excellent time for all. Click here for more information: https://buildingyourpath2017.sched.com/
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE CAREERTECH OPEN HOUSE
Pasadena City College Economic Workforce Development will be presenting a CareerTech fair in May 2017. A student interest list has been started in the counseling office. Please see Mrs. Erickson at break or lunch by April 28th to sign up.
UPDATED POST: TEST PREP AND TUTORING RESOURCES
With SAT and ACT testing season upon us, the counseling department would like to share a list of test prep and tutoring programs available, both locally and online. Click here for details. Be sure to check back often as discounts and new programs are added regularly!
OMEGA YEARBOOK STAFF APPLICATIONS FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
Interested in becoming a part of the Omega Yearbook staff next school year? Click here to apply! https://goo.gl/forms/6Gj4tHAHEhgnGDUL2
Stuck on a homework assignment?
The Princeton Review’s new service, Homework Help is there for you! They cover more than 40 subjects including AP classes. Get help with homework, go over a concept you missed in class or prepare for a big exam. Their expert tutors are available 24 hours 7 days a week, and 96% of students report they improved their grades. Start your FREE 60-minute trial today: PrincetonReview.com/BetterGrades
Freshman Forum
Follow Link Crew this year!
Instagram: @LCHSlinkcrew / Snapchat: LClinkcrew / Twitter: LCLinkcrew
Remind 101 Counseling Text Reminders
- If you would like to receive text reminders and valuable information from your counselor this year, text @yourcouns to 81010 to join the Freshman Forum Remind 101.
SOPHOMORE SCENE
NEW POST: LCHS PEER TUTORING PROGRAM IS LOOKING FOR TUTORS!
Interested in volunteering here at LCHS during fourth quarter? The LCHS Peer Tutoring Program is looking for committed volunteers to continue the great work of this new program on our campus. If you are interested, please apply here: 2017 LCHS Peer Tutor Application and come to an informational meeting during STEP on Wednesday, April 5th or Thursday, April 6th.
College Visit Road Trip
Are you planning a college visit road trip for summer or spring break? Read here for some valuable advice: http://ctcl.org/practical-advice-for-a-college-road-trip/
PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES STUDENT AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
The Student Ambassadors Program is sponsored by the Tournament of Roses to promote volunteerism among high school students. Students are given the opportunity to work alongside Tournament Members for a minimum of 40 community service hours assisting with a variety of events and activities related to the Rose Parade. Activities include interacting with the public at Tournament of Roses events including float decorating venues, assisting band members at Bandfest, during the Parade as ushers in the official Grandstands and float island helpers at the Post Parade float viewing venue. Click here for more information. Deadline for applying is April 28th, 2017.
Remind 101 Counseling Text Reminders
- If you would like to receive text reminders and valuable information from your counselor this year, text @yourcoun to 81010 to join the Sophomore Scene Remind 101.
JUNIOR JUNCTION
NEW POST: LCHS PEER TUTORING PROGRAM IS LOOKING FOR TUTORS!
Interested in volunteering here at LCHS during fourth quarter? The LCHS Peer Tutoring Program is looking for committed volunteers to continue the great work of this new program on our campus. If you are interested, please apply here: 2017 LCHS Peer Tutor Application and come to an informational meeting during STEP on Wednesday, April 5th or Thursday, April 6th.
College Visit Road Trip
Are you planning a college visit road trip for summer or spring break? Read here for some valuable advice: http://ctcl.org/practical-advice-for-a-college-road-trip/
UPDATED POST: PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES STUDENT AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
The Student Ambassadors Program is sponsored by the Tournament of Roses to promote volunteerism among high school students, specifically rising seniors. Students are given the opportunity to work alongside Tournament Members for a minimum of 40 community service hours assisting with a variety of events and activities related to the Rose Parade. Activities include interacting with the public at Tournament of Roses events including float decorating venues, assisting band members at Bandfest, during the Parade as ushers in the official Grandstands and float island helpers at the Post Parade float viewing venue. If you are interested in this opportunity, please inform your counselor by April 14th.
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR AT PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
Kick off your college search by attending a national college fair on April 20, 2017. Held at the Pasadena Convention Center, admission representatives from colleges across the country will be on hand to encourage you to learn more about their institutions and to help you sort through the qualities you’re looking for in a college.
Use your visit to:
Explore your options. Typically representatives from 175 to 400 colleges attend. The schools are located throughout the US, and from around the globe.
Ask questions. What’s college life like? What majors are popular on campus? Chatting with representatives from a variety of colleges can help you cement your own preferences.
Gather information. Pick up brochures and other materials about the schools that interest you. Ask admission reps to scan your barcode—an easy way to help colleges follow up with you after the fair.
To get a barcode, you must register here in advance. Fair is free and open to the public from 9 am to noon, and 6 pm to 8:30 pm.
2017-2018 Common Application Prompts Announced
The Common Application has announced the essay prompts for the 2017-2018 season. There are prompts that are exactly the same as last year, some changes, some similarities, and a few more options. High school juniors with their sights on college can start thinking about what they want to share with colleges. However, they will not be able to submit their applications until late summer when the 2017-2018 application cycle opens. Click here for more information.
Remind 101 Counseling Text Reminders
- If you would like to receive text reminders and valuable information from your counselor this year, text @juniorjun to 81010 to join the Junior Junction Remind 101.
SENIOR STOP
DUE THIS FRIDAY BY 3 PM: $5 CSF GOLD SEAL BEARER DUES
There are a number of seniors with Gold Seal Bearer Status who have not paid the $5 dues for his/her CSF graduation cord. Please check your CSF status outside of Mr. Cartnal’s office anytime during non-class hours (before or after school, break, lunch). If your number is highlighted, please pay $5 to Mr. Spitler (the CSF Advisor) in room 114 by no later than this Friday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m.
DUE THIS FRIDAY BY 3 PM: LCTA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The LCTA Scholarship Applications are listed on the Naviance website under “Scholarship List,” which is located in the colleges tab. LCTA Scholarships include: the Jeanne Maus Scholarship; the Fred Stuhr Scholarship; the Ryder Buck Scholarship; the Steven Orr Scholarship; the Marjorie Pursel Scholarship; Dorothy Griffin; the LCTA Future Teacher Scholarship; and the LCTA Patrick Rappleye Memorial Scholarship. Please read the descriptions carefully and apply by the deadline of Friday, March 24. Due to spring break starting at the close school this day, please submit your completed applications to Mrs. Hicklin in the Counseling Office by no later than this Friday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m.
NEW POST: SENIOR PACKETS FOR YEAR-END ACTIVITIES
On Monday, April 3rd, Senior Packets will be signed out to all current seniors. This includes 5 graduation tickets, permissions slips, and all senior information pertaining to senior year-end activities and graduation. The packets must be signed out at Mrs. Alequin's desk, before school, at break, and after school only.
NEW POST: LCHS PEER TUTORING PROGRAM IS LOOKING FOR TUTORS!
Interested in volunteering here at LCHS during fourth quarter? The LCHS Peer Tutoring Program is looking for committed volunteers to continue the great work of this new program on our campus. If you are interested, please apply here: 2017 LCHS Peer Tutor Application and come to an informational meeting during STEP on Wednesday, April 5th or Thursday, April 6th.
NEW POST: PCC ASSESSMENT CENTER
If you are a PCC applicant who missed the on-site PAWS assessment day at LCHS last week, or if you are still planning on applying to PCC but have not done so yet, please remember that you will need to take your math and English placement tests on campus at PCC. Please consult the “Assessment Center” website for more details.
https://pasadena.edu/admissions-and-aid/assessment-services/assessment-exams/index.php
GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Meet with a GCC representative Thursday’s at lunch in the LCHS Quad on 3/24, 4/21, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19.
Remember, priority registration is given to students who complete their application by April 28th.
“THE BEST SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH PLATFORMS OF 2017”
Reviews.com is a website that is designed to provide consumers with research about a wide variety of categories. This particular article is focused on scholarship search engines. Please keep in mind that LCHS strongly encourages our students to use Naviance to research local scholarship opportunities. The article is being included here so that you may become better aware of outside resources available to you. Click on the link in the title to read more.
DEALING WITH COLLEGE REJECTION LETTERS
The number one thing to remember when you receive a rejection letter from a college is to NOT take it personal. This can be especially hard when it comes from a school where you feel like you’ve invested a lot of time and energy, or when it comes from school that you had pegged as your top choice school. The rejection is not personal, but rather is a sign that the college simply did not have enough space to accept everyone who applied. YOU are still a worthy human, capable of college, regardless of that rejection.
It is highly likely that you did your research and had other schools on the list that you also loved, and chances are that some of these schools have or will accept you. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people (even famous, highly successful people) who did not get into all of the colleges to which they applied, yet they still went on to have meaningful, productive and enjoyable college experiences. Refocus your energy and spend time celebrating your acceptances. Embrace the opportunities that those schools will bring. You even still have time to develop a plan B if you are really not happy with your choices (gap year, community college…). Take your time in making your decision and feel free to reach out to your high school counselor if you need any assistance at all.
References:
ATTENTION CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY APPLICANTS
EPT and ELM Placement Tests
The California State University (CSU) requires you to take the English Placement Test (EPT) and the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) exam prior to enrollment in the CSU. Your scores will determine which Math and English courses you should take to begin your career at CSU. You may be exempt from taking the EPT or ELM based on your scores earned on other appropriate tests such as the CSU's Early Assessment Program (EAP) tests in English and Mathematics, the SAT®, ACT®, or Advanced Placement® (AP). Check to see if you are EXEMPT from taking the EPT/ELM at: http://www.calstate.edu/sas/ept-elm-exemptions.shtml
If you are not exempt, please sign up to take your EPT and/or ELM exams at a CSU location: https://ept-elm.ets.org/CSU/
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
LCTA SCHOLARSHIPS due this Friday!
The LCTA Scholarship Applications are now listed on the Naviance website under 'Scholarship List'. Please read the descriptions carefully and apply by the deadline of March 24.
UPDATED POST: Click here for current scholarship opportunities with deadlines in March through May. For a more extensive list of scholarship opportunities, check Naviance under Colleges tab, and click on "Scholarship List."
EARNING MONEY FOR COLLEGE DURING HIGH SCHOOL!
There is a new opportunity to start earning money towards college as a freshman, through micro-scholarships for various colleges. The program is called raise.me, which is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. There are over 100 colleges that are partnering with this organization and you can follow that college like an Instagram account. It is easy and free to register on raise.me. You can earn money for every A or B you earn, doing community service, earning your Eagle Scout or Gold Award, taking an AP test, etc… Check it out and let your counselor know if you decided to register. When you are a senior and you are accepted to one of the partner schools (that you have been following and earning money for), you can use this money towards college tuition and expenses.
College/Career Resources
2016 UC AND CAL STATE ADMISSIONS STATS
Curious about the admission rates, GPA and test scores from the 2016 UC and Cal State entering classes? Click here for 2016 UC and CSU FRESHMEN ADMISSION STATS
DISPELLING TOXIC MYTHS AROUND ADMISSIONS, presented by Collegewise
Thank you to all who were able to make it on Thursday, March 9th to hear CEO of Collegewise Paul Kanarek present on "College Admissions Today: Fact vs Fiction." If you were unable to make it, click here for a copy of the presentation.
LOCAL COLLEGE FAIR OPPORTUNITIES IN APRIL
Free California Out-of-State & International (COSI) College Fairs in Southern CA in April 2017
HIGH SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AT GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Interested in studying abroad over the summer in Bali, Sydney, Ireland, or England? Visit www.glendale.edu/studyabroad to learn about opportunities available through Glendale Community College. Interested in taking Armenian, Japanese, or Italian language classes for college credit? GCC has Foreign Language courses open to high school students. See your counselor or call the GCC Language Arts division (818-240-1000 ext5767) for more information.
Ron Brown Scholar Program
The Ron Brown Scholar Program is accepting applications for the Guided Pathway Support Program. This is a free program designed to help college-bound African American students navigate the admissions process. Current sophomores and juniors must apply online at https://ronbrowngps.fluidreview.com no later than May 31, 2017.
Last Minute Applications
Last minute tips for anyone who may be a little behind on college apps...
http://www.wnyc.org/story/five-tips-completing-last-minute-college-applications
CollegeBoard.org - information available to learn about tools and resources to support students and families throughtout the financial planning process: Financial Aid Essentials
8 Tools & Resources for Writing The Best Scholarship Essays
PARENT ACTION PLAN FOR SOPHOMORE COLLEGE/CAREER PLANNING:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/for-parents/parent-action-plan-10th-grade
COLLEGE PLANNING APP:
Students can now get college planning advice and guidance right from their phones, with the College Board’s CollegeGo mobile app. The app is available for free in the Apple and Google Play stores.The app guides students through the essential steps they need to take in order to find, apply to, and attend the right college for them. The interactive, step-by-step platform uses game, video, and search features to help students plan their college journey.
FAFSA Submission Deadlines:
From the FAFSA Website (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
Deadlines 2017-2018
State Deadline
California - For many state financial aid programs – March 2, 2017 (this is the deadline for FAFSA submission with Cal Grant consideration. Students are encouraged to apply no later than this date).
Federal Deadline
Online applications must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2018.
Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 15, 2018.
Students are encouraged to submit early (no later than March 2), as federal deadlines fall far later than the state deadline.
College Deadline
Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending. You may also want to ask your college about its definition of an application deadline - whether it is the date the college receives your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed. Some colleges will be looking for FAFSA submission as early as October/November. When in doubt, submit early.
Additional Financial Aid Information/Tips:
Cal Grant also requires submission of a school certified GPA by March 2, 2017 (LCHS does this automatically → for more info, see below). For additional community college Cal Grants - deadline September 2, 2017 (date postmarked).
If you are a non-citizen holding a Social Security card issued through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or for some other work authorization, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at www.caldreamact.org. Do NOT fill out a FAFSA. Contact the California Student Aid Commission (www.csac.ca.gov) or your financial aid administrator for more information.
Additional forms may be required (such as the CSS Profile → more information below).
Applicants are encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA.
CSS Profile:
From the CollegeBoard CSS Profile Presentation (http://css.collegeboard.org/)
WHAT is the PROFILE?
The PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by certain colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional aid funds. (All Federal funds are awarded based on the FAFSA, available after Oct. 1 at fafsa.ed.gov.)
Some colleges may require additional information, such as tax returns or an institutional application. If your parents are divorced, some colleges will also require your noncustodial parent to complete the Noncustodial PROFILE.
WHEN do I file the PROFILE?
You may file the PROFILE as early as Oct. 1, 2016. However, you should file no later than two weeks before the EARLIEST priority filing date specified by your colleges or programs. WHO must file the PROFILE? Check your colleges’/programs’ information to determine whether they require the PROFILE. A list of colleges that require the PROFILE from at least some of their applicants can be found by clicking on Participating Colleges, Universities, and Scholarship Programs on the PROFILE Homepage.
COUNSELING CORNER
Resources:
From LCF Community Prevention Council: "The Small Book of Big Issues"
Books by Challenge Success and Its Founders
Registration 2017-18
Save the Date Reminder - August 7, 2017 for grades 12-10, August 8, 2017 for grade 9.
Links to websites are offered for your convenience in accessing related information, but do not constitute an endorsement of the website or its content. LCHS takes no responsibility for the views, content or accuracy of the information presented by an external website.