Senior Year!Senior Year!

Welcome, Class of 2015!Welcome, Class of 2015!

Counseling Office StaffCounseling Office Staff Mrs. Lilja: Health AcademyMrs. Lilja: Health Academy

Mrs. Wagner: Engineering, Technology, and Mrs. Wagner: Engineering, Technology, and Manufacturing Academy Manufacturing Academy

Mrs. Wass: Human Services AcademyMrs. Wass: Human Services Academy

Ms. Watters: Performance Based Diploma AcademyMs. Watters: Performance Based Diploma Academy

Mr. Winter: Arts, Communication, Business AcademyMr. Winter: Arts, Communication, Business Academy

Mrs. Kleinendorst: Counseling Office Manager….helps Mrs. Kleinendorst: Counseling Office Manager….helps all students all students

College Reps and Military Recruiter College Reps and Military Recruiter VisitsVisits

Many will visit West H.S. throughout the year.Many will visit West H.S. throughout the year. Listen to the announcements or go to Listen to the announcements or go to

twitter.com and search for @west_counseling twitter.com and search for @west_counseling for visit dates.for visit dates.

Sign up with Mrs. Kleinendorst in the Sign up with Mrs. Kleinendorst in the Counseling Office.Counseling Office.

College Campus VisitsCollege Campus Visits

You are encouraged to visit schools which you You are encouraged to visit schools which you are considering.are considering.

Contact the admissions office of the school in Contact the admissions office of the school in which you are interested.which you are interested.

Secure a PRIOR APPROVAL through the Secure a PRIOR APPROVAL through the Attendance Office.Attendance Office.

PSEO & Concurrent CoursesPSEO & Concurrent Courses

College classes taken while in high school.College classes taken while in high school. PSEO Courses on HCC or UNI campusPSEO Courses on HCC or UNI campus Concurrent Courses at WestConcurrent Courses at West

COMPASS/ACT/IA Assessment scores neededCOMPASS/ACT/IA Assessment scores needed. . It is the start of a It is the start of a collegecollege transcript. transcript. Selected classes can be paid for by district (your Selected classes can be paid for by district (your

counselor has a list).counselor has a list). Must have all paperwork completed by November Must have all paperwork completed by November

3030thth deadline. deadline.

College Entrance ExamsCollege Entrance Exams

ACT or SAT: Check with the 4 year colleges ACT or SAT: Check with the 4 year colleges in which you are interested to see which test in which you are interested to see which test they require.they require.

Registration date information available in Registration date information available in Counseling Office. Student is responsible for Counseling Office. Student is responsible for registration. Fall ACT test dates: 9/13, 10/25, registration. Fall ACT test dates: 9/13, 10/25, 12/13 (www.act.org)12/13 (www.act.org)

COMPASS: Hawkeye utilizes this as their COMPASS: Hawkeye utilizes this as their entrance/placement exam.entrance/placement exam.

UNI ETSUNI ETS

Educational Talent SearchEducational Talent Search: free service : free service helping students with many “transition to helping students with many “transition to college” services.college” services. ACT RegistrationACT Registration TutoringTutoring College VisitsCollege Visits College ApplicationsCollege Applications Financial Aid ApplicationsFinancial Aid Applications Scholarship ApplicationsScholarship Applications

Selective Service RegistrationSelective Service Registration

Men required to register 30 days prior to or Men required to register 30 days prior to or after their 18after their 18thth birthday. birthday.

Registration forms located at US Post Offices Registration forms located at US Post Offices or online. or online.

Is required in order to be eligible for financial Is required in order to be eligible for financial aid that is provided for/subsidized by Federal aid that is provided for/subsidized by Federal Government.Government.

NCAA Eligibility CenterNCAA Eligibility Center

Athletes: If planning to compete at Division I or II Athletes: If planning to compete at Division I or II institution, you MUST register with the NCAA institution, you MUST register with the NCAA Eligibility Center Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org.ligibilitycenter.org.

Must see our Athletic Director, Dr. Pappas, to file a Must see our Athletic Director, Dr. Pappas, to file a release form.release form.

SENIOR PICTURESSENIOR PICTURES

November 1: deadline for submission to November 1: deadline for submission to yearbook.yearbook.

GRADUATIONGRADUATION

Think ahead: Think ahead:

Many things to take care of……Many things to take care of……

Dates, dates, dates!Dates, dates, dates!

Seniors: Listen to the announcements & check Seniors: Listen to the announcements & check Twitter daily during your senior year. Dates included Twitter daily during your senior year. Dates included in your senior handbook are accurate as of the time of in your senior handbook are accurate as of the time of posting; posting; these may change.these may change.

Many, many deadlines for submission of different Many, many deadlines for submission of different documents related to graduation.documents related to graduation.

Failure to plan on your part does not mean an Failure to plan on your part does not mean an emergency on our part.emergency on our part.

THINK AHEAD!THINK AHEAD!

Mid-Year/December GraduatesMid-Year/December Graduates

December 23: end of 1December 23: end of 1stst semester.semester.

CAN participate in: CAN participate in: Prom, Post-Prom, and Prom, Post-Prom, and Commencement.Commencement.

CANNOT participate CANNOT participate in: athletics, band, in: athletics, band, dances, Swing Show, dances, Swing Show, other school activities.other school activities.

Must pick up a Check-Must pick up a Check-Out Sheet in Out Sheet in Counseling Services to Counseling Services to take to teachers and the take to teachers and the library.library.

All-Clear Card from All-Clear Card from Business Office.Business Office.

No records sent unless No records sent unless you have correctly you have correctly checked out and taken checked out and taken care of financial issues.care of financial issues.

DIPLOMADIPLOMA

Complete a Diploma Name Sheet: Completed Complete a Diploma Name Sheet: Completed during Futures assembly in December.during Futures assembly in December.

A list will be posted with diploma spellings. A list will be posted with diploma spellings. Check this list. If incorrect, you must correct Check this list. If incorrect, you must correct it. If an incorrect diploma is printed, you will it. If an incorrect diploma is printed, you will be responsible for the cost of the reprinted be responsible for the cost of the reprinted diploma.diploma.

GRADUATION MATERIALSGRADUATION MATERIALS

October 8: assembly held with Herff Jones October 8: assembly held with Herff Jones Rep. providing ordering instructions for Rep. providing ordering instructions for announcements, cap and gowns, etc. announcements, cap and gowns, etc.

Measurements and orders taken during Parent-Measurements and orders taken during Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 21 & 23. Teacher Conferences on October 21 & 23. Deposit required.Deposit required.

Cannot pick up Cap & Gown until on official Cannot pick up Cap & Gown until on official Graduation List.Graduation List.

COMMENCEMENTCOMMENCEMENT

McLeod Center (UNI): Saturday, May 23 McLeod Center (UNI): Saturday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m.at 7:00 p.m.

Mandatory practice will be held at the Mandatory practice will be held at the McLeod Center at1:00 p.m. on Friday, McLeod Center at1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22.May 22.

Must take part in the entire graduation Must take part in the entire graduation practice in order to be in the actual practice in order to be in the actual ceremony.ceremony.

SENIOR HONORS PROGRAMSENIOR HONORS PROGRAM

Program is scheduled for 9:00 AM, May 13Program is scheduled for 9:00 AM, May 13 thth..

Invitations are sent to parents of students who Invitations are sent to parents of students who will be honored on stage.will be honored on stage.

APPLYING TO APPLYING TO POST-SECONDARY POST-SECONDARY

INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONSDon’t wait until the last minute….Don’t wait until the last minute….

COLLEGE APPLICATIONSCOLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Start applying this fall/winter to the Start applying this fall/winter to the schools in which you are interested.schools in which you are interested.

Paper or online apps: some are free, some Paper or online apps: some are free, some require application fee.require application fee.

Create a resume as you will need this for Create a resume as you will need this for applications, letters of recommendation, applications, letters of recommendation, etc.etc.

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

Check to see if the school or scholarship Check to see if the school or scholarship requires letters of recommendation.requires letters of recommendation.

Ask adults who know you well (not relatives) Ask adults who know you well (not relatives) to write a general letter of recommendation.to write a general letter of recommendation.

Provide those people with your resume so that Provide those people with your resume so that they can fully comment on your qualifications.they can fully comment on your qualifications.

GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE!GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE! Write a thank you note! Write a thank you note!

TRANSCRIPTSTRANSCRIPTS

Transcript: a record of your grades in high Transcript: a record of your grades in high school.school.

WCSD Transcript policy:WCSD Transcript policy: 11stst three (3) three (3) mailedmailed by Counseling Office are free. by Counseling Office are free. After three, additional transcripts After three, additional transcripts mailedmailed by by

Counseling Office cost $1.00 each.Counseling Office cost $1.00 each. Scholarship apps are free.Scholarship apps are free. All transcripts All transcripts picked uppicked up in Counseling Office are in Counseling Office are

free.free.

FINANCIAL AID FINANCIAL AID

Start early and check oftenStart early and check often

Financial Aid NightFinancial Aid Night

Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 pm in the Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 pm in the Little Theater.Little Theater.

John Holland, Iowa College Access John Holland, Iowa College Access Network Rep, will present information to Network Rep, will present information to assist you and your family in the process.assist you and your family in the process.

Must complete the FAFSA to receive Must complete the FAFSA to receive financial aid. Available online beginning financial aid. Available online beginning January 1.January 1.

ScholarshipsScholarships

All scholarships through our office are All scholarships through our office are posted under the “Seniors” tab on the posted under the “Seniors” tab on the West High Website.West High Website.

Scholarships are updated continuously-Scholarships are updated continuously-check often! check often!

Be wary of any organization which Be wary of any organization which claims, in exchange for a fee, to assist in claims, in exchange for a fee, to assist in obtaining scholarship money. obtaining scholarship money.

Many, many options are free!Many, many options are free!

Scholarship/College Application Scholarship/College Application Help SessionsHelp Sessions

October 1October 1 October 15October 15 November 5November 5 December 3December 3 February 4February 4

1:30 PM in IMC1:30 PM in IMC

Senior HandbookSenior Handbook

Located on West High website under Located on West High website under “Seniors” tab.“Seniors” tab.

Thank you for attending!Thank you for attending!

If you have questions, please make an If you have questions, please make an appointment with your counselor. appointment with your counselor.

We are here to help you successfully complete We are here to help you successfully complete the application process!the application process!

Pay attention to announcements and Pay attention to announcements and deadlines….and please, for your own sake, deadlines….and please, for your own sake, don’t wait until it’s too late! don’t wait until it’s too late!

Start Strong!Start Strong!

Finish Stronger!Finish Stronger!