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(From the Counselor’s Office)
On September 7th, I met with all the seniors during their Government classes. We discussed a multitude of items of importance. The list of these items is on the back of this page but it also can be found on my web page at http://canbymn.org/thunt/Counselor_department/index.htm under the category of Senior Visit day. On October 4th we took the seniors and juniors to SMSU to the annual College Fair. It has been tradition to take seniors to this annual event, upon evaluation from our seniors, myself and Dr. Slaba, we also included the Juniors this year and will in the future plan to make this Career Fair an opportunity for our Juniors. Seniors next year, may attend the Wednesday night session on their own. Next events coming up are the ACT test in October, the “D Day” for Seniors, which is an event where the Counseling Office hosts a conference with 5 seniors at a time (taking approximately 15-20 minutes) during their Government class to discuss where they are at in the post-high planning. The seniors are offered cider and cookies during this mini-conference session. December 1st is a great target date for seniors to have solidified their career planning in order that they may be first accepted to a school before they can begin work on their financial aid applications which will need to be worked on after the first of the New Year.
Dates of Importance:
October 27, 2007—ACT test in Canby.
December 1, 2007—Senior “D Day”.
December 10, 2007—Financial Aid Night, 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center.
Mid January —due date for many college freshman scholarship applications.
February—local scholarship application and Blue & Gold application is handed out.
March 1— a general due date for financial aid applications – especially for “first-come, first-serve awards”. Some schools’ financial aid application due dates are earlier.
March 15—local scholarship forms are due.
May 15—7:00 p.m. —Senior Art Show & Blue and Gold Awards Program.
May 23—Deadline for Seniors to indicate what school they will be attending.
June 13 — Senior Final transcripts sent to colleges.
Each year we pay a site license fee to use a career planning site called MCIS or Minnesota Career Information System. Our students may use this site at home.
The career website address is http://mncis.intocareers.org Our user name is canby and our password is lancer all in lowercase.
I hope the information presented in this senior newsletter will be of value to you as you help your senior move from high school student to high school graduate and much, much more! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding what and when my senior should be doing this year.
(From the Counselor’s Office)
On September 10th, I met with all the Juniors during their English classes. We discussed a multitude of items of importance. The list of these items can be found on the back of this page but it also can be found on my web page at http://canbymn.org/thunt/Counselor_department/index.htm under the category of Junior Visit day. On October 4th we took the Juniors to SMSU to the annual College Fair. Next, all Juniors will be taking the ASVAB test on November 1st. This test is a military entrance test given by a test administrator from the Twin Cities. We DO NOT release scores to the military as we feel the kids should not be solicited but, we very much enjoy this free assessment tool because it has three components to it, first is the abilities testing, 2nd is the interest inventory and third is the values assessment. In order to make an informed choice about a future career, finding out if you have the ABILITY to do the job is as important as having the DESIRE to do the job and knowing your values tends to reflect the work environment that one prefers. We will plan to meet with the Juniors during the last week of February to do some computer research on the program of MCIS where the students will do a school sort and selection process so that the Juniors are familiar with what schools and in what states have the major program of their choice. This is pertinent information to know before registering for the April ACT test as the student who wishes to attend a 4 year college or university must take the ACT test. Students enrolling in a 2 year vocational school generally do not need to take the ACT test.
Dates of Importance:
November 1st—ASVAB test for Juniors
February 27th — Tentative date to meet with Juniors again to discuss post-high planning
March 4th – Tentative date to give the ACCUPLACER test to Juniors
March 17th—Tentative ACT Prep Class Date
April 15 & 16 – MCA II Grade 11 Mathematics Test
May 15—7:00 p.m. —Senior Art Show & Awards Program
ACT National Test Dates— 2007-2008
Test Date Registration Deadline
*October 27, 2007 September 21, 2007
December 8, 2007 November 2, 2007
February 9, 2008 January 4, 2008
*April 12, 2008 March 7, 2008
June 14, 2008 May 9, 2008
* = test given in Canby Schools
High School code is 240-390
Test center code for Canby High school is 178-360
Each year we pay a site license fee to use a career planning site called MCIS or Minnesota Career Information System. Our students may use this site at home.
The career website address is http://mncis.intocareers.org Our user name is canby and our password is lancer all in lowercase. This is an excellent site if you are trying to help your junior student figure out which schools have the major they are interested in. If you have any questions in regards to what is in this Junior Newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
On October 10, 2007 Sophomores participated in a Career Exploration experience sponsored by various entities of Southwest Minnesota and specifically by MN West staff and Southwest Minnesota State University staff. Following this experience as sophomores, they will then take part in the College Fair held at SMSU as Juniors. The Counseling Office, with guidance from the Administration, is hoping to provide a series of sequential opportunities for our students at CHS. Our goal is to provide opportunities to all but not be redundant in what is offered to the students. Information will be sent home regarding upcoming testing for the sophomore students. (Testing dates are provided below under the dates of importance category.) Sophomores do not need to worry about taking the ACT test yet. These dates are more for our Seniors and Juniors to reference as they did not have space in their newsletter for the listing of ACT test dates. 10th Grade will have an opportunity to take a pre-ACT test in the format of a PLAN test. Taking the PLAN test is geared to help students become more prepared when they take the ACT test as Juniors.
Dates of Importance:
November 6: PLAN Test for Grade 10
April 15 & 16 – MCA II/GRAD Grade 10 Reading Test
May 15—7:00 p.m. —Senior Art Show & Blue and Gold Awards Program
ACT National Test Dates— 2007-2008
Test Date Registration Deadline
*October 27, 2007 September 21, 2007
December 8, 2007 November 2, 2007
February 9, 2008 January 4, 2008
*April 12, 2008 March 7, 2008
June 14, 2008 May 9, 2008
* = test given in Canby Schools
High School code is 240-390
Test center code for Canby High school is 178-360
Freshmen students were given a credit check sheet regarding graduation credit requirements for CHS from the Counseling Office during the week of October 2-6 during their Computer 9 class. I also spent some time explaining what a G.P.A. (Grade Point Average) is and how class rank is figured and how these two things can provide many benefits to students, especially in their Junior and Senior years. One of the benefits of holding a class rank of 50% or better will allow students to take Challenge courses here at CHS. Challenge courses are dual credits where students receive a high school credit and college credits as well. Students who also do not meet the minimum ACT test score requirement usually have another way to access admittance to getting into a college and that is by way of their class rank and G.P.A. The visit to the Freshmen was done in conjunction with their Computer 9 Career Unit that Mrs. Munson is teaching. Freshmen will have an upcoming test on April 10 which is a state mandated Grade 9 GRAD Test of Written Composition. Information will be sent home regarding upcoming testing for the freshmen students. (Testing dates are provided below under the dates of importance category.)
Dates of Importance:
April 15 – Grade 9 GRAD Test of Written Composition
(Letter will be sent home regarding this testing date)
May 15—7:00 p.m. —Senior Art Show & Blue and Gold Awards Program
The 7th grade class had a visit from myself and Brian Skogen, the Social Worker. We discussed bullying and harassment and challenged this new 7th grade class to be bully-free. I will plan to come into the 7th grade class again and provide a career interest inventory called the Career Match Party Game in the spring. 8th Grade will take an EXPLORE test which is being offered to our students at no cost to our district as the MN Dept. of Education is paying for this test. The EXPLORE test is a mini-ACT test that is designed to help kids get ready to take the ACT test when they are Juniors. Once results are in, we will help the students interpret those results and then provide some Career Exploration via our career website we use which is http://mncis.intocareers.org Our user name is ***** and our password is ******. I CANNOT put the user name and password over the internet, but can give you a hint, try using our town name and team mascot all in lowercase. Each year we pay a site license fee to use this site and our students may use this site at home.
Dates of Importance:
November 8th — Grade 8 EXPLORE Test
April 15th & 16th: MCA II Grades 7, 8 Math (State mandated testing)
April 17th & 18th: MCA II Grades 7, 8 Reading (State mandated testing)
(Letters will be sent home regarding these testing dates)