The end of the school year is in sight and our Seniors are getting ready to celebrate such great accomplishments!

If you need any help getting to the finish line of your classes, choices and final processes, please reach out to your counselor, Ms. Hartley or myself. We are happy to help!

JUNIORS:

ACT Test & Score

Best of luck to our Juniors this week as they take the ACT test on Thursday, 4/10. Remember to bring your charged Chromebook and charger, a light snack, water bottle, a calculator and #2 pencils as the state test for WTHS is fully digital!

• Students are automatically registered for the WTHS state test.
• It is recommended to practice and review the digital format leading up to Thursday!

• Students must bring a photo ID (WTHS School ID, state ID or Driver's License)
• Click HERE for information regarding accessing your scores, selecting colleges to list on the ACT and how to retake the ACT.
• **It is important to note the ACT will be changing from a current "Classic" version to the new "Core" version effective September, 2025. If desired, it is recommended to retake a national test by July for consistent ACT score analysis.

**Please note, many college and universities are continuing a test optional admissions policy for Fall 2025 admission. To view the updated list, visit www.fairtest.org. Unless a college requires an SAT or ACT score for college admission or scholarship consideration, it is recommended to NOT list any schools when you sit to test this spring. Keep the leverage in your hands when applying to schools in the fall of your Senior year.

College Knowledge Summer Workshop

Would you like to learn about how to apply to college, the timeline, financial aid, scholarships, the college essay, letters of recommendation, SchooLinks to request transcripts, apply to Illinois State University for FREE, and hear from WTHS alumni about the college process? Then register for College Knowledge today! Click HERE for additional information and how to register for this popular $50 summer workshop. Space is filling quickly, so register by 4/25 to secure your spot! It is listed as an advancement summer school course.

College and Career Planning Summer Appointments

Are you feeling lost with the college and career search process or not sure where to start? Meeting with a Post-Secondary Counselor can give your family a great kick-start to help plan for life after high school. Watch for a separate email coming the first week in May with additional details.

SENIORS:

Home stretch! Finish strong and make good choices as you near Graduation!

Graduation Checklist, Senior Exit Activity in SchooLinks & Final Transcript Request

As seniors make their final decisions, here are a few action items to complete:

1. Please review the Graduation Checklist.
2. Complete your Senior Exit Activity in SchooLinks. This will include specifying your post-secondary plan, updating your college application decisions and indicating your enrollment decision (if applicable).
   
3. Changes to your enrollment decision can be made until May 15th. After this date, please email Mrs. Salmi (Registrar) at jsalmi@wths.net.
4. If you have not already, please file your FAFSA, Illinois Alternative Application or submit a non-participation waiver to Student Services ASAP. This is required to graduate from WTHS per the State of Illinois. This must be completed by May 15th as well in order to receive your diploma. ***NOTE: WTHS will begin to receive a weekly update of the student names who have filed a FAFSA successfully. There is no additional verification or confirmation needed from families unless we communicate via email to you.
5. Post your intentions @bluedevilseniors on Instagram by sending a DM or emailing Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net). See below for more info.
6. Check the Graduation website often.

Please note: We do not release final transcripts until early June when final semester 2 grades are posted and official. This will not include any SAT scores, so if you applied with a test score for admissions and it is an action item for you, the college needs to have an official ACT or SAT score report on file from either ACT or College Board sent electronically to your college. As always, if students need assistance in making their final plans for after high school, please contact your counselor or Mrs. McGahan.

Thinking of applying for a Gap Year Deferral?

Explore this article to provide you with tools to understand what is a gap year deferral and how to gain an approval for your request.

How to say NO to a College

April is the time when Seniors start to make their final decisions (exciting!!!) and need to say no to the colleges they are not pursuing. This will cease communications and the bombardment of emails/mail to you. Click HERE for a sample email to draft to the general admissions office on page 2 of the document.

Financial Aid Award Letters

Many families have or will soon receive their college financial aid award letters (finally!!!). Click HERE to review a presentation to help understand the terminology to make an education, financial college choice. If your family would like assistance in understanding the letter, feel free to contact the college's financial aid office, your WTHS counselor or Mrs. McGahan.

Still not sure what to do after high school?

Then click HERE for additional tips on how to create a plan. Please contact your counselor or Mrs. McGahan if you need help planning for your next steps. Feel free to explore our Virtual Career Fair to assist as well!

Senior Celebration Day

We plan to celebrate our seniors on May 1st at the Almond Campus to recognize their post-secondary paths. Don't forget to send a DM to @bluedevilseniors with your first and last name, a photo of yourself, your intended college name, major/minor, any sports/instruments that you will be continuing at college (if applicable) or other non-college plans you have. No Instagram? No problem! Just email that information to Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net). We will post your information to Instagram and you can click HERE to review senior destinations!

For BOTH Juniors and Seniors:

College of Lake County Open House

• Join CLC at their annual Spring Open House on Saturday, April 12th from 9am-1pm! See their flier for additional information below!

College Visits at WTHS

• We are wrapping up our college visits in the Almond Campus College and Career Center to meet with interested juniors or senior students! Log into SchooLinks and click on Events to view our upcoming visits to the College and Career Center. Students are able to attend 3 college visits (miss 3 academic classes) per semester in the CCC to meet with college reps. Students who attend will sign-in and be excused from class.

Looking for a Job?

• See the Opportunities Board (under Careers) in SchooLinks or check our previous Job Board.

We are here to help answer your questions, so students, please check your email often, follow us on Instagram or Facebook (@wthsccc), watch for text reminders or reach out to your counselor, Ms. Hartley or myself if you have any questions. We are glad to help! Here is the contact information for Student Services.

Have a great week!

Mrs. McGahan, Post-Secondary Counselor

If you would like to make an appointment to meet with your Almond Campus Counselor please email them or stop down to Student Services in the main office to submit a request form. If you would like to meet with Mrs. McGahan, please scan the QR code to the right or click HERE. Book an appointment during your free period.

If you're planning to attend college and neither of your parents completed Bachelor's degree in college, then YOU are considered First-Generation or First-Gen! Did you know many of our Warren teachers are first-gen? Nationwide, about half of all college students are first-gen.

All first-gen Almond students are invited to attend our next I'm First Workshop on 4/7 during 6th period in the Almond College & Career Center. Email Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net) if you are first-gen and would like more college/career info, including our upcoming meetings!

We are starting to receive regular scholarship opportunities in our inbox each week. To access the growing list, log onto SchooLinks. Under Finances --> Scholarship Matching --> District Posted. The list will continue to grow throughout this semester, so check often!

HERE is a list of other national scholarship search engines as well.

If you need to request a transcript for a scholarship, please complete this FORM. You may pick-up transcripts from Mrs. Maggiore in Student Services in the main office.

College Reps are continuing to meet with our students this semester! All reps for general college visits will be meeting in-person with our O'Plaine students in the spring semester and we will livestream to Almond simultaneously. Meeting with these reps is an excellent way to gather information about your college of interest, answer questions you may have and make that personal connection. Juniors and Seniors are welcome to attend in the College and Career Center!

Students can view the upcoming college visits in SchooLinks --> Events.

Students are expected to sign-up in SchooLinks for the visit by clicking on the events --> Register for the Event.

**Students are allowed to attend 3 college visits per semester if they are missing an academic class. Students attending during a lunch or study hall period will not count towards the 3 visits. If you are not able to attend, but would like the information from the institution, please email Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net).

Tuesday, April 8th

• Period 3: Bradley University
• Period 5: Eastern Illinois University
• Period 6: UW-Whitewater

Tuesday, April 15th

• Period 7: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Thursday, April 17th

• Period 4: Elmhurst College

Are you interested in a career in science and the amazing works of Abbott Diagnostics?

Join for an EPIC Science Night for Dr. A. Scott Muerhoff at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on April 9th at 7pm in Greenquist Hall, Room L103!

Dr. Muerhoff isn't just any scientist; he's a Senior Director of Research and Development and Distinguished Research Fellow at Abbott Diagnostics, a HUGE name in medical devices and healthcare! Think of him as a science rock star who's been making groundbreaking discoveries!

As the Senior Director of Research and Development and Distinguished Research Fellow with Abbott Diagnostics, Dr. Muerhoff has served an impressive and impactful 33 years at Abbott. He will discuss career highlights and the positive changes his work has made to the healthcare community. This is an exciting opportunity to hear from a distinguished scientist and director at a globally recognized industry leader in medical devices, healthcare products, and cutting-edge research.

How to get to Parkside

As seniors receive their college acceptances, many students look for means to help narrow their list. Here are a few suggestions to help! Especially if your family is not able to visit the campus this winter. As always, contact your counselor or a post-secondary counselor for assistance!

Seniors! We need your help to honor you for our National Declaration Day festivities on May 1st! When you are ready to commit or finalize your plans for after high school, send a DM @bluedevilseniors or email Mrs. McGahan cmcgahan@wths.net with your first & last name, photo, intended college & major or career plan, or other plans you have after high school. We look forward to celebrating you! Click HERE for the growing list of declarations!

Sign up for a SWENext UIUC Engineering Competition open to all female and non-binary high schoolers! This is an especially exciting event for incoming students looking for a collaborative and hands-on engineering experience!

Lunch will be provided! Prizes are available for the winners!

Where📍: The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign - Newark Civil Engineering Laboratory 1310
When📆: April 12th, 2025 10:00am to 3:00pm CST
What⚙️: Students will be placed into groups and presented with an engineering challenge. Throughout the day you will brainstorm ideas, design solutions, and bring your concepts to life! Students will get the chance to develop their ideas through a design thinking process that engineers use every day. Utilizing everyday materials, you will construct a prototype and showcase your innovations science-fair style! Prizes are available for the winners!

REGISTER HERE

If you have any questions about this upcoming event please don't hesitate to email swenext@illinois.edu or DM the Instagram: @swenextillinois.

Explore the five Lake County locations from 9am-1pm and learn about degree and career certificate programs. Meet faculty, staff and students and get your questions answered. Join and be welcomed by the Lancer community!

As well, you can participate in free financial workshops, attend the Maker Faire showcase, and tour the new Prairie Restaurant at Brae Loch, run by CLC's talented hospitality and culinary students.

For more information and to register, click HERE.

Boys State is a week long government simulation (June 7th-13th) where participants are citizens in a mock 51st state. Throughout the week , attendees learn how the American political system works by participating in their own primaries, elections and assemblies. In addition to participating in the mock government, attendees learn valuable leadership skills and participate in a wide variety of developmental opportunities. The applicants are open to males who have completed their Junior year by 2025. Click below for the information or visit their website.

Informational Flyer

FAQ

For further information:

Contact: Jim Huisel

Gurnee America Legion Post 771

jhuisel@post771.org

847-910-3330 (M)

The American Legion Auxiliary’s marquee Girls State program, first presented in 1937, is one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States.

Held June 15-21 this summer, the program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women become knowledgeable of the democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the state and national levels.

Applicants must currently be in their junior year in high school or the home school equivalent.

To apply and for additional information, visit their website.

WTHS is fortunate to have Ms. Quinnlyn Meadowcroft, our CLC College Career Navigator, housed in the Almond College and Career Center to assist all students. Whether you are exploring your options, thinking of taking one class or enroll full-time at CLC after high school, Ms. Meadowcroft will be your point-person every step of the way.

**Tuesday, April 22nd: Last CLC Math Placement Test at WTHS (for invited students who have submitted an enrollment application and require a placement test)

• Click HERE for the English Placement tutorial
• Click HERE for the Math Placement tutorial

Feel free to contact Ms. Meadowcroft should you have any questions about CLC or how to enroll (qmeadowcroft1@clcillinois.edu). Or schedule an appointment with her HERE.

This webinar features a team of Embry-Riddle students who are collaborating with industry partners to develop an innovative uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivering medical supplies to those who need them. They will explore everything from drone design, autonomous flight (for hundreds of miles), 3D printing, testing and more.

• You will hear from leading voices in uncrewed vehicles technology, giving them real-world insights they won't gain anywhere else.
• You will learn about designing and using drones for practical purposes.
• It will guide you toward exciting career paths in a rapidly growing field.

Designed especially for high school juniors and seniors by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s renowned faculty members, “Designing a Next-Generation Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle" event takes place via Zoom on April 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM CST.

REGISTER

Join admissions officers from University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins University, and Emory University for an in-person information session featuring four of the preeminent research institutions in the U.S.

During the session, they will give an overview of each university, including academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and the unique features of each institution, followed by a look at each school's application process. At the end of the program, you’ll have a chance to meet with individual admissions officers to ask questions about each university.

These sessions are also open to students and their families.

REGISTER

TSR (The Student Registry) is a comprehensive platform that enables students to create personalized wish list budgets for each semester. TSR then offers a secure and user-friendly way to generate financial support from friends, family, and the community. Weddings and babies have registries. Now students have one too!

This is the perfect tool for college-bound seniors to use as they commit to the college of their choice this spring and start getting ready for their first semester!

Check is out here! https://www.thestudentregistry.com/

For students interested in learning more about the U.S. Military, representatives from the following branches will be located at the front of the Almond Cafeteria. Stop by their table to receive additional information!

Air Force -- 4th Thursday of the month

Army Reserve – 3rd Tuesday of the month

Army National Guard -- 1st Tuesday of the month

Army – 2nd Tuesday of the month

Navy – 4th Tuesday of the month

Marines – 3rd Thursday of the month

Then plan to register and attend College Knowledge this summer, 2025!

• This comprehensive, 2 day, 2 1/2 hour workshop in the Almond Campus College and Career Center will walk you through the entire process and you will leave feel relieved about how simplistic the process is!
• A binder of information will be distributed to each student including information about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, college search, SchooLinks, Common App and more!
• We will host Illinois State University to complete a live application to see what the applications are all about.
• An English teacher will provide an introduction to the Common App essay prompts and essay writing in general.
• A college-student panel of WTHS alumni will return to share their insight about the process and college life.
• All for FREE!
• Sign-up for one of our 4 sessions starting on 1/27 to lock in your spot!
• Session 1: June 9-10...9:45-12:15
• Session 2: June 9-10...12:45-3:15
• Session 3: June 11-12...9:45-12:15
• Session 4: June 11-12...12:45-3:15

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS/index.php

The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar, often referred to as NASS, program offers the opportunity for approximately 2,550 rising high school seniors to visit the Naval Academy for one week during the month of June. Summer Seminar introduces students to life at the Academy, where they will experience first-class academic, athletic, and professional training at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country.

This program is highly recommended for any student who may be thinking about attending the Naval Academy.

• Session 1 (Saturday - Thursday) May 31 - June 5
• Session 2 (Saturday - Thursday) June 7 - June 12
• Session 3 (Saturday - Thursday) June 14 - June 19

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/STEM.php#fndtn-panel1-Attending

The Summer STEM Program offers the opportunity for rising 9th through 11th grade students to participate in a week long program focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Campers will create, build, and explore in world-class lab facilities and experience real-life applications.

• Rising 9TH Graders (Monday - Saturday) June 2 - 7
• Rising 10TH Graders (Monday - Saturday) June 9 - 14
• Rising 11TH Graders (Monday - Friday) June 16 – 20

Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program will be accepted through April 15. This popular program, funded by the Lake County Board, will provide meaningful work experiences in various worksites for approximately 175 young people this summer.

To qualify for employment, youth must be:

· Age 14 to 18 (by April 15) or age 14 to 22 with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

· Attending middle school or high school

· Receiving free or reduced-price lunch or meet low-income guidelines

Work opportunities for participants will begin June 16, 2025. The program lasts approximately seven weeks. The Summer Youth Employment program is administered by the Lake County Workforce Development Department. LEARN MORE!

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a police officer? Now’s your chance to find out! 👮‍👮‍

Join the Gurnee Police Department for an action-packed week at the Youth Police Academy!

📅 Date: June 23-28, 2025

⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

📍 Location: Gurnee Police Department

👥 Who: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, or recent grads—interested in learning about policing!

Get hands-on experience in crime scene investigations, traffic stops, use-of-force training, K9 unit demonstrations, drone instruction, and so much more! 🚓🐾

Don’t wait—spots are limited! Register now to reserve your place and learn alongside the Gurnee Police Department’s finest! 🚔

*Students must be able to pass a background check

*Students must have reliable transportation

🔗 Sign up today—this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss! 🔗

https://www.cognitoforms.com/GurneePoliceDepartment/_2025GurneeYouthPoliceAcademy

Click below for additional information and learn more about this all expenses paid conference sponsored by the Gurnee Rotary Club!

Brochure

Application

Agenda and page 2

This program is open to any 14 to 21-year-old interested in learning more about law enforcement careers. Students will help the community as well as learn about careers in law enforcement and learn foundational policing skills. For additional information see their website.

Click HERE to access and explore 170+ careers with videos and information. By participating, you will gain a better understanding of the variety of industries and positions. Some employers may also have possible internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and/or employment opportunities for our students! For those of you who may not know what you want to do, there’s a career assessment included that will help you narrow down a career cluster to further research. At the end, please complete the exit survey to reflect and provide feedback so we can continue to assist you with your post-high school plans.

WTHS has in-person Study Tables on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20-3:00 p.m. in the Almond Campus Library for English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Students who need bus transportation home are able to take the shuttle from Almond to O'Plaine and take the O'Plaine busses home.

To date, www.fairtest.org as published over 1,800 colleges and universities which are allowing Fall 2025 applicants to apply test-optional. Many institutions are stating students are at no disadvantage of applying test-optional. But it is good diligence on your part to verify the institution will still distribute merit, academic scholarships, be considered for direct-entry, competitive majors and Honors College consideration.

Almond Post-Secondary Counselor

Instagram @wthsccc

(847) 548-6709

Email: cmcgahan@wths.net
Website: https://www.d121.org/Page/313
Phone: (847) 548-6709
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wthsccc