Chief Points Class of 2026
June 2, 2025
Wrapping up the year! (and looking ahead!)
Just think, the next time I address you as a group, I will call you SENIORS!!! The next year will fly by and you will need to keep your eye on the prize; GRADUATION! Please remember that I am here as a resource for you if you have any questions or concerns on that path to graduation and life beyond high school. This summer should be a chance for you to both relax and prepare for your SENIOR YEAR.
For many of you, that preparation will involve applying to colleges, and this newsletter primarily addresses that topic. You will find information about college applications, letters of recommendation, and transcripts, and going through this step by step will put you in the best place possible to be able to hit the ground running when applications open on August 1st.
Next year you can expect to receive most information via these newsletters and there likely will be There is information for everyone in these newsletters, so the first section or two will be focused on information for all members of the senior class. The following sections will focus heavily on the college admission process.
In this newsletter, you will find:
- Information about graduation requirements
- A complete overview of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website that includes:
- Career Exploration Resources
- Testing Information
- College Application Guide
- Information about transcripts and letters of recommendation
- Financial Aid Overview
- Scholarships
- And more!
- A link to your previous newsletters this year that include resources related to combatting anxiety, test taking skills, NCAA eligibility, and more.
- On Friday, May 23, 2025 we had a lesson on using SCOIR and Common App in your junior English classes. Here is the link to that presentation.
If you have any questions feel free to email me, even during the summer (it might take me a few days to get back to you during the summer months). I hope you all have a good summer but also make good use of your time; visit schools and explore your future options!
Best wishes,
Mrs. deQuevedo
Graduation Requirements
Schedules are still being generated, but should be out shortly into the summer. Please take a good look at them 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
Additionally, you will need to complete a minimum of 20 service hours by May 1st to graduate. You can find the tracking sheet for service hours below.
***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. I may have missed something - so if you see something, say something. Remember, this is YOUR graduation. Don't let anything (including me) get in your way!
The LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website
The rest of this newsletter will give an overview of the different pages that can be found on the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. This site was created to be a one stop shop for anything related to life after high school. There may be some things that come up that aren't answered in there, but most topics should be covered. The sections below will explain each of the pages on the site. If any questions come up, please ask!
Career Exploration Information
If you don't really know what you want to do after graduation, that's okay! You've still got some time to figure it out. Part of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website will help you explore some of your options. Click on the link below to learn more about:
Activities you can do to help you explore
College/workplace visits
Job Shadowing
Choosing a major or career path
I'm also here as a resource for you if you have questions or need to lay out options you are considering. We can weigh some pros and cons!
Testing
The next section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website I will go over is the Testing Information section. This is all about the SAT, ACT, and what you might need to consider if you think you are going to take them. Click the link below to go to the website and learn all about the test. Topics include:
Key terms and considerations
If you should take the test
When to take the test
How to prepare for the test
The difference between the SAT & ACT
How to sign up for the tests
How to send test scores to schools
The following dates are confirmed College Board SAT dates for the fall of 2025. If you have not yet taken the SAT and are planning to go to college, you should be planning to take the test on one of those dates.
August 23, 2025
September 13, 2025
October 4, 2025
November 8, 2025
December 6, 2025
College Application Guide
College applications officially open on August 1st. Every year, there are a handful of students who want to get those applications in within the first week. Pay close attention to this section so you know how to do that! I won't be in the office every day, so questions may take some time to get answered. Rest assured, most of the answers can be found right on this site.
For those of you who do not start on applications right away, I will be in your classrooms within the first two weeks of school to explain everything to you. Much of it will refer to this site, but it will still show you all you need to know.
The official process doesn't start for a couple of months, but please know - college applications take a lot of time. There is so much that goes into it, so please don't wait too long to get started.
It can all be so intimidating. If you're feeling stressed, don't know how to do something, or just need to vent, reach out or come see me in the fall! This is a whole process you haven't experienced before so there is vocabulary and schedules that might be a bit confusing and even daunting.
If you click the link below, you'll go to the College Application Guide section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. This has:
Tips to get you started with your applications
Things to consider when applying
Information about what you need to complete for applications
FERPA & College Applications
And more (keep reading to find out)
Types of Applications
- The Common Application
- The Coalition Application
- Group Applications
- Individual Applications
Decision Types
There are several different ways that you can apply to college that all may have various benefits to your application. The button below will take you to the Decision Types section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. This will walk you through all the different terms and types of applications that you may be prompted to complete.
SCOIR
SCOIR has many different features, but at Lakeland it is primarily used to connect students and colleges directly. You will use it to explore different schools and career paths, request letters of recommendation, and get your transcripts sent to schools. You will not be able to complete your applications to college at Lakeland if you don't use Scoir.
You can click on the button below to go to the SCOIR section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. You'll find all sorts of information about SCOIR there.
Scoir, The Common App, & The Coalition App
It is important to remember that Scoir is NOT the same as the Common App or the Coalition App. You fill out college applications with the Common App or the Coalition App. All letters of recommendation and transcripts MUST be requested and sent through Scoir. No letters or transcripts will be sent through the Common App or Coalition App. The big news for the class of 2026 is that Scoir is integrating with Common App™ beginning in the 2025-26 academic year! There isn't much information out yet but I'm excited as this is likely to mean things will be a little easier and smoother on both the student and counselor side of things! I'll share out more information once I receive it!
FERPA & College Applications
When you first log in to Scoir, you will be asked to "waive" and "release" your FERPA rights in order for Lakeland to communicate with colleges. Please do this at the start to save a few headaches down the road! You can learn more about the purpose of this on the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website section linked below.
I cannot send any documents to schools until you complete the FERPA Releases and Waivers! Please make sure this is done before you do anything listed below.
Letters of Recommendation & The Senior Brag Sheet
You'll also want to review the information here about the Senior Brag Sheet. This is something you'll have to fill out so that your teachers can write their letters. It is mandatory, and must be completed before your letters of recommendation can be sent. It's housed on SCOIR, and is a place where you can talk about the important things you've done and want highlighted!
Sending Transcripts
College Essays
Financial Aid Information
The FAFSA Application will (hopefully) open on October 1st. More information will be shared once this happens, but you can be educating yourself about all it entails until then. The Financial Aid Information section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website will help you do just that. I'd recommend that you check it out now, and ask any questions that might come up. Here you'll 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
Scholarships
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, there are no specific scholarships that you can apply for. Most are national applications that are highly competitive. The local scholarships will become available sometime in the winter of your senior year, and will all be announced via newsletter. 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!
Now Breathe!
This was A LOT of information but remember, this is something you can reference back to. Mark it as important or bookmark it to come back to. Share the information and discuss it with your family so that you aren't absorbing alone. All of this information important in its own way. One very important point that Mr. Watters and I both make each year - your senior year is a marathon, not a sprint - but that marathon starts as soon as the summer does. Right now it seems like you have plenty of time but the reality is that procrastination can really impact your futures so use the time you have wisely! The results are much better if you plan well and do little bits each week or each day, once the fall comes.
Senior year is exciting and fun. There is something about wrapping up that brings a thrill! The crazy thing is that all the excitement of wrapping up high school is just a precursor to the excitement of what is to come! I'll do my best to keep you abreast of all the information you need and, quite honestly, that is going to be A LOT more information! Just make sure you ask questions when you aren't sure and take the time to breathe...just take a breathe when you need to refocus!
There is a quote by American playwright and screenwriter, Tennessee Williams hanging on the bulletin board in my office. It reads:
"There is a time for departure
even when there is no
certain place to go."
Isn't that profound? I'm sure that there are many interpretations of what he meant I think it implies that the most important thing is to take the first step even if you aren't sure where it will take you. It encourages us to be courageous, take action but know that even venturing into the unknown the journey itself has value.
Tennessee Williams also has another fine quote:
"When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely,
it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone."
Let this be your sign to enjoy your summer with friends and family. Let it be a time to unwind and let your hair down. Set time aside to focus on your future and you will make the road of senior year a bit of an easier walk. I look forward to seeing you all in fall!
Mrs. deQuevedo
Click Below for Previous Editions of This Newsletter
Lakeland School Counseling Office
Classes of 2026, 2028, & 2030
Click Here to Make an Appointment
Mr. Watters - zwatters@lakelandsd.org
Classes of 2025, 2027 & 2029
Click Here to Make an Appointment
Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States
Email: lhscounseling@lakelandsd.org | Phone: 570-254-9485
Mrs. deQuevedo and Mr. Watters are the School Counselors at Lakeland Jr./Sr. HS.