Welcome to November! While the weather has been unseasonably warm, before you know it the snow will start falling, and we will be getting notified of snow days and delays. It's been a grind, but you're making progress! I'm excited to see where the rest of the year takes us.

For those of you going to college, we are in the middle of Early Action Season. November 1st was likely the first big deadline for college applications, with November 15th coming up quickly as the next. Please be sure you're keeping an eye on things so you're not missing a deadline! For those of you not looking to go to college, come see me and we will keep the conversation going about what your possibilities are!

Don't forget, I'm generally available during Lunch & Learn (either in my office or in the Library). Don't be shy! Remember - I'm here for you all. It doesn't matter what the topic is! It's all overwhelming, but you don't have to go through it all alone.

As always, I strongly encourage you to go through this entire newsletter. There's lots of great information and there's bound to be something in here that will help each and every one of you.

Specifically, this newsletter will look at:

• A Few Notes for Seniors (Introducing "Celebrate the Win!")
• Career & College Preparation Information (including information about apprenticeships and the workforce)
• Financial Aid Information (take a look here for a financial aid presentation opportunity coming up on November 18th!)
• A few more scholarships!

If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to reach out. Remember, I'm here for every one of you no matter what. Please know that I am here for anything you need - and that goes well beyond applying to college!

-Mr. Watters

It's officially time to start celebrating the "Win." This is simply just any indication that your next step is closer to being a reality! For those looking to go to college, this means a college acceptance. For those looking to go into the military, this means signing with your branch. For those looking to enter the workforce, this means getting a job.

So far, we can celebrate the win for:

Penelope Archer

Evan Berlinski

Jayla Bilinsky

Daniel Black

Marley Bodnar

Aidan Canavan

Charlotte Carrube

Myles Decker

Blaise Dennis

Ava Grossi

Hope Hanichak

Jack Hemak

Brooke Hill

Jordan Malar

Jeremy Nichols

Jayden Poklemba

Gia Serge

Gabrielle Turner

Gavin Zellers

We know there are more of you!! If you have a win to celebrate, please send it our way so we can celebrate it with you! Please send us the following:

• college acceptance letters (please also indicate acceptances in SCOIR)
• scholarships you have received
• signed military contracts
• signed work or apprenticeship contracts
• anything else you see as relevant

You can stop by and we will make a copy of your proof or feel free to send a picture or screenshot to me at zwatters@lakelandsd.org. The next newsletter will start featuring some of out student Wins!

For the Military Bound Student:

• Keep an eye out at lunch. Our military recruiters love to come by and meet with students.
• If you haven't seen a recruiter from a branch of the military you are interested in, let us know and we can help set something up.
• Lunch is only one time to meet with recruiters. If you need a 1-1 meeting, I can get that set up for you as well. Stop by or email me to let me know!
• Be very mindful if you are signing any contracts! Make sure that some people you trust look it over with you before you sign your name.
• Students who are also considering college should be mindful that ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) is also an option. Learn more here.
• If you officially enlist in any branch of the military, please let me know!

For the College Bound Student:

• November 1st has come and gone, but some college deadlines are still approaching. Be sure you are keeping an eye on when your applications are due!
• The FAFSA is expected to open on December 1st. There's more information about that below. Every college bound student should complete the FAFSA!
• Your last opportunity to take the SAT will be on December 7th. Click here for more info about SAT's!
• As you start to receive acceptances to schools, please send those my way! We want to feature you in "Celebrate the Win!"

For the Workforce Bound Student:

• Check out the information on apprenticeships below. This is an excellent pathway towards a career. You continue to learn, but this doesn't include all of what college also entails.
• Unions are a great way to build a career. Access PA Union websites below.
• Take pride in entering the workforce. College is not for everyone, and there is absolutely no shame in getting out there to work. You'll be way ahead of your peers in a lot of different ways. The world needs workers!

For the Undecided Student:

• We've just passed the quarter mark of the school year, and you may be feeling the pressure to make a decision. This is normal!! It's just important that you take some steps now so the pressure doesn't keep building. Don't ignore it. Read through this newsletter. Come talk to me. Discuss options with your family and friends. Shadow. Explore. The answer is out there, you just need to find it.
• If you continue to question whether college is right for you, then the simplest answer is that it might not be right for you now. Gap Year is a thing. It's a semester or year that you take to learn through experience. You can go see different careers, work, make some money, and find your path. At the very least, you can continue to cross some things off your list that you know you don't want to do. There is even a Gap Year Association. You can check them out if you are looking for formal experiences, but it doesn't have to be that official. If you want some suggestions, come see me!
• While I am supportive to anyone who wants to attend college, I also need to point out that college is not for everyone. It can be an expensive burden, especially if you aren't sure what you want to do yet. If you are considering college and concerned about the cost, there will always be opportunities for loans and for scholarships. Keep looking around, and come see me when you have questions!
• Get a job. See what it's like. Listen to the people who already have the job. Learn what their training has been or what they wish they had done. Learn about what they like, and what they don't like too. Talk with your parents and other important people in your life - they've all had experiences that they value or regret. Everyone has a different path. And don't be afraid to come see me. I'm happy to give you my perspective, or to just listen as you process things on your own.

All students are required to complete at least 20 hours of community service. You can access the tracking sheet below, and can hand completed hours in to Mrs. Weaver at any time. We know that many of you have already completed your hours, but we still need documentation of that on our end. If you are curious where you stand, you can email Mrs. Weaver or Mr. Watters to find your number!

This will probably be the last time I include this in the newsletter. Please take a good look at your schedules and transcripts 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

***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. There is definitely a chance that I missed something - don't let that go unnoticed. It could be the difference between you graduating or not!***

My first few newsletters focused a great deal on the college application process because there's just so much to know. In an effort to limit the length of this newsletter, I am not going to repeat all of that information. Rather, you will find links to the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website as well as the presentation that was given in your classes earlier in the year. If you haven't, please be sure to go through that website. I promise any information you need will be in there. Take your time to explore it all, and let me know what questions might come up! Previous newsletters can also be found at the very bottom of this newsletter. The pages you'll find are:

Career Exploration Information

College Application Guide

Decision Types

Types of Applications

Information about SCOIR

How to Request Letters of Recommendation

How to Send Transcripts to Schools

College Essays

Scholarships

Testing Information (SAT/ACT)

Financial Aid Information

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally-recognized, portable credential. Essentially, you go through specific training in your field, and are able to officially advance up the ranks to higher employment and salaries.

College isn't for everyone. This is one of those pathways that exist to help you advance without going to college. Apprenticeships are paid. You earn a competitive wage while going through your learning. You can visit the links below to learn more.

Click the links below to visit the websites for many different trades and apprenticeships in Pennsylvania!

The Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council

International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

International Union of Elevator Constructors

International Union of Operating Engineers

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Laborers International Union of North America

Operative Plasterers and Cement Mason's International Union

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers

Many jobs that you hold will give you the opportunity to work for your education. Some may even pay your entire tuition if you work a certain amount of hours per week. Lackawanna College has many of those partnerships. Check out the link below to learn more!

The FAFSA Application will (hopefully) open on December 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

At this point, we have heard that the FAFSA will not be available until December 1st at the earliest. We do still want to share the free FAFSA Helpline. You can text the help desk at 313-723-2372 with questions at any time!

PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) is an agency specific to PA with the goal of helping families across the commonwealth understand, navigate, and gain access to financial aid for whatever the next step after high school may be. Click the link below to access their website that is full of resources!

Additionally, each month, PHEAA hosts webinars aimed to help families looking for financial assistance to help pay for college. We will share the upcoming topics here each time they are updated. You can access a flyer below with links to register!

A tip - even if you can't attend the webinar at the time its scheduled, registering for the event should give you access to a recording of the event so you can watch it at your leisure.

Upcoming topics include:

• Searching for Scholarships
• The Financial Aid Timeline
• Borrowing For Education - Which Loan Is Right For Me?
• The Two-Step Approach To Finding An Affordable Higher Education
• Understanding The Offer Letter and Balances
• Covering the Gap - Pieces of the Puzzle To Help Pay Your Education Bill

In addition to their webinars, PHEAA offers a variety of resources to help through the college application process. It's long, but the PHEAA Financial Aid Resource Manual linked below is a really excellent guide for all things financial aid. You can also reach out to someone at PHEAA who can meet with you to help you make sense of it all.

The EOC is a local service whose purpose is to help students who are interested in continuing their education. They offer a great many services, and specifically, they can offer 1 on 1 appointments with students or families to help complete the FAFSA, college applications, or more. Best of all - services from the EOC are completely FREE.

Above this text, you see a flyer that advertises many of the services that the EOC has to offer. Please feel free to utilize that contact information, or go through the counseling office to set something up! Below this text, you will see a link to the EOC website.

It cannot be emphasized enough how wonderful this resource is! If you are struggling with anything at all, you are strongly recommended to utilize it!

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, most scholarships are national applications that are highly competitive. Most local scholarships will become available sometime in the winter of your senior year, and will all be announced via newsletter. The first one that we've received are below! 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!

• American Legion Scholarships - These scholarships generally target students who have family members who have served in the military, or students who are interested in civics and government. Application Deadlines: Vary
• Hagan Scholarship Foundation - This scholarship provides up to $7,500 per semester to students and is based on financial need. It is competitive across the nation, but has awards for a large number of students. Application Deadline: December 1st, 2024
• Marywood University EOC Scholarship - This scholarship is for up to $1,000 per year at Marywood University. Application Deadline: December 16th, 2024
• William & Debrah Pettigrew Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship is for students who plan to go to college to major in education. Application Deadline: February 1st, 2025

I know there is A LOT of information here. I promise it is all important in its own way. We're already over a quarter of the way into the year, so be sure you are keeping up on everything you need to know. Deadlines are quickly approaching, so be sure you're being diligent!

I believe in each and every one of you! I know that you will all absolutely crush your senior year, and I can't wait to see what you all make of it. If you made it this far, you'll be in great shape. There's lots more information to come, so keep breathing and we will get through this together!

Remember, if you don't know, ask! Reach out. I can only help you if I know what you're struggling with. I'm here for all of you no matter what.

Best,

Mr. Watters

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

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