Events and Opportunities
November 1, 2023
See Inside For....
- CTC Application Information (Lancaster and Lebanon Counties)
- Thaddeus Stevens Early Enrollment
- Conestoga Valley College Night
- Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week
- Remaining SAT Test Dates 23-24
- Financial Aid Events
- COBYS CORE Teen Virtual Training
- International Survivors of Suicide Day Event (Pathways Center for Grief & Loss)
CTC Application Process Beginning Soon!
Lancaster and Lebanon Counties are each blessed with an amazing Career and Technology Center (CTC) for students whose career aspirations match one of their programs. The application process for the 2024-2025 school year has begun for both counties, starting with information sessions. Keep reading for information about exploring the CTC opportunities for your county!
The Lebanon County CTC offers a variety of programs for high school students within these areas:
- Health Sciences
- Arts, AV & IT
- Architecture
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Human Services
- Hospitality
On Friday, November 3, a Career Counselor from the Lebanon CTC will visit New Covenant Christian School during first period to talk with current 10th graders about the opportunities available to them at CTC. If you have interest in any of the programs in the areas listed above, please visit the CTC website prior to Friday to familiarize yourself with the available options.
There is an open house scheduled at Lebanon CTC for Tuesday, November 14, and the online application process will be live on November 14 as well. I will send out more detailed instructions soon, so please be sure to watch your email and your Schoology group (10th grade only)!
For Lancaster County Students:
CTC is conducting open houses at all three campuses as follows (all open houses are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.):
November 14 - Brownstown CTC
November 15 - Mt. Joy CTC
November 16 - Willow Street CTC
11th graders interested in exploring any of the full day opportunities at CTC should plan to attend the open house at the campus that houses the program in which you are interested.
The Brownstown campus houses these centers: Construction Technologies, IT, Transportation Technologies, Visual Communications, and Advanced Manufacturing
The Mt. Joy campus houses the Construction Technologies center, Consumer Services, the Culinary Arts Center, Advanced Manufacturing, and Protective Services, Advanced Health Careers
The Willow Street campus houses Agricultural Science, Healthcare Center, Transportation, and Advanced Manufacturing.
Check out the mailer below or visit the LCCTC website to learn which specific programs are offered at which campus. The application process for the Lancaster CTC opens on November 6. Watch for an email from me in the near future with instructions for applying.
Thaddeus Stevens Early Enrollment
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers an incredible opportunity to rising seniors who want to get a jump start on beginning post-secondary education for a trade. The Early Enrollment program offers qualifying high school seniors the opportunity to complete their freshman year at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology while still a high school student!
Early Enrollment is a fully immersive program where students can start earning credits in the majority of the high-demand, high-wage majors offered at Thaddeus, during their senior year of high school.
These innovative, technical-based majors train students for many different job opportunities, providing knowledge and skills that help graduates excel in their lives—professionally and personally. Many graduates receive multiple job offers before receiving their degree and have options to pursue higher degrees at four-year colleges and universities.
To learn more about Early Enrollment, mark your calendar now to attend one of the two remaining information sessions:
- Thursday, November 16 at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, December 14 at 6 p.m.
To register for an information session, CLICK HERE.
Conestoga Valley College Night - Monday!
All high school students, parents, and adults interested in pursuing higher education are invited to attend. Over 200 colleges, universities, business and technical schools will be in attendance. There will also be two seminars: "How to Choose a College" and "Financial Aid."
Questions? Contact the CVHS Counseling Office at 717-397-5231 x1030.
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise (PFEW) Week 2024
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) provides practical, hands-on education not found in any other business program. Students are immersed in the exciting world of business, and in one short week, they come to understand and appreciate our American free enterprise system, leaving with a newfound passion and clarity for their future.
And now, thanks to the generosity of many area donors, you are eligible to attend PFEW 2024 at a reduced rate! The standard registration fee is $295. However, you can attend for only $150. Financial aid is always available for students who inquire. In order to receive this special offer, you MUST enter Lancaster in the referral section when submitting your application. There is no expiration date for this code however the code MUST be entered at the time you submit your 2024 application. Apply online at the PFEW application link.
At PFEW you will:
- Develop Critical Leadership, Communication, and Teamwork Skills
- Boost Your Resume and College Applications
- Explore Career Options
- Build Self-Esteem and Confidence
- Gain Exposure to College Life and Independence
- Network and Make Many New Friends, and....
- HAVE ALOT OF FUN!!
More details and information will be available in the Spring, but in the meantime, check out the PFEW website to see what it's all about!
PFEW Lancaster County
PFEW Overview and Dates
PFEW Lebanon County
Remaining 23-24 SAT Test Dates
JUNIORS: If you are considering pursuing a 4-year college degree, you should take the SAT at least once this year, and preferably twice. Even though many colleges are continuing their test-optional policies, SAT scores are often used by scholarship providers to determine merit-based eligibility. When it comes to SATs, my motto is "It's better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them"!
Beginning in the Spring 2024, the SAT will only be available in a digital format. There are three test dates in the Spring:
- March 9, 2024 (registration deadline February 23, 2024)
- May 4, 2024 (registration deadline April 19, 2024)
- June 1, 2024 (registration deadline May 16, 2024)
If you took the PSAT, you should have already created a College Board account (and, by the way, watch for your PSAT test scores to arrive on one of two dates: November 6 or November 16). If you did not take the PSAT, you will need to register for a College Board account in order to register for a test date and to take advantage of the SAT practice resources.
Financial Aid Events!
- A free live interactive webinar about the changes to the FAFSA, including answers to the questions families are asking most. Join this webinar, A Practical Guide To The FAFSA, offered by the College Guidance Network (CGN) on Monday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register.
- Be sure to mark your calendars for the VIRTUAL PHEAA Financial Aid night scheduled for Wednesday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. Watch your email, Google Classrooms, and Schoology groups for links to the presentation. While anyone is welcome to attend, this is primarily appropriate for juniors and seniors and their parents/guardians.
- PHEAA is offering a series of free financial aid webinars. Upcoming topics include: Understanding the Offer Letter And Balances, Covering the Gap: Pieces of the Puzzle to Help Pay Your Education Bill; Creating Your Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID); Financial Aid 101; Understanding and Comparing Financial Aid Offers; and more. Click on the link for more information and registration instructions.
Of Interest To Parents/Guardians
COBYS Core Teen Virtual Training
The program will increase your knowledge and skills to help you:
- understand how trauma impacts cognitive and emotional development of youth;
- regulate, relate, and reason during times of high stress;
- promote attachment and attunement;
- respond to youth’s rejecting, testing, and challenging behaviors;
- adapt your parenting strategies to meet the youth’s needs rather than “fix” the youth;
- highlight the root causes of behaviors rather than the behaviors themselves; and
- manage high risk behaviors and crises.
This is a 6-week class held on Zoom, beginning on Tuesday, November 7 and ending Tuesday December 12 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Register HERE for this free course today!
Check out other programs offered by COBYS HERE.
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
The Pathways Center for Grief and Loss is hosting a local event on November 18 for teens and adults, ages 14+. If you have lost a loved one to suicide, come join other local survivors for this planned event.
Date: November 18, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Location: The Pathways Center, 4075 Old Harrisburg Pike, Mt. Joy, PA
Program includes continental breakfast, time of remembrance, video presentation focused on the unique aspects of grief from different populations, panel of local survivors and resources, and small group discussion with a seperate break-out session for teens.
Questions? Call 717-391-2413 with inquiries about this event. Check out the Pathways website linked above to learn more about this amazing resource for people struggling with grief, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of a pet.