January

You can also access the monthly newsletters through the counseling website: https://wpsd.net/departments/counseling/high-school-counseling

Northland Career Center Applications

Students who are interested in attending NCC next year need to see Mrs. Allee as soon as possible to submit an application and schedule a shadow visit. Current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Application materials are due by March 1. The following programs are available:

Aviation Technology
Construction Technology
Culinary Arts
Diesel Technology
Health Sciences
Heating, Cooling & Climate Control
Industrial Welding
IT Professionals
Law Enforcement/Crime Scene Investigation
Production Technologies
Teaching Professions

KC Scholars: Scholarship Opportunities for 9th and 11th Grades

Current juniors and freshmen are eligible to apply for KC Scholars Scholarships. Students must demonstrate low or modest income and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Apply online at: www.kcscholars.org by March 1, 2019.

Students are eligible for the following awards:

Juniors: Traditional Scholarship
- Up to $10,000/year, renewable up to 5 years
Freshmen: College Savings Account/Match
- Up to 500 students will have a 429 college savings account opened for them with $50
- 4:1 match on college savings, not to exceed $5,000
- An additional $2,000 available to students who achieve college-ready milestones during high school

College Financial Aid Award Letters

Seniors are starting to receive college Financial Aid Award Letters, and it can be very confusing! A few key terms to keep in mind:

EFC (Expected Family Contribution): This number is derived from the information shared on the FAFSA and is the amount the government says a family is able to contribute towards the student's college education. More often than not, you will find this number to be unrealistic! College Financial Aid Offices use the EFC figure to determine eligibility for different types of aid. If you feel there are circumstances that affect your ability to contribute financially, contact the Financial Aid Office. This is especially true if your financial situation has changed dramatically since 2016. Individual Financial Aid Offices may be able to make adjustments and find additional monies-you don't know unless you ask!
COA (Cost of Attendance): Colleges will list all costs associated with attending their college-tuition and fees, room and board, books, and extra things like travel expenses. You take the COA minus the financial aid that has been awarded to determine the out of pocket amount that is left to pay.
Pell Grants: Grants are free money that are awarded based on financial need (EFC at or below a set amount). Grants do not have to be repaid.
Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: Subsidized loans are student loans that the government pays the interest for while the student is in college. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest during college, with the option of the student paying that interest while in school. Both go into repayment six months after college graduation (or leaving college or dropping below full-time student status). If the full amount isn't needed, don't accept all of it.
Parent PLUS Loans: Loans that parents can take on behalf of their students. These are not automatic loans-parents are subject to credit approval. Just because it is listed on the Financial Aid Award Letter doesn't mean it will be awarded. If this loan isn't needed, don't accept it.

7th and 8th Grade Classroom Counseling Lessons

7th Grade and 8th Grade will be talking about Kindness and Empathy this month. We are getting ready for Kindness Week: Be Kind to Me and You, which will February 11-15 for grades 7-12, and Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17.

Upcoming Events

February 1: NHS applications due to Mrs. Allee
February 5: English I and English II students will take an EOC Writing Prompt Field Test
February 7: Academic Achievement Assembly at 1:00 p.m. in the PAC to recognize students who scored Proficient and Advanced on last spring's state testing
February 4-8: National School Counseling Week
February 11-15: Kindness Week: Be Kind to Me and You
February 20: District ACT Test, offered free to all juniors and sophomores currently taking Algebra II

Have Questions or Concerns?

Please feel free to contact me!

Corrine Allee

Direct Line: (816) 354-7708

alleec@wpsd.net

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