High School Guidance
Another year has flown by in the high school counseling department! After the initial buzz of the fall semester, we settled into our regular routine. ACT information was emailed to all junior and senior students, along with their parents. SCC also visited our school to assist students new to online college courses, and college representatives started visiting juniors and seniors, providing them with valuable information about various aspects of college life such as curriculum, tuition, room and board, food service, and financial aid. This helps them make informed decisions when choosing the right college. We organized a Career & College Fair in Des Moines, and SCC hosted another fair, inviting all juniors, seniors, and their parents to attend. Over 40 representatives from universities, community colleges, tech schools, and military institutions from Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, and Nebraska were present. In October, the sophomore class visited SCC for Career Day, attending sessions of their choice and engaging with speakers to ask specific questions about different career areas.
During the fall parent/teacher conferences in October, SCC and IHCC provided financial aid representatives to help seniors and their parents file the FAFSA. They also offer appointments throughout the year to assist families with filing, regardless of their chosen college. In the same month, juniors had the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. This exam not only gives students practice with standardized college entrance tests, but also supports their college and career planning. It helps identify students who may have potential for Advanced Placement courses and enters them into the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship contest.
In December, juniors took the ASVAB exam at the high school. While previously used mainly for military recruiting, the ASVAB now includes a valuable career exploration program. In a follow-up session in February, we shared information with students about how the exam can help them explore careers best suited to their interests, skills, abilities, required education, expected salary, and outlook in each field. This resource complements the online Kuder Navigator site, which students can access for the same purposes.
Throughout both semesters this year, many students took online college courses through SCC. It is recommended that students be juniors or seniors to take online courses or be part of the Extended Learning Program if they are underclassmen. The Senior Year Plus program also requires proficiency in reading, math, and science on the ISASP exams to be eligible for online college courses. Additionally, we offered dual-credit early childhood education courses with Mrs. Scheetz and agriculture courses with Mr. Boeck. Next year, we plan to introduce dual-credit math options with Mr. Reihman.
Earlier this spring, we hosted a College and Career Planning and Financial Aid Night for sophomores, juniors, and their parents. Each year, a representative from ICAN (Iowa College Access Network) delivers this presentation. We also arranged visits to SCC in Keokuk for Industrial Maintenance Technology Day and the Southeast Iowa Trades Expo to familiarize students with apprenticeship programs. Recently, juniors and seniors were invited to the Lee County Career Advancement Center for a Job Fair to explore summer job and post-graduation employment options.
I have also been working with 8th graders in Ms. McCoy's eighth-hour Careers class, assisting with their transition to high school. We discussed graduation requirements and potential courses for the next four years. Each 8th grader is required to create a tentative plan for their courses, which we will revisit multiple times throughout high school. Schedules will be finalized over the summer and posted online in August. Parents and students can reach out to me via email if they have questions or need to request changes. At Freshman Orientation, parents and students will receive more information and can make any necessary adjustments to meet their child's needs.
The spring season is always a busy time of year, as scholarship season, spring break, prom, and graduation all coincide. We have ensured that all scholarship opportunities are promptly emailed to seniors and their parents, and we have numerous teachers who are more than willing to proofread applications and write letters of recommendation. I'm thrilled to announce that our seniors have collectively earned over $790,000 in scholarships, which will be distributed over the next four years!
If you ever have any questions or need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email (amoore@centrallee.org) or phone (ext. 3272).