LHS Counseling Weekly Update

In an effort to be more efficient in how we disseminate information from the Counseling Office, we will be sending out weekly emails with any important and timely information. BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS are receiving these newsletters. Parents: please encourage your child to read these messages, and take any appropriate action themselves. It is developmentally appropriate to get high schoolers in the 'driver's seat' when it comes to tending to their academic, career, and emotional needs.

The topics are all listed below, with a link to the pertinent information so that you can quickly scroll through to see if any of the topics pertain to you. There are 3 sections:

• Mental/Physical health support and resources
• Academic/Career information and resources
• Just for Seniors

• The Myriad Complex Ways Young People Use AI: New research shows how young people use artificial intelligence tools for connection, support and tasks—and where risks emerge. From Inside Higher Ed.
• WSD Counseling Resources: Find a variety of mental health resources available to families in the WSD

Have you ever wondered about the application, nomination, and selection process for the US Military Service Academies? Liberty is the host site for "Academy Day", an informational meeting for the entire Eastern region of Missouri. Representatives from all 5 Service Academies will be present, as well as Navy ROTC, and US Congressional Staff (congressional nominations are required for Service Academy Appointments).

Students who earn an appointment to a U.S. service academy receive a highly selective, fully funded education—often valued at over $400,000—while gaining elite leadership training, career experience, and a direct pathway to serve as a commissioned officer after graduation.

ACADEMY DAY

Saturday, May 16

Liberty High School Auditorium

9-11am (doors open at 8:30am)

RSVP: Please email academy@hawley@hawley.senate.gov. Include your name, address, phone number, school name, and graduation year.

• US MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT
• US NAVAL ACADEMY
• US AIR FORCE ACADEMY
• US MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
• US COAST GUARD ACADEMY
• US NAVY ROTC

The UMSL Bridge Program Summer Academy offers academic enrichment courses in mathematics, science, writing, career research, personal and professional development, and college planning.

Submit an application by May 22, 2026!

• Program dates: June 22-July 10, 2026
• Students currently enrolled in grades 9-10th
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Enrolled in/completed Algebra
• Enrolled in a St. Louis Metropolitan area high school

SPARC (Summer Program for the Aspiring Research Community) is a four-week residential summer research experience at Missouri S&T designed for motivated high school juniors and seniors who are ready to move beyond teacher-led instruction and into hands-on discovery.

Missouri S&T is offering a wide range of 2026 summer camps for high school students, featuring hands-on experiences in engineering, STEM, robotics, esports, and more— with options for ages 10–18 and varying dates, costs, and application requirements.

Many colleges do not require applicants to have an ACT/SAT test score (test-optional/test-blind). But, we still recommend that college-bound and tech school-bound students consider taking one of the tests. If you have a strong score, you can use it to help increase your chances of being admitted and/or qualifying for scholarships. Additionally, scores provide insight into your readiness for college-level course work, and some colleges will use scores as a placement test for English and Math courses.

Colleges that do accept test scores do NOT have a preference between these two tests. Each school accepts both tests.

Below is the schedule for test dates this school year. Liberty is an official test site for both tests.

REGISTRATION LINKS: ACT SAT

Students with disabilities may be eligible to apply for testing accommodations, and students experiencing financial need may be eligible for a registration fee waiver -- see your counselor for more information.

** NOTE: Liberty is a testing site for both the SAT (digital) and ACT (paper/pencil) test.

12th only: If you've already been trained, you can sign up to work at Chautauqua after school.

11th and 12th: Sign up for A+ Training for Monday 5/11 during Red Soar time. This training is ONLY for students who plan to earn hours over the summer (WSD Summer School, WSD Summer Camps, OFPD Safety Town at DRE)

9th and 10th: Keep up your attendance and your GPA this year!

ALL GRADES: You can do up to 12.5 of your A+ Hours through Job Shadowing. Here is the A+ Job Shadowing Form.

• Six Flags
• Midwest Pool Management is hiring all positions. (See attachment below)

Click here to access the Senior End of Year / Graduation Info Newsletter. Most recent update to original newsletter: 4/24.

Included in this newsletter is more information about:

• April 17th - regular registration deadline for the May 2nd SAT (if needed for Honors)
• April 24th - RSVP deadline for LHS Decision Day celebration
• April 30th - priority deadline for Grad Night (guaranteed a t-shirt if registered by this date)
• May 1st - All A+ Hours are due; extensions must be requested by the student IN PERSON
• May 1st - MANDATORY Focus Senior Exit Survey due (all seniors)
• May 1st - LHS Decision Day celebration (optional)
• May 1st - Honors Graduation Applications due (optional)
• May 4th - WSD Scholarship Award Night (7pm at Liberty; invitation only)
• May 12th - Senior Sunset (starting at 6:00pm LHS Football field - Students Only)
• May 18th - Day 1 of Senior Final Exams (see schedule below); often senior teachers will give final exams earlier than this day; (each teacher may handle this differently)
• May 19th - Seniors' Last Day & Bridge Walk (Bridge Walk happens on the Seniors' last day of attendance)
• May 19th - Chromebooks must be turned in NO LATER than the last day of attendance
• May 27th - MANDATORY Graduation Practice at LHS (10 am in Small Gym)
• May 27th - Final Transcript Requests due in Xello (REQUIRED for all college-bound students)
• May 31st - Commencement Ceremony (Graduation), 4:30 pm at St. Charles Family Arena
• May 31st - Grad Night Lock-In (10:00 pm - 4:00 am @ Renaud Center in O'Fallon)
• June 1st - Registrar sends final transcripts to colleges (ALL colleges require Final Transcripts)

Read this article from Grown & Flown about How to File a Financial Aid Appeal.

Most of the time, colleges can make their admission decision based on the initial (6-semester) transcript that you sent them when you applied. In some special circumstances, and some highly selective colleges, they may ALSO want a midyear transcript (7-semesters). If your colleges have asked you to send a mid-year transcript, please come see Mrs. Gerringer in person during lunch. Transcripts will be ready to send after all teachers submit their first semester grades. We anticipate transcripts will be ready by January 12th.

** We do NOT automatically send Mid-Year reports in Common App. You MUST come speak to Mrs. Gerringer in person to discuss this. **

Note: if you apply to a college for the first time from this date forward and request a transcript, we will automatically send the 7-semester transcript for consideration.

Directions on how to request transcripts is in a lower section of this newsletter.

If you missed ordering senior and graduation items when Jostens was at LHS last month, it's not too late. The online link is now live: thegraduationcenter.com

• State: Missouri
• City: Lake St. Louis
• School: Liberty High School

Students may also mail their order form (and a check if they chose not to pay by credit card) to:

ShowMe Traditions LLC

P.O. Box 10020

Columbia, MO 65205

At the Senior Meeting that was held during Nest Time on Thursday, 8/28, we covered A LOT of information. HERE is a link to the slide show. The slideshow is LONG. So, I've created a Table of Contents on the 2nd slide to help you find the information you are looking for. As a reminder, the topics include: graduation requirements, graduating with honors, college applications, sending transcripts, ACT/SAT, Xello, A+ Program, scholarships, making college more affordable, letters of recommendation, and more.

Mrs. Gerringer had A LOT more to say to seniors. So, she spoke to all English IV and AP English Lit classes earlier this week. Click HERE to view the slides from that classroom presentation.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the tool that colleges will use to determine students' financial aid packages. Some families mistakenly think they don't qualify for the FAFSA. However, almost all students will qualify for some type of financial aid:

• Grants (Federal, State, Institutional) - this is money you don't need to pay back
• Federal Student Loans - often considered the 'good' student loans; lower interest rates
• Work Study - an on-campus job that students can use to pay toward their education
• State financial aid (like the A+ Program Scholarship)
• School financial aid (some schools only award institutional aid if the FAFSA is completed)

You may not realize that students cannot borrow even $1 in federal student loans unless they complete the FAFSA! The FAFSA is free, secure, and doesn't take much time to complete (@20 minutes). Some sources of financial aid have deadlines, so it is highly recommended that you get this important step done as soon as possible once the application opens.

1. FSA ID (you can create your FSA ID as the first step of FAFSA if you don't have one yet)
2. Personal Information
3. Income Information
4. Asset Information
5. College Information

1) Each 'Contributor' MUST create an FSA ID

Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID account by setting up a username and password. The student, and their 'contributor(s)' must each obtain an FSA ID in order to sign-into and electronically sign the FAFSA. At a minimum, the student and AT LEAST one parent will need an FSA ID.

• For divorced parents, the 'contributor' is the parent that contributes the most financial support. If that parent is remarried, their spouse (the step-parent) is also a contributor.
• Married contributors that file tax returns jointly only need one FSA ID. If the married contributors file taxes separately, each contributor will need a unique FSA ID.
• Each FSA ID must be registered to a unique email address. For parents with multiple children, you will use the same FSA ID to login to multiple children's FAFSA forms. You will use the same
• FSA ID each year that you are required to submit a FAFSA for the following year's college enrollment.

2) You will be asked to provide Personal information: Full name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, email address for the student and each 'contributor'.

3) You will complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA for your enrollment next year. If you plan to take classes this summer, you will ALSO need to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA. You will be asked to provide Income information, meaning you may need to access the following information:

• 2024 federal income tax returns
• W-2s
• Records of child support received
• IMPORTANT: The IRS Data Direct Exchange (DDX) tool embedded within the FAFSA form, allows you to consent for the secure exchange of federal tax information into your FAFSA. All students and contributors must provide consent and approval to obtain their federal tax information directly from the IRS and to use their federal tax information to determine the student’s eligibility and federal student aid. If the student or required contributor refuses consent to use the DDX, the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.

4) You will be asked to provide Asset information:

• Current balances in checking and savings accounts
• Value of investments, businesses, and farms (if applicable)

5) You will be asked to provide School information: List of colleges you are applying to

• Students can apply to colleges one of two ways: (1) directly from the college website or (2) as part of a list of colleges on the Common App. Some colleges will allow you to pick between those two options; they do not have a preference.
• Common App is one single main application which allows you to apply to several colleges all at once. However, the application is VERY detailed and lengthy. I recommend only using Common App if you are applying to moderately to highly selective schools.
• Applying Directly on the website - You can complete 6-10 simple college applications more quickly and easily than the Common App. This option is recommended when applying to colleges that are somewhat selective to moderately selective, (admission rate 30-75%+) which often have a pretty straightforward application.
• After Applying to any college, the next step is to request that LHS send them a copy of your official INITIAL transcript. LHS only sends transcripts to colleges using the student's Xello account. You can access Xello through your WSD Classlink menu.
• Xello Instructions for Direct Applications
1. From Main Dashboard, click on Plans
2. Choose College Planning
3. Create New Application
4. Enter name of College, then click Select then Next
5. Answer the questions about Application Method (Direct or Other), Type, and Deadline, then click Create
6. On the next screen, scroll down to Application Checklist
7. Next to Transcript, click Request
8. As you complete tasks, you can mark them Complete here to help you stay organized
9. There is also a spot to update your admissions decisions above the Application checklist; this helps me know where you are in your college selection process.
• Xello Instructions for Common Application
1. Start by setting up your Common App.
2. Add the colleges you are planning to apply to on your Common App.
3. MAKE SURE TO SIGN YOUR FERPA FORMS
4. MAKE SURE TO CHOOSE YOUR APPLICATION DEADLINES (otherwise I won't know what deadlines I need to meet with your application materials)
5. Go into your Xello account
6. Add one of your Common App colleges to Xello by choosing Create an Application.
7. Enter name of College, then click Select then Next
8. Answer the questions about Application Method (Common App), Type, and Deadline, then click Create
9. On the next screen, you should be prompted to Go to Common App to link your Common App to your Xello Account. Login to the Common App screen, and it will return you to Xello.
10. In Xello, navigate to the first college's Application Checklist.
11. You will need to assign me as the counselor (Michelle Gerringer)
12. If you need a teacher to write you a letter of recommendation, you will send them a request in the Teacher Recommendations section. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH TEACHERS BEFORE YOU SEND THEM A XELLO REQUEST.
13. If you need a letter of recommendation from a Counselor (also called Counselor Report on Common App) or Teacher, please fill out the Request for Letter of Recommendation Brag Sheet Form and share the form with your recommenders.

Understanding College Admission Deadlines

• Rolling Admissions: Colleges that are rolling admissions will process your application as soon as all materials are received. THERE IS NO PRIORITY GIVEN TO APPLICATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVED EARLY. Rolling admission applications received in September are treated the same as applications received in the spring. With Rolling Admissions, you are typically not competing with other students, you are being evaluated against their admissions standards and requirements.
• Admissions with deadlines (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision): colleges will not process applications until after the deadline. The deadline advertised is the STUDENT DEADLINE; most colleges provide a small grace period for counselors to submit all other needed materials. AGAIN, there is NO priority given to applications submitted early; as long as you meet the deadline, it will be treated the same as all other applications (even ones that are submitted at 11:59 pm on the deadline). Applicants for schools with application deadlines ARE competing with one another for a limited number of spots.