LHS Guidance NewsletterAugust 2010

Preparing to Serve A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood, picked up the cold,

dead ember & placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow with the light & heat of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with tears glistening, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.” When we avoid church, spending time in God’s Word, and other activities that help us to “burn bright,” we can quickly lose sight of our purpose. We have been called to serve, and our Lord has equipped each of us with special gifts according to His purpose. In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul says, “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” As you contemplate our theme this year, I pray that you find great joy and renewal in surrounding yourself with other burning coals at Lutheran High and your home church. Thanks to Jesus’ death & resurrection, we are not saved BY serving, but we have definitely been saved TO serve.

ACT / SAT DeadlinesSeniors who have not yet taken the ACT or would like to improve their scores should register right away for an upcoming test date. Juniors should plan on taking it no later than April, and it is a good idea to take it once in December or February. More information will be given to juniors and seniors in the coming weeks.

Test Date Reg.Deadline

9/11/10 08/06/1010/23/10 9/17/1012/11/10 11/05/1002/12/11 1/07/114/9/11 3/4/116/11/11 5/6/11

Visit www.actstudent.org to register for this test. You may also find this link on the Guidance page of the LHS website.

SAT DeadlinesTest Date Reg.Deadline

10/9/10 9/10/1011/6/10 10/8/1012/4/10 11/5/101/22/11 12/23/103/12/11 2/11/115/7/11 4/8/116/4/11 5/6/11

Visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?student to register for the SAT.

Which Test Should You Take? Although the ACT is the more popular of the two in the Midwest and Southern states, while the coastal schools prefer the SAT, almost all colleges accept results from both tests. There is not a major difference in how well students do on one test or the other. The material on each test is different (ACT tests on what students have learned while the SAT is based on critical thinking & reasoning), so it is possible that a student will do better on one than the other, but in general, they are comparable. For most students, taking the ACT is sufficient.

The ACT also offers an optional writing test. Should you take it? Very few schools require it (only UW-Madison and Marquette in Wisconsin), so for most students they will not need to take it. If writing is one of your strengths, however, this may be a way to show admissions reps another way you are prepared for college.

For more information on comparing these two tests, visit

http://www.petersons.com/common/article.asp?id=493&sponsor=1&path=ug.pft.advice.

ACT Prep So how should students prepare for the ACT? Simply put, the best preparation is a rigorous curriculum of core subjects, something all students at LHS are receiving. By working hard and challenging themselves, students will be primed and ready for the exam.

There are other forms of short-term preparation that can also be helpful. Retired ACT tests can be picked up in the guidance office and used as a study guide. There are numerous free websites that provide ACT prep. StudentEdge is one of these, along with www.number2.com and www.actstudent.org.

Students do not need to spend any extra money to prepare. There are plenty of free ways, and it still comes down to a student taking the time to study. There are many opportunities, however, that do cost money and, depending on the student’s learning style, can be very effective. The UW-Sheboygan offers one-day test prep on select Saturdays (approx. $70). Zaps offers a similar program each March. And there are

countless other programs for anyone willing to spend the money.

Below is one example of what is available. Several of our students attended free ACT workshops this summer with Ashley Schneider, a Harvard sophomore and Ivy League Insiders instructor. Revolution Prep is an extension of the program Ashley was promoting. The rep, Laura Grifka, emphasized to me that they offer scholarships / financial aid for anyone who can’t afford the full cost. If a student is interested, it is worth a call to find out what the final cost would be. Below is some information that Ms. Grifka sent for me to distribute:

WHY PREP FOR THE ACT?The ACT accounts for 25‐35% of college applica9ons.  While students spend about 9,000 hours preparing for the rest of their applica9on, they on average spend only 10 hours preparing for the ACT.  By spending just 40‐50 hours on test prepara9on, students can dras9cally improve their chances of geHng into the college of their dreams.

REVOLUTION PREP. THE LARGEST AND BEST.In just eight years, Revolu9on Prep has become the na9on’s largest on‐campus ACT & SAT prep provider, working with over 48,000 students last year.  94% of Revolu9on 

Prep’s students would recommend us to a friend.  Here’s why: 

BEST TEACHERS.  Only 2.2% of applicants make it through our applica9on and intensive teacher training process, leaving only those with the most experience, the highest scores and the most engaging personali9es.

TECHNOLOGY.  Each student uses a customized online dashboard that provides him/her with detailed score reports and individualized homework sets which diagnose and improve problem areas.

BOOSTER CLASSES.  All Revolu9on Prep SAT & ACT courses and tutoring include two addi9onal online Booster Classes.  Students can pick subjects ranging from SAT & ACT supplements for very high scorers to SAT II Subject exams and AP exams.

LIVE ONLINE.Though we do not have campus courses in the Sheboygan area, our Premium Instructor Online Course allows students from across the globe to interact with the highest quality SAT and ACT Instructors in the industry.  Of the 2.2% of applicants that become Revolu9on Instructors, only the top 2% of those teach this course. COST: $499

SEE THE COURSE IN ACTION.

h_p://www.revolu9onprep.com/videos/online‐learning‐environment

Upcoming EventsMonday, Aug. 30. Lutheran College Fair & Workshops from 6:45 - 9 pm at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Appleton. There are other fairs in Madison, Hartland, Wausau, & LaCrosse. As an added perk, students who attend will receive four Application Fee Waivers (up to a $60 value each)

for any participating Lutheran College/University.Visit www.lutherancolleges.org/events for more information.

Sunday, Sept. 12: Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Program at noon or 5:00 pm in Chicago. This program features admissions reps from schools profiled in the third edition of Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope. A panel discussion encourages students to make the college search process a well-informed journey that helps them find the right college fit. A college fair follows. The noon program is at Oakbrook Hills Marriot and the 5 pm event is at Lincolnshire Marriot. Visit www.CTCL.org for more information.

Thursday, Sept. 16: Washington University Admissions Information from 7-8 pm at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield. Visit http://admissions.wustl.edu/news/Pages/AdmissionsInformationSessions.aspx or call 800-638-0700 for more details.

Monday, September 27: Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF) from 6:30-8:30 pm at Lakeland College (Todd Wehr Fieldhouse). Over 100 colleges and universities are represented. This is a great opportunity to gather information and speak directly with college admissions reps.

Tuesday, Sept. 28: Wisconsin Education Fair at Lakeland from 9 - 11 a.m. All juniors will be bussed to the fair. Visit www.wefs.org for more information, directions, and a list of questions to ask at the fair.

Mon, Oct. 4: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:30 pm. Also, Parent College Night is at 7:00 pm in the Music Room. This one-hour session is primarily for junior parents and students to help them navigate through the college process. Any other grade levels are welcome, of course!

Friday, Oct 15: End of 1st Quarter

Fox Valley Technical College Discovery Days. For any students floundering with decisions about their future, Discovery Days can be very helpful. Discovery Days offer in-depth explanation of a specific program area of your choice, as well as a general college overview and student panel discussion. Several dates are offered from October through April. Visit www.fvtc.edu/discover to find a date that works for you.

Tuesday, Nov. 9: Experience LTC. This event is geared toward juniors and seniors and is a great opportunity to visit LTC’s campus. Participants select two programs to explore, and they get to spend

hands-on time learning more about that area. Whether or not a student is interested

in attending LTC, this is a great chance to explore different fields. Students can attend multiple times and thus explore many different programs. Students will also be able to speak with LTC students and staff and hear all about the services the college offers. For more information, contact Nikki Kiss at 920-693-1354 or ask Mrs. L. for a registration form.

Powerschool for DummiesThis is something I included in my newsletter last fall, but it seems relevant every year for all our new students and parents. Plus, it’s likely that parents forget as much information over the summer as the students do! So whether you are an old pro or completely new to this Powerschool thing, the following are some facts that may help you get even more out of this handy tool.

*Access Powerschool from the LHS website or by typing in lutheranhigh.powerschool.com in your web browser.

*If you do not know your username and/or password, call or email Kathy VanDeKreeke, Myrna Lastusky or David Pratt.

*When you log on, you will see a chart with the student’s classes and current grades. Anything BLUE can be clicked to receive further information. For example, the quarter grade will be blue. If you click on the grade (e.g. “B”), it will

take you to another page where every assignment or test that contributed to that grade is listed. That page will show the raw score and percent for each grade and help parents and students understand WHY the grade is what it is.

*Another place to watch for this blue text is when looking at the student’s assignment grades. If the grade appears in blue, there may be a note underneath it to explain. For example, if a student has an unusually low grade on a paper, a teacher may write, “The assignment was handed in 3 days late.”

*At the top of your Powerschool page are several icons. Clicking on these will give you additional information. The “Teacher Comments” icon is a good place to look at the end of quarters and semesters, as this is a time when many teachers make special comments regarding students’ progress.

*Clicking on the “Email Notification” icon will allow you to set your email to get automatic updates of a student’s grades.

*The “School Bulletin” icon allows you to view the daily announcements that are read to the student body.

*Most importantly, if you are struggling with Powerschool or have questions, please contact Myrna Lastusky or David Pratt. We want to help you stay informed and actively involved in your student’s progress. Let us know how we can help!

Get an Edge with StudentEdge Peterson’s StudentEdge is available to LHS students 24/7 with answers to their burning questions. StudentEdge is a unique online portal that combines test preparation, college planning, financial aid tools, and career exploration to help students and families plan for life after high school. Just a few of the features StudentEdge offers:

✦ Test preparation for college entrance exams✦ Advanced school search and selection tools✦ Scholarship search engines ✦ Homework help/tutoring for many different subjects✦ Personalized to-do lists to help guide students through the planning process.

✦ Resume builder✦ Career research tools

Since every student’s needs and objectives are unique, Peterson’s online test preparation courses offered within StudentEdge are completely personalized, so no two students will take the exact same course. Students get personalized lessons based on a pre-test to give them extra help where they need it and challenge them on their stronger skills. In addition, StudentEdge includes full-length practice tests for the ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP exams and much more, while also providing a variety of college search and selection tools. Students and families can also search tuition information and scholarships, analyze financial aid awards, and estimate how much they need to save for college. Students who are not already registered are encouraged to start utilizing StudentEdge today. Access information can be found on the Guidance website. Or visit www.studentedge.com/, click “New User,” and enter the LHS access code: WHFLXNHH.

Growth Opportunities

Air Force ROTC Scholarship: Students who will be seniors in the fall can begin the application process now. The deadline is Dec.

1, 2010. Air Force ROTC scholarships cover up to full tuition, $900 per year for books, and a monthly stipend (tax-free) ranging from $300 to $500 per month during the school year. Additionally, Michigan Tech gives a free Room and Board grant to our first 12 High School Scholarship winners that choose Tech as their school. That could equal a free ride to college! The scholarship board bases their decisions on a whole person concept. They look at grades, class ranking, leadership experience (school clubs, sports teams, church, boy scouts, etc…), community service and fitness score (timed mile and half run, number of push-ups in a minute and sit-ups in a minute). There is no commitment to the Military for applying for a scholarship. As a matter of fact, there is no commitment the first year of college. With the freshman option, they can walk away before their second year and they won’t have to serve or pay back any money. Log on to www.afrotc.com to begin the application process or find out more.

Rep. Tom Petri is now accepting applications to Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Military Academy (West Point), and Naval Academy

(Annapolis). This is open to 17-22 year old residents of the 6th Congressional District of Wisconsin. For information, visit http://petri.house.gov. The

application deadline is Oct. 15, 2010. NOTE: Students interested in this opportunity should take the ACT as soon as possible.

Alumni Brag SpotMatt Glenzer (class of 2009) competed in the Natural Athlete Strength Association (NASA) in Denver, Colorado, in August. There were teams from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Matt took 1st place in the 220 lb. Junior Unequipped Powerlifting Division, with a squat of 342, bench press of 270, and a deadlift of 386. These are all world records in the NASA league. Wow!

Steven Wheeler and Davis Dolson (class of 2010) were both honored in an Eagle Scout ceremony on August 5th. Years of hard work through many levels of Boy Scouts helped them achieve Scouting’s highest honor.

General NotesCollege Visits: Seniors, if you have not made any college visits, plan them immediately. You should be applying and making decisions in the next few months, and stepping foot on campus is important to this process. Most colleges have special Open Houses and Visit Days during the fall. Juniors, this is a great chance for you to start checking out a few schools, as well. Don’t wait until next year!

College Rep Visits: The next 3 months will be the busy season for college reps to visit our high school. Check the Guidance website and watch the daily announcements for the schedule of these visits. It is a good idea to visit with a few different reps, even if you are not necessarily interested in their school. It will help you to see what options are available and what different schools have to offer.

Scholarships: The scholarship link on the Guidance Page will be up and running in the next few weeks.

Local scholarship opportunities do not start arriving until late September and beyond. Students and parents should check this

regularly throughout the year, as I receive a steady stream of applications through April. While most scholarship opportunities are for seniors, there are a few for underclassmen, and I will try to draw attention to these.

Spotlight on . . . St. Norbert College Only one hour north of us in DePere, St. Norbert has a residential, riverfront campus. It is a Catholic college that enables students to continue their Christian education. In a time where it often takes students five years to complete college, St. Norbert offers a 4-year graduation guarantee.

★ Enrollment: 2,041 undergrads★Student/Faculty Ratio: 14/1

★ How are AP credits handled? 4 credits are awarded when a student scores a 3 or above on the standardized AP test for that area.★ 97% of full-time undergrads receive financial aid. The average aid per recipient is $19,142. That brings the $28,000 tuition down to a reasonable level.★ More than 75 study-abroad sites in 38 countries on six continents.★ More than 27 service organizations - with mission trips all over the world.★Paid internships & work study available as a student. Career services provided for life.Visit www.snc.edu for more info or a virtual tour!