ASVAB

I hope you had a wonderful and restful spring break!  I am anxious to see everyone again, but not quite sure I'm going to feel ready when the alarm clock goes off tomorrow morning.  Somehow I suspect I won't be alone in that feeling.

Back in January we offered the ASVAB to interested students.  There has been so much interest in the test since then that we are going to have another ASVAB administration coming up this Friday, April 5th.  Please see me asap or email me if you are interested in taking the test so that I can get you on the list.

As a reminder, while the ASVAB is used for determining military job options, it is also a great tool that can be used for career research for those who have no interest in the military.

As we return to school tomorrow, I hope you will stop by and fill me in on how your break went and Lexi is thrilled to be heading back to school and she can't wait to get all the love and attention that she has missed out on over the last week!

ACT Scores

Juniors, I have heard that the ACT scores for the March test you took at WKHS are back for most of our students.  (ACT technically says scores are released anywhere from 10 days to 5 weeks later so it is possible your scores might not be there just yet.)  

How do you find out your scores?  You log into your MyACT account that you had created before the test date.  Information about how to do this was handed out during the PACK Period presentation in the auditorium and it was also emailed to you twice by Mrs. Dominach and Mrs. Backhurst.  If you didn't create an account at the time instructed, my hope is that using the code in the email and on the handout you received will still allow you to set up an account now and access your scores.  If that doesn't work then you will need to call ACT directly.  Their phone number is on the bottom of the ACT website.  One important note if you need to call - ACT will not talk to the parents or to the school about your score results.  They will only talk to the student so you will need to be the one to call them to figure out how to link your score to your MyACT account. 

We always get the results later than students, but we hope to receive a score report summary from ACT in the coming weeks.  But what that means is that unfortunately, at this time, I can't even look up your score to tell you what you scored on the test.

Hopefully you are happy with your test results!  Enjoy your final weekend of spring break!

Spring Break

Yay!  We made it to spring break!  I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, fun, week away from school.  I know that some sports will continue to have practices and games (or are traveling to compete) which can make it hard to feel like you really get away, but hopefully it will still be fun to be with your friends and teammates.  No matter what your plans include, I hope that it will give you lots of reasons to smile!

So Many Paths

On my blog I tend to spend a lot of time talking about college related information because there are so many students who have questions about college applications and processes.  But it is important to realize that college - especially a 4 year college - is NOT the only option for students!

In fact, did you know that Columbus State Community College is the most common college for our Kilbourne graduates to pursue after graduating from high school?

Worthington has worked hard to expand opportunities and offerings to make sure all students know that there is a path ahead of them in the future.  I saw this article about options for plans after high school that are alternatives to a traditional 4 year college and I thought it would be something that you might enjoy reading and thinking about as well.  Know that if you are considering something other than a 4-year college, I am still here to help you with making that future path a reality!

Final CC+ Reminder

All students looking to earn free college credit in classes next year MUST turn in the College Credit Plus intent to participate form by April 1st!  This is a firm deadline established by the State of Ohio and we cannot extend it so please make sure you get your forms turned in to us!  

Just as a reminder, this includes college classes on the college campus, online college classes, college classes taught by college instructors at WKHS (English, Psychology, Government, Sociology, Ethics), and the regular WKHS classes taught by the WKHS teachers which can get you college credit for the exact same class you may have already signed up to take (Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB).  

If you have any questions about College Credit Plus - stop and see me or watch the videos on the counselor website.  (www.wkhscounselors.com).  The intent to participate form packets which includes the video sign-off forms are also available on the counselor website.

Common App Essays

The Common Application has announced that their essay question prompts for next year will remain the same.  In case you don't know, Common Application is an application website that many colleges use allowing students to fill out one application that can then be submitted to various colleges and is one of the primary methods that students will utilize when applying to college. 

Juniors, you can take a look at these prompts and start brainstorming what your answers might be for each question.  After you list your thoughts for each question, look at which response best allows you to tell the story of who you are and will be the best introduction of you to the admissions committee.  Then it is time to start drafting and editing and drafting some more.  :-)  

Students who utilize the common app will be asked to select and answer one question in 250-650 words.  (Please don't worry about word count on your first draft - it is always MUCH easier to cut words than it is to try to add more in later.)

Below are the common app essay questions to help you get started: 

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure.  How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that made you happy or thankful in a surprising way.  How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and new understanding of yourself or others.

6.  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.  Why does it captivate you?  What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7.  Share an essay on any topic of your choice.  It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Also, don't forget that on April 17th we will host an Essay Brainstorming Workshop to help you prepare for writing your essays.  More details about this will come after spring break.

How do you want to feel?

One of my friends and I were talking over the weekend about doing what you need to do now so that you feel how you want to feel later.  It is a concept that I think will resonate with many of you as well.

What does "do what you want to do now so you feel how you want to feel later" really mean?  Well, it is taking time to actually look at your actions and making intentional choices about what you are doing so that it will lead you to places that you feel good about later.

This shows up in all different aspects of your life.

In school, doing what you need to do now may mean buckling down and writing a paper that you have been procrastinating on so that you don't have to worry about it over spring break.  Or studying and working really hard in your classes throughout 4th quarter so that you can relax and enjoy summer vacation without the burden of summer school.

In our relationships with others, doing what you need to do now may mean taking the time to slow down and cherish the moments with your grandparents or a beloved elderly neighbor before they are gone and you can't spend the time with them any more.  It can also mean speaking words of hope and encouragement to your friends and the significant people in your life so that you will feel good about the quality of your interactions together.

In sports or music or art, doing what you need to do now may mean training and running the extra drill or practicing the difficult part more so that you will have the joy of accomplishment later.

The concept of doing what you need to do now so that you will feel how you want to feel later is so simple in theory, but it isn't always easy to put it into practice.  We are all human and we won't be perfect, but whenever possible, try to actively look at your choices and think about if they are helping you to feel how you will want to feel later.  It is a practice that will make a difference in the quality of your choices and therefore the quality of your life.

College Fit

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Students in all different grade levels are starting to contemplate what colleges might be a good fit for them in the future.  Seniors are at the point where they are looking with a critical eye at the schools which all seemed like a good possible fit when applying to determine now which one is the best fit for their future.  For juniors, working to develop the list of strong fit schools will make college applications more reasonable.  And even for freshmen and sophomores, while it might seem far away, it is fun to start exploring and thinking about what you might like for your futures and if college might be a part of that picture.

College fit is an essential component of the college search process.  The reality is that the college search process isn't a prize to be won by being accepted to the most schools or even to the most prestigious colleges.  It is a match to be made.  You will have your own goals and desires for what you want in a college environment.  The college will have their own goals and objectives of what they are searching for when building their classes.  When those goals align between the students and the college is when the best fit is present.

So how do you know if a college is a good fit for you?  There are a ton of different aspects you can consider when determining a fit.  Most specifically, you will typically be looking for colleges that are a fit across the domains of academics, social, and financial.

Academically, you are trying to find schools that offer your major, have good internship/ job placement opportunities, are at a rigor that you will feel comfortable, have class sizes that match what you're looking for, offer learning experiences that are engaging to you (such as honors programs or research opportunities), and that are a match for what you're wanting in your interactions with professors.

Financially, you are taking into consideration the cost of attending the college, how much debt you will have to take on, the distance you'll have to travel to and from the college to home, the cost of living on campus or in the community of the campus, and the opportunities available to work while you are at school.

Socially is actually the most broad category for looking for a fit.  College is more than just the classrooms and book instruction that you will be learning and so finding a school where you will be able to make friends, enjoy the food, and have clubs, sports or other activities that you enjoy, is really important to finding the college that will be a good fit for you socially.  Does the college have a greek life, volunteer opportunities, or engagement with social justice issues that matter to you?  Is school spirit, religious affiliation, or arts and other cultural experiences important to you?  Do you feel safe on campus and can you imagine spending the next 4 years living, learning, and interacting with the people around you?  If you think "ugh, I don't want to talk to these people" then it is a pretty good indication that this is not a good social fit for you.

There are so many additional questions that can help you determine if a school is going to be a good fit such as, do you want a large, fast paced environment or a smaller, laid-back space for learning?  But trust yourself.  Enjoy the process of exploring different campuses.  See what feels most comfortable to you.  And recognize that when you figure out the things that you don't care for as much in a college, you are actually that much closer to identifying what you do want in a college for your future!

Also, I read this article this week and loved it so I wanted to share it with you as well: When a College Says No

4th Quarter Reminder

This past week started the 4th and final quarter of the year.  So while it is obvious that you want to do your best in your classes to pass them and earn the credit, it is also important to remember that your 4th quarter grades impact next fall's eligibility.  Just as each quarter in the school year determines if you will be eligible to participate in sports or other co-curricular competitive activities, the 4th quarter determines that for students for the next fall.  This means that how you do in your classes this quarter will determine if you are eligible to participate in sports, marching band, In the Know, and any other fall related co-curricular competitive activity.

Remember, in order to be eligible you must pass at least 5 half credit classes each quarter.  (PE classes and TOK are only worth 1/4 credit and so they cannot count towards those 5 courses.) 

Apply yourself in the classroom today so that you will be able to have the extracurricular opportunities that interest you in the future!

Local Scholarships

Seniors, now is the time to be working on submitting your applications for local scholarships!

Local scholarships are great because you are only competing against other WKHS students (for many) and, at most, against other students from Worthington or the Central Ohio area.  These scholarships are all among the scholarships we have listed on the WKHS Counselor website and I strongly encourage you to take the time to check them out.  To find the scholarship listings on the Counselor website - you can use the logo on the right side of the page or hover over the College/ Career tab and Scholarship Search is the bottom option.

The majority of the local scholarships have due dates of April 1st, but there are some with earlier or later deadlines so it is important to pay attention to those details so that you don't miss out on the opportunities.  As you read through the scholarships available, look carefully to determine which ones you might be a good candidate for and therefore want to apply to try to receive.  Please remember that time flies and many of the scholarships have requirements such as essays or recommendation letters so it is important not to procrastinate and to get your applications completed on time.

Senior Picture Deadline

Just a quick reminder to all seniors... the deadline to submit your Senior Picture for the yearbook is next Friday, March 22nd.  All seniors are invited to turn in a preferred photo to Mr. Cecutti at tcecutti@wscloud.org to have your picture included in the yearbook.  For students who do not submit a photo before the deadline, the school pictures by HR Imaging that you had taken in August will typically be used for the yearbook.  If you have any questions, please stop and see or email Mr. Cecutti.

Admissions Decisions Coming Soon

The next few weeks will be big as students finally hear back about the college admissions decisions that you have waited months to receive. Most of the schools that have yet to announce their decisions will be releasing them over the next couple of days to weeks. This can be a very stressful time for students. Try to take a deep breath and relax – you have done the best job to put yourself in the best situation possible with your applications. If you are stressing out awaiting the news, feel free to stop in and see me so we can talk about it.

Getting the decision can be hard enough, but often the more difficult aspect is being asked, “Did you get accepted?” by well-meaning friends. Trust me on this one, if they were accepted, the students would be telling everyone – you won’t need to ask. If they don’t offer up the news sharing if they were accepted or not, then be sensitive to the fact that more than likely they did not get accepted and don’t ask about it as it puts them on the spot to share disappointing news.

I also want to remind the seniors that we try to keep track of all of the college admissions decisions as that helps us understand current trends in admissions. I would really appreciate it if you'd stop by when you're ready and update me about your college admission decisions.

Good luck!  I hope you get the acceptances you are anxiously awaiting.

Tomorrow's ACT Schedule

Tomorrow we are on a VERY different bell schedule!

Freshmen, Sophomores and Seniors - you will be functioning on a late-start schedule tomorrow.  This means that you get to sleep in and relax a little bit in the morning.  If you ride a bus, your bus will pick you up  90 minutes later than normal.  If you walk or drive to school, you can determine what time you want to arrive just be sure to make it to school in enough time to be able to get to your 5th period class at 12:55pm.  As I mentioned, with late start buses running 1.5 hours later than normal, this means that if you ride a bus that will likely mean you will arrive to school around 10:10am and you'll have that time until the start of classes to study, eat lunch, and hang out in the Aux Gym.

Juniors - you will ride the bus at the normal time and arrive to school like every other day.  You will then report to your assigned testing location by 8:40am so that you can begin taking the ACT right away.  The test will conclude around 12:20 and you will then have a break and a chance to grab lunch before the start of classes.

And then everyone (9th through 12th grade) will proceed to afternoon classes with the following bell schedule:
5th Period - 12:55 - 1:29
6th Period - 1:34 - 2:06
7th Period - 2:11 - 2:43
8th Period - 2:48 - 3:20

I also have a few ACT Testing reminders for the juniors:  This test is an official ACT so you are strictly bound to all of the restrictions and requirements set forth by ACT.  Testing will begin promptly at 8:40am so you will need to report to your assigned rooms (check your email for location assignment).  Please be sure to bring your Student ID card, number 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils are allowed!), and a calculator.  And I would also suggest that you bring a watch.  Cell phones are NOT allowed to be on in the testing room at all.  Hopefully you have already completed the pre-registration paperwork to create your MyACT account so that you will be able to access your scores.  If you haven't, please stop and do that now.   Good luck on the test tomorrow!  You will do great!

Group Opportunities

Did you enjoy the long weekend?  Even with seeing snow flurries today and losing an hour of sleep, I hope that overall it was a fun and positive weekend for you.  As we gear up to start back to school again I wanted to share information about a couple of group opportunities that the counselors will be providing this spring for interested students.

The first will be a grief group.  The death of someone significant in your life impacts everything.  Students will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their loved ones and do engaging activities as a way to help move forward in their grief.  This is not just a sit around and be sad experience - the goal is to provide a healing opportunity and understand the wide range of feelings present when grieving.  We will be partnering with a bereavement counselor from OhioHealth Hospice to provide the grief groups.  Members of our school community have experienced so many heartbreaking losses and we hope this will be a meaningful way to honor the lives of those you miss.

The second group opportunity is a resiliency group.  Resiliency is how we recover in the face of set-backs, how we cope when things get tough, how we overcome past hurts or disappointments so that they don't derail our present or future, and even how we view ourselves and others related to difficult experiences.  The reality is that this group would be great for everyone because we all need to hone those skills.  We will be doing a lot of practical activities as a part of this group and believe it will be empowering for participants.  

There will be limited space for each of these groups so if you are interested in participating in either opportunity, PLEASE let me know this week!  I would love to have you be a part of it.  Or, if you have more questions or want more information about either group, don't hesitate to stop by and see me so that we can discuss it.

Summer School

There are 2 common reasons why students choose to enroll in summer school.  The first is that they have failed the semester of a class and need to repeat it in order to stay on track for graduation.  The second reason that students will take classes during the summer is they want to get requirements completed to free up more space in their schedule during the school year for classes they are interested in taking.

I talked with lots of students about the need for summer school to stay or get back on track for graduation when we were having our 1:1 meetings.  I have also sent emails to each of these students and their parents/ guardians so that you can get registered.

Worthington's summer school registration is now open.    

1 - Students can register to take classes as credit recovery - meaning that if you had failed a class you can take the class over again in Worthington's summer school.  Credit recovery courses will be free of charge.  

2 - There are a limited number of classes available for getting ahead in credits and those classes will have a fee associated with them.  

Worthington Summer school will run from June 3rd - June 27th at WKHS and free transportation will be available to students who need it.  Registration is completely online on the district website along with tons more information about summer school - check it out at https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/Page/4034.

Some students and parents have had questions related to taking summer classes through a different school district or through Online schools.  The basic answer is yes, you are allowed to take classes through any accredited school.  Please be sure that they are accredited before you sign up for their classes.  After you have completed your course, they will give you a transcript and you will need to provide that to us at WKHS so that we can transfer your credit.  

You can complete a Google search for "online summer school" to see a range of options of summer school offerings.  (Some students also search for their intended course name to help make sure their search return gives them schools that offer that class.)  You can select any accredited program that works best for you - so look at their costs, learning experiences, expectations, and determine what seems to be the best fit for what you are seeking.

My top tip is to make sure you are signing up for their summer school classes because I do know that in the past students found there was a significant difference in the cost if they were taking a class online during summer school vs. taking a class online during the school year.  The school we receive the most transcripts from each year is TRECA, so that is one option to consider, but it is definitely not the only one out there.

We gave summer school information in your registration packet so you can use that as an additional reference.

Enjoy your long weekend and please be safe if you are traveling!

See Something Say Something Week

This week is national See Something, Say Something week.  It is a time when, across the country, we are all reminded of the importance of safety at school and in our community.  We all share a responsibility for maintaining the safety of our surroundings.

My hope is that not just this week, but EVERY week, you will recognize any warning signs or threats, take them seriously, and report the concerns to a trusted adult.

Here is a 2 minute PSA Video that Sandy Hook Promise created as a reminder that threats of violence or harm are no laughing matter.

Check out the video.  And, as always, if you ever have concerns, please remember that you can always come and share those with me!

Academic Honors Night

Tonight we will honor 354 students who are receiving recognition for Academic Honors.  As a component of the award ceremony, students will be presented with silver and bronze keys in recognition of their achievements in academic excellence.

Bronze keys are awarded to Sophomore students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher at the end of 3 full semesters. 41 of "my" students are being presented with bronze keys.

Silver keys are awarded to Junior students with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of 5 full semesters. 32 of "my" students will receive silver keys.

And then the Gold keys will be awarded at the Senior Recongition Ceremony in May to the Senior students who have earned a cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or higher at the end of 7 full semesters. 

Congratulations to each of you for your academic commitment and achievements!

College Visits

We don't have school on Friday.  And spring break is just a few weeks away.  I am guessing that all students are well aware of these days off from school, but I want to encourage you to use at least one of these upcoming days off as a day to visit colleges.

For seniors, many colleges are in session during these Worthington days off and so this is an ideal time to be able to visit the campuses of your top choices.  Being able to compare your college choices and to make sure that you are finding the school which will be your best fit before you the decision deadline is a helpful choice.  I strongly encourage you to try to sit in on at least one class to get a feel for the academic environment of the college.  You can also consider making an overnight visit at the colleges for a different opportunity that you have may not have had the chance to do.

For freshmen through juniors, making college visits is a beneficial opportunity to start identifying what aspects you like most and least in a college.  You will have the chance to actually walk around on a campus and imagine yourself being there in the future.  People watch, explore opportunities, investigate academics, and engage with the admissions staff to help guide you in your future college application plans.  If you are planning to be in town, there are lots of local colleges that you can visit easily.  If you will be traveling over break, you can still make college visits wherever you find yourself during break.  Chances are good that there are colleges near or along your destination and even if it is not a school that you are considering for the future, it still gives you the chance to get another view of colleges... and this can be incredibly valuable in determining what it is you want or don't want in a school.

Also, as a reminder, students, you should be the ones arranging the visits with the admissions offices - especially if it is a college you are considering for the future.  Even if it isn't one you are thinking about, it is still good practice so once you know your family's plan, look on their website and call or email the admissions office to arrange for the visit.

State Championships

Making it to State Championships is a HUGE accomplishment for any student in any sport.  2 of my current students have done just that this season!

Lily Banner made it to States in Swimming last weekend.  And next weekend, AJ Brockway will compete in States for Bowling.

I am so proud of both of you and all of the hard work and dedication you have put into your sport.  The hours of training and relentless determination you have shown is remarkable.  Congratulations Lily and AJ!