Friday, January 31, 2014

The Connection Equation

I read this article last night and thought it resonated well with what WE can do as teachers, counselors, principals, students...people.

The article written by blogger Momastery tells the story of a teacher who is making difference in her classroom by searching for students who are alone, left out, disconnected. She uses "math" by looking for patterns. I think we can all agree that 1+0= 1 and according to Three Dog Night, One is the Loneliest Number. 

A particular excerpt I that struck me was:

"It’s like taking an X-ray of a classroom to see beneath the surface of things and into the hearts of students. It is like mining for gold – the gold being those little ones who need a little help – who need adults to step in and TEACH them how to make friends, how to ask others to play, how to join a group, or how to share their gifts with others."

We do these things as teachers, counselors, principals. A lot of times this is the main reason we have chosen the field of education. We are teaching academics, but we are also teaching connections and helping those students who have a hard time doing just that. This particular teacher is in an elementary school, but the need doesn't stop with the younger kids. Our teenagers need just as much help as the 5th grade student.

The other really awesome part of our job is that we also know that our students do a really good job at this as well. Many times in between classes, in the lunch room, after school we see students reaching out to other students who may be shy or feel left out. We are often in awe at the compassion we witness. (Yes, we take note of it!)

I hope this article is a reminder to us ALL that no matter the formula, 1+1=<3.

Volunteer and Internship Opportunity - Allyson Schwartz for Governor

Interested in an Internship Opportunity? Volunteering? Politics? What it takes to work on a campaign?

Internship Program

Organization:
Pennsylvania for Allyson Schwartz Campaign
City:
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas
Location:
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States




Description & Details

The Pennsylvania for Allyson Schwartz campaign is looking for bright, energetic individuals who want to make history and help elect Congresswoman Schwartz as the state's first female Governor.

Hours are completely flexible with a small requirement, and Team Schwartz is a lot of fun. No experience necessary. You will finish this internship knowing how to run a local field program and run a successful "Get Out The Vote" operation, as well as having met some really great friends.

Responsibilities include:
·         Working directly with the campaign’s Field Organizers to identify, recruit, train and supervise volunteers teams;
·         Coordinating and participating in direct voter contact to motivate and mobilize voters in key areas;
·         Database management;
·         Staffing campaign events;

Opportunity is for any interested student. For more information, please see Miss Harbst.

Apply here: Allyson Schwartz for Governor High School Internship Application

Monday, January 20, 2014

Financial Aid--How Early Should I Start?



Not sure on how early you should start thinking about financial aid? The Federal Office of Student Aid has answered that question with some really great links on their website. Stuff we really like: The info graph on the left and the checklists.

Financial Aid Completion Saturdays

We know a lot of parents and students have questions on what to do about financial aid for post-secondary schooling options. While we in the guidance office have some advice for you, we are not the experts on this area. What we can offer you is some information and direction to the experts. Representatives from PHEAA are offering some help on completing the FAFSA forms on Saturdays in the next few months. Below is schedule of locations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. A full list of workshops across the state are listed here.
We highly recommend attending one of these workshops as you'll be able to ask personalized questions and have a guide while completing the financial aid forms. Please read ahead of time on the websites for FAFSA and PHEAA as to what you will need to bring with you. 

2/18/2014
6:00–8:00 PM
HS Library
Gateway Senior High School
3000 Gateway Campus Boulevard
Monroeville, PA
Allegheny
N/A
3/1/2014
10:00 AM to Noon
Computer Lab
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Brookline
708 Brookline Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny
Pre-registration Mandatory
(412) 561-1003
3/8/2014
10:00 AM to Noon
Room TBD
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood
7101 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny
Pre-registration Mandatory
(412) 731-3080
3/29/2014
10:00 AM to Noon
Computer Lab
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Carrick
1811 Brownsville Road
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny
Pre-registration Mandatory
(412) 882-3897
4/5/2014
10:00 AM to Noon
JCEC Center
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny
Pre-registration Mandatory
(412) 622-3133
4/12/2014
Noon to 2:00 PM
Computer Lab
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Beechview
1910 Broadway
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny
Pre-registration Mandatory
(412) 563-2900
2/5/2014
5:30–6:30 PM
Computer Lab
Norwin Library (sponsored by State Rep. George Dunbar)
100 Caruthers Lane
North Huntingdon, PA
Westmoreland
Pre-registration Mandatory
(724) 774-0305
2/5/2014
6:30–7:30 PM
Computer Lab
Norwin Library (sponsored by State Rep. George Dunbar)
100 Caruthers Lane
North Huntingdon, PA
Westmoreland
Pre-registration Mandatory
(724) 774-0305
2/18/2014
5:30–8:00 PM
Cassell Hall, Room 210
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
150 Finoli Drive
Greensburg, PA
Westmoreland
Pre-registration Mandatory
(724) 836-9881
4/2/2014
5:30–8:00 PM
Cassell Hall, Room 210
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
150 Finoli Drive
Greensburg, PA
Westmoreland
Pre-registration Mandatory
(724) 836-9881

Monday, January 13, 2014

Important Dates 2014

JANUARY
Senior Project Presentations                                   1/17
End of First Semester                                      1/22
Financial Aid Night                                           1/29
Steel Center Field Trip (Sophomores)   1/31

FEBRUARY
College Fair                                                            2/6
Scheduling Process Begins                                   2/21
Community, Education & Business Night 2/27

MARCH
Scheduling open in Powerschool 3/1–7
SAT's (WMAHS) 3/8


APRIL
National Honor Society                                  4/29
                 Inductions/Senior Convocation
Busy Scholarship Search Month For Seniors

MAY
Local Scholarship Deadlines                                  5/2
Senior Awards                                                      5/21
Prom                                                                          5/23
Keystone Exams (Wave 3) 5/12-23
AP Exams 5/5-16

JUNE
Step up day/Freshman Orientation TBA
Graduation  6/6
SAT's (WMAHS) 6/7
Summer School TBA


Counselors available until 6/13

Career Cruising

Have you wondered ? “What does a designer do?  What careers would I be good at? How much does a carpenter make? Or what schools offer journalism?” Career Cruising is the place to go for all of the answers.   This is one of the key tools that we use for career and post-secondary planning.  The website is free to use for all West Mifflin High School students and provides not only valuable resources but also an online portfolio.  This website is an integral part of the curriculum at each grade level.  In the 9th grade careers class, students created a portfolio and took several career assessments.  In 10th grade,  students save careers into their portfolio, and as a junior search for and save schools to prepare for the college fair.  As a senior Career Cruising is a major source for the senior project as well post secondary schools and scholarships. Students need to document community service in the volunteer section to be eligible for the Challenge Program awards.  Take advantage of this great online tool.

Login Information:
Username:  wmahs
Password:  15122

Please see your counselor for personal portfolio login information.


Taking the SAT

One component to college planning is taking a college placement exam.  The best time to begin taking the SAT or ACT is in the spring of the junior year.  While both tests are given almost every month,  at West Mifflin High School, we offer SAT testing on designated Saturdays in March, June (new this year) and October.    We recommend that students plan to test at 2-3 times by December of their senior year.  The registration deadline for the March SAT test is February 7, 2014.   To register, students must create an account on www.collegeboard.org .  The cost for taking the test is $51.  Fee waivers are available in the guidance office for students who receive a free or reduced lunch.  Test takers must bring photo id, registration form, calculator and pencils to the test.

Back by popular demand, the guidance department will be offering an SAT registration and preparation  workshop on Thursdays after school from January 30 through March 6th. 
Interested students can sign up for this workshop in the guidance office.  Topics will include, test registration, math review, test taking strategies, test day preparations. 


Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School

Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School (SCAVTS) provides quality career and technical education to high school students residing in 11 different school districts in southern Allegheny County with a half-day of curriculum.
SCAVTS courses are taken as electives. Students will take their Core Classes at WMAHS and receive elective credits from SCAVTS towards graduation requirements.
Students in 10th grade can attend SCAVTS for Health Services or Cosmetology Programs. In their 11th and 12th grade years they may choose from all programs. An application must be completed for evaluation by program directors.
Admission is based on grades, attendance, related skills and availability of programs. Applications are available from WMAHS Guidance office or SCAVTS. Due March 1st.
On January 24th all 10th grade students will review a presentation by Mr. Shannon Hinkle, SCAVTS Guidance Counselor. On January 31st, 10th and select 9th grade students will be given the opportunity to attend a field trip to their campus to review the programs of study in order to help guide schedule options. Students will sign up for the trip by Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 with a permission slip obtained in their social studies classes. Only students who return permission slips by January 29th will attend.


Athletes—NCAA

The NCAA Eligibility Center  was established to verify academic eligibility. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules. High School student athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center after their Junior year if they want to participate in college athletics at the NCAA Division I or II levels.    It is important that the student athlete makes his/her guidance counselor aware of their future athletic goals as a freshman so that they can be scheduled in the appropriate core courses.  More information regarding the NCAA Eligibility Center can be found at www.eligibilitycenter.org.


Community, Education & Business Night

Community, Education and Business Night is an opportunity for students and parents to meet and greet with the teachers, clubs, and organizations. CEBN will include departmental teams of teachers and break-out sessions such as The College Application Process, Juniors-Where Am I?, Q&A Freshman among other departmental updates. Students and parents can use this time to speak with teachers and counselors to help explore curriculum options for scheduling purposes and extracurricular involvement for their high school career. The Annual Community, Education and Business Night  is February 27, 2014 at 6:00 at WM Middle School.


Scheduling 2014-2015

Beyond the snow and ice are the changing leaves of fall…. Yes FALL – soon we will begin the process of scheduling courses for the Fall of 2014. 
During the last week of February the counselors will meet with each grade level to explain the course offerings and scheduling process.  The updated course book with descriptions and  selection sheets will be available on the High School website in mid February.  Teachers will input suggested or required recommendations into powerschool for students to view.  Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet with teachers from each department at the Community, Education and Business Night (see below) to learn more about the available opportunities.  These include not only academic and elective courses, but also dual enrollment, extracurricular and post-secondary opportunities. 

After March 1st, students will then have a week to make their selections and input the requests into their powerschool account. Students need to thoughtfully make these initial selections because course offerings and placement are determined by these requests.  Scheduling priority is given to the original requests.  Counselors will be available in the computer rooms during lunches to answer questions and facilitate this process.  Once the requests are entered, the next several months are busy with creating the perfect schedule for the 1200 student at West Mifflin Area High School.  In mid May, students will receive a tentative schedule for review and necessary adjustments will be made to prepare for a smooth start of the 2014-15 school year.


Juniors — 18 months till graduation

Juniors need to start thinking about what they will be doing in August, 2015. 
They don’t need all the answers, but rather they should be asking some key questions:             
Should I go away to school?  How far?  In the city or country?  How big of a school?  What  subjects am I good at? 
During the week of January 20th, the counselors will meet with juniors in History classes to discuss those questions.  Upon completion of a career assignment, juniors will be eligible to attend the National College Fair at the David Lawrence Convention Center on February 6, 2014 from 9:00am – 12:00pm.  Students are encouraged to attend this event with their families; however if interested in a bus, sign up in guidance by 1/28.  
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with admissions counselors and attend workshops on the college planning.  Watch for more info in class and on our website  www.wmasd.org under High School/Guidance.


Seniors-The FINAL Semester

SENIORS!

Second semester seems to fly for everyone at West Mifflin Area High School, but for our seniors it seems to move at the speed of light.  No matter what plans our seniors have after they leave WMAHS, there are many responsibilities that they have during their last semester in high school, on top of keeping up with their studies, in order for them to make a smooth transition into the “real world”.  Starting in mid January after their Senior Project Presentations, Seniors who  have decided to attend college or any other post secondary school should start filling out the FAFSA with their parents (Financial Aid Night January 29th @ WMAHS 6:30 in the LGI Room), searching for scholarships with help from our guidance website at www.wmasd.org, and turning any scholarship monies which they have been awarded so that we can recognize their achievements at our senior awards convocation on May 21st.   Students who are joining the military after high school should be meeting with their recruitment officer regularly to make sure everything is in order to begin basic training. Students who have decided to join the work force should be putting out applications and working on their resumes.  Any senior who is still unsure about what their plans are after high school are strongly encouraged to contact their guidance counselor immediately so that we can assist with their future plans and goals.   Later in the semester, the guidance department will be in touch with seniors regarding information about items such as diplomas final transcripts, and what they have ultimately decided on doing after graduation.  As always, the guidance department is always available to answer any question that you may have regarding plans after high school for your senior son or daughter.