Enjoy Break!

You survived exams!  You are half way through the year!  You have made it to winter break!  So many reasons to celebrate!  Congratulations and enjoy your time off.  Be safe and try to savor the moments with your family and friends.

Out Sick

This is not good timing, but I wanted to give you all a heads up that I am out sick.  I tested positive for COVID which means I will not be back until January.  As a result, I need to ask that if you are needing me to help change your schedule for next semester or to assist you with your college applications, you will need to email me.  If you are needing support for mental health, the other school counselors are there and are ready to help you in my absence.

I know this is bad timing and obviously not what I wanted.  I will miss seeing you this week.  Lexi is going to miss seeing you too!  Good luck on exams and have a wonderful and relaxing break!

College Acceptances

College admissions decisions are already starting to come in for some students. Every senior looks forward to receiving their college acceptance letters. It is an exciting time and reassures that there is more ahead. Depending upon the schools where you are applying, it is possible that you will hear back quickly or you may be waiting until sometime in March to find out if you have been accepted. 

I do ask that as you begin receiving your acceptance or, sadly, even rejection letters, to please keep me informed about the decisions. For the vast majority of the colleges, the only way I know about your admissions decision is if you share the information with me.

Also, remember, the only way to receive an acceptance letter is to actually APPLY to the college! (Just a friendly little reminder for those of you who are still struggling to get your applications finished.)

Holiday Stress

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Except that for many people, it is not really the most wonderful time of year and can, in fact, be one of the most challenging times of the year.  The holiday season often presents a challenging combination of high expectations, family drama, and school pressure with semester exams - all of which can result in unbelievably high levels of stress.  This is even more prevalent if you and your family are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season.

My top recommendation for everyone is to try to keep a sense of perspective on what is reality.  It becomes very easy to get caught in the mindset that the holiday is supposed to be this picture-perfect celebration.  Yet, that is seldom the reality.  When watching TV it is nearly impossible to escape seeing commercials and holiday movies that depict images of snow gently falling, families coming together with smiles and excitement, food overflowing on the tables, loved ones unwrapping the perfect gifts, sleigh rides through parks decorated with holiday lights, and communities gathered together singing carols.  I enjoy the sentiments that the movies are trying to depict, but if we begin thinking that this is what life is really like then we are bound to be disappointed.  For example, in my family we have wonderful holidays, but we have never gone on sleigh rides or participated in community caroling and, if I am being completely honest, the wonderful moments are also mixed with stressful times of trying to get everything ready or missing those who are unable to be there for the holiday.  If I were to compare my real holidays with that perfect image seen on TV I would inevitably be disappointed.

So, what can you do to help with the holidays?

Don't expect the holidays to be perfect. They NEVER are.

Focus on what you have, not what you don't. Ignore the commercials where the husband surprises his wife with a brand new luxury car or a diamond ring. This only leaves you wondering, "What about me?" Remind yourself that it's not the stuff that makes the holidays important.

The holidays can bring back memories of loved ones that have passed away. Give yourself permission to grieve, and deal with the loss in your own way. If you want to cry, go ahead. If you want to remember your loved one in a special way, do it - light a candle, put together a scrapbook, decorate the grave stone with flowers, or whatever else you find comforting.

Feel whatever you are feeling.  Sometimes people talk about “holiday blues” or feeling depressed by the holiday stress and others might feel excited, generous or disappointed.  Try not to over-analyze how you are feeling and just experience it – acknowledge it and try to live in the moment no matter the feeling.

If you are struggling with high stress levels heading into the holidays, please make time to stop and see me so that we can talk more about it!

Studying and Cocoa and Cram

Do you know how to study? I ask students that question a lot and, quite honestly, the most common response is "no." It really isn't a surprise though. The reality is that until high school gets hard enough that you hit the wall and it no longer comes easy to you, studying isn't something you typically have to worry about and spend a lot of time focusing on.

The challenging part of studying is that what works best for one person may not be what works best for someone else. And, even if you figure out what works best for you in one particular subject area, that still doesn't mean that this particular strategy will be most effective for a different subject.

The best news is that there are lots of different ideas and strategies that you can use to develop a study strategy that works best for you! For what it is worth, think of learning to study like you think of learning to run. You already know some skills that have helped you to know how to study and to be successful - just like you already know how to run, but if you practice and really train at running, you can improve significantly and studying will work just the same. Keep working at your study strategies, practice and continue refining your technique until you find the perfect combination that works for you.

Over the next 2 days students are invited to participate in "Cram and Cocoa" sessions during your lunch periods.  This study strategy session is being provided by the Link Leaders and will be a great opportunity for students to get started on effectively preparing for exams. This will take place in the Wolves Den area off the commons.  I hope you will take advantage of their willingness to help you prepare!

You (now) have just 3 school days of classes left before exams to not only learn and master everything you are currently covering in class, but also to go back and study to refresh the material you have covered since August when we returned to school.  

If you are struggling to find strategies to try out, I encourage you to visit the WKHS Counselor website as there are lots of examples listed.  You can also work with the Academic Assistant's in the Teaching and Learning Center (Room 209) as they have a wealth of knowledge and helpful tips for study strategies that can help you in their particular subject areas as well as studying overall.  And, last, but not least, you can also stop in and see me and I can help brainstorm proven ideas that you could try.

Happy Studying!

Building Career Skills

Some days it is hard to imagine how you will end up in the adult job(s) that you will have in our world.  In part, this is challenging because some of those jobs may not exist yet and, in part, it can be hard to just navigate high school let alone start thinking about the rest of your life.

Did you know that the latest statistics are indicating that most students today will end up having 12-15 jobs over their lifetime?  That is a lot of different opportunities.  And it is hard to imagine what those jobs might look like while you are in high school.  In fact, most adults you meet are not working in the career field that they thought they would be in for the rest of their lives when they were in high school.  So, when you are thinking about what you'd like to do in the future, it isn't setting anything into stone.  It is a place to start exploring.  But, every day you are developing practical skills that will be essential to your future success no matter what jobs you pursue.

These skills include (among others): dependability, teamwork, reliability, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking.  Every single day at school, you are given opportunities to build on these areas to work towards making them a strength in your life.  Dependability might be shown through your homework completion.  Teamwork can be developed through your involvement with sports or clubs or even group projects in class.  Reliability is showing up when you make an appointment to meet with a teacher for extra help.  Building your communication skills comes with the reading and writing you are doing in your classes, but it also is reflected in how you interact with your friends and teachers both in person as well as through emails or other messages.  How we respond when there are changes is a reflection of our ability to be adaptable.  And, of course, critical thinking is something you are building in all of your classes as you try to figure out the new concepts you are learning and applying that information into your own life and figuring out the connections between concepts.

Soft skills (like those shown in the graphic) are actually your Power Skills - these skills are essential to your future success and will help you no matter what career you pursue in the future.  So today and every day as you navigate high school, remember that you are building those skills you need for your future careers.

2nd Semester Schedule Changes

I wanted to point out that it is almost the end of the 1st semester/ start of the 2nd semester which means that you will be switching any semester long classes once we reach the new year.  The reason this is important is that while you have had your schedules since August, you might not have been thinking much about your 2nd semester classes and if you are wanting to make any changes to them for next semester... but now is the time to make those adjustments if needed.

When would it be appropriate to make a 2nd semester class change?

1. If you are in a year long elective and are not enjoying it and/ or not doing well in it.  For example, if you are in Spanish 2 and failing the class, I'd suggest you consider making a change to a different elective for the 2nd semester rather than remaining in a class and potentially failing for the year since that class is such a building block course.

2. If you are in an advanced course (like Honors or AP) of something and you are not doing well in the class, the semester is a good time to change levels and move to a regular course.  For example, if you are in Honors Biology and earning a D or an F, it might be appropriate to change to Regular Biology for the 2nd semester where you could hopefully earn a higher grade for the 2nd semester.

3. If you don't have an academic prep or options period in your day and know that you will need it to be successful in your classes.  If you aren't likely to get work done at home, be smart and give yourself time in the school day to be able to focus on work completion.  It is also particularly helpful to have a time in the day if you tend to miss a few days of school in a typical quarter because it gives you time to work with teachers and academic assistants to get caught up on your coursework.

4. Your interests have changed in your elective choices and you would like to take something different.  If you have realized that you're really interested in business for the future, it might be smart to try to change your schedule and drop something in order to add another business class to your day.

5. You failed a semester class required for graduation and need to add it back into your schedule.  For example, if you failed Government in the first semester, you can avoid having to take summer school by adding Government back into your schedule for the 2nd semester and dropping some other elective class.

When should you NOT make 2nd semester class changes?

1. Seniors in particular need to be wary of making course changes - especially if you are switching classes that will make your schedule appear easier and less rigorous to colleges.  In fact, if you are making a schedule change, I would STRONGLY recommend that you contact the college admissions offices where you applied and let them know you are looking to make a schedule change, what that will be, and verify that it will not negatively impact your admissions decision.

2. If you are doing well in your classes, you don't want to just cut back because you want an easier path.  So, with the example above about changing levels from an Honors or AP class to a regular class if you're not doing well in the course... if you are doing well in the class then you should stay in that rigorous class even if you don't love it.

Other reminders:

Schedule changes can only be made within the confines of the master schedule.  There are a lot of classes that are full and we cannot overload them.  We also do not make any teacher changes so I won't be able to adjust your classes in order to facilitate a switch in teachers.

If you want to make any changes to your schedule for next semester, please come and see me this week or next week during exams rather than waiting until January!  We want to make sure we have you set up to be successful in the new year now, so please don't procrastinate on making these adjustments.

Tomorrow's Schedule

The holiday spirit has definitely been alive and well at Kilbourne lately.  Hearing about the contributions and watching students in the gym wrapping presents and seeing the impact of your generosity was incredible!  To build on that enthusiasm, tomorrow will be the annual holiday assembly.  Because of exams, you will still have another week and a half of school left, but it will be a great way to celebrate the end of the first semester.  

Below is the bell schedule for your reference as it is definitely different than normal.

Here is the breakdown for the day:

Period 1 - 8:40 - 9:19
Period 2 - 9:24 - 10:55 (Students will be divided to spend 1/2 the time in class and 1/2 in the assembly)
Period 3 - 11:01 - 11:40 
Period 4 - 11:45 - 12:24
Period 5 - 12:29 - 1:08
Period 6 - 1:13 - 1:52
Period 7 - 1:57 - 2:36
Period 8 - 2:41 - 3:20

I am looking forward to seeing all of my students who are participating as a part of the assembly tomorrow.  I also want to send out a huge good luck to all of the Band, Orchestra, and Choir students who will be performing tonight and tomorrow in the Home for the Holidays concert.

And then last, but certainly not least, I'd like to wish a Happy Hannukah to all of my students and families who are celebrating beginning tonight.

Planning Ahead

I have been talking a lot lately about End of Course tests and Semester exams both of which are taking place this month, but those aren't the only tests which students should be keeping in mind.  Juniors, as you know, you will be taking the ACT for free in March.  I realize that right now that seems far away, but when we return from winter break you will have just 10 weeks until the test.  That will fly by.  

Why does that matter?  This is a great time for you to start planning ahead for your test prep needs and developing a plan for what you will do to make sure you are prepared for the ACT.  Hopefully you have logged in and looked at your PSAT scores online and/ or reviewed your Pre-ACT test results that you picked up from the Counseling Center (if you haven't picked up your results, please see a secretary in the counseling center this week to get them).  Those two practice tests are great ways to get a feel for what you understood well and where you might need to focus some additional time and energy.

Remember, there are plenty of free resources available to you!  For example, your PSAT scores come with a direct link to Khan Academy to create a tailor made practice plan.  Additionally, some students will elect to work with a tutor or take a test-prep course.  If that is part of your plan, you will want to start investigating options to get that set up so that you aren't trying to cram all of your studying into the last few weeks ahead of the test.

It's nice to be thinking about something that is farther away and that you have more control over timing and your own personal prep plan.  Just don't forget to actually set up goals and a plan for how you will review to make the most of the free test opportunity.

Semester Exam Schedule

I wanted to give all students and parents a summary of the semester exam schedule with some additional frequently asked questions...

Day One - Monday, December 18th:

8:40 - 10:35: 1st period exam
10:45 - 12:40: 4th period exam
12:40 - 1:20: Lunch
1:25 - 3:20: 7th period exam

Day Two - Tuesday, December 19th:
8:40 - 10:35: 2nd period exam
10:45 - 12:40: 5th period exam
12:40 - 1:20: Lunch
1:25 - 3:20: 8th period exam

Day Three - Wednesday, December 20th:
8:40 - 10:35: 3rd period exam

10:45 - 12:40: 6th period exam

12:40 - 120: NO Lunch Provided! (bag lunches will be available for pick up between 3rd and 6th period exams)

1:25 - 3:20: Make-Up Exams

A couple of questions that tend to come up at exam time...

Yes, you are REQUIRED and EXPECTED to be in all of your classes during an exam. (Even if you don't have an actual exam, the teachers are going to be working with you on projects, papers, or other learning related to their course.)

No, you do NOT need to be in school during your scheduled lunch period or during your Options or Prep periods. (Which means, for example, that if you have 3rd period prep and 6th period lunch that you do not have to come to school at all on the 20th.)

Yes, there will be two bus runs on Wednesday - so you can leave after your 6th period exam, but if you need to stay for a make-up exam period then there will be another bus run to take you home then too.

Hope that helps clarify and I hope your studying efforts are going well.

Simpson Strong Tie

One area that Worthington Schools has been working to build is our partnerships with central Ohio companies who are interested in having students work as interns during their senior year in preparation for potential employment after graduation.  I have previously blogged about Worthington Industries which has been our biggest partner to date.  But I wanted to share information with you about Simpson Strong Tie which is a new partner that will be taking on senior interns next semester.

Simpson Strong Tie is located just off 270 at Roberts Road on the west side of Columbus.  They have a strong culture with many employees working their for their entire careers because they care about the mission and vision within the organization.  As you can see in the photo, what Simpson Strong Tie creates are the metal pieces which create a stronger tie between other items such as two pieces of wood.  Their products are sold at companies like Lowe's and Home Depot as well as directly to construction companies.

Last week I had the opportunity to tour their site, learn about the organization and the opportunities available to a select number of senior students.  I am confident this is going to be a great experience for students who are interested in a manufacturing type of job.  If you think this sounds appealing, we will be hosting a field trip for students next week on December 13th so that you can see the facilities and learn about the organization first hand.  If you are interested, please stop and see me to pick up a permission slip so that you can attend.

Students of the Month

On Friday morning before school a ceremony was held to honor December's Students of the Month! Students can only earn this recognition once during their high school career.  

A special congratulations to "my" students who were honored as Students of the Month!  They included (L to R): Ivan Chivington, Morgan Boone, Mikaela Bevelander, EJ Adams, Itzel Alarcon and not pictured Joel Blake.

I am proud of you! Thank you for representing the best of Worthington Kilbourne High School.

Winter End of Course Tests

Let's talk about End of Course tests for a moment.  And no, I am not talking about your semester exams that count for grades in your actual classes.  The End of Course tests are those assessments required by the state of Ohio that all students must complete.  The tests are also how you will earn the various components that you need to graduate.

The next 2 weeks are the winter testing window for the End of Course tests.  You will be taking these tests if you are currently in Government, if you took a tested class during the summer, if you took a tested class last school year but due to illness or other reasons you weren't able to complete the tests when the state testing window was open, if you need to try to improve your scores, or if you moved in from out of state and need to take the assessments.

All students are strongly encouraged to check your school email to look for information about End of Course tests.  If you need to complete a test then you will have received an email giving you information about what date you will complete your test and which room to go to for testing.

I know that it is really hard to miss class time for the testing (especially when you only have 10 days of classes left in the semester), but remember that because these tests play a role in you earing the graduation requirements you want to try to do your best on the tests when taking them.

Studying

Studying for exams can be daunting - especially because sometimes you don't know *how* to study. I frequently ask students the question – “Do you know how to study?” and, quite honestly, the most common response is "no." It really isn't a surprise though. The reality is that until high school gets hard enough that you hit the wall and it no longer comes easy to you, studying isn't something you typically have to worry about or spend a lot of time focusing on.

The challenging part of studying is that what works best for one person may not be what works best for someone else. And, even if you figure out what works best for you in one particular subject area, that still doesn't mean that this particular strategy will be most effective for a different subject.

One lesson I have learned (from both experience and from other students) is that just reading your notes is NOT studying. You really need to be doing something in order to effectively study for exams. And yes, I am aware that for some of you, and for some classes, reading through your notes is sufficient, but in general as you sit there reading your notes it is common for your mind to wander. Then, as you are taking the test, you realize that all of the information you thought you knew was actually just familiar.  (So you sit there taking the test thinking, "Um, I know this, it was on the left page of my notes..." but then are left blank.)

The best news is that there are lots of different ideas and strategies that you can use to develop a study strategy that works best for you!  So, perhaps in addition to reading through your notes you could try some other ideas. If you are struggling to find strategies to try out, I encourage you to visit the WKHS Counselor website as there are lots of examples listed on the site.  I am listing a few examples below, but again, it is about finding a strategy that will work for you.

Re-write or type your notes instead of just reading them.

Try to recall as much information from memory as possible. So, think back on the class and try to remember all of the key points and pieces of information that you think you are going to have to know for the test and write them all down. Then compare that list to what you actually are responsible for knowing. What information did you forget about completely? What areas were you unable to recall enough informational details? Briefly review that information and then move on to studying for another subject and then later come back and try to recall everything that you will need to know again. Were you able to do better this time? This strategy is effective because it forces you to figure out what you can recall from just your brain at a certain time - just as you will have to do on your exams.

Make flashcards and review the content.

Have someone else question you from your notes, study guide, or text book.

Another great strategy is to go through and review your old tests - paying particular attention to questions that you answered incorrectly.

Make your own practice tests. You can use homework questions, sample problems from your classroom notes, or questions from your book or tests and put them together into one test just like your teacher would do for the exam. Give yourself a day or two away from looking at it (or at least a few hours of working on a different subject) and then go back and put yourself into a similar test environment and take the test. Practice going straight through the whole test without a break, without distractions, and without stopping to look at your notes or book just as you will have to do in the actual exam. When you have completed the test, check your answers and see how you did. You can then identify areas where you need more practice and review. It may also help you identify concepts that you need to seek help from your teachers or academic assistants on to help make sure you better understand the material.  (If your parents or siblings are willing to help you study, asking them to select questions from your homework, notes, and old tests to create the practice test for you can be a great help as you work to prepare for your exams.)

Spend time reviewing old learning targets, homework assignments and worksheets and you definitely want to work through the study guides your teachers provided (if they gave you one) as this is also a highly effective strategy.


Another helpful strategy is to teach someone else. Sometimes this involves teaching a fellow student who is struggling to grasp the concepts, but it can just as easily be your parents, siblings, or a grandparent. By having to explain the information you know, you are reinforcing the concepts in your own mind and seeking useful ways to help someone else to understand the information and why it matters.

Take advantage of the opportunity to seek extra help from your teachers. Some teachers offer review sessions, others will meet with students individually or in small groups to answer questions. And other teachers are willing to respond to e-mails to help clarify questions you might have. Remember, they know what is on the test (they created it!) and so they are your best resources for help, yet the work must be done by you to make certain that you truly know the concepts being covered in class.

You can also work with the Academic Assistant's in the Teaching and Learning Center (Room 209) as they have a wealth of knowledge and helpful tips for study strategies that can help you in their particular subject areas as well as studying overall.  And, last, but not least, you can also stop in and see me and I can help brainstorm ideas that you could try.

For what it is worth, think of learning to study like you think of learning to run. You already know some skills that have helped you to know how to study and to be successful - just like you already know how to run, but if you practice and really train at running, you can improve significantly and studying will work just the same. Keep working at your study strategies, practice and continue refining your technique until you find the perfect combination that works for you.

Good luck and happy studying!

Grief & Holidays

Dealing with grief while navigating the typical challenges of being in high school can be very stressful and overwhelming.  I wish none of you had to say good-bye to a loved one who has died and yet the statistics about how often this happens are daunting.  According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, 1 out of every 12 children in the US will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they reach 18 years.  Not to mention all of the other loved ones who play an important role in your lives.  There are no words that can take away the pain or make life return to the way it was after the death of someone you love, but I can promise you never have to walk through this experience alone.  I am here to listen and care and to support you as you learn to live life with grief.

As we head into the winter holiday season, for those students who have experienced the death of someone important to them, the holidays combined with grief can be incredibly challenging.  In recognition of the difficulties that grief during the holidays can create, we will be hosting a Holiday & Grief Workshop on December 7th for students to join in to learn more about what to expect when grieving during the holidays and ways to honor the memory of a loved one during the holidays.  If you are a student who is living with grief this holiday season, please reach out to me so that I can add you to our holiday & grief workshop list.  I'd love for you to participate with us!

Pre-ACT Results

Your Pre-ACT scores are already back!  Your scores are available for pick up starting tomorrow in the Counseling Center.  You can pick up your score sheets during your lunch periods or before or after school from any of the secretaries at the front of the counseling center. 

One nice feature of the PreACT is that you will get your test booklet and the score summary written report.  You can use this information to help you determine what you did well on and what you want to improve on in the future.

Don't forget, these are just practice tests so they are giving you an indication of where you might expect to score on the actual ACT and you can use your results to help guide you in preparing to achieve college readiness.

I hope your scores were what you were expecting (or perhaps even better).  If you have any questions don't hesitate to stop by and see me.

Also, to senior students and parents - don't forget that tomorrow night, November 29th, is the Financial Aid night presentation at 7pm in the WKHS Auditorium.

Sprint to the Finish

I hope you and your family had a nice, relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.  I am looking forward to seeing you all and hearing about your time off. 

Additionally, as we return to school tomorrow, the push will be on in classes as you finish up the the semester.  You have just 15 days of classes left before exams.

If your grades are not where they should be (or where you want them to be), please make use of the resources available to you including both the Academic Assistants in Room 209 and, most importantly, your teachers.  Remember too that I am here to help you with study strategies and tips as needed.

For many students, your final grade for the semester will come down to how you finish out this quarter and how you perform on your semester exams.  This means that it is essential for you to make the most of the remaining time in your classes and start reviewing for exams now.

The 18 days of school between now and winter break are going to fly past so take a deep breath and remember, you can do this!

Thanksgiving Break

It's now officially Thanksgiving break.  I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing 5 days with lots of good food, family time, and positive memories on Thanksgiving.  If you are traveling over break, please be safe as we need you back at WKHS next week!

I am feeling so grateful right now as I await my extended family's arrival at any moment.  I am thankful that we can all be together again this year for the holiday.  I am grateful for my dogs who bring so much love to my life.  I appreciate being able to work with my amazing students (and their families) who bless my lives daily.  And during this holiday I am always reminded of how much I have that I tend to take for granted like my health, having a roof over my head, hot water, and food to eat, and yet as I stop to think about it I realize how lucky and blessed I am not just today, but every day.

Before I close for tonight, I have to say a HUGE Thank You to Worthington Presbyterian Church.  They donated all of the food to allow nearly 50 WKHS families to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this holiday season.  We appreciate their generosity and kindness and it was such a privilege to be able to be a part of sharing that joy with others as we handed out the food today.

Have a wonderful and relaxing break!

Kilbourne Kindness Closet

The counselors are working to start a new initiative called the Kilbourne Kindness Closet and we need the help of families in the WKHS community to make this possible.

We invite you to contribute to the Kilbourne Kindness Closet by donating any gently used Kilbourne clothing items that you no longer need. Whether it's an old sweatshirt, a sport specific t-shirt, or any WKHS apparel that you no longer want or use, we would be grateful for your contributions.  This includes both student and parent Kilbourne clothes. We know that wearing Kilbourne clothes strengthens school spirit and builds connection among students and families.

For any former students/ families who still read my blog, if you no longer want your blue Buckeye Scholastic graduation gown, we are also accepting graduation gowns that were from 2021 through 2023 to provide to seniors who cannot afford a new gown.  (Gowns worn before 2020 were a different color and material so, unfortunately, they cannot be reused by current students.)

In addition to Kilbourne specific clothes, we are also collecting gently used jeans of all sizes and styles to make available in the Kilbourne Kindness Closet.

Donating is easy! Simply drop off your contributions at Worthington Kilbourne High School in the front, Student Services Office between 7:30am-3:30pm or to the Counseling Center office.

We believe the Kilbourne Kindness Closet will not only provide essential clothing items but will also serve as a symbol of the caring and supportive community we have in Worthington.  Thank you for considering donating to help our families!

DACC Application

On Friday nearly 90 WKHS students participated in the field trip to the Delaware Area Career Center. I want to remind you that even if you decide to attend the career center, WKHS students are always WKHS students. With most programs you will have the option of attending the career center for full days (where you would take your lab coursework which counts as elective credits and your academic courses all at the career center) or for half days (where you only take the lab coursework at the career center and then return to WKHS for the other half of the day for your academic classes). You still graduate from Worthington Kilbourne and continue to participate on our athletic teams - even if you decide that you want to attend the career center for the full day. 

I strongly encourage you to check out the programs because the hands on opportunities to learn something new while also gaining your required elective credits can be a very appealing option! If you didn't have the chance to participate in the field trip, or if your parents are interested in learning more and visiting DACC with you, there will be an Open House coming up on December 7th.  

Attending the Delaware Area Career Center is a competitive process and students must apply for consideration.  If you are interested, please make sure to start working on your application because it is now open and you'll want to get it submitted so that they can consider you for a spot in their program.  The priority application deadline for optimal consideration is January 12th.

Information about the open house and the application to attend DACC are all located on their website.  

College Athletic Commitments

Over the last week several WKHS seniors have been celebrated for signing their official commitment to participate in college sports next year.  4 of the students who have made that declaration are "my" students and I want to pause for a moment to recognize and honor each of them.

Aubrey Bally has committed to play soccer at Bellarmine University in Lousiville, Kentucky.  

Mikaela Bevelander has committed to play soccer at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.

Morgan Boone has committed to play lacrosse at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

Marissa Dolciato has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I am so unbelievably proud of these 4 young women and their success not only on the athletic field, but also in the classroom and, most importantly, in how they live their lives.  As athletes, they are fierce competitors who challenge themselves to grow and improve.  As people, they care about others and strive to make others feel heard and welcomed.  Each of these students deserves the recognition and accolades they are receiving.  The accomplishments we are celebrating now as they commit to continuing their athletic competition in college is a reflection not just of 4 seasons of hard work during high school, but of countless practices, games, sweat and tears.  

Aubrey, Mikaela, Morgan and Marissa - I am so proud of you!  I applaud your hard work and your dedication.  I love your never give up spirit and I am grateful that you are role models for the rest of the WKHS students who hope to participate in sports in college.  I cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in college.  Congratulations!

Be Here Now

There are so many things which demand your attention that being present to "be here now" can be a challenge.  Even right now, as you are reading this blog post, chances are you have other emails awaiting your attention, notifications popping up about social media posts, reminders, or messages you're receiving.  Life never seems to slow down.

Yet we each have the same 24 hours in our days.  How we choose to spend that time is our decision.  But each choice we make comes with consequences.  Some of those consequences are positive (I study for a test and I get a good grade) and some of the consequences are negative (I didn't study for the test and I got a bad grade).  But here is the interesting thing I have noticed... it is all too common for students (and adults for that matter) to fake it.  We fake studying.  We fake working on a paper.  We fake being fine.  We fake paying attention.  We fake a lot, but why?  Is it because you are fooling yourself or someone else?  Is it because you want to impress someone for how much time you spent studying? (Even if the reality was you weren't really studying because you were spending most of your time finding music, responding to messages, or daydreaming.)

So stop.  Be all in.  Wherever you are, be all there.  This is your life - your one chance to do things fully, completely and as meaningfully as possible.

You can get more studying done in 30 minutes when you are intensely focused than you can over 3 hours of a half-focused study session.  Be present with your friends or family when you are spending time together - put your phone away and actually listen.  If you're not in the mood to write your paper, find a different approach to get yourself into the mindset to be fully focused on the task at hand rather than sitting in one place for hours on end growing more frustrated by how long it is taking you to complete the assignment.  But that is just part of it... remember, if you normally spend 3 hours half-way studying and are now just spending 30 minutes of focused work, you have the added benefit of gaining 2.5 hours of extra time to spend being fully invested in yourself and the activities you enjoy like spending time with friends, watching a show or even scrolling on social media.

For yourself, for your future, and for your overall well-being, please try to build the habit of being present and being all in with your time and your commitments.  It will serve you well in high school and beyond!

Financial Aid Night

Seniors, you and your parents likely already know that the FAFSA is changing in big ways.  We still don't know an exact date when the new FAFSA that you will complete will be launched and available, but it will be some time in December.

To help you with the college financial aid process we will have a Financial Aid Meeting coming up on Wednesday, November 29th at 7:00pm in the WKHS Auditorium.  We are fortunate enough to have Faith Phillips, a financial aid director for OSU Newark and COTC, sharing her expertise with our parents and students.  She always has useful insight and is able to present it in engaging ways that will help you in completing your financial aid application.  

Because the FAFSA has so many new aspects and differences, this is likely an important night for senior families - even if you have older siblings who have been through the FAFSA process before.  I hope you will make plans to join us on November 29th!

Pre-ACT Reminders

If you are taking the Pre-ACT tomorrow, you will report directly to the gymnasium when you arrive to school in the morning. You will need to bring your student id with you in order to check in. You will also need a number 2 pencil (no mechanical pencils allowed), a calculator, and I would recommend a watch. 

The test will begin promptly by 8:40 and you will most likely finish testing during 5th period.  (If you have lunch 4th period we will be sure you have time to eat and give you pass to go to 5th period.)

I was very happy to see so many of my students signed up to be taking practice test for the ACT and I wish you all good luck!  I hope it will be a meaningful practice opportunity for you in preparation for when you take the actual ACT in the future. Good luck on the test!

For the rest of my students, please be aware that I will be helping to proctor the test which mean I won't be available during 1st through 5th periods tomorrow.  Sorry!  We can hopefully connect tomorrow afternoon if you need to talk.

Searching for Colleges

When you start the college search – the answer lies in you! I know, that sounds a bit cheesy, but it is true. Before you really start looking for the “right” school it is important to figure out what you want in a school and that can only be found by looking in yourself and determining what factors are most important to you.

For example, for some students distance from home may be a big deal. Being close can have it’s advantages – like being able to come home and have a free home cooked meal or a place to do your laundry and also not having to worry about flying half way across the country any time you would want to come home for a visit. Going to school at a college far from home can also have it’s advantages – often a different climate, a new experience and adventure where you can be independent, and no concerns about mom or dad just dropping in unexpectedly. And, of course, there are some students who will elect to find a school that is not too far and not too close. (Remember, that by communicating with your family about what you are looking for in a school you may find that a college outside of your comfort zone is still worth looking at because you and your parents may be able to reach some mutually agreed upon ground rules – so the concern that they might come see you or you might come home too often can be eliminated by talking about those issues up front.)

The size of a school is another factor for many students. Small, Medium, Large or somewhere in between – the challenge is that many students will say, “I don’t know” and that is where making a variety of visits to different sized schools can be advantageous. You can explore a small school and see if the experience of knowing lots of people on campus and in your classes is better for you than a medium or large school where you may have a class in a lecture hall with hundreds of other students. As you visit the schools you may find that there are experiences or advantages that a larger school can provide that a smaller school can’t such as a wider variety of clubs or groups for students to be involved. The key is to figure out what size school fits you and then you can narrow your search to explore more schools in that range.

Other factors that often influence a student’s college decision will include the types of majors or programs offered at the school, their athletic programs – both collegiate sponsored and intramurals, the food, the dorms, the cost (but don’t necessarily eliminate potential colleges simply based upon sticker price cost because often the private schools are much more expensive, but also offer a much larger financial aid package to make it competitive and comparable to a public school), extra-curricular opportunities, and on and on.

Again, I cannot stress the point that everyone is different and what is best for one person is not necessarily the ideal school for someone else. All too often I listen to students who are only looking at the 2 or 3 schools that their best friend or sibling looked at rather than trying to find the school that fits best for them. Also, I truly believe that it is about being a good match – for both you and the college.

I know it can be a bit intimidating to search for a school and to try to figure out what you really want in a college and for your future, but it is also supposed to be fun so try not to put too much pressure on yourself to find “perfection” and make every effort to take a step back and figure out what will make you happy. It really can be fun, but I know it is also overwhelming so remember that I am here to support and help you in any way that I can.

Missing College Application Items

This week I have received so many emails from seniors in a panic about the notifications they have received from colleges about additional requirements needed to complete their applications.

There are things that you have to know and take care of related to your applications - transcripts and test scores are two of the big ones that seem to be causing the most problem at this point.  See, the challenge is that colleges know these are components that many students forget so as soon as they download your application, many colleges automatically generate an email to remind you about needing to send them.

So what do you do if you get one of these notification letters?

The first step is to stop and ask yourself - did you request your transcript?  That means, did you fill out the transcript release form for us off of the Counselor Website?  If you did, and the application was through Common App or SendEDU you can log onto the websites to verify that your transcript was sent and on what day it was submitted.  If you applied through a college that doesn't use Common App or SendEDU, you can stop and see me or Mrs. McDaniel to find out when your transcript was submitted.

For your test scores, it is often harder to recall off the top of your head if you had submitted your scores or not since you signed up for 4 free scores to go to colleges when you registered for the tests.  So, I suggest that you log into the ACT and SAT websites and double check that your test scores were sent to every college where you are applying.

Colleges get really back-logged at peak application times and so it can take them several weeks to get all of the various components of applications matched up and processed and updated on their computer systems.  So, if your materials were sent in within the last 2-3 weeks and you can see that your materials were submitted, then you can relax because it just means that their system is backed up.  You can continue double checking on the college website to verify that they have everything.  If you are reaching the end of the 3rd week and they still don't show that they have everything, then you can give them a call to double check the status of your materials.  Like I said, chances are they just haven't made it there yet, but there are times where materials can get lost in the mail or filed in the wrong area.  If your transcript needs sent again, we can help you work to take care of that, but first make sure that it is really missing.

Stay Informed

Did you know that you can receive these blog posts to your e-mail automatically?  Perhaps that is how you are viewing them already, but in case you aren't I thought it might help to know that you don't have to try to remember the lengthy website address for my blog.  (Sadly, I know that it is not an easy address to find but back in 2007 when I started the blog I didn't realize how much of a problem it would become.)

The way I have it set up is that the title of the blog post will be the subject line of the e-mail so you can always delete the post without reading it if you realize that it will not be applicable to you.  To sign up for the updates, scroll pretty far down the page on the right hand side to the area that says, "Follow By E-mail" (it is below the Blog Archive & Label sections).  Type in your e-mail address and click "Submit."  Once you do that, you will be set up to receive the posts.  So, if you want to make sure you never miss out on a blog post, sign up for automatic updates.

The counseling center also uses "Remind" to help directly communicate via message to students.  If you would like to subscribe so that I can send messages to you or you can send messages to me, send a text message to 81010 with the appropriate code below:
For the class of 2024, text @2024Abbott
For the class of 2025, text @2025Abbott
For the class of 2026, text @2026Abbott
For the class of 2027, text @2027Abbott

You probably already know this, but this is NOT an actual phone number and the texts we send are from a website and not a cell phone so we can't receive phone calls or messages from you to the number which appears.  It is only for us to send messages.  It is free for you to sign up, but regular text messaging rates apply through your phone company.

At Kilbourne we try to balance how we communicate with families and how we share information out.  There are some messages that we will send directly to parents.  We have a monthly newsletter that we send out to families.  And then we also have additional information that we share through the building's weekly newsletter that is sent out every Sunday night.  Hopefully all of those methods will help keep parents/ guardians alerted to the happenings in the school.

My hope is that students and parents will all feel like they are able to be aware of what is happening at WKHS through the various modes of communication.