Welcome to the third of four Counselor Connection newsletters, where we will share updates about the LCHS Counseling Department! Each newsletter will be broken down into American School Counselor Association domains for school counseling (Academic, College/Career, and Wellness aka Social/Emotional) and will also include additional resources for students and families.

During the month of March, all high school students receive direct counseling services from their counselor as part of the course registration process. The services take place two ways:

1. Group Advisory Presentation

2. Individual Counseling Meetings

Students in grades 9-11 have already had their individual meetings, and any student who missed their appointment will have a make-up meeting by the end of March. Students are encouraged to make as many follow up appointments as they would like. Students can make changes to their course selections until the priority deadline of May 1 by obtaining a course selection change form from the counseling office. After May 1, change requests will only be accepted based on availability.

Final schedules will be determined at the end of the school year. Course change requests in the fall will only be considered in cases of error or upon referral by a teacher/counselor for misplacement.

Report Cards will be available for viewing in Aeries by March 22. This is a progress grade that can be used to help students plan for finishing the semester strong. The last day of school is June 6th.

After we return from Spring Break, students in grade 12 will take the California Science Test (CAST) and students in grade 11 will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) in math and English. State testing falls under the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) umbrella.

Why should students take state testing seriously? There are many reasons! For starters, a score of 3 or better is required in order to be eligible for the State Seal of Biliteracy, which is marked by a gold seal on the diploma or transcript that recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. Additionally, students may use CAASPP scores to help determine placement into math and English courses once enrolled at a CSU or UC college campus. On a school wide level, test results help students and schools assess strengths and weaknesses and make plans to strengthen and improve the instructional program.

The block schedule during the testing windows will be as follows:

April 10 - Periods 1, 3, 5

April 15 - Periods 3, 1, 5

April 16 - Periods 4, 2, 6

April 17 - Periods 1, 3, 5

April 18 - Periods 2, 4, 6

AP Exams will take place May 6 through May 17. Students are excused from attending classes on the day of their exam. No electronic devices are permitted into the testing room. Pleasure ensure that these items are left at home or stored outside of the testing area in the off position. AP exams will take place at La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, CA 91011. Further details will be sent to students closer to the testing window, so stay tuned!

Summer school registration is open. Pre-approval is NOT required in order to take classes at LCHS summer school, which is expertly facilitated by the La Canada Education Foundation.

Why should a student enroll in summer school?

• Some students may require summer school in order to fit additional electives into their schedule. In that case they would take a class to get it out of the way in advance so they can replace it with an alternative course.
• Some students may wish to take a class for fun or for enrichment.
• Some students may need to remediate D or F grades. In order to meet minimum university admission requirements, students must pass classes with a C or better. When a student earns a lower grade (D or F), they may remediate the grade through summer school course work.

Students who elect to take summer school courses anywhere other than LCHS must receive pre-approval by the Principal in order to receive credits toward LCHS graduation requirements. The course must meet specific requirements in order to be approved. It is important to note that if a student wishes to take an online course for advancement, the online school must have an office based in California, along with it being WASC accredited and A-G approved. See the outside course form for additional requirements.

There are many opportunities for students to take advantage of during the summer. Volunteering, participating in a summer program, working on an individual project, getting a job or an internship...all are great ways to enhance your personal growth. The College and Career Center is a great place to research options, as is making an appointment to see your counselor to discuss. The following resources are just a small sample of all of the things out there and are meant as a jumping off point to help you in your research.

Let's meet! LCHS counselors are available to meet with students to assist them in making summer school plans. Students may come in by appointment or may drop in at break or lunch.

Attention all LCHS students: Did you know that the counselors have created a Google classroom for each grade level? To log-in, simply go to your classroom link and look for your graduating class!

CLASS OF 2024

CLASS OF 2025

CLASS OF 2026

CLASS OF 2027

Students can attend free after school tutoring staffed by LCHS teachers. See the flier for details. Students are also encouraged to seek out teachers during their office hours. Teacher schedules may vary so it is best to reach out to the teacher directly to inquire.

• March 15: Schwartz Family PAID Nonprofit Internship Application Opens!

• March 19: Challenge Success “A Healthier Approach to College Admission” Webinar $15 @ 4pm

• March 20-April 10: Junior Advisory in C³ “Brainstorming College Essays”

• April 10th: LCF Chamber Summer Internship Informational Assembly

• April 11th: Posse & Questbridge Full Scholarship Info Session @ 4:30 and C³ Cupcake Challenge/C3 Open House @ 5:30

• May 1st: Senior Celebration!

• May 19th: Interested in Johns Hopkins? Go to Little Tokyo for Info Session 1-2pm RSVP here asap

• May 20th: Johns Hopkins Essay Workshop for Juniors in C3 @ 1:45pm

Students are welcome to stop by before school, at break, during lunch or after school to utilize the resources or may schedule an individual appointment with C³ should they have more than just a quick question or if they require additional assistance.

We have many great resources available in the C3. For example, Please check out the following lists!

• C3 Scholarship List: https://bit.ly/C3-Scholarship

• C3 Internships/Research: https://bit.ly/C3-Intern-Research

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lchscollegeandcareer/

FAFSA 2024-2025 is now available:

• Make sure to create your StudentAid.gov account—and remember your username and password so you can access and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form when it’s available.

• If your parent(s) will need to contribute to your form, make sure each contributor creates their own StudentAid.gov account. Even if a contributor doesn’t have a Social Security number, they will be able to create an account when the 2024–25 form goes live.

• Watch “Preparing for the FAFSA Form” playlist to understand what information and documents you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA form.

• Learn more about the new redesigned and streamlined FAFSA.

• FAFSA 2024-2025 is required for all California seniors to complete unless the parent/guardian opts out. LCHS will be sending a docusign to confirm the completion of FAFSA.

Drawing from loveisrespect.org’s Educator Toolkit, LCHS students and staff defined and promoted healthy relationships. Students also learned about disability awareness and the GDA/TLC service dog non-profit located in Sylmar with lunchtime presentations and puppy petting.

For more information on services or programs in the Wellness Center, email wellnesscenter@lcusd.net

As part of Healthy Relatinships Month, The Wellness Center hosted a well-attended Family Learning Series event:

If you were unable to attend Tuesday's session, please view the recording here. Due to the frank nature of the conversation, viewer discretion is advised.

WELLNESSCENTER@LCUSD.NET

818-952-4235

Take It Down

Smart Social

Technology Safety Plan — Safety Net Project

Online Privacy and Safety Tips

What Unhealthy Relationships Look Like: Digital Edition

Unhealthy Connections: Digital Abuse

Conversation Starters for Digital Dating Abuse

Conversation Starters for Respectful Relationships

Parent Discussion Guide on Youth Healthy Relationships

Center for Parent and Teen Communication - short videos by topic

High school counselors presented to sophomores during advisory on March 6th and 7th. The presentation on Self Advocacy empowered students to ask for help in appropriate and meaningful ways. Meeting with students in a group format to build skills is a direct counseling service and is a best practice under the ASCA National Model. Students not only learned about self advocacy, but they also practiced role playing using several sample scenarios. Objectives of the lesson included the following:

• Understanding the definition of self-advocacy and its relevance in various aspects of life.

• Understanding the importance of self-advocacy in personal growth and empowerment.

• Using “I” statements for effective communication when speaking to adults at school or friends and family to communicate your needs.

• Understanding the role active listening plays in communication.

American School Counselor Standards Addressed:

ASCA B-SS9: Demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to collaborate with others and work effectively in groups.

ASCA LS 9: Use effective oral and written communication skills and listening skills.

Students reported positive growth in the area of self-advocacy as a result of the guidance lesson.

The comprehensive counselors will visit junior advisory classrooms on April 10th and 11th to present our "College Fit Kit" guidance lesson. The objective of this lesson, which is a direct counseling service, is to inspire students to contemplate their personal experiences and individual aspirations, and link that to their approach in planning for their college application journeys.

American School Counseling Association Mindsets & Behaviors Standards to be Addressed:

M 4. Self-confidence in ability to succeed

M 6. Understanding that postsecondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term success

B-LS 9. Decision-making informed by gathering evidence, getting others’ perspectives and recognizing personal bias

B-LS 7. Long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals

SAVE THE DATE: Open House will take place on April 11, 2024. Classrooms open at 6:30 p.m. The Athletics Open House begins at 5:30 p.m. in the gym. The C3 Cupcake Challenge begins at 5:30 p.m. in the College and Career Center, upstairs in the IRC. All three branches of the counseling department look forward to seeing you there!

Students are encouraged to sign-up to see their counselor using "Calendly." Students will select a date and time that works for them and should make arrangements in advance with their teacher to miss class and discuss any missed materials. Students must use the calendar invite as their "hall pass" by showing it to their teacher on the day of the appointment. They can print it or show it on their phone, or they can ask Mrs. De La Rosa in the counseling office to make a hall pass for them.

Students should not schedule appointments during tests or quizzes and are responsible for arriving to the appointment on time.

Parents may reach out to the counselor directly by email (preferred) or phone to make an appointment. Parents may also contact Mrs. De La Rosa at 818.952.4253 for assistance in making a parent appointment.