Welcome to the third issue of the Guidance News for the 2011-12 school year!  

If you missed last month's issue, past issues are archived on the school website under GUIDANCE NEWS.  

October Testing Results

On October 12, LMH administered testing to students in grades 9-11. Ninth-grade students took the Terra Nova Test, sophomores took the PLAN test and the juniors took the PSAT. In December and January, school counselors will visit classrooms to help interpret scores to students and to discuss the college planning process. Each student that took the test will receive a copy of their results as well as handouts from the guidance office about college planning tips.

College Planning Calendar for Seniors

This is the prime time for college-bound seniors to be applying for college. A month-by-month college planning calendar for seniors is on our website at www.lancastermennonite.org/guidance/college.  Counselors have been meeting with seniors for their senior interview and helping them with the application process.

Appointments with Counselors

Counselors welcome students to make appointments with them. If a student has a study hall in his/her schedule, that would be an ideal time to schedule an appointment. Students should feel free to see Mrs. Grosh in the guidance office to make an appointment with their school counselor.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Students are strongly encouraged to always apply for college financial aid because most students receive some type of aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is where you can start. This form needs to be completed online as soon as possible after January 1 and no later than mid-February. The website is www.fafsa.ed.gov. Both parents and students need a PIN number to complete the FAFSA which can be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov. You are encouraged not to rule out a college on the basis of cost because there are also many scholarships available to students. You can find links to well-known scholarship searches on LMH's resource page: www.lancastermennonite.org/guidance/resources. Please be aware that you should not need to pay for information about financial aid, for applying for the FAFSA or for receiving financial aid.

SAT & ACT Preparation

The best way to prepare for the SAT & ACT test is to take rigorous courses in high school, read and write extensively, and become familiar with the test by practicing on the available sample tests. Free resources for SAT preparation are available on the College Board website at www.collegeboard.com. This site has daily practice questions, a full SAT online prep course and other resources available to purchase. Similar information is available for the ACT test at www.act.org. College bound students are encouraged to take these tests in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year. For registration and testing dates for the SAT and ACT, please visit www.collegeboard.com/sat or www.act.org.

First Quarter Report Cards & Parent-Teacher Conferences

The first quarter ends Friday, October 28. During the week of November 7, report cards will be available on Net Classroom for parents and students to access. Parents are also reminded of upcoming parent-teacher conferences Thursday, November 10, from 1-7 p.m. To schedule an appointment with your student's teachers, please contact Christy Horst at horstcl@lancastermennonite.org with your student's name, teachers you would like to see and time that works well for you.

Senior Presentations

Seniors are currently preparing for their senior presentation during advisory group sessions. We are looking forward to hearing from each senior as they reflect, appreciate and anticipate their future. Each senior will have an informal senior presentation with their advisory group in preparation for the formal senior presentation. The formal senior presentation will be a time of celebration with family, friends, classmates, teachers, church family, coaches and others who have made an impact on the senior's life. Most formal presentations will take place March 5, 20 or 29, and seniors should be scheduled. More information can be found at www.lancastermennonite.org/guid/senpres.

Career and College Day for Juniors

Thursday, December 1, LMH will host a Career Day and College Fair for the junior class. In the morning, students will hear career presentations based on their interest areas and will learn about hiring trends, educational requirements and job descriptions. In the afternoon, students will attend a college fair in Gym A. Representatives from more than 20 schools will be in attendance to answer questions and interact with students. Parents are invited to attend the college fair. Following the fair, students will attend workshops of their choice such as: financial aid and scholarships, admissions criteria, vocational/technical training opportunities, ABC's of finding a job and missions work opportunities. Juniors will receive more information soon. For questions, please contact Erin Hill, guidance counselor, at 299-0436 ext. 318.

Course selection for 2012-2013

The course selection process for the 2012-2013 school year will be launched December 7 with distribution of Curriculum Guides and Course Selection Forms in Advisory Groups. In the weeks following, Advisory Group Leaders will work with students to complete their course selection forms. Parents are encouraged to work with their students in this process, contacting current teachers, advisory group leaders and their school counselor. These forms will need to be signed by parents and given back to their Advisory Group leader by mid-February.