Jefferson West
High School Counseling Office
Lindsey Scherschligt, Counselor lindsey.scherschligt@usd340.org
Amber Fuller, Registrar/Secretary amber.fuller@usd340.org
New here? See our suggested supply list and bell schedule!
Resources for social emotional concerns/student crisis
Text or call 988 if you are in crisis. Certified and trained counselors will provide assistance and help you figure out best next steps.
Provided by Lifeline--988lifeline.org
Text HOME to 741741 Crisis Text Line
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The Guidance Center in Osklaloosa: 785-863-2929
Family Service & Guidance Center in Topeka: 785-232-5005
Stormont Vail Behavioral Health in Topeka: 785-270-4600
What does Mrs. Scherschligt do, exactly?
Assist students with strategies to deal with academic and personal concerns
Provide support and a listening ear to students/staff in a safe environment
Provide opportunities for college/career/military pathways
Includes entrance exam testing, planning college/career events, working with area colleges to earn dual credit, building IPS based on potential college degree plans
Team with parents/educators/students to plan and manage Individual Plan of Study
Organize and manage enrollment
Work with staff/students to build master schedule
Review data to correctly assign students to classes
Assist students in selecting courses
Enroll new students and assist with transition
Feel free to come see me! My door is always open.
Individual Plan of Study
Jefferson West High School uses Xello for college/career/military planning twice a month during Advisory
This platform also hosts course selections for future semesters and helps our students follow their graduation track
Click on the link below to login to the student's account
Also below are links to the course book and master schedule by semester to help with planning (keep in mind, if the previous year master schedule is posted, the new one will be different)
Behavior Expectations and Rewards
Jefferson West uses Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) Rewards as a way to encourage students to meet our behavior expectations
Students are issued a card with his/her name and specific bar code. This is used to allow staff to award points when a student meets or exceeds expectations
Students also have the App downloaded on their iPad and can view the rewards store and their points at any time
Points can be used at the Tiger Tienda, located in the library, or for any class that has rewards
Some examples of rewards are Tiger gear, Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, extra credit, and more!
Senior Information
Scholarships
Mrs. Scherschligt sends emails almost weekly with scholarship opportunities to students and parents
If you missed the last emails, click the buttons below! Note: There will not be any attachments, so you will need to check email and let Mrs. Scherschligt know if you need her to resend one of them
Local Scholarships are posted in Xello. Students need to login, cilck on "College Planning" then click on "Search for local scholarships"
Local Scholarships are available February 1st and after
Financial Aid Information
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens October 1 of each year for seniors
Video from the KS Association of Financial Aid Officers: https://video.washburn.edu/Watch/Js9k4PZi
Senior Check Out Requirements
Before you graduate, you must have the following completed:
Download anything off of your Google Drive you want to save and put it in a personal drive
Sign up for Parchment AND send a transcript either to yourself, a business, or a college (When ordering, choose "Hold for Grades" which means it will include your final grades from this semester)
This is how you request your high school transcript to colleges or businesses. It's FREE until this August
Please see Mrs. Scherschligt or Mrs. Fuller to get your code (and then save the code to a personal device for reference)
Parchment website: Click Here
Xello Activities that must be done:
Matchmaker
Learning Styles Assessment
Personality Styles Assessment
Resume & Cover Letter
Create a Plan under goals and plans
Add your personal email to your account
How to upload Resume and Cover Letter into Xello:
1. Click on "About Me"
2. Scroll to bottom to the Story Board--Now called Portfolios
3. Click "View Portfolios"
4. Click "Add Portfolio"
5. Type a name and a description--"Resume & Cover Letter"
6. Click on the portfolio you just created
7. Click "Add Section"
8. Add a title--"Resume & Cover Letter"
9. Click "External Media"
10. You can connect a file from Google Drive (just make sure the sharing is on for everyone) or take a picture of your resume and cover letter and click "Choose Local File" . Click next, then click "Add to portfolio"
To add another document, click "Add Media to Section" and follow steps 8-10 to add in another file.
College/Career Activities
College & Career Fair
Jefferson County Counselors Association hosts this fair in the fall for juniors and seniors at one of the county high schools
Apply Kansas
During the month of October, Mrs. Scherschligt will host an all-day event specifically for seniors to get assistance applying for colleges
Many colleges in Kansas will waive their application fee during this month
Job Shadowing
Sophomores-Seniors have the opportunity to take two excused days to job shadow a career they have interest in
Please see Mrs. Scherschligt for the packet and directions
College Visits
Juniors are allowed three excused college visit days and seniors are allowed two
Students must contact Admissions of the college of choice to set up a campus-visit day
If you need assistance with this, please ask Mrs. Scherschligt
Please see Mrs. Wellman to get the College Visit Worksheet
Washburn Tech Campus Visit
Freshman will be bused to Washburn Tech for their Spring Open House to tour campus and decide if they would like to attend this college during HS
College Planning Guide (disregard the school name; can be applied to any college seeker)
Washburn Tech
Students may attend Washburn Institute of Technology beginning their junior year
This is a technical college in Topeka that students can attend and earn high school elective credit and college credit at the same time
Many students are able to earn a certificate or degree before they leave high school
Tuition is free while student is in high school, however there are other required fees that vary by program
Eligibility:
Must be on track to graduate
Must be accepted into Washburn Tech before junior/senior year
Apply Online (it's free)
Take and pass the ACCUPLCR test (in math and reading)
Tests are $10 each
Washburn Tech will proctor 2-3 tests at Jeff West each year
Mrs. Scherschligt has study guides in her office
Submit a counselor recommendation form
Check out washburntech.edu for more information
ACT
Register for the ACT by going to act.org
Mrs. Scherschligt has free ACT prep books in her office
There are fee waivers available to those who qualify--see Mrs. Scherschligt
Click below for more ACT Resources
*There is quite a bit of Algebra II on the test; Mrs. Scherschligt recommends taking the test after a student has had at least one semester of Algebra II, or the student is in their junior year and plans to go to a four-year university
*Most of the time, students do not need to take the writing portion of the ACT, unless going out of state or into a major that requires it
*Jefferson West usually hosts the ACT in September, October, February and June
Pre-ACT 8/9
Jeff West will host the Pre-ACT for 9th graders. Here are a couple of resources about the test:
ASVAB
ASVAB is a free multiple-aptitude test that the military uses when placing recruits for specific occupations
Jefferson West hosts the ASVAB test on our campus annually, usually in February
Sophomores-Seniors can take the ASVAB, especially if they are interested in going into the military
ASVAB is one piece of a larger career exploration program
For more information, please visit www.asvabprogram.com
Study Resources:
Highland Community College
Highland CC offers concurrent enrollment where students are able to earn high school and college credit
Students must pay for the classes AND earn a C or better in a college class to earn the credit
Click here for classes offered both on-site at JW through Highland Community College https://highlandcc.edu/caffeine/uploads/files/Jefferson%20West%20Spring%202021%20Flyer(1).pdf
Click here if you already have a Highland account and need to register for courses or pay online: https://myhcc.highlandcc.edu/SelfService/Home.aspx
PSAT
Jefferson West hosts the PSAT on the national testing day, which is usually the second Wednesday in October. For the 20-21 School year, we will also host one on January 26, 2021
This test is mostly a practice version of the SAT
The PSAT is open to sophomores and juniors
Any juniors that take the PSAT, their scores will be submitted to the National Merit Scholars Program and depending on the score, students may have the opportunity to be awarded scholarship money
Sign up for the PSAT in the spring of freshman/sophomore year, take it as a sophomore/junior
NCAA/NAIA
If you are planning on playing sports in college, please see the following for guidelines on eligibility and more! It is recommended you create an account with the organization (NCAA or NAIA, for example) so they can send you more information about steps to take, etc.
NCAA
NAIA
Transcript Request
General requests:
Email Kathy Wellman, registrar at kathleen.wellman@usd340.org
If you are a current senior, please see Mrs. Scherschligt to get a parchment code. You will need to log into Parchment and fill out the profile using the code. This is a free transcript request until the August after your senior year
If you are not a current senior, please use Parchment to submit a request to have your transcript sent. There is a small fee
Click on the link above to access Parchment
National Honor Society
Click here to see requirements:
Other Resources
One-Stop Shop for resources in area
Type in your zip code and it will bring up resources near you!
Alcohol/Drug Use Help
Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Parenting
Squabbles Curriculum* free for a short time--updated 4.15.20
Helps kids manage emotions and solve social problems
Pathological Demand Avoidance In Kids--Child Mind Article
Self-Esteem/Social Emotional Development
Topics include, but not limited to: Cyber Bullying, Learning Issues, ADHD, IEPs, Anxiety, Lying, Accepting Criticism, Self-Esteem
Has some great worksheets with dealing with self-esteem
Helpful for working with kids who have learning disabilities
Suicide Prevention
Transition to High School
Food/Clothing/Utility Needs
God's Storehouse
Pickups for food across from the post-office (to the south) 107 Main Street, Meriden
Every Satuary morning 7:30-9:30 am (They do special pick ups on the weekends before Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Phone: 785-230-3153
Jefferson County Resource Guide
Information includes, but not limited to: Food services, clothing, medical assistance for uninsured, counseling, mentoring, disability transition services, housing, etc.
Good Shepard-Tongonoxie
423 E. 4th; 913.845.3964
Offers food, clothing, rent and utility assistance
Doorstep of Topeka
Can help with: food, clothing, prescriptions, dental vouchers, gas vouchers, bus tickets, rent/utility assistance
Please call or email first: 785-357-5341 or lisa@doorstepinc.com
Disabilities Information
Differences between High School and Post Secondary: Click here
ADHD Resources--Child Mind Institute
Autism Resources--Child Mind Institute
Learning Disorders--Child Mind Institute
Brain Science
The Brain for Kids and How It Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9HK59FaoMI
How to Learn Major Parts of the Brain Quickly: https://youtu.be/FczvTGluHKM
The Hand Brain Model, Self-Regulation: https://youtu.be/lRmnVmELMn8
A Tour of the Brain, Self-Regulation: https://youtu.be/Q6vqSehMYQQ
The Brain for Kids- What is the Brain and How Does It Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9HK59FaoMI