Simpson University at WMS

Simpson University, a school of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, is a Christ-centered learning community in Redding, California. Simpson has an enduring commitment to world service and faith-infused education in professional studies and liberal arts. Simpson University’s passion is to be the university of choice for students who aspire to achieve their chosen life goals through a Christ-led, transformational and innovative education. We offer 27 different majors; our most popular majors include business, pre-nursing, and psychology. 

If you would like more information about Simpson, stop by the Student Center after school on December 16th and talk to their Admissions Representative.  If you're unable to talk to Bri tomorrow in person, you can also contact her later:

Chemeketa Scholars (2 year full tuition scholarship)

Chemeketa Community College offers a full tuition scholarship for up to two years to any graduating high school student residing in our district who has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better (as of first semester/quarter grades of final year in high school) and achieves the required minimum placement test scores. Home-schooled students are also eligible with qualifying SAT or ACT scores.  There will be two information sessions for interested students and their families.


Salem Campus
January 11, 2016
6:30 p.m.
Building 6, Auditorium

Yamhill Valley campus
January 12, 2016
6:30 pm
Building 1, Room 101
 

 

To apply, students need to:

• Apply for fall 2016 admission to Chemeketa
• Take the COMPASS placement test
• Print and complete the Chemeketa Scholars application
• Obtain a copy of their unofficial high school transcript (home-schooled students need SAT/ACT scores)

Submit the Chemeketa Scholars application, high school transcript (or SAT/ACT scores for home-schooled students), and placement test scores between February 29 and March 4, 2016.
 

FAFSA Worksheet (for Seniors and their Parents)

SENIORS - If you have some down time over Thanksgiving Break, I would encourage you to sit down with your parents and get your FAFSA worksheet completed so that you are all ready to submit your FAFSA online on January 1st.  Remember, some of the financial aid is on a first-come-first-served basis and it runs out quickly.  You can submit your forms with an estimation of your 2015 income (using 2014 taxes) and then update it later once you have filed your 2015 taxes.  Follow the link below to go directly to a PDF of the FAFSA worksheet:

FAFSA for the Web Worksheet

Or, for more information about the FAFSA, go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov

Have a Happy Thanksgiving :)

Seniors - College Application Help Session

Remember, our goal is to have ALL the Seniors complete ALL their college applications BEFORE Thanksgiving Break, which is coming up next Wednesday!  Work hard this weekend and Monday to get them done, but if you still haven't finished by Tuesday, come to the Guidance Office either during 7th period or right after school on Tuesday for assistance.  Let's do this!  Teamwork :)

More College Admissions Reps Coming to WMS

Next week, we have two more College Admissions Reps coming to WMS, and they will be available in the Administration Building Hallway, just outside the Student Center, from 2:30-3:30 for students/parents who have questions or would like more information about their colleges:

Monday, November 9: Warner Pacific College
Wednesday, November 11: Multnomah University

These are both Christian Universities located in Portland, Oregon.

Grand Canyon University Fly Trips (Juniors/Seniors)

Grand Canyon University is offering FREE overnight visits to their campus in Phoenix, Arizona on a monthly basis, with an emphasis on Seniors for early in the year and Juniors for later in the year.  They cover the full cost of your airplane ticket, food, etc. for the two day trip.  The next trip is December 8-9, 2015.  Each trip includes:

Meeting current GCU students
Staying overnight in the residence hall
Eating in the campus eateries
Attending a fun campus event
Learning more about your program of study
Touring campus

For more information, and to sign up for one of the fly trips, contact:

Jeffrey Linder
602-639-6296
Jeff.Linder@gcu.edu

College Admissions Reps Coming to WMS this Fall

We have done some restructuring in how our College Admissions Presentations are done this year, which will hopefully give more parents/students the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the college admissions process.  We have a number of colleges already scheduled to visit WMS this fall, which are listed below.  However, additional visits will be scheduled and announced here on this blog.  All College Admissions reps will now be scheduled for AFTER SCHOOL (2:47-3:30), and will be located just outside the student center (in the Administration Building) under the TV screen.  There is no need to "sign up" if you want to talk to the colleges...just stop by anytime between 2:47 and 3:30 p.m.  Here are some upcoming colleges that will be here:

October 19 - Linfield College
October 20 - George Fox University
October 22 - Hesston, EMU, and Goshen
October 26 - Northwestern University (Kirkland/Salem Campuses)
October 27 - Northwest Christian University
November 3 - Grand Canyon University
November 5 - Corban University

PSAT Day for Grades 9-11

ALL 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th grade students are taking the "new" PSAT at Western Mennonite School next Wednesday, October 14, 2015.  This test is an important part of preparing for college entrance exams and other post high school plans.  Students received an orientation and practice booklet in their English classes, and those who took the PSAT last year can review those results and practice for this year by logging into their College Board accounts at www.collegeboard.org/quickstart using their user name/password.  

Details for test day: 

Please get sufficient sleep and eat a good breakfast that morning.  Testing begins at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 11:30 a.m.

PLEASE BRING the following items to the testing room:  # 2 pencils with erasers, water bottle, and an “approved” calculator (see College Board website or practice booklet for acceptable types of calculators).

Please DO NOT BRING your backpack, cell phone, pocket translator, scratch paper, books, etc. into the testing room with you.  You will have a short break to have a snack, but you must leave it in the very back of the testing room. 

Please ARRIVE ON TIME or early and go to your assigned room BEFORE 8:00 to check in.  Room assignments will be posted next to the mailboxes by the end of the school day on Tuesday.  Remember to leave your snacks at the back of the testing room.

Healthcare Careers Academy

SOPHOMORES who sign up at the Guidance Office by Tuesday, October 6th will get priority to attend the Healthcare Careers Academy on Friday, October 30th (no school that day).  This is a hands-on event where you can learn about healthcare careers including:

• Trauma Nursing
• EMT
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Dental Assisting
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Records, Coding, and Billing
• Medical Office Assistant
• Hemodialysis Technician

The event is held at Chemeketa Community College, Building 6, and students can either meet at the school at 8:00 a.m. and ride together...or...students can meet us at the event (there is no school bus service provided that day as there is no school at WMS).  We will be leaving WMS at 8:00 a.m., and the event begins at 8:45 a.m.  The event ends at 1:30 p.m., and we will arrive back at WMS by 2:45 p.m.

A light lunch will be provided at the event.  Students MUST sign up at the Guidance Office if they wish to attend.  Remember, Sophomores get priority (Juniors are allowed to attend if there is space). 

NEW: Official SAT Practice through Khan Academy for FREE

The College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to give students an enhanced way to practice for the SAT.  This practice is personalized, based upon the student's PSAT results.  For more information, go to:  https://www.khanacademy.org/sat?ep_mid=11152151&ep_rid=44474858

Also, coming soon! 

• Students will be able to write a practice SAT essay, take a picture with their smart phones, and get instant feedback on what they did well and what needs improvement.
• Students will be able to take a paper-practice SAT, take a picture of their answer sheet on their smart phones, and immediately have sub-scores and a customized study plan.

If you would be interested in attending an information session with the details about the newly designed SAT, please e-mail the Guidance Office.  If there are at least 10 families interested, we will schedule a workshop: dfritz@westernmennoniteschool.org

National Christian College Fair

September 28 (after school) is the National Christian College Fair in Portland, and all 9th grade students and their parents are encouraged to attend.  Transportation will be provided for students who sign up by September 21.  If there is still room on the bus after September 21, parents and students in grades 10-12 are welcome to join.  This is a great opportunity to talk to Admissions Reps from 45 different Christian Colleges and learn more about different college majors, scholarships, and dorm life.  The WMS bus will leave at 2:45 p.m., and we will be making a stop for dinner (bring money or sack lunch) on the way there.  For those that will be driving themselves, the actual event is from 6-8 p.m. at:

Westside Christian High School
8200 SW Pfaffle Street
Tigard, Oregon  97223

For the list of colleges attending, go to:  http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/?fid=49

ALL FRESHMEN, please SIGN UP on the bulletin board outside the Guidance Office before September 21 so we will know how many additional seats remain for parents/older students.  Thank you.

Fall Virtual College Fair is September 10th

If you prefer online chats/info, or just haven't had a chance to attend a college fair in person yet, consider "attending" this event:

College Week Live's All Access Fairs are the largest virtual college fairs of the fall and there are only two left!  Don't miss out, make sure you log into CollegeWeekLive on Thursday, September 10th, between 10:00am to 10:00pm EDT for September All Access to chat live with any of over 100 colleges!

Chat Live with college admissions counselors

Connect with admissions counselors and current college students at 100+ colleges and universities. Ask them anything you'd like about getting admitted to college, choosing degree programs, exploring campus life, and more.

Watch expert presentations

Including:

·         US Universities that specialize in STEM
presented by Meredith Graham, Director of CollegeWise
 

·         Path to the Student-Athlete Experience
presented by Jessi Hilger of the NCAA Eligibility Center
 

·         Mindful Guide to College Preparation
presented by Lisa Moore, Author and teacher of teens and their families for over 30 years

·         Secrets to Winning a Scholarship 
presented by Mark Kantrowitz, VP and Publisher of Edvisors

Win Scholarships!

Visit five college profile pages on CollegeWeekLive during the event, ask the schools anything you'd like while you're logged in, and we will enter you in a drawing for our $5000 scholarship to any participating school. 

Download the event flier and sign up today!

SAVE THE DATE! Fly trip to Hesston College October 29-31

Juniors and Seniors!  You have an AWESOME opportunity to fly to Kansas in October to visit Hesston College with other WMS students.  During your visit to Hesston, you will be able to sit in on college classes, meet with an academic advisor in the major you want to study, get a tour of campus, and hang out with current students. It's a great way to get a feel for what a Hesston College student experiences on a daily basis! The dates for this year's Fly Trip are Oct. 29-31.

If you are interested in going on this fly trip, all you need to pay is a $150 deposit, and they will cover the cost of everything else. Once they get a definite number, they will purchase plane tickets for you. Students will arrive in Wichita on Thursday, Oct. 29 and depart on Saturday, Oct 31. They will provide transportation to and from the Wichita airport., lodging, meals, and activities during the entire trip.

There will be a registration page available very soon, and the registration deadline will be Oct. 2. If you would like to make sure you get a link to register for this fly trip, please e-mail or phone Bethany Miller (see her contact information below). 

Bethany Miller

Admissions Counselor

Hesston College

Office: 620-327-8242

Cell: 605-660-5084

bethanym@hesston.edu

College Admissions Testing for Juniors and Seniors

Juniors and Seniors - Remember to get signed up for your SAT before school starts.  Seniors should take the October SAT and Juniors should take the May or June SAT.  You can sign up using your College Board account that you created when you took your PSAT last year.  If you have not yet created a College Board account, do this when you are signing up for your SAT.  The quickest way to get to the sign-up page is to go to:  www.sat.org/register

International students who are also taking the SAT in your first language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish Language with Listening), remember, this is only offered ONCE A YEAR on November 7, so sign up early!  A qualifying score will give you two years of high school world language credit.

Juniors and Seniors who have stronger math/science skills (as compared to reading/writing) may want to take the ACT in addition to the SAT and use the higher score when you apply to colleges.  Seniors should take the October test and Juniors should take the June test.  To take the ACT, go to: www.actstudent.org

If you need help with this, please stop by the Guidance Office after school.

Summer College Visits

August 3-7 is Oregon's Private College Week!  If you are going to be a SENIOR this year, I would strongly encourage you to take advantage of the tours/informational meetings held twice daily this week at over 19 private colleges in Oregon (including Corban, George Fox, Warner Pacific, Concordia, Willamette, Pacific, and Marylhurst).  If you tour 4+ campuses during this event, you will get FREE college applications at those campuses, which could save you a few hundred dollars!  To plan your visits, register at: www.oregonprivatecolleges.com .  Registration ends July 31, so do it today :)


SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS and SENIORS who are interested in going to an evening information session/college fair over the summer, the Colleges That Change Lives event is coming to Portland Convention Center at 7:00 p.m. on July 29th.  Students and parents will be able to hear a 30 minute presentation on today's college search process, followed by time to speak directly with admissions representatives from college from all over the country, including: Antioch, Cornell, Hope, Southwestern, Wheaton, and Willamette.  For event details, go to: www.ctcl.org/events/programs

International Summer Travel Opportunities

Students who are interested in international travel experiences during the summer of 2016 or 2017, here are good reasons to sign up NOW!

IRELAND in 2016 - Anyone who enrolls by Sunday, May 31^st will receive:

·         Current May pricing – could increase as much as $250 by September

·         Entry into 50 free trips giveaway

·         Several more months on the monthly payment plan – especially important for spring break travel!

·         Time to work/fundraise over the summer months

LONDON-PARIS-FLORENCE-ROME in 2017 - Why should you start planning now for 2017?

·         Save $200! Early enrollment discount is officially out

·         2 years to pay for the lowest price possible (low monthly payments)

 

      ·         Time to work/fundraise over the summer months

If you are interested in more information on either one of these trips, and ESPECIALLY if you are trying to make the May 31 deadline for the free trip drawing, feel free to phone me on my cell in the evening or over the weekend (it's in the student directory).

AP Scores Available July 9, 2015

To the 32 Western students who took one or more AP Exams this year, congratulations!  Your score reports will be available on the AP website, using the instructions in your Student Pack that you received on exam day.  Remember, you will need your College Board log-in and your AP Student Number to access your scores.  All exams that you took this year will be scored and released online at:

5:00 a.m. on July 9th

Corban University Summer Theatre Camp (for elementary, middle school, and high school students)

INTO THE WILD, Corban's 15th Annual Theatre Camp, will be July 20-August 1, 2015.  This camp is open to students in grades 4-12 and runs from 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday. 

• Experience the fun of staging exotic animal stories
• Enjoy writing scripts about the complexity of relationships
• Participate in exciting flights into your imagination
• Come take a trip with us Into the Wild

For more information, and to register, go to: https://inside.corban.edu/theatre/camp

Cost is $150 if you register before June 19, or $175 if you register after June 19.  If you have questions, you can contact Michelle Bruhn at 503-375-7019 or mbruhn@corban.edu

Summer Reading and Speed Reading for Grades 6-12

If you are interested in improving your reading comprehension or speed over the summer, check out the Summer Reading Program directed by the Institute of Reading Development.  The Salem location is at Blanchet Catholic School, 4373 Market Street NE:

Students entering grades 6-8:
*Every Friday July 24-August 21 from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Students entering grades 9-11:
*Every Thursday from July 23-August 20 from 3:45-6:15 p.m.

Students entering grade 12 or college:
*Every Thursday from July 23-August 20 from 7-9:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, call the Institute of Reading Development at 1-800-978-9596

Last Chance for Juniors to take SAT this year!!!

Tomorrow (May 8) at 9:00 p.m. is the very last moment that Juniors can sign up for the final SAT test date this year (June 6).  If you are a JUNIOR, and you did not already take the SAT this year, please log in to your College Board account and get registered tonight! (May 7) or tomorrow (May 8) before 9:00 p.m.  This is a very important step in your college preparation process, so get it done :)

www.collegeboard.org/SAT

College Decision Deadline for Seniors

It's getting close to that May 1 decision deadline that many college have in place. This means that, if you are a senior and you have received acceptance letters from several colleges, you need to decide and get your decisions (yes or no) to the colleges by May 1st or before.  Talk to your parents, your college admissions reps, financial aid offices, and/or come to the WMS Guidance Office to get help with making that final decision.  Once you decide, come by the Guidance Office to get your name officially moved to the college pennant of your choice :)

SAT for Juniors - Sign Up NOW (required)

Juniors, remember to sign up NOW for either the May or June SAT Reasoning Test using your College Board account: www.collegeboard.org/sat.  Use your extra time over long weekends and Spring Break to go over your PSAT's from grade 9, 10, and 11 so that you are well prepared for your SAT.  Remember, many college applications will be due next fall BEFORE you have a chance to take another SAT, so if you want to meet early college deadlines, you have to take your SAT this Spring.

Four Local Scholarships for High School Seniors

Usually, I blog one scholarship at a time, but I received four of them at once, so here they are!  This is an excellent weekend activity to earn some $$$ for college :)

Keizer Heritage Foundation ($500-$1000) is offering scholarships to high school seniors who have lived in Keizer for the last 5 years or more.  Awards are based on academic performance, school and community activities, monetary need, and accurateness and completeness of application form.  All materials must be submitted before Friday, April 3 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, or to download an application, go to:  www.keizerheritage.org/scholarships.html

West Valley Hospital Foundation is offering scholarships to students who plan to study in a medically-related field.  Applicants must be a senior, a resident of Polk County, and have applied to a college in their field of healthcare study before applying for this scholarship.  The deadline to apply for this scholarship is March 24.  For more information, or to download an application, go to:
www.salemhealth.org/scholarships and click on "West Valley Hospital Foundation Scholarship" link.

Brent Strohmeyer Memorial Foundation ($400) is offering scholarships to high school seniors who have a proven interest in the automotive hobby OR who plan to enroll in automotive classes.  The deadline for applying for this scholarship is April 15, but you are encouraged to apply early.  For more information, or to download an application, go to: www.stros.biz

Chemeketa Scholars Program (full tuition scholarship for 2 years) applications are due on March 6th for high school seniors who plan to attend Chemeketa next year and have a 3.5 GPA or higher.  There are SEVERAL things that need to be done prior to March 6th, and applications can ONLY be hand delivered on ONE DAY (March 6, 2015), so pay special attention to all the planning and instructions on their website if you plan to apply for this one:
http://www.chemeketa.edu/earncertdegree/payingforcollege/aidtypes/scholars/apply.html

Future Engineers Day

All HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS who want to explore Engineering Careers are encouraged to register for the Future Engineers Day Event to be held on February 24th, 2015.  Priority will be given to SOPHOMORES who sign up by this Thursday, February 5th, 2015 at the Guidance Office.  This full-day event is fully funded by local Engineering companies, so there is no cost for students to attend.  It includes opportunities to talk with colleges, engineering professionals, lunch, keynote speaker, and industry tours.  For more details, or to register, check the bulletin board at the Guidance Office.

Albany Service Adventure (lunch presentation)

Monday, January 26th, the Albany Service Adventure will be doing a presentation during high school lunch in the Student Center for interested High School Students and Parents.  If you have an interest in Service, and would like to stay in Oregon, this is a great opportunity for you! 

Students that attend this presentation will also have an option of signing up for a "preview weekend" April 23-26, where they can see what a year of service in the Albany Service Adventure Program would be like.  This is a sample weekend schedule:

Thursday PM - arrive and move in (WMS does not have school on Friday)

Friday AM - bike to work placements with current participants (nursing home, schools, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, homeless shelter, etc)

Friday PM - eat supper together - learning component

Sat AM - unit activity/trip

Sat PM - play games, hang out, be young

Sun AM - attend Albany Mennonite Church and depart

 

If you would like more information about this, but are unable to attend the meeting, you can e-mail:

 

Jill Baker at albanyserviceadventure@gmail.com

PSAT/SAT/College Board Website Appointments

Welcome back from Christmas Break!  I hope that most of you were able to log into your College Board accounts over the past two weeks and check out the awesome resources there for reviewing your PSAT results, registering for/studying for your SAT, and exploring colleges and careers.  If you need any help with this, I have posted a sign-up sheet outside of my office with 30 different choices for appointment times next week.  Sign yourself up if you'd like to talk more about your PSAT, SAT, or anything on the College Board website :)