Chief Points Senior Newsletter #3

October is here already and things are moving! Homecoming, Semi and the holidays are coming up quickly, and the deadlines are going to start finding you. I hope you're all taking the time to enjoy the ride, and that you're keeping your future goals in mind too.

I've been meeting individually with seniors over the last few weeks, and have been able to get a good idea of the variety of paths you're all planning on taking. Whether it's going right to the workforce, furthering your education, enlisting in the military, or anything else, we will get you where you need to be! This newsletter is going to share more about those various paths, as well as some things to keep in mind for each of them.

Don't forget, I'm generally available during Lunch & Learn (either in my office or in the Library). I am not available Wednesdays during 6th period though! Don't be shy! Remember - I'm here for you all. It doesn't matter what the topic is! It's all overwhelming, but you don't have to go through it all alone.

This newsletter has a lot of information for students in just about any of the situations above. It may seem overwhelming, but I recommend taking your time to get through all of this information. Sit down with a parent or with someone who you trust and just see where you're at. Keep reading - I promise you'll find something that will help you!

Specifically, this newsletter will look at:

• A Few Notes for Seniors
• Career & College Preparation Information (including information about apprenticeships and the workforce)
• Financial Aid Information (including a really useful resource, the EOC)
• Our first local scholarship!

If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to reach out. Remember, I'm here for every one of you no matter what. Please know that I am here for anything you need - and that goes well beyond applying to college!

-Mrs. deQuevedo

Things to Consider

For the Military Bound Student:

• Keep an eye out at lunch. Our military recruiters love to come by and meet with students.
• If you haven't seen a recruiter from a branch of the military you are interested in, let us know and we can help set something up.
• Lunch is only one time to meet with recruiters. If you need a 1-1 meeting, I can get that set up for you as well. Stop by or email me to let me know!
• Be very mindful if you are signing any contracts! Make sure that some people you trust look it over with you before you sign your name.
• Students who are also considering college should be mindful that ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) is also an option. Learn more here.
• If you officially enlist in any branch of the military, please let me know!

For the College Bound Student:

• November 1st is a really good deadline to keep in mind. This is when some applications (like Penn State's) close for Early Action. That means that students who apply by that date can expect to hear admissions decisions quicker, maybe even before the holidays!
• The FAFSA is expected to open on October 1st! There's more information about that below. Every college bound student should complete the FAFSA!
• You only have two more opportunities to take the SAT - November (available at Lakeland) and December. Click here for more info about SAT's!
• As you start to receive acceptances to schools, please send those my way! There's more information on that below.

For the Workforce Bound Student:

• Check out the information on apprenticeships below. This is an excellent pathway towards a career. You continue to learn, but this doesn't include all of what college also entails.
• Unions are a great way to build a career. Access PA Union websites below.
• Take pride in entering the workforce. College is not for everyone, and there is absolutely no shame in getting out there to work. You'll be way ahead of your peers in a lot of different ways. The world needs workers!

For the Undecided Student:

• We're not even a quarter of the way done with the school year, but you may be feeling the pressure to make a decision. This is normal!! It's just important that you take some steps now so the pressure doesn't keep building. Don't ignore it. Read through this newsletter. Come talk to me. Discuss options with your family and friends. Shadow. Explore. The answer is out there, you just need to find it.
• If you continue to question whether college is right for you, then the simplest answer is that it might not be right for you now. Gap Year is a thing. It's a semester or year that you take to learn through experience. You can go see different careers, work, make some money, and find your path. At the very least, you can continue to cross some things off your list that you know you don't want to do. There is even a Gap Year Association. You can check them out if you are looking for formal experiences, but it doesn't have to be that official. If you want some suggestions, come see me!
• While I am supportive to anyone who wants to attend college, I also need to point out that college is not for everyone. It can be an expensive burden, especially if you aren't sure what you want to do yet. If you are considering college and concerned about the cost, there will always be opportunities for loans and for scholarships. Keep looking around, and come see me when you have questions!
• Get a job. See what it's like. Listen to the people who already have the job. Learn what their training has been or what they wish they had done. Learn about what they like, and what they don't like too. Talk with your parents and other important people in your life - they've all had experiences that they value or regret. Everyone has a different path. And don't be afraid to come see me. I'm happy to give you my perspective, or to just listen as you process things on your own.

I will keep this in the newsletter at least one or two more times. Please take a good look at your schedules and transcripts to make sure that you have all you need to graduate. Keep in mind, you need the following to graduate:

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

***If you notice that there is something missing from your schedule that should be there, especially if it is a graduation requirement, please let me know 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. It could be the difference between you graduating or not!***

All students are required to complete at least 10 hours of community service. You can access the tracking sheet below, and can hand completed hours in to Mrs. Weaver at any time. We know that many of you have already completed your hours, but we still need documentation of that on our end. If you are curious where you stand, you can email Mrs. Weaver or Mrs. deQuevedo to find your number!

This year, our district introduced a new requirement for graduation; Job Shadowing. You must complete at least 1 job shadow but there is no firm limit on the number of shadow experiences you do. The whole purpose is for you to explore what you might like to do in the future. Students are responsible to arranging their own shadow experience. There is a job shadow packet available for you to download using the link below or you can pick up a printed copy in the counseling office.

It's now the time where we can celebrate the "Win." This is simply just any indication that your next step is closer to being a reality! For those looking to go to college, this means a college acceptance. For those looking to go into the military, this means signing with your branch. For those looking to enter the workforce, this means getting a job.

If you have a win to celebrate, please send it our way so we can celebrate it with you! Please send us the following:

• college acceptance letters (please also indicate acceptances in SCOIR)
• scholarships you have received
• signed military contracts
• signed work or apprenticeship contracts
• anything else you see as relevant

You can stop by and we will make a copy of your proof or feel free to send a picture or screenshot to me at ddequevedo@lakelandsd.org. Check out our first student WINS! Make sure to congratulate them when you see them!

As of today, 28 students have submitted 125 applications to 72 colleges!

Joselyn Cerra

The first newsletters focused a great deal on the college application process because there's just so much to know. I am not going to repeat all of that information. Rather, you will find links to the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website . If you haven't, please be sure to go through that website. I promise any information you need will be in there. Take your time to explore it all, and let me know what questions might come up! Previous newsletters can also be found at the very bottom of this newsletter. The pages you'll find are:

Career Exploration Information

College Application Guide

Decision Types

Types of Applications

Information about SCOIR

How to Request Letters of Recommendation

How to Send Transcripts to Schools

College Essays

Scholarships

Testing Information (SAT/ACT)

Financial Aid Information

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally-recognized, portable credential. Essentially, you go through specific training in your field, and are able to officially advance up the ranks to higher employment and salaries.

College isn't for everyone. This is one of those pathways that exist to help you advance without going to college. Apprenticeships are paid. You earn a competitive wage while going through your learning. You can visit the links below to learn more.

Click the links below to visit the websites for many different trades and apprenticeships in Pennsylvania!

The Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council

International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

International Union of Elevator Constructors

International Union of Operating Engineers

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Laborers International Union of North America

Operative Plasterers and Cement Mason's International Union

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers

Many jobs that you hold will give you the opportunity to work for your education. Some may even pay your entire tuition if you work a certain amount of hours per week. Lackawanna College has many of those partnerships. Check out the link below to learn more!

The FAFSA Application is already open. It was scheduled to open on October 1st but actually opened quietly last week! The Financial Aid Information section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website has plenty of pertinent information.You will find information such as:

Why financial aid is important

What financial aid is

Tips to get you started

The different financial aid applications

When you apply for financial aid

Who fills out the applications

What the different types of applications look like

The free FAFSA Helpline is another helpful resource. You can text the help desk at 313-723-2372 with questions at any time!

Each month, PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) hosts webinars aimed to help families looking for financial assistance to help pay for college. We will share the upcoming topics here each time they are updated. You can access a flyer below with links to register!

A tip - even if you can't attend the webinar at the time its scheduled, registering for the event should give you access to a recording of the event so you can watch it at your leisure.

Upcoming topics include:

• Searching for Scholarships
• The Financial Aid Timeline
• Borrowing For Education - Which Loan Is Right For Me?
• The Two-Step Approach To Finding An Affordable Higher Education
• Understanding The Offer Letter and Balances
• Covering the Gap - Pieces of the Puzzle To Help Pay Your Education Bill

In addition to their webinars, PHEAA offers a variety of resources to help through the college application process. It's long, but the PHEAA Financial Aid Resource Manual linked below is a really excellent guide for all things financial aid. You can also reach out to someone at PHEAA who can meet with you to help you make sense of it all.

Free PHEAA Webinar

OCTOBER 20, 2025 @ 6:00pm

See the attached PDF for more information!

The EOC is a local service whose purpose is to help students who are interested in continuing their education. They offer a great many services, and specifically, they can offer 1 on 1 appointments with students or families to help complete the FAFSA, college applications, or more. Best of all - services from the EOC are completely FREE.

Above this text, you see a flyer that advertises many of the services that the EOC has to offer. Please feel free to utilize that contact information, or go through the counseling office to set something up! Below this text, you will see a link to the EOC website.

It cannot be emphasized enough how wonderful this resource is! If you are struggling with anything at all, you are strongly recommended to utilize it!

There is generally no more asked question than "how can I get a scholarship." If I had the answer to that, I promise I would share it, but unfortunately it isn't that simple. At this point, most scholarships are national applications that are highly competitive. Most local scholarships will become available sometime in the winter of your senior year, and will all be announced via newsletter. The first one that we've received are below! For now, you can check out the Scholarships page of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. It has some scholarship sites that may provide you with some opportunities!

William & Debrah Pettigrew Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship is for students who plan to go to college to major in education. Application Deadline: February 1st, 2025

In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will be awarding $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the 2026/2027 academic school year.

Who
Pennsylvania High School Seniors who are planning to attend an accredited Pennsylvania college or university for the 2026/2027 academic school year

What
Twenty-five $10,000 Scholarships will be awarded throughout America250PA’s six designated regions.

Where
Any Pennsylvania College or University
• 12 to any Pennsylvania Community College
• 13 to any Pennsylvania Post-Secondary College or University

When
Scholarships will be awarded in 2026 for the 2026/2027 academic year.

We are so proud to partner with some of Pennsylvania's most iconic educational institutions on this program. Please visit Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program

to see a listing of our partners and their generous match details.

Thank you for your support!

Terms and conditions for any institutional scholarship match are determined solely by the participating college or university. Eligibility criteria and disbursement timelines may vary.

For questions, please contact info@America250PA.org.

There is SO MUCH information here that it might feel overwhelming. All of it is important in one way or another so look it over and come back to it as needed. Your senior year is a marathon, not a sprint - but that marathon has already started. You still have the luxury of time, but that doesn't mean you can procrastinate! Deadlines are quickly approaching, so be sure you're being diligent!

All of you have your own path to follow. If you made it this far, you'll be in great shape. There's lots more information to come, so keep breathing and we will get through this together!

Remember, if you don't know, ask! Reach out. I can only help you if I know what you're struggling with. I'm here for all of you no matter what.

Best,

Mrs. deQuevedo

Classes of 2026, 2028, & 2030

Click Here to Make an Appointment

Mrs. Wengert - ewengert@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2027, 2029 & 2031

Click Here to Make an Appointment

Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States

Email: lhscounseling@lakelandsd.org | Phone: 570-254-9485

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