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).