Class of 2026,

You are about to start your junior year of high school. This newsletter will be the first of a few that you get from me this year. There will be plenty of info for you and your families that should help you as you prepare for your next steps. Next year, our senior year, these will come out with significant more frequency, so this can be a practice run what's to come in your senior year. Make sure to read each issue. Not everything will apply to every one of you but each newsletter will contain some bits of information that is important to all of you!

Early this year, I will come into your English class and take you through some of the information that's in here as well as some other important things for your junior year. I also plan to start bringing each and every one of you down to my office for Junior Minute Meetings. These will be brief (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. 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 always open.

This year is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time and enjoy it, but don't neglect any of the responsibilities that might be falling on your lap. It's definitely an important year for your futures. Let's start the year strong!

Mrs. deQuevedo

If you have not already, please be sure that you are in my Class of 2025 School Counseling Google Classroom. I will be posting important announcements in there throughout the school year. The class code: v22dcei

There are two primary graduation requirements at Lakeland: Credits & Service Hours. It is incredibly important that you are mindful of the credits you are earning so that you can keep an eye on what your senior year schedules need to be. Check your schedules and make sure you're in a good place. As a reminder, 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

7.5 Elective Credits

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 - don't let that go unnoticed!

And here is the other requirement! All students must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service to graduate from Lakeland.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to get these hours in early. We will accept anything from 9th-12th grade. 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 what is required at Lakeland, the state of Pennsylvania has their own 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. At its most basic, 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 don't be afraid to ask!

Those things above are for all of our students, but what's in this section might not apply to everyone. Check it out and explore if you think it fits what you want to do!

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 these tests during their admissions process, but since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the far majority of schools have been going "test optional." This means that you would be able to submit test scores if you would like, or think they will benefit you, or you can choose not to submit if you think it might be a detriment to your application. As we get further away from the pandemic, some schools are continuing to move away from requiring standardized tests, but we are seeing a trend toward schools requiring them again!

Because of this, our recommendation is that unless you know that all of the schools you want to apply to do not accept these tests, all students who hope to go to college should still take the SAT or ACT. If a school you're looking at requires it, you'll need it anyway. If the schools you apply to are test-optional, it can only help you if you score well.

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

**IMPORTANT SAT NOTE** 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 information about the SAT and 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 information on this site that will be helpful over the next two years, and all are encouraged to become 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 much 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.

Additionally, 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, as well as some resources that may help you prepare!

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 with. 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 let me know immediately. 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!

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. There are open houses every day of the week at colleges across the country however weekends are the most popular time for open houses. You can find open house information on college websites. Here is sampling of open houses for our local colleges.

Johnson College - November 2nd

Keystone College - October 5th, November 23rd

King's College - November 10th

Lackawanna College - Various (assorted at various campuses)

Marywood University - October 26th & November 16th

Penn State University Scranton - October 27th

University of Scranton - October 27th & November 10th

Wilkes University - September 21st

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!

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. deQuevedo

Mrs. deQuevedo - ddequevedo@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2026, 2028 & 2030

Make an appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/MrsdeQuevedo

Mr. Watters - zwatters@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2025, 2027, & 2029

Make an appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/MrWatters

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