SCHOOL COUNSELOR NEWS – October 2018

We are in “finals week” and close to ending the first quarter. Student-led conferences are coming up in a couple of weeks and I encourage all parents to set up a conference time.

Reed, Annette and I are inviting all 7^th graders for lunch this fall so we can meet all of them. They have been invited in groups of 8 for pizza, and the last group will be invited this Friday. I work a lot with the older students about academic choices and the college application process so this has been a great opportunity for me to meet the younger students. We definitely want to do the same or something similar next fall.

PSAT

We have 25 students signed up for the PSAT. The test takes place on Wednesday October 24. We ask students to report to the MPR at 8:15 so we can have all of them seated and ready to start at 8:30.

Please note:

The day of the test is a half day. The students doing the PSAT will NOT be released at the same time as the other students. The PSAT will end between 12:15 and 1pm, depending on how long time the students spend on entering demographic data before the actual test starts. The test starts and ends at the same time for all participants. Students cannot be late for the test.

Cell phones or smart watches are not allowed in the testing room.

Students need to bring their own calculator and it has to be on the approved list: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf You can find information on calculators on pages 26 and 27.

COLLEGE FAIR

Juniors and Seniors and their families are recommended to visit to the annual Anchorage Alaska College Fair on Sunday October 14 at the Alaska Airlines Center at UAA, 3550 Providence Drive. This is a good time for students to connect with college admission counselors and to learn about colleges they may not have heard of before. Many of the colleges present at the fair offer WUE tuition. Private colleges are also present. Remember to ask about scholarships and financial aid.

SENIORS

I have met with most of the seniors and it has been very interesting to learn about the different plans students have for “after Steller”. Most students are heading for college although some are taking a year off for work or travel. As always, we have a mix of students staying in Alaska and going to the Lower 48 to study. We also have a couple of students interested in looking at university options abroad.

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT AT STELLER BY THE ALASKA COMMISSION OF POST-SECONDARY EDUDATON (ACPE)

Finally, a reminder to seniors and their parents that we are offering a Financial Aid Night at Steller on Wednesday October 24 at 6 pm. A flyer will be posted on Flash. All the seniors have received a form with information on how to obtain a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid), which is necessary to complete the FAFSA. ACPE offers a FAFSA workshop in the computer lab after the presentation.

Enjoy this beautiful fall. I have been in Alaska for more than 27 years and I have yet to see an October month without serious termination dust.

Marianne

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT AT STELLER FOR SENIORS AND PARENTS

 

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17^TH @6 PM

KEN’S ROOM

BY

Alaska Commission of Post-Secondary Education 

Presentation on:

Cost of attendance

Federal aid

State aid

Scholarships

Financial aid deadlines

FAFSA overview

 

 

 

FAFSA Workshop in the computer lab after the presentation for those interested.

 

If you are joining the workshop, please bring your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Seniors have received information on how to obtain a FSA.

The Steller Halloween dance is coming up! The dance will be held October 25th from 7pm-11pm in the Steller Secondary Multi Purpose Room. Tickets are purchased at the door for $5 per person or $3 per person in costume.

No masks are allowed and costumes must be school appropriate.

We are in need of chaperones! Please contact Alana Parent by text at (907) 229-8694. We currently have only two chaperones and need at least eight to have the dance.

The Halloween Committee would like to do a baked goods raffle which is included in the price of your ticket. Please donate baked goods for this event with a note including the ingredients.

The Jeffcoat Firm is offering its annual scholarship contest.

The prizes are:

· First Place: $2,000.00

· Second Place: $500.00

The deadline to apply is Dec. 7, 2018

Here is a link to the scholarship page with all the information: https://scinjurylawfirm.com/scholarship/

The following information is excerpted from the web page:

On average, more than 34,000 people die each year in our country in traffic collisions involving a legally impaired driver, or a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Has a drunk driver affected you or someone you know? How has it affected – or how could it affect – your own driving?

The attorneys of The Jeffcoat Firm invite you to share your experiences and thoughts on this important issue and compete for one of our two scholarship prizes worth a combined $1,500. We are proud to announce that we are now accepting entries from students nationwide for our annual Scholarship Essay & Video Competition.

Please read more about the competition below and take advantage of this exciting chance to earn scholarship funds by submitting your essay or video by our December 7, 2018 deadline.

Anchorage Youth Court is holding an open house and Mock Hearing on September 6, 2018 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Boney Courthouse. Youth Court is open to youth entering grades 7-12 residing in the Municipality of Anchorage.

For information about classes visit http://www.anchorageyouthcourt.org/join-ayc.html

Attention all Sophomores and Juniors:

The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT is a great primer for the SAT, and even the ACT, but it’s more than just a trial run. PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships.

We would like to invite all sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT scheduled for October 24, 2018, at 8:30am in the MPR.  There is a $20 fee for this test.  Please pay online in Zangle/Q Parent Connection, print out a copy of the receipt and then have your student bring the receipt to the office to sign up for the test.  Deadline for signups is 2:00pm Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

Respectfully,
Janet L. Moffatt
Steller Secondary School- Registrar

Seniors are invited to submit essays for a contest where college scholarships will be awarded as prizes. Deadline for submission is October 19, 2018.

Download the application:

2018 -2109 International Achievement Week Observance Theme

Attention Juniors and Seniors:  Would you like to explore a career and earn credit?  The Gifted Mentorship Program is accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year until September 7th.  You must meet GPA, coursework, and standardized test score requirements to qualify.  Students spend 45-60 hours with a mentor in their field of interest and complete various assignments, including a final project.  Mentorships are available in many fields, including engineering and nursing.

Visit www.asdk12.org/giftedmentorship for more information.

No RSVPs were received so Tonights Financial Aid Meeting has been canceled

If you do have interest in this event, please email our Counselor at pedersen_marianne@asdk12.org and we will look into rescheduling it for another time.

No School Today!!!

Snow Day!!! 

Tomorrow’s schedule will be:

1st 8:30am-9:15am

2nd 9:20am-10:05am

3rd 10:10am-10:55am

AG 11:00am-11:45am (This will be Intensive Registration) 

LUNCH

6th 12:40pm-2:05pm