STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER- March 2016

The MHS Student Services staff looks forward to working with you and your child. We empower students to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. We promote a healthy self-concept, decision-making skills, career exploration, and academic achievement for students. As a team, we encourage personal, academic, and social/emotional growth by helping students build strong relationships with teachers, administrators, and other school personnel, as well as bridge communication and student support between home and school.  Student services are also an integral part in the development and implementation of academic and behavioral programming so that all students learn, grow, and succeed.

ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

This month we are featuring an article on Senioritis

GREATER MILWAUKEE COLLEGE WORKSHOP
Sunday, April 17th, Carroll University  12:00-4:00 pm

Free, informative college workshop is presented by local professionals.
Topics covered include How To Prepare Your Student For College Life, Learn Money Saving Techniques To Use Even If You Don’t Qualify For Financial Aid, Understand the College Athletic Recruiting Process and more. To learn more and to register go to:  www.gmcollegeworkshop.com

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS

The 2016 Advanced Placement exams will be administered between May 2 - May 13th.  The fee per test will be $92.00.  Students will need to register for the exams between March 3 - March 15th at www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/501607

Information regarding test registration will be distributed to students in their AP classes during the first week of March. 

SENIORS/JUNIORS – ACT TEST DATES

Students are able to take additional ACT tests throughout the year.  You may register online at www.actstudent.org.  You must register well in advance of the test date.  Colleges/universities will use your best ACT composite test score for college admission.

There is an optional writing assessment included with the ACT.  Some colleges will require the writing assessment.  Please see ACT’s website at www.actstudent.org for a listing of which colleges require the writing assessment.  Some colleges, including  UMN-Twin Cities will require the writing assessment for all college freshmen.

Additional 2015-16 ACT Test Dates

ACT PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

A list of ACT preparation opportunities is available in the Student Services Office and on the district’s website and linked at ACT Preparation Resources.

*May 28th ACT Tutorial with MHS Teachers has been cancelled

Information regarding registering for all sessions listed above will be announced via Infinite Campus.

MAY 1 DEADLINE FOR WVS COURSE REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER

If you are interested in enrolling in an online course for summer, the deadline to apply is May 1st.  Please see your counselor.  Online courses through Wisconsin Virtual School (WVS) must be be completed between June 13 - August 1st.  

MHS SENIORS – COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a detailed process outlined on our web site that you may access by clicking here.

SENIORS - BE AWARE OF IMPORTANT COLLEGE INFORMATION SUCH AS:

Application Deadlines - This varies from college to college.

Confirmation Deposit  - Many colleges require admitted students to submit a $100 confirmation deposit that is refundable until May 1, 2016.

Housing Applications and Contracts - On campus housing fills early on many campuses. Pay special attention to deadlines contained within housing applications and contracts.

College Scholarships - This varies from college to college.  Some colleges have a separate scholarship application process with deadlines.

SENIORS: SECOND SEMESTER GRADES ARE IMPORTANT

On your application, you submitted a list of courses that you were taking your senior year. Once you are accepted, THE REST OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR STILL COUNTS!  If you drop a course or don’t pass it, the college may rescind your admission.  All colleges request a final transcript at the end of your senior year.

WCTC ALL-CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, March 10, 2016  4:00 - 8:00 pm.  This is a great opportunity to view technology labs and classrooms, visit with faculty, advisors and students, and meet with admissions and financial aid representatives. RSVP online at www.wctc.edu/better or phone 262.691.5129

COLLEGE WEEK LIVE:  VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS

College Week Live is a virtual college fair that is free to students and parents

• 300+ colleges are participants
• Allows an opportunity to interact directly with admissions representatives
• Research schools & narrow your choices before campus visits
• Video chat with current students on college campuses to learn what student life is like
• Live video presentations on key topics (admissions, financial aid, etc.)
• Go to collegeweeklive.com to register for the events

SENIORS – FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS                                                                                      

Scholarships - Seniors are encouraged to start the scholarship search process early in the senior year.  Scholarship information, including scholarship search engines and the MHS Scholarship List,  is on the district’s web site or through the link    MHS Scholarship List

2017 GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY 

Coolidge Scholars Program - Full tuition scholarship program for juniors in high school.  The scholarship can be used at any college or university.  Deadline for application is March 18, 2016 and the application is available at Coolidgescholars.org

FINANCIAL AID

MHS hosted a Financial Aid Information Session on Tuesday, December 1 at 6:00 pm at MHS in the PAC to introduce parents to the financial aid process. We had a great turnout! If you were not able to make it, here is a link to the presentation

If your child will enroll in college in the fall of 2016, you are able to begin completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) after January 1, 2016.  If your child will enroll in college in the fall of 2017, you are able to begin completing the FAFSA after October 1, 2016 (new process as of September of 2015).  If you are curious about your projected ability to qualify for Financial Aid you can complete a financial aid estimator at FAFSA Forecaster

SENIORS/JUNIORS SAT and SAT SUBJECT TEST DATES

Students planning to attend college out of state may decide to take this test.  Register online at www.collegeboard.com – you must register well in advance of the test date.

Test Date                Registration Deadline        

May 7, 2016                April 8th, 2016                

Additional   SAT Test Dates 2015-16

ABSENT WORK

Please look at Infinite Campus regarding any missing homework.  If homework is not posted in Infinite Campus, please have your student contact teachers by email to request information about homework that was missed due to absence. We ask that homework not be requested for students who are absent for only one day.  Please allow at least 24 hours for teachers to gather missing work. Requested homework can be picked up in the Student Services Office between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Please inform the Health Office and/or school counselor of extenuating circumstances that have caused an extended absence.

CAREER LOCKER WEBSITE

All students are encouraged to explore careers through: https://wiscareers.wisc.edu/Default.asp  Students who attended Bay Lane or Lake Denoon created accounts there and the information is saved.  Your child’s USER NAME should be the first initial first name + first initial middle name + last name.  Your password will be your student ID number- unless your child changed it. Please contact Student Services if you need assistance logging in.

A great starting point for career exploration can be found under the “Occupations” tab in Career Locker.  Click on “Browse Career Clusters.”  Become familiar with this comprehensive snapshot of the world of work.  Notice how each cluster is made up of more specific pathways.  Performing this simple exercise helps to understand how the world of work is structured and what work skills are needed for the 21st Century.

From the HEALTH OFFICE

Friendly reminder: All Phy Ed Excuses, Medical Releases, and other MD notes should be brought to the health office located near Student Services.

FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE FOR ACT, AP TESTS, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Families that meet the total income at or below the USDA levels for free or reduced-price lunches listed in the chart below may be eligible for fee waivers for the ACT and SAT tests, AP tests and college application fees.    Please see your student’s school counselor who will confidentially provide the fee information.

MHS STUDENT SERVICES STAFF

Administrative Assistants:

School Counselors:

School Psychologists:

School Social Worker (district-wide, at MHS part-time):

School Nurse (district-wide, at MHS part-time):