School Counseling News & Updates

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The LCPS Job for a Day (JFD) program is a career exploration activity providing an opportunity for 11th-12th grade students to shadow in-person an individual(s) or business/organization. The experience allows the student to learn/observe the tasks and responsibilities necessary in a particular career cluster, field or specific job. Hosts exhibit how the characteristics of the LCPS Profile of a Graduate are demonstrated in a workplace of a student's choice: Contributing, Collaborating, Communicating, Critical Thinking, and Creating!

Orientation Day is an opportunity for students to learn more about Job for a Day and get assistance with registering for the event from their school’s Career Center Assistant.

Find out more from Mr. Newkirk in Career Center on October 8th during ALL lunch shifts!

Our PSAT date is October 9, 2024 at Tuscarora. All students in grades 9 – 11 take the PSAT. Seniors gather in the auditorium and have senior activities during the testing block that morning.

This year, the tests will be taken digitally using LCPS-managed devices, with the Desmos calculator available within the math section. Students must take the PSAT at their assigned school; make-up tests at other schools are not permitted.

Students who attend the Academies of Loudoun and Virtual Loudoun will test there on October 1st and 2nd. There are no options to test at the home school for these students.

Students must bring their LCPS issued devices fully charged on October 9th for testing. Be sure to check your LCPS email to see where you will be testing. You will report DIRECTLY to that room on October 9th.

Seniors will have a post secondary workshop planned at the school during the time of testing.

Questions? Please contact Mrs. Crawford.

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is one of the most widely used, multiple-aptitude tests in the world, developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. More than half of all high schools nationwide administer the ASVAB test to students in grades 10, 11 and 12 (sophomores cannot use their scores for enlistment eligibility).

The ASVAB consists of the following eight individual tests:

• General Science
• Arithmetic Reasoning
• Word Knowledge
• Paragraph Comprehension
• Mathematics Knowledge
• Electronics Information
• Auto and Shop Information
• Mechanical Comprehension

Students are provided with scores on each of these individual tests and three Career Exploration Score composites: Verbal Skills, Math Skills and Science and Technical Skills. The battery takes approximately three hours to complete, and test results are returned to schools in a few weeks.

The Military uses students’ ASVAB scores to identify the occupations that best suit their abilities. Junior, senior and post-secondary school students can use their ASVAB scores for enlistment for up to two years after taking the test.

ASVAB Testing at Stone Bridge HS - Fri Oct 18, 2024 | 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Students can register for the ASVAB test through SchooLinks.

More information on the ASVAB and test prep can be found here.

Link to join Virtual Loudoun Financial Aid 101 Night on 10/8 at 6:00PM - https://vccs.zoom.us/j/89073525175

Students must submit a completed and signed transcript request at least 3 weeks prior to the deadline. The following deadlines are intended to help to ensure you give us adequate time to process your request, but you are welcome to submit your request early. If you miss the 3 week transcript request deadline, please come talk with your counselor so that we can personally assist you.

Your transcript request must first be submitted to the School Counseling office in order for your counselor to send your transcript to any college. If requesting a counselor letter of recommendation, a completed Brag Sheet in SchooLinks is required.

If applying through CommonApp, students must match/link their Common App to SchooLinks in order for us to submit your transcript and for teachers to submit their letter of recommendation and teacher evaluation form.

For information, instructions, and videos on how to complete these and other necessary tasks in SchooLinks, be sure to check out the Senior Fall Planning Presentation.

The prevention and outreach team at LAWS is hard at work, especially at this time of year. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and LAWS is hosting many amazing events to celebrate survivors and spread awareness. Please see the attached flyers for our community events and feel free share them with your networks.

Juniors and Seniors can sign-up on Schoolinks.com to register for college visits held at Tuscarora. Please see video below on how to register for a college visit.

Video: Tuscarora College Visit Sign Up.

• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Tue Oct 8, 2024 | 11:00AM - 11:30AM
  

• South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Tue Oct 8, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM

• Appalachian State University - Tue Oct 8, 2024 | 2:00PM - 2:30PM
  
  

• Christopher Newport University - Thu Oct 10, 2024 | 11:00AM - 11:30AM

• University of Utah - Thu Oct 10, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM
  
  

• University of Rhode Island - Tue Oct 15, 2024 | 11:00AM - 11:30AM
  

• Virginia Commonwealth University - Tue Oct 15, 2024 | 2:00PM - 2:30PM
  
  

• James Madison University - Wed Oct 16, 2024 | 2:00PM - 2:30PM
  
  

• Arcadia University - Mon Oct 21, 2024 | 11:00AM - 11:30AM

• Lynn University - Mon Oct 21, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM

• Northern Virginia Community College - Mon Oct 21, 2024 | 2:00PM - 2:30PM
  
  

• Roanoke College - Wed Oct 23, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM

• Northwestern University - Fri Oct 25, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM
  
  

• Virginia Tech - Thu Nov 7, 2024 | 2:00PM - 2:30PM
  
  

• Maryland Institute College of Art - Fri Nov 8, 2024 | 12:30PM - 1:00PM

Contact Michael.Newkirk@lcps.org for more information.

The Willowcroft World Language Fluency Scholarship was established by Lew Parker in 2018 with the Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF) to support a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) high school student in achieving fluency in a modern language and to award that student’s world language instructor a grant for teaching and mentoring the student.

Application deadline: October 17, 2024.

Click here for more information.

The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to graduating high school students, regardless of diploma type, that have attained proficiency in English and one or more languages. We are pleased to offer the Seal of Biliteracy to students who graduate from Tuscarora. They receive the Seal on their diploma upon graduation and are recognized at the Senior Awards Ceremony and at graduation.

How do I Earn It?
Take a test to demonstrate your proficiency in your language. Have you already taken a test? Check the “VDOE Acceptable Evidence” page (link below) to see if your results qualify you. If you have not taken a test, sign up for the AAPPL test offered at THS to earn the results.

Fall Registration Timeline for the AAPPL test (used for the Seal of Biliteracy):

Test Registration Open: Now – October 18th, 2024. Bring $15 to Ms. Paz in L212.

Test Date: TBD, early November

The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Language® (AAPPL) is offered for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portugues, Russian and Spanish. This state-approved, online assessment can be used as evidence for the Seal of Biliteracy.

If your language is not listed above, check other testing options at the VDOE Acceptable Evidence link below as you may organize your own test and produce the results to Ms. Paz in L212 for verification.

Click here for more information.

Students may register for the CTT through the Language Assessment Reporting System (LARS). The link is found under the Student Opportunities portal in LCPSGO. A confirmation ticket will be sent to the student and the parent/ guardian email on file.

Loudoun County Public Schools allows students with the ability to comprehend and communicate in languages other than English, to earn high school credits through State-approved world language assessments. The Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam measures students’ language proficiency in order to award one, two, or three high school world language credits.

The Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam is designed to assess students’ first language proficiency and is available for students in grades 9 through 12 only, whose first language is not English. The exam requires a student to read and comprehend exam instructions and writing prompts in the first language. The student must be able to write two well-developed essays in the exam language, each consisting of at least three cohesive paragraphs on two topics.

The Credit Through Testing exam is offered each November. Students may take the exam two times per language while in high school. For SY 2024-2025, the following 27 languages will be available for assessment using the State approved Rubric. These represent where 50 or more students in grades 9-12 speak the language as a first language at home: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

*Latin will be offered this SY 2024-25 through ALIRA.

Registration for the exam will vary by school. Students may sign up online or request information on where to sign up for the Credit Through Testing Exam at the Counseling Office or the Department of World Languages and Cultures at the school.

Registration closes on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Click here for more information.

Tuscarora is hosting an HBCU Tour to two Virginia Historically Black Colleges and Universities- Hampton University and Virginia State University on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 6:00AM - 11:00PM. This trip includes campus tours, free transportation, free meals, and an enrichment experience.

Interested students should complete the registration information provided by clicking here, however, students that register now will be placed on a wait list. The parental consent form is included in the link as well.

For additional information contact Ms. Vanzego

Every Spring, the Clive Davis Institute offers a four-week residential summer program for high school students called Summer High School. Students take academic classes for college credit, receive professional training, and study how music is recorded, produced and distributed to consumers.

The program will run from Sunday, July 6 thru Saturday, August 2, 2025, and is open to high school sophomores and juniors.

The deadline to apply is Monday, December 2nd, 2024, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with any students who may be interested in the creative or business side of the music industry.

LCPS is pleased to offer these free online resources ParentGuidance.org and Care Solace for parents and caregivers in developing strategies to support their child's mental health.

We understand that parenting is a challenging and oftentimes an overwhelming experience. LCPS has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to connect parents and caregivers with a free parent coach and therapist-created content to help navigate the ups and downs with confidence. In addition, ParentGuidance.org features a library of videos on topics from addressing feelings of anxiety and anger to examining the impact of social media to coping with grief and much more.

Care Solace is available to assist LCPS parents, caregivers, families, and staff in navigating the mental health care system and finding available providers matched to specific needs. A unified mental health team member can assist you with a Warm Handoff Referral or you can use the Care Match Self-Service Tool to find providers on your own.

Here is a step by step guide to follow on how to find the right location in SchooLinks for entering information. Only a Student logins will allow access to enter hours; parent logins do not allow for entries.

• American Red Cross needs volunteers to greet donors at blood drives and offer reading materials and refreshments. One-hour training sessions. Call 800-272-0094, Ext. 1, or email karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
  
  
• Ball’s Bluff Battlefield needs tour guides and help with maintenance and landscaping. Call 703-779-9372 or email jlewis@nvrpa.org. Guides are needed for tours of the historic site. The Northern Virginia Park Authority will train volunteers. email templehallfarm@nvrpa.org.
  
  
• Blossom and Bloom Thrift Shop needs volunteers Tuesdays through Saturdays. Two three-hour shifts are available: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. The shop benefits ECHO and the Arc of Loudoun. 703-777-3286.
  
  
• Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop volunteers assist with receiving, sorting, tagging, and displaying donated items, as well as assisting customers. More information at https://brhospice.org/ways-to-engage/volunteer/
  
  
• Capital Caring Hospice needs volunteers to provide support to patients and families. Read aloud, run errands, provide moral support or help in the office. Training is provided. Quilters, artists, musicians, photographers, lawyers, notaries, cosmetologists and massage therapists are also needed. Call 703-957-1785 or email rweaver@capitalcaring.org.
  
  
• Homeless Animals Rescue Team needs volunteers 13 and older to hold cats at its adoption events, Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. at PetSmart, 46220 Potomac Run Plaza, Sterling. Those 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Call 703-444-6500 or go to hart90.org.
  
  
• Loudoun Cares is an organization that is designed to connect the citizens of Loudoun County with an unlimited amount of volunteer opportunities in the area. Through the Loudoun Cares Volunteer Center website, teens can find and sign up for volunteer opportunities that interest them, help those in need, and track their service hours to receive recognition. More information at https://volunteer.loudouncares.org/
  
  
• Loudoun County Animal Shelter Volunteer Program opens monthly for new volunteers to sign up. The sign-up link opens on the 1st of the month and stays open for 48 hours or until all spots have been taken for the month. More information at https://www.loudoun.gov/646/Volunteer
  
  
• Loudoun County Department of Parks and Recreation needs high school students to help at community centers. Go to loudoun.gov/teenvolunteers.
  
  
• Loudoun County Special Olympics Council needs volunteers. Call 703-777-0438 or email caitlin.marcotte@loudoun.gov.
  
  
• Loudoun Therapeutic Riding needs help with students and horses. Training is provided. Experienced horse handlers are also needed. Call 703-771-2689, Ext. 6630, or email volunteer@ltrf.org.
  
  
• Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers

  Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers is a nonprofit charity that assists elderly and disabled adults across the county. The Student Caregiver program is offered to students age 12-18 and enables students to volunteer in group projects and teams of 2 to 4 students with one vetted adult volunteer (usually a parent or teacher). Student Caregiver teams are then set-up with an individual care receiver who is seeking supportive services from LVC. Services may include: shopping, walking, playing games, light housekeeping, reading, or yard work. More information at https://lvcaregivers.org/volunteers/.

  
  
• Women Giving Back welcomes volunteers of all skill levels to contribute their time and talents, supporting local women as they gain the strength, stability, and confidence they need to rebuild their lives. There are many ways to volunteer. More information at https://womengivingback.org/volunteer/.

• October 14- Holiday (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
• October 29- End of the Marking Period
• October 30- Student Holiday (Planning/ Records/ Conference Day)
• October 30- Parent/ Teacher Conferences @ 8:30AM-11AM
• October 31- Student Holiday (Planning/ Records/ Conference Day)
• November 1- Holiday (Diwali)
• November 4- Student Holiday (Professional Development Day)
• November 5- Student Holiday (County-Wide Staff Development )

Mrs. Jennifer Reed, Director of School Counseling

Ms. Tracy Mandina, School Counselor A-Chap and AVID 4

Mrs. Angela Barley, School Counselor Char-Gol and AVID 3

Mr. Isaac Galloway, School Counselor Gom-Loo and AVID 2

Mr. John Han, School Counselor, Lop-Op and CAMPUS

Ms. Megan Beardsley, School Counselor Or-Sc

Mrs. Alison Cannon, School Counselor Se-Z and AVID 1

Ms. Omega Smith, School Social Worker

Ms. Sa'Mone Moore, School Psychologist

Mrs. Jazlynn Moody, Student Assistance Specialist

Mr. Michael Newkirk, Career Center Specialist

Mrs. Michelle Vocke, School Registrar

Mrs. Maral Amado, School Counseling Admin. Assistant

Phone: 571-252-1907

Instagram: @tuscaroracounseling

X (formerly Twitter): @husky_counselor

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