Class of 2027: Junior Newsletter #1

Class of 2027,

You are now almost 4 weeks into your junior year of high school. I hope it's off to a strong start!

I'm reaching out to share helpful info for this fall. In general, you can expect to hear from me in multiple ways:

• Smore newsletters (like this one) which offer detailed to-do lists, important announcements, resources for college and career exploration, and more. *Senior year, these newsletters will contain important info and quick links to guide you through the college and financial aid application process. In other words, get used to reading these!*
• Google Classroom - I'll share quick announcements and opportunities as they come across my desk, like college rep visits and upcoming trips.
• Classroom lessons - A few times throughout the year, I will go into a class that all of you have to talk through critical info (e.g., dual enrollment, scheduling, SAT, college search & SCOIR).
• "Minute Meetings" - These will be quick (generally no more than 5 minutes) conversations that allow me to get some information about each of you individually and your class as a whole. I will aim to do these with all juniors before Thanksgiving break!
• You are also always welcome to make an appointment with me to discuss your future goals or whatever is happening in your life. My door is (almost) always open.
  

This year is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time and enjoy it, but don't take your foot off the gas. It's definitely an important year for your futures. Let's start strong!

Mrs. Wengert

If you have not already, please be sure that you are in my Class of 2027 School Counseling Google Classroom. I will be posting important announcements in there throughout the school year. The class code: zxr3br4

Graduation requirements at Lakeland have changed a little bit. It's still 24 Credits, but you now only need 10 Service Hours, in addition to a Job Shadow. Read on for details!

Credits: It is incredibly important that you are mindful of the credits you are earning so you can keep an eye on what your senior year schedule needs to be. Check your schedule and make sure you are rostered in the classes you need. Here are the credits you must earn to graduate:

4 English Credits

3 Math Credits

3 Science Credits

3 Social Studies Credits

2 Art/Humanities Credits

1 Physical Education Credit

0.5 Health Credits

0.5 Personal Finance (NEW requirement)

7 Elective Credits (down from 7.5)

EQUALS 24 TOTAL CREDITS

If you notice that you are missing something you need, or aren't sure how you will get all of the credits you should, please let me know. You can access your transcript through Infinite Campus ("Documents" tab). There is definitely a chance that I am missing something, especially since I am new -- don't let that go unnoticed! Check out the LHS Curriculum Guide (also linked below) if you are looking for courses that meet specific requirements, need to know prerequisites for a class, etc.

All students must complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service to graduate from Lakeland. (This is down from the previous requirement of 20.)

You are STRONGLY encouraged to get these hours in early. We will accept anything from 9th-12th grade. These must be done out in the community. *If you aren't sure whether or not something will count, just ask and we will let you know!

You can find the service hours tracking sheet HERE or below. If you have accumulated any hours, please bring this sheet to the counseling office so we can store it. We already have some on file, and it is never too early to submit them!

In addition to the 10 hour community service requirement, all students are now responsible for completing a job shadow experience. What this looks like is really up to you, but the idea is to spend a full day (or at least half a day) shadowing someone in a job you are interested in. Whether you arrange to be in a dental office, a community center, or a construction site, your time should help you learn about your interests and shape your career goals.

Job shadow packets are available for pick-up in the counseling office and also linked HERE. *If you are unsure what to do or need help identifying a job site, please email me or schedule a meeting!

In addition to what is required at Lakeland, Pennsylvania has their own state requirements for students to graduate. This is where Keystone Tests come into play.

PA Act 158 lays out minimum requirements that must be met prior to graduation. Essentially, passing the Algebra, Literature, and Biology Keystone exams would satisfy these requirements. Any student who does not pass a Keystone test will be scheduled for required remediation and will retest in the winter or spring. If proficient scores are still not attained, there are alternative pathways to graduation. Click on the "Act 158 Pathways" link below to learn more.

The Act 158 requirements are being tracked by the counseling department. Any student who has not met their requirement may be required to do additional activities to begin senior year. If there are any questions about these graduation requirements or where you stand, please ask!

If you have any desire to go to college, the beginning of junior year is the time to start thinking about the tests you would like to take that could help you get there.

Many schools will require an SAT/ACT score, but since the pandemic, most schools are still "test optional." This means that you would be able to submit test scores if you think they reflect how capable you are and will help your application, OR you can choose not to submit if you think your score does not help you. (Note: As time passes, some schools are continuing to move away from requiring standardized tests, but we are seeing a trend toward schools requiring them again, especially if they are a highly selective school!)

Because of this, our recommendation is that all students who hope to go to college should take the SAT or ACT. If a school you're looking at requires it, you'll need to submit it. If the schools you apply to are test-optional, it can only help you if you score well. (It's better to have something and not need it, than to need it and not have it.)

Typically, we suggest that students take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the spring of junior year. This allows them to take it one or two more times in the summer or fall if they wish to. To help prepare, students are strongly encouraged to take the PSAT/NMSQT in your junior year fall. It is offered at Lakeland, and you can learn more about registering in the section below.

*IMPORTANT: LAPTOP NEEDED* The SAT is now a fully digital format. Students will be able to use their own devices to take the test, or be loaned one (free of charge) through the College Board. The test is just over 2 hours and scores are available within days.

For more info about the SAT/ACT, click on the link below. This will take you to a page on our LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website all about testing for college. There is lots of info on this site that will be helpful over the next two years, so I strongly encourage you to get familiar with it! Specifically about testing, it answers questions about how to register, when to take them, the difference between the SAT and ACT, and more.

The PSAT/NMSQT is essentially a "practice" version of the SAT that is available in different versions for students in grades 8-11. It is a great opportunity to figure out where you might need to focus your studies as you prepare to take the SAT later this year and next year.

Something else to consider is that the PSAT can lead to opportunities for awards and scholarships that can help you pay for college. One of these is the Rural and Small Town Scholar Award. As a Lakeland student, if you score within the top 10% of students in the state on the PSAT/NMSQT and carry a 3.5 GPA, you can get this award! We have had several students in our recent graduating classes qualify for and receive these scholarships.

Also, taking the PSAT can hook students up with additional test practice through the Khan Academy. Students can link their Khan Academy and College Board accounts for targeted preparation and access to free practice tests. More information will be sent out about this to students who take the PSAT.

I strongly encourage you to register for the PSAT/NMSQT. We will be offering it at Lakeland on October 16th. Keep reading for more information about how to register for the PSAT, as well as some resources that may help you prepare!

As you move through junior year, it's important to really get an idea of what you want to do after high school. It doesn't have to be what you do forever, just what you do next. You'll be meeting with your counselor to help that process, but the more research you do on your own, the better off you may be. The resources below can all help that process. And please don't be afraid to stop in and ask questions!

Scoir is our system that connects students, families, high schools, and colleges for a better admissions experience.

All juniors should be able to log in to their Scoir accounts through Clever.com or the link below. Please take a look at all it has to offer! You will undoubtedly use it more during senior year, but there are two things that you can use it for right now. It would be a good idea to make yourself familiar with it now!

1. College Research

You can utilize Scoir to find out lots of information about schools you might be interested in. Look for the "Colleges" tab, and search for any school. That will tell you lots of information that might help you decide where you want to apply to!

2. College Visits

Colleges have been scheduling days and times to come in and speak to students. You will find a schedule on the right hand side of Scoir that details what schools are coming and when. This is a great chance to get more information from schools you might be interested in!

You can also click on the "Scoir Overview" Link to learn more about what it's all about!

Smart Futures is our one stop shop for career exploration. All students should be able to log into Smart Futures through Clever.com or the link below.

Students will utilize Smart Futures in their classes, but it is a useful tool for career ready resources like resume writing. Students can also compile a portfolio of anything they have done to help them decide on a future career.

Open Houses are an opportunity to visit a college where all of their academic departments and services are available for you to learn about. They are typically on weekends. You can find open house info on college websites. Here is sampling of open houses for our local colleges:

Marywood University - Sept 27th or Nov 1st

Penn State Scranton - Oct 18th or Nov 15th

University of Scranton - Oct 26th or Nov 9th

Johnson College - Nov 1st

Wilkes University - Nov 1st

King's College - Nov 2nd

Lackawanna College - Nov 8th

Keystone College - TBD

The Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center is a great resource for any students interested in a future in the medical field. Whether you plan to go to college or not, PA-AHEC offers exposure to all kinds of medical occupations for any education level. You can click the link below to learn more about them, and to access their programs and calendar of events. If you are interested in the medical field, this is worth exploring!

If you have any desire to play sports in college, you must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This should have been done at some point in your sophomore year, but it is not too late.

You can register HERE or at the link below.

If you plan to go to a Division I or II school, you will need to register for a certification account. This will take around 30-45 minutes. If you plan to go to a Division III school (most PA state schools fit this), you will need to register with a profile page. This will take 15-30 minutes. The certification account costs $90 to register for. The profile page is free. Please be sure to use an email address that you will have access to after you graduate. Do not use your Lakeland email.

If you register with the NCAA, please email me ASAP. I will need to upload a transcript, and will have no other way of knowing that I need to do that!

Please let me know if there are any questions at all about registering with the NCAA!

This year is important and will go by quickly but with some careful planning, you will do just fine. Let me know if there is anything I can do to support you on your journey!

- Mrs. Wengert

Mrs. Wengert - ewengert@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2027, 2029 & 2031

Make an appointment with Mrs. Wengert

Mrs. deQuevedo - ddequevedo@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2026, 2028 & 2030

Make an appointment with Mrs. deQuevedo

Email: lhsguidance@lakelandsd.org

Website: http://counselingatlakeland.weebly.com/
Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States
Phone: 570-254-9485
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lhscounselors/
Twitter: @chiefsguidance