Here we go, Seniors!! Your last days of HIGH SCHOOL!!

We are so incredibly proud of the young individuals you have become and for the lasting mark you will leave as a Blue Devil both in the classroom and on the field, court, stage, and in our clubs.

This will be my final newsletter for this school year, so Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and best of luck to you on the next phase of your life!

My motto is once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil, so if you need help with an alternative plan this summer, next year or in 5 years, we are here for you!

JUNIORS:

Click HERE to review the email sent on May 2nd with the following information:

• FREE College Knowledge (Application) Workshop for Rising Seniors, June 9-10 or 11-12.
• NOTE: Session 1 is filled. Session 2, 3 & 4 has spots available, but it will fill fast.
• How to access your ACT scores from April 10th in your ACT account
• Tips for Preparing for Senior Year
• College Summer Programs
• Summer Employment

Cumulative Assessments

• Click HERE to review the assessment schedule for our current Juniors.

Summer Appointments

• Click HERE to schedule a 30 minute appointment with Ms. Hartley or Mrs. McGahan to prepare for your senior year! You will be glad you take the time to meet with us!

SENIORS:

• Congratulations to the Seniors who were honored at our Scholarships and Awards Night on May 1st. It is one of the counseling department's favorite events to see the fruition of all your hard work and involvement in various activities. Your smiles and excitement were priceless!
• A huge THANK YOU to Venus Bearnod, Anna Bevers, and Allison Jiang for creating over 320 Instagram posts to celebrate their classmates' senior intentions. They spent several hours fielding DMs, creating posts in a very short period of time and communicating with Mrs. McGahan in order to get the shout outs posted! Please thank them if you see them! Click to access the @bluedevilseniors Instagram page or HERE to view the Google Slideshow if you do not have an Instagram account.

Graduation Checklist, Senior Year End Activity in SchooLinks

As seniors make their final decisions, here are a few action items to complete:

1. Please review the Graduation Checklist. You will need to make a copy. Check out this slide deck.

2. Complete your Senior Year End Activity in SchooLinks on your Dashboard. This must be completed by all graduates! Click HERE for instructions.

3. Please complete the Senior Year End Activity no later than May 15th.

4. Say no thank you to the colleges you are not enrolling at. This will take you off their mailing lists and slow the email barrage.

5. Any changes after 5/15 can be email requested to our Registrar, Mrs. Salmi (jsalmi@wths.net).

6. If you have not already, please file your FAFSA by 5/5 or submit a Waiver by 5/15. This is required to graduate from WTHS per the State of Illinois and receive your diploma. Review this EMAIL for additional information. If you did not receive an email from WTHS on Friday, your family has completed this step.

7. Check the Graduation website often.

**Please note: We do not release final transcripts until early June when final Semester 2 grades are posted and official.

• This will not include any SAT scores, so if you applied with a test score for admissions and it is an action item for you, the college needs to have an official ACT or SAT score report on file from either ACT or College Board sent electronically to your college. This does not apply to the College of Lake County as we do put test scores on our transcripts for placement purposes.

As always, if students need assistance in making their final plans for after high school, please contact your counselor or Mrs. McGahan.

Still not sure what to do after high school?

• Click HERE for additional tips on how to create a plan. Please contact your counselor or Mrs. McGahan if you need help planning for your next steps. Don't forget to explore our Virtual Career Fair to assist as well!

For BOTH Juniors and Seniors:

Looking for a Job?

• See the Opportunities Board (under Careers) in SchooLinks or check our previous Job Board.

We are here to help answer your questions, so students, please check your email often, follow us on Instagram or Facebook (@wthsccc), watch for text reminders or reach out to your counselor, Ms. Hartley or myself if you have any questions. We are glad to help! Here is the contact information for Student Services.

Have a great weekend and even better summer break!

Mrs. McGahan, Post-Secondary Counselor

If you would like to make an appointment to meet with your Almond Campus Counselor please email them or stop down to Student Services in the main office to submit a request form. If you would like to meet with Mrs. McGahan, please scan the QR code to the right or click HERE. Book an appointment during your free period.

Big thanks to Anna Bevers, Venus Bearnod & Allison Jiang who helped create many Instagram posts to celebrate their classmates' post-secondary plans over these last few weeks!

Check it out @bluedevilseniors or click HERE for the list of declarations!

If you're planning to attend college and neither of your parents completed Bachelor's degree in college, then YOU are considered First-Generation or First-Gen! Did you know many of our Warren teachers are first-gen? Nationwide, about half of all college students are first-gen.

All first-gen Almond students are invited to attend our last I'm First Workshop on 5/5 during 3rd period in the Almond College & Career Center. Email Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net) if you are first-gen and would like more college/career info, including our upcoming meetings!

To access our list of local scholarships, log onto SchooLinks. Under Finances --> Scholarship Matching --> District Posted. The list will continue to be revised next school year.

HERE is a list of other national scholarship search engines as well.

If you need to request a transcript for a scholarship, please complete this FORM. You may pick-up transcripts from Mrs. Maggiore in Student Services in the main office.

Information Session May 8, 7-8pm

Baxter Innovation Lab - T120
Grayslake campus

Information sessions are for students/parents interested in the Engineering and Computer Science Transfer program at CLC. Each session will provide an overview of the Engineering program, including academics, extracurricular activities like the Engineering, Computer, and Math Clubs as well as scholarship opportunities. A tour of the Baxter Innovation Lab, CLC's makerspace/fablab, which serves as a home for Engineering (and other) students is also included. Information on guaranteed admission programs such as University of Illinois Engineering Pathways program (look at Intent to Pursue option), UIC TAG, and the NIU GAP program will be presented. Additional information sessions on July 16.


Summer Camps
Explore a variety of engineering related careers with hands-on experiences at CLC this summer. Flyer to share

Then plan to register and attend College Knowledge this summer, 2025!

• This comprehensive, 2 day, 2 1/2 hour workshop in the Almond Campus College and Career Center will walk you through the entire process and you will leave feel relieved about how simplistic the process is!
• A binder of information will be distributed to each student including information about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, college search, SchooLinks, Common App and more!
• We will host Illinois State University to complete a live application to see what the applications are all about.
• An English teacher will provide an introduction to the Common App essay prompts and essay writing in general.
• A college-student panel of WTHS alumni will return to share their insight about the process and college life.
• All for FREE!
• Sign-up for one of our 4 sessions starting on 1/27 to lock in your spot!
• Session 1: June 9-10...9:45-12:15 (FULL)
• Session 2: June 9-10...12:45-3:15
• Session 3: June 11-12...9:45-12:15
• Session 4: June 11-12...12:45-3:15

SoFi is hosting a Preparing for College Webinar Series for the parents of college-bound students. This empowering series covers the information and insights needed to help navigate college financing. Below are the topics, dates and times of these webinars:

•Financing Your Student's Education, Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 7pm

Register here

High school students may consider registering for the CLC Summer Employer Visit program in June. This program is open to Lake County high school students grades 9 -12.

The visits will begin at the CLC Grayslake campus, and they will bus students to and from the employer site. The dates of the visits are posted below, and all visits will be held 9:00 am - Noon.

Students can select only one site visit in this program!

Please note: Registration is on a first come first served basis, so students will need to move quickly to register. They can only take 10 students for each of these visits.

The deadline to register is June 11th. Click HERE to register.

• Manufacturing: Westrock - June 16th or 17th TBD - N. Chicago & Pleasant Prairie, WI (Smurfit Westrock | A global leader in sustainable packaging)
• Manufacturing: National Gypsum - Waukegan (National Gypsum® Company | Gypsum Board Suppliers) - June 18th
• Ludlow Manufacturing - Waukegan (Ludlow Manufacturing, Inc. (ludlowmfg.com)) -

June 23rd

• CNC Machining: LMT-Onsrud - Waukegan (LMT Onsrud LP) - June 24th
• Business: Consumers Credit Union - Round Lake Beach Branch (CCU | Consumers Credit Union, The People in Your Corner - June 25th
• Horticulture: Mariani Landscape - Lake Bluff (Chicago's Residential and Commercial Landscaping Company)- June 26th

Boys State is a week long government simulation (June 7th-13th) where participants are citizens in a mock 51st state. Throughout the week , attendees learn how the American political system works by participating in their own primaries, elections and assemblies. In addition to participating in the mock government, attendees learn valuable leadership skills and participate in a wide variety of developmental opportunities. The applicants are open to males who have completed their Junior year by 2025. Click below for the information or visit their website.

Informational Flyer

FAQ

For further information:

Contact: Jim Huisel

Gurnee America Legion Post 771

jhuisel@post771.org

847-910-3330 (M)

The American Legion Auxiliary’s marquee Girls State program, first presented in 1937, is one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States.

Held June 15-21 this summer, the program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women become knowledgeable of the democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the state and national levels.

Applicants must currently be in their junior year in high school or the home school equivalent.

To apply and for additional information, visit their website.

TSR (The Student Registry) is a comprehensive platform that enables students to create personalized wish list budgets for each semester. TSR then offers a secure and user-friendly way to generate financial support from friends, family, and the community. Weddings and babies have registries. Now students have one too!

This is the perfect tool for college-bound seniors to use as they commit to the college of their choice this spring and start getting ready for their first semester!

Check is out here! https://www.thestudentregistry.com/

Make Memories, Enjoy the Outdoors & Support a Great Cause 🌳👟💙

Looking for a way to spend a beautiful Saturday morning with your family that’s active, meaningful, and fun? Join Gurnee Police Department for the Outrun the Cops 5K & 10K on Saturday, June 28 at 8 AM along the scenic Des Plaines River Trail!

This isn't just a race—it’s a family-friendly event supporting the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides vital services to children and families in our community.

Whether you're running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, there's something for everyone:
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly atmosphere
🚓 Touch-a-Truck zone (a huge hit with the kids!)
🎁 Free goodies and activities from our amazing event partners
🎽 Bonus! The first 200 people to register get an exclusive Outrun the Cops t-shirt!

It’s the perfect mix of fresh air, fun, and giving back. So grab the stroller, rally your crew, and make a morning of it—together.

They can’t wait to see you (and your family) on the trail!

Sign Up Today

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS/index.php

The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar, often referred to as NASS, program offers the opportunity for approximately 2,550 rising high school seniors to visit the Naval Academy for one week during the month of June. Summer Seminar introduces students to life at the Academy, where they will experience first-class academic, athletic, and professional training at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country.

This program is highly recommended for any student who may be thinking about attending the Naval Academy.

• Session 1 (Saturday - Thursday) May 31 - June 5
• Session 2 (Saturday - Thursday) June 7 - June 12
• Session 3 (Saturday - Thursday) June 14 - June 19

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/STEM.php#fndtn-panel1-Attending

The Summer STEM Program offers the opportunity for rising 9th through 11th grade students to participate in a week long program focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Campers will create, build, and explore in world-class lab facilities and experience real-life applications.

• Rising 9TH Graders (Monday - Saturday) June 2 - 7
• Rising 10TH Graders (Monday - Saturday) June 9 - 14
• Rising 11TH Graders (Monday - Friday) June 16 – 20

The Gurnee Fire Department is hosting a summer Junior Fire Academy.

The goal of this new initiative is to engage Warren students about the fire service.

They are accepting 10 students and the academy is free of charge.

Click HERE for more information and to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Blue Devil Alum and GFD Lieutenant Tony Roberts at ARoberts@fire.gurnee.il.us.

Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program will be accepted through April 15. This popular program, funded by the Lake County Board, will provide meaningful work experiences in various worksites for approximately 175 young people this summer.

To qualify for employment, youth must be:

· Age 14 to 18 (by April 15) or age 14 to 22 with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

· Attending middle school or high school

· Receiving free or reduced-price lunch or meet low-income guidelines

Work opportunities for participants will begin June 16, 2025. The program lasts approximately seven weeks. The Summer Youth Employment program is administered by the Lake County Workforce Development Department. LEARN MORE!

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a police officer? Now’s your chance to find out! 👮‍👮‍

Join the Gurnee Police Department for an action-packed week at the Youth Police Academy!

📅 Date: June 23-28, 2025

⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

📍 Location: Gurnee Police Department

👥 Who: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, or recent grads—interested in learning about policing!

Get hands-on experience in crime scene investigations, traffic stops, use-of-force training, K9 unit demonstrations, drone instruction, and so much more! 🚓🐾

Don’t wait—spots are limited! Register now to reserve your place and learn alongside the Gurnee Police Department’s finest! 🚔

*Students must be able to pass a background check

*Students must have reliable transportation

🔗 Sign up today—this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss! 🔗

https://www.cognitoforms.com/GurneePoliceDepartment/_2025GurneeYouthPoliceAcademy

This program is open to any 14 to 21-year-old interested in learning more about law enforcement careers. Students will help the community as well as learn about careers in law enforcement and learn foundational policing skills. For additional information see their website.

Click HERE to access and explore 170+ careers with videos and information. By participating, you will gain a better understanding of the variety of industries and positions. Some employers may also have possible internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and/or employment opportunities for our students! For those of you who may not know what you want to do, there’s a career assessment included that will help you narrow down a career cluster to further research. At the end, please complete the exit survey to reflect and provide feedback so we can continue to assist you with your post-high school plans.

WTHS has in-person Study Tables on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20-3:00 p.m. in the Almond Campus Library for English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Students who need bus transportation home are able to take the shuttle from Almond to O'Plaine and take the O'Plaine busses home.

To date, www.fairtest.org as published over 1,800 colleges and universities which are allowing Fall 2025 applicants to apply test-optional. Many institutions are stating students are at no disadvantage of applying test-optional. But it is good diligence on your part to verify the institution will still distribute merit, academic scholarships, be considered for direct-entry, competitive majors and Honors College consideration.

Almond Post-Secondary Counselor

Instagram @wthsccc

(847) 548-6709

Email: cmcgahan@wths.net
Website: https://www.d121.org/Page/313
Phone: (847) 548-6709
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wthsccc