HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING BULLETIN
November/December 2019
A Note From The Department
A goal for the Mt. Lebanon High School Counseling Department is to increase communication between school counselors, students and parents/guardians. We have always communicated information through the Counseling Bulletin.
This Bulletin contains information for students so that they may be aware of meetings, programs, scholarships, deadlines for tests and current college and vocational information. The Bulletins are distributed to homerooms, posted on our website and emailed to families.
Be sure you have updated your email addresses in Dashboard so that you will continue to receive this valuable information in a timely fashion. Information and/or deadlines that we receive in between Bulletin publications will be posted on the Counseling News web page. You can sign up to receive alerts here. To sign up for alerts, click the yellow bell icon on the right side and enter information for where you'd like to receive the alerts.
Finally, we'd like to share some good news with you! Last month, the School Board recognized the High School Counseling Department for earning the prestigious designation of "Program of Distinction" from the Middle States Association. The Program of Distinction recognizes schools with a comprehensive and coherent school counseling program. The Middle States Association benchmarks programs against internationally recognized Indicators of Quality. These Indicators of Quality are considered the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement. We are proud to share this recent achievement and promise to continue to provide relevant and quality services that help our students and families.
AP EXAM REGISTRATION IS CLOSING SOON!
- Registration deadline is 11/8/19 ($100/exam)
- Registration blackout period: 11/9/19 - 11/15/19
- Late Registration: 11/16/19 -2/21/20 ($40 late registration fee per exam added)
- Cancellation deadline for partial refund: April 7, 2020
MILITARY ACADEMY VISITS
MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY - Nov 8, 2019
On Friday, November 8th @ 10:51AM a former Mt. Lebanon student, who is currently a midshipman at the Merchant Marine Academy, will be here to discuss academy opportunities for any student interested in attending a military academy. This presentation will be in the Counseling Classroom. Students interested in attending this presentation should obtain permission from the teacher whose class will be missed prior to attendance. If 4th period is your lunch period, please feel free to bring your lunch to the meeting.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Nov 11, 2019
On Monday, November 11th @ 9:59AM, a representative from the United States Air Force Academy will be here to present information to all 10th - 12th graders who are interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. This meeting will be held in Room F-313 (Counseling Office Classroom). Students wishing to attend must obtain permission from their 3rd period teacher prior to the meeting.
For more Academy information, please visit the Academy websites:
United States Military Academy at West Point
MILITARY CAREER DAY
November 13th
Center Court
Periods 4, 5, & 6.
Members from the various branches of the military will be available to meet, answer questions and share information with interested students during all lunch periods.
Scholarships Available!
In the coming months, peruse more than 30 local scholarships, 50+ regional/national scholarships and Pittsburgh Foundation scholarships in the Scholarship List in Naviance Student. Click on Colleges/Scholarships and Money/Scholarship List to view all scholarships that are active. Scholarships will be activated as they are updated by the sponsor. You can also click on Scholarship Match in the Colleges/Scholarships and Money page to focus your search to scholarships that you might meet one or more of the eligibility requirements. Students also have access to an extensive list of national scholarships and databases in Naviance.
In addition, the Pittsburgh Foundation has many scholarships available, some of which are specific to Mt. Lebanon High School students, residents of Allegheny County or specific colleges. We encourage you to explore what is out there! There are so many opportunities available to meet this important aspect of the planning process.
For a summary description of some scholarships that have been offered in the past, please click here. Not every scholarship has been activated yet, so please check Naviance for the most current scholarship list.
RICHARD J. MADDEN SCHOLARSHIP JUNIORS ONLY
The Richard J. Madden Scholarship, established in 2003 by Mr. Madden, a Mt. Lebanon alumni, is awarded annually to one junior student at Mt. Lebanon High School. The recipient may receive up to $12,500 per year, a maximum of $50,000 total, if a 3.0 grade point average is maintained at the student's post secondary selection. This scholarship opportunity is offered each year to juniors who plan to attend a two or four year college or technical school within the United States. Financial need is one of the most important criteria during the review of applications.
Applications for the Madden Scholarship are now available on the counseling website under College then Scholarship Info or by clicking here. Additionally, an e-mail will be sent to all Juniors and their parent/guardian with the application attached.
Please submit your completed application packet to the Counseling Office no later than March 9, 2020, without exception.
See your counselor with any questions.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications must be typed using the ADOBE template provided. If the file does not open in Adobe, please follow these instructions on your PC.:
1. Ensure that Adobe Reader is installed on the computer.
2. In Chrome, go to the Menu icon, then choose "Settings".
3. Scroll to the bottom and select "Advanced"
4. In the "Privacy and Security" section, select "Content Settings"
5. Scroll down and select "PDF documents", then switch it to "On".
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
Pennsylvania School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences (PSEAS) has deep roots, blooming out of what was formerly known as the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences. The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State first hosted this enrichment program in 1986. Over the years, this special program has impacted over 1600 participants in exploring college life and the expansive and diverse fields of agricultural science and natural resources. This is a four-week residential program held primarily at University Park campus for academically talented and gifted high school rising seniors from throughout Pennsylvania.
When: July 5 to July 31, 2020
Where: Penn State University Park campus
The program will take place on the University Park Campus of Penn State this summer and will host a variety of opportunities for our PSEAS scholars. Click here to learn more and apply to the PSEAS.
The Pennsylvania School for for the Sciences (PGSS) was established in order to provide a summer enrichment experience in the sciences and mathematics for talented Pennsylvania high school students and to encourage them to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The program provides instruction in biological sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science, with emphasis on collaborative learning and team research.
When: June 28, - August 1, 2020
Where: Carnegie Mellon University
HELP IS AVAILABLE ... JUST ASK US!
The Writing Lab, located in Room B521, is available every period to conference with students on writing for classes, college applications, apprenticeships, scholarships, writing contests and other assignments.
See the Writing Lab hours here. Or, contact: Mrs. Trish Shine
The Math Lab is located in Room B616. Math Lab Hours are posted here. Mrs.Trumbull can be reached at: LTrumbull@mtlsd.net
WHEN WILL I SEE MY PSAT SCORES?
CREATE A COLLEGE BOARD ACCOUNT TO ACCESS PSAT SCORES.
Visit the College Board to create a College Board account and gain access to your PSAT score report when they become available.
Students can view their online score reports via their College Board account.
COLLEGE TESTING INFORMATION
Test Center Number: 39-442
NEXT ACT DATE: DEC 14, 2019 NOT @ MTLHS
Mt. Lebanon High School Code 393730 (SAT & ACT)
REGISTER FOR SAT TESTS HERE
REGISTER FOR ACT TESTS HERE
For parking and other test-day information, please visit the High School website.
Contact Mr. Rolf Briegel (SAT Center Supervisor) via email with questions or concerns.
For information on College Testing Accommodations process, please see instructions on the School Counseling/ Forms page here.
9th GRADE INDIVIDUALIZED GUIDANCE PLAN (IGP) MEETINGS
9th Grade IGP (Individualized Guidance Plan) Meetings with ninth graders and their parents will take place in February/March 2020. A letter detailing your scheduled appointment date and time will be sent in January. Once you receive this letter, please mark your calendar to attend this important meeting with your child.
Some of the items that will be discussed include:
- Academic and social transition to high school
- Involvement in school activities
- Planning a schedule of courses
- Graduation requirements
- Career and post secondary educational interests and goals
Please use the B-9 entrance near the Fine Arts Theatre when you arrive for your meeting. You will need to check in and pick up a visitor’s badge before coming to our office. We look forward to meeting you!
TEENSCREEN
TeenScreen is a nationally-recognized program developed by Columbia University to identify risk factors associated with depression, anxiety, and alcohol and sub-stance abuse. The program is free and completely voluntary and confidential.
TeenScreen is available to all students in grades 7-12. Look for more information and parental consent forms to follow via U.S. Mail in January.
If you have any questions regarding TeenScreen, please contact Outreach Teen & Family Services, 412-561-5405.
COLLEGE TEST PREP COURSES & TUTORING
AXIOS TUTORING
Absolute Value Tutoring
Search on Facebook
Or email: info@absval.netCOLLEGE NANNIES AND TUTORS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Type “Community Education” in Search
HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER
KAPLAN TEST PREP
KHAN ACADEMY
www.khanacademy.org or go to
www.collegeboard.org for links to Khan AcademyMATHNASIUM
MT LEBANON ACADEMY
MT. LEBANON ADULT EDUCATION
THE PRINCETON REVIEW
TOTAL LEARNING CENTER
ACT ACADEMY FREE PROGRAM
KHAN ACADEMY SAT PREP FREE PROGRAM
High School Counseling Office
Email: acarini@mtlsd.net
Website: https://hs.mtlsd.org/student-services/school-counseling
Location: Pittsburgh, 155 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228, United States
Phone: 412.344.2053 412.344.2062