Nuts and Bolts
Students who wish to see their counselor sign up on a clipboard in the Counseling Center. Students are assigned alphabetically by their last name.  Please check carefully since counselor assignments shifted a bit from last year.

Allison Henry is our school psychologist, and she makes her home in the Counseling Center, too.  Sarah Mebust is our Counseling Secretary/Registrar and can be reached at 425-936-1702.  To update addresses or phone numbers, contact our Data Processor Angela Jalobeanu. BECCA Specialist Sandy Hearn is also in our office.   And, finally, Michelle Brode is our Youth Eastside Services Prevention Interventionist and Sara Torelli and Jamila Sulayman provide intervention support.

Services Available through the Counseling Center
One of the Counseling Center’s main goals is to facilitate your student’s high school years to make the experience as successful as possible. Students meet with their counselor by parent, teacher, administrator or self-referral. Your student’s counselor is available to help on many different fronts.

• Academic Counseling—Counselors meet with students during spring registration to help them select courses that meet both graduation requirements and expand on their personal interests.  We also work with students who are struggling in academics by reviewing more efficient study habits and organizational skills.  For students whose academic life is sometimes a little too hectic, we are happy to share some stress and time management techniques.  It isn’t always easy to balance courses, activities, leadership roles, athletics, employment, and family commitments!
• Personal Counseling—Counselors also work with students who are dealing with relationship issues, personal concerns, academic or behavioral difficulties, and normal developmental challenges.  Counseling is short term, skill based, and goal oriented.  Of course, counseling and support are provided to students and their families facing emergency situations.  Upon request from parents, we provide referrals to other professional resources such as mental health professionals, social services, special school programs, or juvenile services.
• Post High School Planning—Most students take advantage of the wealth of information that is available from the Counseling Center and the Career Center.  We offer college advising, testing, scholarship and financial aid information.  We support students in their entire application process from completing applications and securing recommendations to writing their personal statements and resumes.    Together with the Career Center, we also have information on two-year colleges, apprenticeship programs, vocational and specialty colleges as well as the military. 

And We’re Off
Students are now all settled (and happy!) in their classes and, hopefully, have found a routine that works well for them.  Whether students are in three or more Advanced Placement classes or none at all, students need to study every night.  By using a daily planner and not falling behind, students will be better prepared for both daily class discussion and those frustrating surprise quizzes or bigger unit tests.  With homework, extracurricular commitments like athletic practice or club/organization duties, community volunteering, family obligations, or employment responsibilities, students can easily become overwhelmed and stressed.  If they encounter difficulties in their classes, students need to meet with their teachers as soon as possible.  Students can also join or form a study group to help their understanding.  If students find themselves over committed, they need to scale back on their out of school commitments.  It’s better to do well in fewer commitments than mediocre in many.  One of the many valuable lessons students have an opportunity to learn in high school is how to problem solve:  how to figure out what to do to make their situation work, how to use self-discipline and a strong work ethic to be successful, how to access resources.  This helps to build resilience which is necessary in their road to becoming independent.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test
The PSAT is given once a year; this year it is on Wednesday, October 11 at 8 am here at LWHS.  This pre-college test measures critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills.  It focuses on critical thinking skills that are important for college success.  All sophomores are required to take the PSAT as practice; sophomores do not need to register for the PSAT and there will not be a test fee for sophomores.  We encourage college bound juniors to take the PSAT; the cost is $16.  Juniors are able to register and pay for the PSAT now through October 4 by visiting our LW bookkeeper or by paying online. There are several important benefits to taking the PSAT.   It introduces students to college entrance tests like the SAT and ACT and the detailed score report will help them focus on what they need to improve.  It also helps them begin their college search process. If juniors perform exceptionally well on the test, it could mean scholarship and academic recognition.    If juniors do not sign up for the PSAT, they will be taking the ASVAB/Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (career exploration) during the same time.  There is no cost to take the ASVAB.

Financial Aid Night
LWHS is sponsoring a Financial Aid Night on October 4 at 6:30 in the theater.    Our guest speaker will review the FAFSA and explain the financial aid process and the different types of aid available.   We hope you are able to join us.