September Guidance Newsletter

Awareness ribbons, bracelets, and stickers are available in Mrs. Dobson's office.

Self care is very important. Families experience the stress of getting back into the structure of the school year schedule. We lose daylight daily at this time of the year. Add these into daily stress and larger life events and mental health can quickly suffer.

If you find yourself in a crisis and need immediate support, you can call or text 988. This is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States, offering 24/7, free, and confidential support to those in distress.

We are thrilled to invite creative minds and compassionate hearts to participate in our Suicide Prevention T-Shirt Design Contest. This is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and spread hope through the power of art. We are looking for designs that inspire, uplift, and bring a sense of unity and support to those who may be struggling.

Contest Details:

Who Can Enter: Any Wheeler High School Student

Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026

Theme: Designs should focus on hope, support, & suicide prevention awareness. Design can only include up to THREE colors.

Prize: Winning design will be featured on official T-shirts that will be available for purchase

Submit your designs to kdobson@union.k12.in.us and help us make a difference. Together, let’s use creativity to save lives and foster a community of care and understanding.

We can’t wait to see your inspiring designs!

The 2026-2027 school year is in full swing! Many of our students are taking high school courses that offer Ivy Tech credit. Students enrolled in these classes will apply and/or register tomorrow in class and we will continue to register in the coming weeks. Please check to see if your student is enrolled in any courses that offer this credit. The courses that offer Ivy Tech College credit are as follows:

English Classes

Honors English 11

Honors English 12

Advanced Speech

Science Classes

Astronomy

AP Chemistry

Earth & Space Science II

Advanced Science College Credit Physics

Social Studies Classes

Honors US History

Interpersonal Relationships

Honors Economics

Honors Psychology

Math

Quantitative Reasoning

Other

Internship

Some courses require students to pass the Knowledge Assessment test in order to qualify for the college credit. Students will be notified if they are required to take the Knowledge Assessment and will test during school. If your student enters your email address or phone number in the application process then you should get updates as they move through the registration process.

Here are some things to know about Ivy Tech college credit earned at our school.

• This college credit is free.

• College credit helps students meet Graduation Pathways. Ivy Tech credit counts as a possible Graduation Pathway if students take three college credit courses and earn a C average: 1 course in a core area like math, science, social studies, or English and two courses in any other area of study.

• Ivy Tech credit can transfer to other colleges and universities. It is state law that core content classes are accepted at state public institutions such as Purdue campuses, IU campuses, Ball State, etc. Private schools and out of state colleges don't have the law that says the credit has to be accepted but have been accepting in general because dual credit is a nation-wide initiative.

Please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Kim Dobson

kdobson@union.k12.in.us

Advanced Placement courses have an Advanced Placement Exam at the end of the year in May.

The exam for each course is on a national test date scheduled by the College Board. The exam allows students the opportunity to earn college credit by exam if a score of 3, 4, or 5 out of 5 is earned. The student can then send a score report to the college they end up enrolling in and the college has a chart of what course credit is given for each score for each exam. AP exam scores are typically not equated to a grade for college GPA. AP Exam policy can be found on every college website.

Mr. Rosta has been in AP classrooms for AP World History, AP Seminar, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC to get students registered for their exams.

There is no exam fee for AP Seminar, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC. The state covers the fees for these courses.

AP World History has an exam fee of $99 due by November 1, 2026.

Students who receive free/reduced lunch have a fee of $53

Test Dates

AP World History Modern

Thursday May 6 @ 8 am

AP Seminar

Monday May 10 @ 12pm

AP Chemistry

Thursday May 6 @ 12pm

AP Calculus AB

Monday May 10 @ 8am

AP Calculus BC

Monday May 10 @ 8am

• College credit helps students meet Graduation Pathways. Ivy Tech credit counts as a possible Graduation Pathway if students take three college credit courses and earn a C average: 1 course in a core area like math, science, social studies, or English and two courses in any other area of study.

• PNW credit can transfer to other colleges and universities. It is state law that core content classes are accepted at state public institutions such as Purdue campuses, IU campuses, Ball State, etc. Private schools and out of state colleges don't have the law that says the credit has to be accepted but have been accepting in general because dual credit is a nation-wide initiative.

• College credit helps students meet Graduation Pathways. Ivy Tech credit counts as a possible Graduation Pathway if students take three college credit courses and earn a C average: 1 course in a core area like math, science, social studies, or English and two courses in any other area of study.

• IU credit can transfer to other colleges and universities. It is state law that core content classes are accepted at state public institutions such as Purdue campuses, IU campuses, Ball State, etc. Private schools and out of state colleges don't have the law that says the credit has to be accepted but have been accepting in general because dual credit is a nation-wide initiative.

Wheeler High School will host the College & Career Fair on September 30 during lunch and resource.

We still have room for more participants!

Here is the list of participating organizations:

Wednesday, October 7 is PSAT/SAT Day!

9th Grade will take the PSAT 8/9. This is a practice test to help evaluate where your student is at in math and English skills in standardized testing.This test can also be used to satisfy future testing requirements for dual credit classes your student might take in the future.

10th Grade will take the PSAT NMSQT. This helps your students' teachers evaluate growth. This test can also be used to satisfy future testing requirements for dual credit classes your student might take in the future.

11th Grade will take the PSAT NMSQT. This is the year that qualifies for National Merit Scholarship finalist. If your student scores in the top 2% of testers in Indiana they can move on in this scholarship competition. This is also the last practice before your student takes the SAT in early March during the school day. The SAT is a college admissions test and this school day SAT test in March can be used for college applications the following fall.

12th Grade: If your student signed up to test then they will be at school taking the SAT on this day. If your senior student IS NOT testing they should plan on job shadowing, taking a college visit, meeting with a military recruiter, touring an apprenticeship program, etc. If your student has a scheduled event that they can bring a note back from then this absence will NOT count towards the 10 allowed absences. If your student is just called off by a parent/guardian then this absence will count towards the 10 allowed absences. Just know that seniors won't have classes to attend all morning because all of our teachers will be proctoring the PSAT or SAT! If your student is NOT taking the SAT then it is in your student's best interest to make plans that they can get an excuse note from so that they can do something productive on October 7 that will not count against their total allowed absences.

There is a list of colleges and universities that waive application fees during College Application Week. You can find that list here:

https://learnmoreindiana.org/college-discovery/college-go-initiative/

You can (and should) start your college applications now and then save and submit during this free week. Purdue West Lafayette & IU Bloomington are on the list this year!!!

IUN will be here on September 25 to meet with any senior who would like to apply and get an admissions decision all on one day! Students can sign up here https://forms.gle/BuCpbpmPmvhMmhzG8

Purdue University Northwest will be here on September 17 to meet with any senior who would like to apply and get an admissions decision all on one day! Students can sign up here

https://forms.gle/PdC5zZuzj7C6vgXL8