College Application Deadline Terms

As you start through the college application process you will be exposed to a variety of new terms. One area that can be confusing is what all of the different application deadlines such as Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions mean.

Early Decision

The key to remember with Early Decision is that it is a final decision and a COMMITMENT! Applying to a school in this program is considered a contract between the student and the college. You can apply to only one school as an Early Decision school. If you are accepted, you are promising to withdraw all other applications. Few students will ultimately apply to a school Early Decision because you are promising to attend the school - without seeing their financial aid package - and most students are not 100% certain that they want to attend one particular school. If you are considering applying to a school under the Early Decision program, please stop in and talk to me as there will also be a form I need to complete for you.

Early Action

This is a non-binding option and significantly more students will apply to schools using this option. Early Action has an earlier application deadline and students will typically learn if they have been accepted to the school much earlier than regular decision dates. (Some schools will defer an admissions decision to the Regular Decision deadline if the student is on the bubble and they want to wait to see how the rest of the applications will look.) Early Action is not a contract and, as a student, you are not obligated to attend school at that institution.

Regular Decision

This is the deadline that you will generally see publicized from colleges as it is the most common. This means you are applying and will hear your decision on their regular time schedule. There are no commitments or early notifications. It is important to note that the Regular Admissions deadlines are often AFTER the deadline for scholarship consideration – which adds in a whole additional set of deadlines to watch, but that is a different story for another day.

Rolling Admissions

This means that the colleges look at each application as they arrive and they make a decision as they go. So, if you apply quickly to a school with rolling admissions you are generally going to receive your admissions decision quickly. Schools that function with a rolling admissions policy of evaluating applications will still generally have a regular decision deadline which is the final date that the college is willing to accept any applications for the fall class.  (And yes, I have already had my first student be accepted to his college of choice!)

It is really important to be watching your deadlines carefully – I can’t stress that enough!  You need to know what the timeline is for being able to complete all of your applications so you can start with the end target date in mind if you are going to be able to plan and organize your time effectively.

Long Weekend

Woo Hoo!  You have made it through your first month of school.  :-)  Ok, well, it wasn't a full month of classes, but still, it is worth celebrating.  At this point you have now settled into a daily routine and are figuring out your classes, expectations, and time demands.  The best news of all though is that you have a long weekend this weekend with no school on Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. 

I also wanted to let you know that I will be out of the building all day on Tuesday for a conference where I will be meeting with admissions represenatatives from all of Ohio's public and private colleges to get updates on their requirements and other important information that they want to share with high school counselors to make sure we are able to guide you effectively in your college application process. 

I will be anxious and excited to see you all on Wednesday and catch up on what your long weekend included.  Be safe and have fun!

GPA's

The "easy" explanation for how your Grade Point Average is calculated is that every class you take at WKHS taught by a Kilbourne teacher with traditional grading is computed into your GPA.  Some students begin taking high school courses while still in middle school.  Those grades will appear on your transcript, but they are not calculated into your GPA.  This is done to assist you because many times middle school students haven't recognized the impact that their grades have on their high school GPA and the long-term impact on their future college applications.  Additionally, any classes that you pass that were taken as pass/ fail appear on your transcript but will not be calculated in your GPA.

All regular and honors classes are unweighted which means that they are all based on a 4.0 scale.  AP, IB and CC+ courses are weighted on a scale of 1.25.  Below is a chart that shows how GPA is calculated.

Letter Grades	Percentage	GPA Scale	AP/ IB/ CC+ Weighted Calculation	AP/ IB/ CC+ Weighted GPA
A	90 – 100%	4.0	4.0 x 1.25	5.00
B	80 – 89%	3.0	3.0 x 1.25	3.75
C	70 – 79%	2.0	2.0 x 1.25	2.50
D	60 – 69%	1.0	1.0 x 1.25	1.25
F	0 – 59%
S	Satisfactory
P	Passing

All classes are granted credit based upon the semester.  This means that when you pass the 1st semester you have earned that credit and it is computed into your grade point average.  Each semester class is worth 1/2 a credit excluding physical education courses which are worth 1/4 a credit.  So, if you earn a B in the first semester of English 1 and a C in the first semester of Physical Science, then your GPA for these two semesters of classes would equal a 2.5.  Plusses and Minuses in your grades are still calculated based upon the base grade as we don't have different GPA weights for a B+ vs a B or B-.

It is important to know that some students have taken classes at other schools and are transferring their credit to WKHS.  Those classes will also appear on your transcript with the grades, but are not computed into your GPA.  This is because your Kilbourne GPA will just reflect your Kilbourne classes - any classes you took in another district or an online school will have the GPA that you earned at that school.  So, for example, if you transferred to WKHS from a surrounding district, your classes and grades will be transferred over to Kilbourne, but they won't be included in your Kilbourne GPA.  This means that students will not have a grade point average until after a semester at WKHS.  The reason that this is important is that some students have transferred from schools that have different grading scales and it doesn't allow equitable comparisons.  When students are applying to college you will submit both of your transcripts so that they have the complete picture of your grade point average.

You can see a copy of your transcript on Infinite Campus and it also shows your grade point average.  If you have any questions about your GPA, stop by and see me.

I'm So Angry

It's interesting.  In my job I will see that people are angry.  Sometimes they can tell me they are angry.  And everyone has reason to be angry at times, but, especially for those who live in anger a lot, rarely do they feel comfortable expressing their anger.  I believe there are likely many factors that contribute to this.

All human beings get angry.  As Theodore Rubin said, "Feeling angry is a universal human phenomenon.  It is as basic as feeling hungry, lonely, loving or tired.  The capacity to feel angry and to respond in some way to that feeling is in us from birth."  A newborn baby cries and screams and gets red with rage.  He does so usually in response to some increase in bodily tension of discomfort or frustration.

Some of us have learned that anger is an unattractive and unacceptable emotion; we are convinced that if we expressed it, people would punish us with disapproval.  We pay a big price on the days we repress our anger.  It builds within us until we eventually blow up.  We lash out at people not even remotely involved.  Internalized anger can make us emotionally and physically ill - it can cause headaches, insomnia, and ulcers.  Repressed anger touches just about everything - our relationships, our performance, and our ability to enjoy and appreciate the good things in our lives.

Sometimes anger can overwhelm us.  Some of us roll up the windows and scream in our cars.  Some of us wait until no one is around and scream into our pillows.  Some of us just scream.  Most of us have thought we were crazy at those times.  We're not.  We are just alive and responding to our stressful lives.  The reality is that anger is an emotion of power.  How we respond to and channel our anger can propel us forward or backward.  Anger will not just go away - it must be released.

"When you clench your first, no one can put anything in your hand, nor can your hand pick up anything." - Alex Haley

It is unlikely that our clenched fist will spontaneously relax and open.  We may first have to notice that it is clenced before we can gradually begin to loosen it.

What I think is most interesting about anger is that it is an emotion that if you carry it around over a long period of time, it doesn't allow you to fully live.  This is because anger is the emotion that we tend to show and let others see, while the feelings that are just below the surface that we are trying to hide from ourselves and others are often at the root of our anger.  There are many different feelings which this could include such as:

• Lonely
• Sad
• Vulnerable
• Overwhelmed
• Exhausted
• Stressed
• Hurt
• Attacked
• Disgusted
• Disrespected
• Scared
• Rejected
• Shocked
• Uncomfortable
• Unloved
• Worried
• Unsure
• Confused
• Disappointed
• Jealous
• Anxious
• Insecure
• Guilty
• Hurt
• Grieving
• Helpless
• Offended
• Regretful
• Shame
• Envious
• Pressure
• Tricked
• Annoyed
• Fearful
• Trapped
• Nervous
• Depressed
• Frustrated
• Embarrassed
• Tired
• Abandoned
• Inadequate
• Ignored
• Panic
• Unwanted
• Resentment

Look at that list - most of the feelings are hidden and show up as anger, but to get the anger to go away it is necessary to chip away at the emotions underneat that are supporting the anger.  Unfortunately, sometimes it feels easier to stay angry than it is to deal with the emotions that are underneath our anger. 

So how do we manage the feelings of anger when they are present?  We work to release the anger in safe and healthy ways.  Below are a few examples of strategies you can use to help release feelings of anger.

• Talk about it.  I hope you will feel safe and comfortable to come and talk to me about the times you are feeling angry - especially if you live your life always feeling angry.
• Identify the feelings beneath your anger and explore them
• Get the feelings out, but don't take it out on another person or yourself
• Breathe deeply, count to 10
• Artwork to express yourself
• Journal
• Be honest and open with yourself and trusted adults in your support system
• Channel it into a positive action to help others
• Know that it is ok to be angry as long as you are not hurting yourself or anyone else

The more you understand your anger the more you can make changes that allow for the release and healing.  Have the courage to explore your anger because the more you allow the feelings to surface the more of yourself you will find.

AP Test Information

CollegeBoard is in charge of AP Tests and they have changed the process for the tests this year so you need to be sure you understand all of this so that you don't miss out on a key step related to the class or testing.

The first change that they have implemented is that students will now “join” their AP course online at the beginning of the year to access resources from the CollegeBoard throughout the year.  You will need your CollegeBoard account information to login and join the AP classes you are taking.  (If you have taken the PSAT, SAT, or AP Exams in the past then you already have a CollegeBoard Account.)

If you have a CollegeBoard account, it is important to use that account (and not to create a new one) as your scores from previous CollegeBoard assessments (PSAT, SAT, AP exams) are linked to your account.  If you already have established a CollegeBoard account, please visit myap.collegeboard.org and make certain that you can log in. If you have forgotten your password, you may call 1-888-225-54227 or email apstudents@info.collegeboard.org for assistance. 

If you have not already established a CollegeBoard student account, please sign up by going to myap.collegeboard.org. Make sure you write down and save your log-in information for future reference.  Remember, when you are setting up your CollegeBoard account, you do NOT want to use your school email account as your wscloud account cannot accept emails from outside of the district.

If you have questions, about establishing your account or linking it to the AP resources, please contact College Board at 1-888-225-54227 or email apstudents@info.collegeboard.org.

The other new change is that students will register for the AP Tests in the fall rather than in the spring.  This is a significant shift for students who frequently would wait to decide how well they thought they would do on a test before registering to take the exam.  Below is information about the costs for registering for the AP exams and the deadlines for registering.

Exam Fees:

·         Regular exam fee - $100 if ordered by November 1

·         Late exam fee $140 ($100 exam fee + $40 late fee)

o   Exams ordered between November 1 and February 21

November 1 – Regular Deadline

·         Last day to order exams at regular exam fee ($100)

·         Register for AP exams through My Payments Plus account

·         After November 1, all changes to exam status must go through Worthington Gifted Services Office

February 21 – Final Deadline

·         Last day to order exams with $40 late fee ($100 exam fee + $40 late fee = $140)

·         Last day to make changes to exam status

Questions? Contact Amy Reynolds or Suzanne Palmer in the Gifted Services Office, 614-450-6056/ areynolds@wscloud.org or 614-450-6055/ spalmer@wscloud.org.

College Rep Visits

Every year college admissions representatives travel across the country to meet with students and to talk about the opportunities available at their campus.  It always surprises me that more students are not flocking to these chances to meet with the admissions representatives.  Because even though you are technically there to learn about what they have to say about their school, perhaps even more importantly, you are expressing your interest and desire to attend their college! The admissions representatives who are traveling to the schools keep track of who they see. Many colleges can go back and tell you exactly how many times a student has come to tour campus, contacted the admissions office, or had an official interaction with a representative of the school. You never really know what can make a difference when it comes to admissions or getting a scholarship from a school, so if you are able to attend a meeting with a representative, it can only help you.  And, as if that isn't enough, at many colleges the regional representatives who make the visits are also the ones reading your applications and making admissions decision recommendations.  You have the chance to make a positive impression on them when they are at Kilbourne.  My hope, above all, is that the impression they leave WKHS with is that when you apply they don't look back and think, "hmm, they weren't even interested enough to come and meet with me when I was at their school."

We have a list of the upcoming college visits posted in the Upcoming Events calendar on the Counselor website so that you can see which schools are coming to WKHS. If there are schools that you'd like to meet with, please be sure to write down the dates and times and come to the Counseling Center.  When you get there, a secretary will introduce you to the admissions representative and after your meeting with them is over they will give you a pass to return back to class.

Juniors and Seniors have unlimited opportunities to attend these sessions. Please be reasonable though. If a visit is scheduled during a time when you have class, you should get your teacher’s approval in advance of attending the information session. You are responsible for all missed work and teachers are not supposed to excuse you from tests, quizzes, or labs. 

Freshmen and Sophomores are also invited to attend the sessions with the college representatives, but are limited to participating in the visits during your lunch or Academic Prep periods. 

These are great opportunities to talk directly with the college admissions representatives so please take advantage of their visits!  While meeting with a representative cannot replace the actual experience of walking on campus, seeing the people, and experiencing the classes, it can be a very important piece of your information gathering process. 

Important Reminders

Seniors, I loved seeing so many of you in classes on Friday.  Don't forget that tomorrow night, Monday, August 26th, at 7pm is the Senior College Information Night.  This is an important opportunity for you and your parents to get more information about the college application process.  We will cover some of the same information you heard in class on Friday (but I am confident hearing some of it again will only help the information sink in better), but we will also go more in depth on various topics including break out sessions related to 2-year colleges, highly selective colleges, what to do if you still don't know where you want to apply, and general application related Questions and Answers.  I look forward to seeing you and your parents tomorrow night!

Also, for those students who are taking a CSCC CC+ class, don't forget that official classes begin tomorrow!  So no more sleeping in as long.  :-)  English meets on Monday/ Wednesday and Psychology meets on Tuesday/ Thursday.  Double check your schedule to make sure you know where you are going and when.

I hope you had a relaxing weekend!

Worthington Industries Partnership

Earlier this week I had the chance to make a visit to Worthington Industries to learn about what their company does and how Kilbourne students can possibly have a future in their organization.  It was fascinating to see the details and intricacy of the work involved, but what I loved most of all was the immense pride and genuine love for the workplace that everyone we met demonstrated.  For example, one of my tour guides had started working there and then left and joined the military, but after his military commitment ended he returned to Worthington Industries.  One of the gentlemen who is responsible for the entire Steel building was a Kilbourne grad who had worked at other organizations and yet he talked about how none of it compared to the family feel and teamwork present at Worthington Industries.

Last year they piloted an internship program with Hilliard City Schools that they are now expanding to include Worthington and South-Western City Schools.  In this program, seniors have the chance to learn in the classroom and through hands-on experiences the skills needed to be successful in the workplace today.  This would begin in January of your senior year and then in the final quarter (after spring break) you would be able to work on the floor of one of their facilities.  In the end, the goal is that those students who have good performance reviews through the internship program will have the chance to receive an offer for full time employment after high school.  And, they also said that their starting salary would be $14.50... pretty good start for just graduating from high school.

I really liked the growth opportunities available within the company.  One of the young men who had been hired last year after completing the internship with Hilliard spoke to us and he LOVES what he is doing and said that he is fully confident he will remain at Worthington Industries for the rest of his life.  He has already focused on what he wants his next career move to be within the organization and is working hard to make sure that he is able to achieve that goal.  He talked about how some of his friends that graduated with him are currently working at restaurants or pet stores and making minimum wage and are bored in what they do.  He acknowledged that the entry level jobs are tedious, but he said he loves working with his hands, he loves the people he works with, and he never resents having to come to work.

It was interesting to realize that they work much like many hospitals do in that they have 12 hour shifts.  During a shift the employees rotate to different stations so that they don't get totally burned out on doing one task the whole time.  They talked about the plentiful opportunities for overtime and the fact that many employees like that a lot for the chance to be able to make even more money (time and a half or double time depending on how many hours are worked).  They talked about profit sharing and the bonuses that the employees receive.  But again, it wasn't the wages, but the positive environment which stood out the most to me.

So, what are they looking for?  They are looking for dedicated students who have a desire to learn something new.  They are looking for someone who is willing to be a part of a team.  Someone who will show up consistently and try.  They prefer if you are willing to ask questions to help learn.  You must be in your senior year because ideally they'd like to hire you on for summer or beyond employment.  And you have to be able to pass a drug test.

This is a really exciting new opportunity for our students.  If you are unsure of what you want to do in the future, if you are not sure you want to go straight to college, if you want to get hands on work experience at a good pay to help fund your future college goals, then this might be the perfect program for you!  There will be more chances for you to learn about the program first-hand from those who are in charge of it and those who have been through it including a question and answer session and a tour of the facility, but it would really help me if I knew that you might be interested so that I can make sure you are invited to those sessions... so please, if this sounds even a little interesting, let me know.  That way you can have the chance to learn even more about the program and see if this opportunity would be a good fit.

Recommendation Letters

Many colleges have moved away from requiring letters of recommendation - in part because all students will pick teachers that like them to write letters on their behalf and so the letters often sound similar and therefore it doesn't really help them to differentiate between the students.  So, your very first step connected to recommendation letters is to figure out if any of the colleges you are considering will actually need any letters of recommendation - and if they don't then you just saved yourself and your teacher a lot of time. (And you can stop reading now.)

There are some colleges that will want a recommendation letter and others that will want multiple letters.  You need to look specifically at what they are asking for you to provide.  Some colleges will require teacher recommendation letters, some counselor letters, and others may be open to coaches, bosses, religious leaders or other adults who know you well.  Each college gets to make up their own mind and determine what information they want to have as a part of your application package.  OSU, for example, does NOT require any recommendation letters. (Can you blame them? Imagine trying to read 52,000 recommendation letters on top of the applications and essays that they receive.) Harvard, on the other hand, will require 2 teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation. After reviewing the college websites, if you are still having problems determining if the colleges you are considering require recommendation letters – just stop down to see me and I can try to help you figure it out.

If you find that you do need recommendation letters, you have some work to do.  First, give some thought about who you would like to ask for the recommendations. Look at the requirements specified by the school – are they open to coaches or community representatives writing letters or do they want them to come from academic teachers? If it requires that the letters come from teachers can it be from any subject area or are they only open to the core subjects of English, math, science, and social studies? Are you looking at a career in a specific area that a teacher at WKHS can write about your strengths in that field? For example, if you are considering majoring in Spanish perhaps a recommendation letter from one of your Spanish teachers would be appropriate. What teachers know you best? Who can speak to your work ethic and classroom contributions?  Remember, in recommendation letters from teachers the colleges are asking for information about you as a student and your potential for handling the academic rigors of college.

Once you have figured out the teacher or teachers that you want to ask for a recommendation, it is then time to ASK them if they are willing to write a letter for you. It is really important to be reasonable in the amount of time that you are allowing them to have to write your letter. (Think at least 30 days - preferably more!) They are very busy with their classroom work and grading homework and papers and of course life in general and many teachers are often bombarded by students requesting recommendations. If a teacher is unable to write a recommendation letter for you – either because they don’t feel that they know you well enough to write a strong letter or because they have too much on their plate, don’t take it personally, simply ask another teacher. You will be thankful that you didn’t force them to write the letter because it wouldn’t be as solid of a recommendation letter if they were rushed or only had vague highlights to discuss.

After you have asked a teacher to write a letter on your behalf (and they agreed), then you will want to provide them with the teacher recommendation letter forms that can be found on the www.wkhscounselors.com website or in the Counseling Center.  You also need to be sure to invite your teachers electronically if you are applying through Common App.  It is rare that you will need hard copies of any of your letters, but if that is the case for a particular college, then you are responsible for providing your teacher with an envelope addressed to the appropriate school.  Please be sure that you have indicated to your teachers your application deadline.  You can submit your application through Common App even if your teachers have not uploaded their recommendation letter, but your application packet will not be complete until all parts (including the rec letters) have arrived at the college.

If you are applying to schools that do not need teacher recommendation letters, please do not waste your teacher's time by asking them to write a letter. Also, only ask the number of teachers that you need recommendations from - so if you are applying to two schools and both need 1 teacher recommendation letter, just ask one teacher to write a letter that will be used for both schools. You do not need to ask for more letters in case one is "better" than another - if you are not sure the teacher will write a positive letter for you, then you need to pick someone else. If you trust the teacher enough to ask them to write the letter, then you should trust them enough to be able to send their letter (without seeing it) to the college.  In fact, you should not be reading your recommendation letters - they are supposed to be confidential.

For those students that will need a counselor recommendation, please be aware that I write the letters on a first come first serve basis. It is the only way I know how to be fair. Recommendation letters are incredibly time consuming - especially when I have so many to write because, unlike with teachers, if your college requires a counselor recommendation letter you don't have a choice about who you are asking to write your letter.  So please, watch your deadlines and try to help me write the best letter possible by allowing me to have the time with it. As with the teachers, please plan to give me at least 30 days to write your rec letter.  There is a Counselor Recommendation Letter supplement form that we ask each student to fill out and a Parent Brag sheet that we ask you to have your parents complete and turn back in to me to use when writing your letter.  Please, be detailed and thoughtful when completing these forms because I want to be able to showcase you in the best way possible.  Each of you are unique and have wonderful qualities that you will bring to a campus, but when writing recommendation letters generalized praise is wasted space so I need stories and examples to help give people a true image of you and to make it more than just what they can read about you in your application. Once you have turned in your 2 forms, I will add your name to my recommendation letter list.  I also ask you to consider doing the YouScience assessments before I write your reccommendation letter.  This is not a deal breaker, but having concrete examples of your aptitudes and being able to back them up with examples throughout your high school career can greatly enhance your recommendation letter.  (Not to mention that doing YouScience can also help you significantly when considering future careers and possible majors.)  Some students also like to give me a copy of their resume or list of activities and awards and that is fine too - I will welcome any information that you think will help me "showcase you" to the best of my ability to the colleges.

Before I close I want to point out that the need for counselor recommendation letters is a great reminder of why it is important for students of every grade level (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior) to drop by my office throughout the year to allow me to get to know you better.  I sincerely want to know students of all ages so that I am more comfortable with talking about some of the incredible things that you all are involved in and are accomplishing during your high school careers.

Class Rank

When completing college applications you will find that most colleges will ask “What is your class rank?” and if they can’t get you to give them an exact rank they might also ask you for a percentile ranking. (Some schools may not ask you and may ask on the counselor form that I am required to complete for you.) The official answer is “We Do Not Rank.”

That is what I write on all of the forms that I complete for you and what you should indicate on your application – UNLESS you are one of the students with a grade point average of a 4.0 or higher for your high school career. If you have greater than a 4.0, then you are automatically ranked #1 in the class. (So yes, that would mean that there are multiple Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores ranked first in their respective class.)

As you already know, WKHS is an academically competitive high school and we would not want a class ranking to hurt you in any way. For example, a GPA at WKHS might rank in the top 20% , but at a less competitive school the same GPA might rank in the top 5 or 10%. So, unless you have a 4.0 or better, do yourself a favor and indicate “Do Not Rank” when completing your applications.

College Essay Topics

Seniors, as you start working on your college applications you will find that some areas are very easy to complete - name, address, etc., but then there are other aspects that tend to be more daunting.  Writing your college essay is often the most stressful aspect of the college application for students, but it is actually one of my favorite parts because it is your opportunity to shine.  The college essay allows you the opportunity to showcase who you are and all of the wonderful traits that you will bring to your future college community.

All too often students think that they don't have anything unique or that makes them stand out from all of the other applicants, but I promise you, that is WRONG!  You are different from all of your other classmates.  You have your own activities that you enjoy, ways to relieve stress, things that make you smile or laugh and ways of thinking that are completely your own.  Those differences may seem small or insignificant to you, but it is what makes you YOU and therefore it is precisely what the colleges want to learn about you in your essay.

I know that it can be hard to come up with topics that would make a good college essay, but if you spend some quality time brainstorming different possible ideas you will begin to recognize that the possibilities are endless and all around you.  We created an essay brainstorming handout that you can use to help come up with topics.

On the brainstorming handout you will see that there are 4 different sections to try to come up with answers about yourself.

The first section invites you to write out the 5 characteristics that make you who you are.  Be sure to select different characteristics (so not caring, kind and nice - those would all be 1 characteristic not 3).  Then, after you have listed those characteristics, bullet point examples of stories/ times when you have demonstrated them.  It is possible that some of your stories of when you show a characteristic may cross over into several of the characteristics.  (So, for example, if I had listed caring and adventurous as 2 of my characteristics, I could say that the time I carried a friend on my back while I climbed a mountain would be listed under both characteristics.)  *No, I didn't really do this, it is just an example.

The second section is a chance for you to highlight some of your classic "so you" stories.  What are things you have done that are quintessentially you?  If you are stumbling on this section, don't hesitate to ask your parents, siblings, or friends to help you think of the things that you have done that they thought to themselves, "yep, that is so ___ (you)."

After you have done that, your next list would be times when you have changed.  These don't have to be BIG changes.  Think about specific moments in time when you went into something and then were different after it.  This might be a new perspective, mood, value, outlook, or priority.

Check out this article which highlights the value of change.  At the end of the article it says, "Ultimately, it's not what you have been through that defines who you are; it's how you got through it that has made you the person you are today, and the person you are capable of being tomorrow."  Doesn't that sound exactly like what the colleges are trying to figure out?! :-)

And then the final section of the handout provides you a place to write down other random thoughts - thoughts about who you are, what you believe, things that are important to you - anything at all as long as it is connected to you.

Remember, it is worth putting time, energy and effort into picking a good and meaningful topic that is powerful for you because the passion you have for your topic will naturally convey itself in your writing.  Additionally, many topics that come to mind immediately for you will also come to mind right away for hundreds of other students applying to college.  You want to explore a new angle and show how you are different from everyone else.  Try to think about what excites and interests you when picking your essay topic.  Be careful though, this is not “true confessions” time.

Once you have completed your brainstormed sheet of ideas - you will be able use this information to think about what you want the college to learn about you that will not be apparent in the rest of your application.  At this point, it is now time to start looking at the college essay prompts.  Sometimes the colleges will ask you for a personal statement which means that you just get to write anything at all about yourself to be your introduction to the admissions committee.  At other times the college application will give you one or more essay questions that you can choose from.  If you are given multiple questions, it is often helpful to work backwards and focus first on what you want to convey and consider the stories and examples that can illustrate your point and then consider which of your anecdotal stories fits best with the questions.

As you start coming up with topics and begin drafting your essays, I look forward to hearing the fun, unique, "so you" stories that you decide to share with the admissions committees.  If you are struggling to figure out how your brainstorm handout can translate into the essay responses, please don't hesitate to come see me and we can look at it together.  Obviously, coming up with a strong essay topic is only the first step - but it is a major step.

Meet the Teacher Night

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 21st, is this year's PTO Meet the Teacher Night. This is a night when your parents can come through school, follow your schedule, and meet all of your teachers. Meet the Teacher part of the evening will be over by 9pm. Each class will be 10 minutes in length and yes, your parents will have the same 5 minute passing time that you have during the day. (Hopefully they won't get lost and be late or else they could end up with lots of tardies!) :-)

Here is the schedule for the evening:
1st period - 7:00 - 7:10
2nd period - 7:15 - 7:25
3rd period - 7:30 - 7:40
4th period - 7:45 - 7:55
5th period - 8:00 - 8:10
6th period - 8:15 - 8:25
7th period - 8:30 - 8:40
8th period - 8:45 - 8:55

Please make sure you give your parents a copy of your schedule or at least write down the room numbers for all of your classes so they know where they are heading for the evening!  Of course, if you have lost your copy of your schedule, your parents can print off your schedule on Infinite Campus.

Please make sure your parents know about this evening because I know many of them will want to attend and they usually like putting a face with a name so that if you are talking about a test in Mr. ____'s class or an assignment for Mrs. ____'s class they will be able to keep it straight.

Confidentiality

It is very important to me that I work to earn your trust every day. During high school there are times when you may wonder if there is anyone who cares and is willing to listen to what you are going through and I want to remind you that I am here for you. Please remember that what you say to me is confidential between us unless you are a risk to yourself or someone else in which case I am required to report it.

If you want to meet with me - just drop by my office! That is honestly the BEST way to meet with me. You don't need to schedule an appointment in advance. I'm generally around before and after school as well as during your lunch or academic prep/ option periods for you to stop in and chat. You don't need a big reason to come down and say Hi. I am happy to see you even if you just wanted to tell me how well or how poorly you did on a test that day. If I am busy meeting with another student or parent - you can stop back down or leave a pass for me. If I don't know who you are and you have left a pass that leads me to search for you in the commons please try to help me out and let me know that "you" are the student. (I know, not always easy, but if you left a pass and I haven't tracked you down that day or the following day, chances are I can't find you in the commons - so please come back!)

Don't forget I have candy and toys in my office - so it is always worth just stopping by to say hello. :-) 

Office Workers

It is funny when people look at their schedules, what one person sees as a negative aspect, another views as a positive.  Over the last few days I heard those differences identified often.  Some students are thrilled to have academic prep 1st period and others prefer it later in the day.  Lunch early or late was another aspect of disagreement.  As people were discussing different aspects of their schedule, the idea of how the students were going to effectively use their "off" periods was emphasized by many.

Several times I found myself mentioning a volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfort of WKHS and I want to make sure all of you know about it too.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  (And Lexi would point out that on those days when you don't have much to do she is always there to hang out with you too.)  

We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  Please apply soon if you are interested so that we don't miss out on the opportunity to have you involved!

Last Day to Add Classes

Monday (August 19th) is the last day for students to add a year-long or first-semester class to their schedule. This is an important deadline to pay attention to for all students. You have 6 weeks to drop a class without it appearing on your transcript, but you can only drop a class if you will still have above the minimum required number of courses.  If you have any questions about your particular situation and if you would or would not be able to add or drop a class, please stop in and see me during your lunch or off period.

Get Involved

Being involved in sports, clubs, volunteer outreach, or other areas of interest help connect students to the school and community.  You have special gifts that only you can share and you can make a positive difference!  

WKHS is very fortunate to have a wide range of opportunities available within the school setting for you to get involved.  There are 29 interscholastic sports, over 40 clubs, the school newspaper, video news team, yearbook and a wide variety of performance groups (choirs, bands, orchestra, and theater).  While there is obviously no shortage of established groups that you can get involved with, if you have other passions that you want to focus on, don't forget that you can also help establish a new club.  As long as you can find a faculty member who is willing to help you with club oversight, Mr. Todd in the athletic office can assist you with the paperwork needed to establish a new club or organization.

For underclassmen, getting involved makes your transition to high school easier because you get to know older students and you find a place where you can belong.  For upperclassmen, being involved gives you the opportunity to demonstrate leadership and to grow in your areas of interest.  (And no, for the record, I don't think you should just get involved because it will look good on your college applications... you should be participating because it is meaningful and important to you, but yes, being involved is a plus for college applications too.)

First Day of School

The first day of school was a success! Hopefully you loved all of your classes, found everything without a problem, enjoyed re-connecting with your friends, and are looking forward to a great year ahead.  

It was so great to have you all back at school.  I can honestly say that the happiest "person" (dog) in the place had to be Lexi!  She was SO thrilled to have students fully back at school.  Lexi and I have both missed you this summer.  Lexi just didn't understand where all her friends went throughout the summer.  ;-)

Stop by to visit me (and Lexi) because I am anxious to hear about your summer.

Welcome Back

I hope you enjoyed your last day of summer vacation and are getting excited about coming back to school tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

The freshmen students had their first day in the building today and they seemed to enjoy finding their way around. I'm sure that it was a bit scary for them, but tomorrow will probably be even more intimidating. Little do they know that all of you are, in fact, quite nice and helpful. (At least you have always been nice and helpful to me so I am confident it will be the same to the poor freshmen who are lost around the building.)  Throughout the day today I was so impressed with the Link Leaders who made the day fun, meaningful and welcoming to the 9th graders.  Thank you Link Leaders for your service and commitment.  

As we return to school tomorrow, I wanted to remind those of you who are taking College Credit Plus (CC+) classes through Columbus State (this includes English, Psychology and Mythology) that while your classes are listed on your WKHS schedule, they don't actually start until August 26th.  English meets on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Psychology meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Mythology is completely online.  So, for those classes you have another week and a half until they start.  In the meantime, please be certain that you have completed the required CSCC online orientation and accessed blackboard.  (CSCC has sent you emails about these requirements and we have also posted it on the WKHS Counselor website.)  And, of course, don't forget that you also have a mandatory meeting on the 23rd prior to your start on the 26th.

The CC+ classes through COTC  (which include math classes and Intro to Business) all begin tomorrow like regular classes as they are taught by your WKHS teachers.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all in the morning.  Sleep well!

New Names and Faces

Can you believe we are about to get the 2019-2020 school year underway?  One of the big differences for this year that you will find as school begins is that there are a lot of new names and faces to adjust to this year!

We are fortunate to have many new staff members this year.  Perhaps you will have some of them in class, but if not, make sure you say hi in the halls and welcome the following teachers to the Kilbourne community.

Mrs. Backhurst is the new dean.  She will be working primarily with the lower half of the alphabet as Mrs. Lippert was hired as an Assistant Principal in Upper Arlington.

We also have a new assistant principal at WKHS, Mr. Peterson has joined the WKHS Administrative team and is looking forward to getting to know students.

The Special Ed Department has many new staff teachers including Ms. McLaren, Ms. Bode, and Mr. Weyandt.  Additionally, working closely with the Special Ed department will include Mr. Chislom, a transition coach, and Mrs. Becker, a School Psychologist.

Mr. Taylor is officially a new Wellness for Life teacher, but many of you will recognize him as he was at WKHS during the 2nd semester last year.

The Science department added Mr. Ritchey as a teacher and Mrs. Terpenning as the Science Academic Assistant in the Teaching and Learning Center.  Ms. Diehl got married over the summer and is now Mrs. Davis.

Mr. DeFrancesco will be back at WKHS again as one of the band directors this year.

Mrs. Friedman has joined the English department.

The Foreign Language department has welcomed Ms. Gandelman as a new Spanish teacher.

Mrs. Haurani (who you may have met in the 4th quarter last year) will be the new Math Academic Assistant in the Teaching and Learning Center.

We have a new Safety Monitor in Mr. Vagnier.

And last but not least, there are several interns that will be helping out in the counseling center area including a school counseling intern, Mrs. Leatherman, who will primarily be working with Mrs. Lord, but you may also get to meet throughout the year, and Mr. Davis and Ms. Jackson will both be interns working with Ms. Wessell, School Social Worker.

Every day when I pull into WKHS or even as I drive past the building I think about how fortunate I am to work in a place that I love and to have so many students and parents who make Kilbourne such a special place.  I know that each of these new staff members will feel the same and will be proud to be a Wolf!