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ON Student Services Newsletter
April 2024
OATC Openings for 2024-25
Hey, sophomores and juniors! Did you miss the OATC application window? Great news! The following programs still have spots for the 2024-25 school year:
- Animal Science and Research
- Culinary Arts
- Electronics and Avionics
The application will only reopen for a short period of time. If you’d like to know how to apply, reach out to Ms. Gunderson for more information ASAP!
Click here to learn more about OATC.
Advent Health Career Exploration Night
Future Educators University Partnerships Event
Advent Health South Overland Park is hosting a Career Exploration Night this semester on April 23 from 5:30-8:00pm at Advent Health South Overland Park. This event is open to ALL students in grades 9-12 AND their family members interested in medical professions and is intended to provide an opportunity to gain an understanding of healthcare careers. Participants will get the opportunity to learn more about healthcare professions, view hands on exhibits, network with healthcare professionals, tour our state-of-the-art units, and receive valuable career feedback.
Registration is limited to 50 people and will close once all slots are filled.
Check out the flier below for registration information.
Kansas City AOG Dinner with Warriors
Freshmen, Sophomore, Juniors - Meet the Warriors
U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy
Are you interested in the best collegiate education and professional leadership and technical training anywhere followed by an exciting career defending our nation? Are you an academic achiever, physically fit, a participant and leader in extracurricular school and civic activities, and of good moral character? Then don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the benefits of attending our premier military academies and pursuing one of many careers in the U.S. military.
This is a rare opportunity to have personal conversations with graduates of our distinguished military academies and ask about their experiences during their military and follow-on civilian careers. One-on-one discussions will be followed by dinner with these same military professionals. This event is being held specifically for exceptional students who might consider a military academy and career, especially in any of the STEM disciplines. Do not miss this unique opportunity to explore valuable career options for your future.
Learn About:
- Cadet life and routines at U.S. military academies (Air Force Academy, Annapolis, West Point)
- Personal military careers and experiences of graduates who were also career officers
- The academies’ application process
- Life-long benefits from an academy education and a military career
- Details on what the military academies provide including:
- 4-year education with degrees in more than 30 academic majors
- Fully paid tuition and expenses equivalent to a $500,000 scholarship
- Monthly pay as a “3rd Lieutenant”
- Professional leadership training courses
- Participation in any of two dozen intercollegiate or intramural sports
- Summer training, foreign travel, flying, sky diving, and other programs
- Commission as a 2nd lieutenant upon graduation
- Career opportunities in more than 35 different fields
- Post-graduate opportunities available to academy graduates
Guest Speaker: Lt. Col. (Retired) Gregory Shuey is a 1968 Air Force Academy graduate, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran, instructor, fighter and functional test pilot with nearly 3,000 hours in 13 different aircraft. He was the former Air Force Director of Engineering for the Space Shuttle Program (Johnson Space Center), Navy FLTSATCOM satellite engineering manager, A-10 pilot and war planner, and negotiator for U.S. Forces, Korea. He is also an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer and president of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, Kansas City Chapter.
Presenters: Twelve graduates from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), U.S. Air Force Academy and members of the U.S. Marines will be showing displays of their careers and talking one-on-one with attendees about their experiences at their respective academies, their military professions and their follow-on civilian careers. Students and parents will get a chance to learn first hand about the major benefits of an academy education and a military career.
EVENT DETAILS
Menu: Mediterranean salad bar with assorted toppings and dressings, cavatapi pasta with alfredo, marinara, and pesto sauces, Italian sausage lasagna, seasoned grilled chicken and Italian meatballs with shaved parmesan and garlic toast, cookies/brownies/lemon bars, and beverages
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Milburn Country Club, 7501 W. 69th Street, Overland Park, KS 66204
Cost: $35 per person (Includes tax and gratuity). A part of the evening's activities are being underwritten by Kansas City AOG chapter.
Register: Register now at: https://cvent.me/O509g8
Important: Students are encouraged to bring a parent/guest. Due to limited seating, only one guest per student please.
Seating is limited, so early registration is highly recommended.
Registrations and cancellations will not be accepted after April 3, 2024.
For additional information, please contact
Lt. Col. Gregory Shuey, USAF (Retired)
KU Pharmacy Camp
KU Pharmacy Summer Camp for high school students is now open for registration. This camp gives students a chance to see what the pharmacy profession is all about.
One-day camp dates are June 10, 12 & 14. Overnight camp is June 23-25.
Sign up or get more info at https://rockcha.lk/RxCamp.
From Mr. Van Winkle, College Advisor
FAFSA is OPEN:
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opened on December 31st! Any college bound students who are eligible should file their FAFSA. Even if you believe that your family makes too much money to be offered anything from the federal government, many colleges require it to be on file for their institutional scholarships so fill it out, regardless! It is best to get it completed sooner rather than later to be considered for the most amount of aid.
To begin, the parent helping with the FAFSA AND the student will need an FSA ID. You can each create one HERE! Once you have done that, you can file the FAFSA HERE! Make sure that you are filing for the 2024-2025 school year.
Additionally, please email me at lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org once you have completed the FAFSA, letting me know that you have done so!
Five College Concepts, Explained:
- Financial Aid: Student financial aid in the United States is funding that is available exclusively to students attending a post-secondary educational institution in the United States. This funding is to assist in covering the many costs incurred in the pursuit of post-secondary education.
- FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. The FAFSA should not be confused with the CSS Profile, which is also required by some colleges.
- Scholarship: A payment made to support a student's education, awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement.
- Grant: A Grant is money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Eligible students receive a specified amount each year under this program.
- Loan: A student loan is a type of loan designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses.
Senior Scholarship Opportunities:
Make sure to check out Xello for Scholarships, if you are still looking for some help in paying for college. Under the College Planning tab, you will find a section called “Local Scholarships” – Make sure to read eligibility requirements before applying!
Senior Stress:
This time of year is an incredibly stressful time for everyone. Seniors, especially, will likely be experiencing stress over their time in high school coming to an end and the next phase of their lives beginning. Please reach out to me if you need help organizing your next steps or want to make sure you have covered all of your bases in preparing for your journey after high school!
Upcoming ACT Dates:
- April 13, 2024
- June 8, 2024 (Last day to register: May 3, 2024)
- July 13, 2024 (Last day to register: June 7, 2024)
April College Rep Visits:
- Tuesday, April 2nd – University of Saint Mary
- Friday, April 5th – Johnson County Community College
- Monday, April 8th – University of Alabama
- Tuesday, April 9th – Wichita State University
- Monday, April 15th – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
- Friday, April 26th – MidAmerica Nazarene University
Visits will be taking place during A/I on Mondays/Tuesdays/Fridays in the Library or in the College/Career Center, located within the library. You can sign up in Flex!
If you have any questions, please contact me via email, phone call, or stopping by my office.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Van Winkle via email (lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org), phone call, or stopping by his office.
ACT Testing Information
Who should take the ACT?
Any student planning on attending a 4-year university. Many schools have waived the ACT for the class of 2024 however, it is still required for many scholarships at universities. Schools are still deciding for future years. Please check with individual schools.
When should I start taking the ACT?
We recommend starting by the end of Sophomore year. The June test is a great test to get started in the process. For an additional $30 students can get an electronic copy of the test booklet and their answers about a month after they take the test. This is a great learning tool to see areas where you need to make improvements. The test information release is offered for the April, June, and December tests.
Most students will take the ACT 3 times. We also recommend being finished by the end of the summer before Senior year in taking the test. The ACT is offered in June, July, September, October, December, and April each year.
What should you do to get ready for the test?
Practice! Research has shown the more you look at the test and prepare the better you will do. We also recommend taking a prep test.
How does a student register for the ACT?
Students will need to register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. They will need to set up an account to register and pay for an exam. Students on free/reduced lunches can talk to their counselor and use an ACT waiver for 2 free exams. This account will be where students will check their testing location and confirm their registration.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Senior Classroom Visits
Mrs. Parazin will be visiting English classrooms the week of April 8th to discuss Senior plans after high school and scholarships. We will also be completing your Senior survey. Please bring any information you have on scholarships(including the amount)you have received, even if you are not accepting the scholarship, so that we can record the information for the district.
Tuesday, April 9th - Ms. Lewis
Wednesday, April 10th - Ms. Zongker and Mr. Belske
Thursday, April 11th - Ms. Zongker and Mr. Belske
Friday, April 12th - Ms. Hall
Senior Awards Night
Senior Awards will be held on Monday, April 29th at 7 pm in the North Gym. This is an invitation only event. Invitations will go out approximately two weeks before the event.
Olathe North Academic & Military Signing Ceremony
Thursday, May 2, 2024, during Adviosry
Open to any senior who is on track to graduate in May and meets one of the criteria below:
- You have been accepted by a college, university, or technical school
- You have committed and pre-enlisted in one of the branches of the U.S. Military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, the Reserves).
To participate:
- Complete the registration information at https://tinyurl.com/mr2abbbe before April 18, 2024.
- Submit to Mr. Belske a copy of your admission letter for the college or university for which you wish to be recognized or a copy of your enlistment papers into a branch of the military. This is due by April 18, 2024, as well. Send these to Mr. Belske at rbelskeon@olatheschools.org please.
- Submit a photograph of yourself, preferably a “headshot” to Mr. Belske via e-mail at rbelskeon@olatheschools.org by April 18, 2024. Landscape orientation is preferred. You should be the only person in the photo. Please send it as an attachment (JPEG Files Preferred).
Graduation Speaker Info.
- Open to any Senior on track to graduate in May.
- Written drafts of your speeches are due to Mr. Belske via e-mail at rbelskeon@olatheschools.org by Monday, April 15th.
- Tryouts will be in Room 003 beginning right after school on Wednesday, April 17th. You must attend tryouts to be considered. If this is a problem, please let me know.
Do you need to take the Accuplacer Test?
Accuplacer refers to a testing system that can be used to determine if post-secondary students have the skills and knowledge needed to start taking college-level courses, regardless of whether they're enrolling in a career-training or traditional college program. The purpose of the Accuplacer tests is to evaluate the mathematics, reading and writing skills of test-takers. Some individuals may also take the Accuplacer tests during high school to determine if they are ready to pursue postsecondary studies or to identify areas where they need to improve to be ready for college.
Many students who are going to a 2-year university take this test in place of the ACT or SAT. It can also be used when enrolling in College Now classes.
JCCC Testing Services offers the ACCUPLACER placement test through scheduled on-campus appointments. The test is not timed, and there is no charge.
STEPS TO TAKING THE ACCUPLACER:
- Enroll at JCCC and get a JCCC ID number: https://www.jccc.edu/admissions/enrollment/.
- Once you have enrolled at JCCC, you will be informed about when you need to take the Accuplacer test. You can schedule a test at https://www.jccc.edu/student-resources/testing-centers/testing/.
- Accuplacer study materials can be found here: https://studentportal.accuplacer.org/#/home.
- Show up for your scheduled appointment with your JCCC ID a current official photo ID. Score reports are available immediately after testing. You are allowed one retest during the dates specified by Testing Services.
For further information regarding scheduling or testing, you may contact Testing Services by email at testingservices@jccc.edu or by phone at 913-469-4439.
You can go to college - Bigfuture can help you get there!
Betting ready for college? Count on BigFuture to help out. BigFuture is the College Board’s free college planning tool, designed to support students like you from your first thoughts about college to your first day on campus. BigFuture will help you:
- Handle the college planning process.
- Find the college where you’ll thrive.
- Take a look at your interests and career options.
- Make informed choices.
- Discover your big future.
Check it out here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/.
In case you missed it:
Scholarship Search Tools
Transcripts
All official transcripts must be requested through Xello. Please make sure that your due date is accurate. You can find instructions here.
If you would like a copy of your unofficial transcript for personal use, please request one from Mrs. McQuay in the counseling office.
Olathe School District H.E.L.P. Clinic
View the H.E.L.P. Clinic brochure in English (PDF)
Lea el panfleto acerca del H.E.L.P. Clinic en español (PDF)
Any situation that causes an interruption in the learning process is a serious educational concern. Students who are finding school difficult because of poor study skills, adjustment concerns, or relationships with others can find help through the clinic. Parents who want to learn more effective ways of encouraging and motivating children in school can also turn to the clinic.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is a service provided by the Olathe Public Schools. All services are free of charge to any student enrolled in the Olathe Public Schools, either in a remote environment or onsite.
- Individual and family counseling consists of short-term counseling (six sessions) for students and their families.
- Small group counseling with other grade-level or near grade-level peers serve those who would thrive learning and growing from a group structure. Groups would meet for six sessions.
- Play therapy is a technique where the child's natural means of expression, namely play, is used as a therapeutic method to assist him/her in coping with stress or life difficulties. Play therapy is used effectively at the H.E.L.P. Clinic with children ages 5 to 8 years old. Play therapy may not be used with every child and is available on a limited basis.
The H.E.L.P. Clinic is staffed by professional school counselors, school psychologists, social workers and other school-based mental health providers. All clinicians are Olathe Public Schools employees or retired employees who have an active license in school mental health. These accredited and experienced professionals have a sincere interest in assisting students and families to better deal with challenges that impact students' abilities to achieve educational success.
Enrollment information is available in the brochure mentioned above.
The clinic is located in the Mill Creek Campus, 300 E. Loula Street, Olathe, Kansas. The phone number is 913-780-7049 and the email is HelpClinic@olatheschools.org.
Olathe North Student Counselors
Rachel Gunderson (Last Names A-D, SER, CBR, KSD): rmgunderson@olatheschools.org
Nicole Etherton (Last Names E- Li): nmetherton@olatheschools.org
Tammie Milke (Last Names Lo-Ri): tmilkeon@olatheschools.org
Carrie Parazin (Last Names Ro-Z): cnparazin@olatheschools.org
Samanta Landa (ELL, AVID): silanda@olatheschools.org
Logan Van Winkle (College Advisor): lvanwinkle@olatheschools.org