Class of 2027 Chief Points

It's finally here—your last year of K-12! I'm excited to support you as you navigate all of the opportunities, decisions, and milestones that come with being a senior.

Throughout the year, I'll be sending senior newsletters filled with important information, reminders, and resources. While much of the content will focus on 4-year college planning—from building your college list and requesting letters of recommendation on Scoir, to meeting important deadlines for college applications and financial aid—these newsletters will always include something relevant to all seniors. Regardless of your plan after graduation, I encourage you to read each newsletter!

This newsletter will cover the following:

• Senior Diploma Form: EVERY senior must complete this!
• Graduation Requirements: Credits, Service Hours, & Job Shadow
• **Key Resources** Our College Application Guide and LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website spell out everything you need to know about SCOIR, letters of rec, transcripts, college essays, and more.
• SAT/ACT Testing: Testing dates & how to register.
• Financial Aid & Scholarships: Getting started ASAP!

You've heard this before and you'll hear it again—senior year will fly by! Make the most of it, and leave Lakeland with no regrets. I (and your teachers) are here to support you, and that extends beyond college applications and planning for life after high school. Don't be shy to ask for help when you need it!

Cheers to senior year,

Mrs. Wengert

One of the biggest milestones of senior year is earning your diploma, and we want it to display your name exactly as you'd like it to appear!

All seniors must complete the form linked below by September 30. If a form is not submitted by the deadline, your diploma will be printed with your name exactly as it appears in Infinite Campus.

Schedules have been out for a couple weeks. Please take a good look at yours to make sure that you will have all you need to graduate by the end of this year. Keep in mind, you need:

4 English Credits

3 Math Credits

3 Science Credits

3 Social Studies Credits

2 Art/Humanities Credits

1 Phys. Ed. Credit

0.5 Health Credit

0.5 Personal Finance Credit

7 Elective Credits

❗ Check Your Credits: Access your transcript in Infinite Campus under the Documents tab.

I monitor your credits, but it's important that you review your transcript, too! Make sure you're on track to meet LHS graduation requirements, and don't forget to check the admission requirements for the colleges on your list. For example, some four-year colleges require two years of the same world language. Taking a few minutes to review your transcript now can help avoid surprises later.

❗ August 4th: Senior Schedule Change Day

Need to change your schedule? Want to discuss your options for electives? If it's a super quick change, you can always email me (ewengert@lakelandsd.org) and I can see what I can do. But for many, it may be helpful to come see me on August 4th. Mrs. deQuevedo and I will be meeting with seniors only that day between 8:30-11:00 AM and 12:30-2:00 PM (walk-ins only, no appointments).

This is down from the previously required 20! Use the Service Hours Tracker linked below to track your hours. You can always pick up a paper copy from the Counseling Office.

*NHS Members: 10 of your hours from NHS can count towards meeting graduation requirements! For our documentation purposes, please write up 10 of your hours on our Service Hours Tracker, and have Mrs. Cantando sign off on your sheet after checking her online system.

Need ideas for where to get volunteer/service hours?

• Reach out to the Scott Township Fire Dept. to ask about any way you can volunteer in the coming season.
• If you're a part of (or familiar with) a local church or faith community, ask them about ways to give back.
• Check out the U. of Scranton's Featured Volunteer Opportunities to find local organizations looking for help.

All students are now responsible for completing a job shadow experience. What this looks like is up to you, but the idea is to spend a full day (or at least half a day) shadowing someone in a career you are interested in. Whether you arrange to be in a law office, community center, police department, or construction site, your time should give you a behind-the-scenes look at a career field and help you gain self-insight: Do I like this? Could I really see myself in this field? Am I willing to do the post-high school training/college/etc. needed to enter this field?

Job shadow packets are available for pick-up in the Counseling Office and also linked below. *If you are unsure what to do or need help identifying a job site, you can reach out to discuss!

Especially if you are 4-year college bound, please spend some time getting familiar with the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website, specifically the **College Application Guide.** I will link some particularly helpful pages below based on Frequently Asked Questions. I'll also point you back to these resources throughout the year. (If you read through them and still have questions, I'm always here for you to break it down further!)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) & links to the College Application Guide answers:

• When are college deadlines? Can you explain the different types?
• What should I consider when applying to colleges? How do I know where I should apply?
• What is FERPA? Do I need to sign that release?
• Do I really need to use Scoir ("score")? (Short answer: YES! You must use Scoir, linked below!)
• How do I request letters of rec? Who should I ask?
• Where do I fill out the Senior Brag Sheet so my letters of rec will be strong? (Answer: Scoir!!)
• How do I make sure my transcript gets sent to the schools I've applied to?
• What's the deal with college essays?
• Can you point me to scholarships?
• When/how do I fill out the FAFSA?
• What if college-based and federal financial aid isn't enough?
• How do I sign up for the SAT? How do I send my scores? Do I have to send my scores?

**Fall SAT @ Lakeland** The SAT will be offered at Lakeland on Saturday, November 7th. The deadline to register for the Nov. 7th testing date is October 23rd. Register here.

Our SAT/ACT testing page can answer all of your questions about SAT/ACT, including:

• What date(s) should I take the SAT or ACT?
• Should I even bother taking it (what about test-optional)?
• How can I find test prep?
• How do I register?
• How do I send my scores? etc...

Applying for financial aid can feel overwhelming, but I will be sharing helpful resources throughout the year to assist you and your family throughout the process. Review the info below to get started!

LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. The Financial Aid section of our counseling website lays out a lot of the financial aid process and frequently asked questions. I recommend getting familiar now, and referring back to it throughout the year. 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

FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for your freshman year of college, 2027-2028, will open on October 1st, 2026. Please note: The FAFSA is a form you will fill out EVERY year that you are in college, so make sure you use a personal email (not your Lakeland email) when creating an account, and make sure you write down your login information!

PHEAA. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is our state-specific resource for financial aid. They administer state grant programs, and help educate students and families about the financial aid process so that affordable higher education is more accessible. Especially as the cost of college continues to rise, resources like PHEAA are essential! Representatives from PHEAA provide a variety of webinars, including an overview of how to apply for all types of aid.

• Financial Aid Q&A Planning Webinar [Tuesday, August 4th 6:00-7:00 PM]. Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of affording college? Join this 1-hour Q&A covering school selection, financial aid, scholarships, loan comparisons, and repayment, plus get your questions answered! Send your questions ahead of time to keystonepodcast@pheaa.org or ask during the session.
• PHEAA Webinars. Keep an eye out for other webinars that break down different aspects of the financial aid process.

I will be continually updating you on scholarships available via these newsletters and the Class of 2027 Google Classroom. In the winter and spring, applications for scholarships within our local community (not advertised on scholarship search sites) will open up. For now, you can check out the Scholarships page of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. It has some search sites that may provide you with opportunities!

During the summer, you can:

• Create accounts on reputable scholarship search websites (click the button below)
• Research scholarships offered directly by the colleges you're considering, especially for your intended major (i.e., Nursing, STEM fields, Education, etc.)
• Start a list of scholarships that interest you, along with their requirements and deadlines.
• Start brainstorming or drafting essays that you may be able to reuse for multiple applications.

Pro Tips: Stay organized and apply throughout senior year—not just all at once in the spring!

I know this was a lot of information, but remember: senior year is a marathon, not a sprint. The good news is that you have something you'll never have more of than you do right now—time. Use the rest of your summer to get organized, chip away at your to-do list, and set yourself up for a less stressful fall.

I believe in every one of you, and I can't wait to see all that you'll accomplish this year. Keep an eye out for future senior newsletters with more tips, reminders, and important deadlines—we'll take it one step at a time.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I'm here to help every step of the way!

Cheers,

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 2028, 2030 & 2032

Make an appointment with Mrs. deQuevedo

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