WVHS CLASS OF 2024 COUNSELING NEWS
Important Information for your Senior Year at West Valley
You've finally made it...
There are just months until your graduation on May 15th! We will be holding a mandatory Senior Class Meeting on Monday, October 9th during 5th period to discuss Caps & Gowns, Yearbook, Graduation Planning, and Counseling Updates. But in the meantime...
WV Counselors will be meeting individually with each Senior beginning on Monday, September 25th to complete your annual Personal Learning & Career Plan (PLCP) meetings. In order to meet with each of you, these meetings will continue through early October. We will be confirming your graduation progress, discussing steps you are taking for your "Life After West Valley", and reviewing important resources.
Newsletter Topics Include:
- GRADUATION CREDIT CHECKS
- PE WAIVERS
- ACT, SAT & WORKKEYS EXAMS
- COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
- CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) OPPORTUNITIES
- TRANSCRIPTS & LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
- AKCIS RESOURCES
- SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
Please do not be afraid to reach out with any questions. Your Senior year is busy and will go faster than you think - it's never too early to be on top of applications and research. We can't wait to celebrate all that you have accomplished!
~West Valley Counseling Team
Personal Learning & Career Plan (PLCP) Meetings
Counseling Staff will be sending individual passes to students with your scheduled PLCP date and time. Please be sure to stop by the Counseling Office and let us know if you cannot make your scheduled meeting time.
Credits to Earn Diploma = 22.5 Credits
Credits to Earn Honor Medallion (to be worn at Graduation ceremony) = 24 Credits
Upcoming Events
Fairbanks College & Career Fair
When: Monday, October 9th from 9:45 am - 11:30 am
Where: UAF Wood Center
Who: Open to all West Valley Juniors & Seniors (each local school given a specific time slot)
Transportation will be provided from West Valley HS to the UAF Wood Center for the annual College & Career Fair. Permission slips can be picked up in the Counseling Office and are due back by Thurs., Oct. 5th. For more information, visit: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/8802.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
When: Wed., October 11th @ 7:30 am
Where: West Valley Library
Who: Open to all WVHS Students 10th-12th Grade
The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Not planning to join the military? The ASVAB can provide useful feedback to ALL students to help make plans for after high school. Students can sign up in the Counseling Office.
Physical Education (PE)/Sports Participation Credit Form
- 1 Sport Season = 0.25 PE Credit
- Students can submit up to 4 PE credit forms (up to 1.0 credits can be earned)
College Entrance Exams - ACT & SAT
Schedule Your Exam Online:
ACT: https://www.act.org/
2023-24 Exam Dates: Oct. 28th, Dec. 9th, Feb. 10th, Apr. 13th
SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/
2023-24 SAT Exam Dates: Oct. 7th, Nov. 4th, Dec. 2nd, Mar. 9th, May 4th
Fairbanks-Area Proctor = UAF Testing Center: https://ecampus.uaf.edu/exam-services/.
West Valley School Code: 020028
Which exam should you take? Compare the ACT & SAT:
COLLEGE APPLICATION RESOURCES
- https://www.commonapp.org/
- Student will provide Counselor's email address in order to submit transcripts & recommendations
Fiske's Sizing-Yourself-Up Survey - Take the short survey to learn more about yourself and help choose a college that best fits you.
UAF Campus Preview Days - Saturday, Sept. 30th & Saturday, Oct. 21st
- Tour UAF & Receive an Application Fee Waiver
- https://uaf.edu/admissions/visit/inside-out.php
WorkKeys Exam
Scheduling the Exam:
Fairbanks Job Center
675 Seventh Avenue, Station D – Fairbanks, AK 99701-4531
To pre-register: Call front desk at (907) 451-5901. Test is offered most Mondays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm
For more information on the WorkKeys exams and its components, visit www.act.org/workkeys.
Career & Technical Education (CTE) Opportunities
Intro to Trades Classes (taught at the Pipeline Training Center): https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/7859
Applications available Spring of Senior year.
School to Apprenticeship Program: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/5163
Apply for direct entry to local unions - applications available Spring of Senior year.
North Star Health Science Academy - NEW!: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/11509
Provides students the opportunity to explore various healthcare professions, gain insight into the healthcare industry, complete a pathway, and become employed in the industry.
Certified Nursing Assistant Program (CNA): https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/6704
Transcripts & Letters of Recommendation
- TRANSCRIPTS - Request high school transcripts online via Parchment
- Create an Account at https://www.parchment.com/
- If you must have a hard copy, see the Counseling Office Transcript Desk.
- Letters of Recommendation - Allow 2 Weeks MINIMUM!
- Request letters from teachers & staff who know you well
- Deadline for Fall Semester = Dec. 1st, 2023 (to request from staff)
- Fill out Student & Parent Input Forms - Available in the Counseling Office or online at https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/10427
Career Interest Inventory - Answer questions about your likes/dislikes to create a list of careers that fit your unique interests.
School Sort - Search for colleges and post-secondary education opportunities that meet your criteria (location, major, cost, etc.) across the entire U.S.
Financial Aid Sort - Explore scholarships and grants that you might qualify for.
All Alaska students have access to a free account (typically set-up during your English 10 class), or utilize the generic West Valley HS login:
User: westvalley
Password: 4Student
*If logging in with the generic login information, the system will now prompt the student to register for their own account. Please see the Counseling Office if you have any issues!
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Includes many local scholarships, listed by the month they are typically due
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov/
- Apply for federal student aid including federal grants, work-study, and loans
- Required by many states and colleges and used to determine your eligibility for other forms of scholarship and aid
- Application opens this year on December 1st, 2023 (Typically Oct. 1st - view info on the FAFSA Simplification Act)
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/
- Agreement between 16 states (including Alaska) to provide reduced-rate tuition to nonresidents
ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP (APS)
The APS provides an opportunity for Alaska high school students to earn a scholarship to help cover the cost of an Alaska postsecondary education.
Eligibility requirements for APS include:
- Alaska residents who graduate from an Alaska high school (public, private, or home school);
- Take required coursework in high school;
- Earn minimum of 2.5 GPA;
- Meet qualifying score on college/career entrance exam.
Your application for APS is completing your FAFSA. Find more information at https://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID/AK-Performance-Scholarship.
NCAA Eligibility
UAF Courses for High School Students
Students must complete an Outside Credit Request through the FNSBSD to receive high school credit as well: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/8880.
Counselor Contact Information
Willie Blackburn
Seniors Last Names A-G
willie.blackburn@k12northstar.org
(907) 479-4221 ext. 46525
Carrie Dershin
Seniors Last Names H-K
carrie.dershin@k12northstar.org
(907) 479-4221 ext. 46523
Amanda Ross
Seniors Last Names L-O
(907) 479-4221 ext. 46524
Anna Sprague
Seniors Last Names P-Z
(907) 479-4221 ext. 46527