Vicksburg Community Schools | Vicksburg, MI 49097 | High School Guidance Counseling Department

Guidance Counseling Resource Center

Counselors are available from 7:25-3:25 Monday through Friday. The following is a break-down of counselor assignments by graduating class and alphabetics (last name).

Counselor 9th Grade 2015 10th Grade 2014 11th Grade 2013 12th Grade 2012

Alger A - Kn A - Kos A - Moh A - Man

Lothschutz Ko - Z Kot - Z Moi - Z Mao - Z

Welcome

Welcome to the Guidance Counseling Resource Center! We hope you find the information we have assembled and published helpful.

Please consider this your 24/7 resource for information connecting your son or daughter to their personal, educational, and career development. Browse freely through our site and see all that is available to you in the comfort of your home but remember you are always welcome to visit our guidance office.

Our Counseling Staff is a vital link to academic, career, personal, and social development for all students. We work closely with students, parent/guardians, teachers, and administrators to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success.

Andy Lothschutz, the Guidance Director, has been working at VHS since 2000. He started here as a social studies teacher and has been working in the guidance office since 2003. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1996 with his undergraduate degree with a major in Sociology and a double minor in Psychology and Social Science. He then received his Masters degree in Counseling in 2004. Andy has worn many hats at VHS and is very glad to be working as the head of the guidance department.

Diana Alger has been working at VHS since 2010. She started working as a counselor at an Alternative school for Duneland School Corporation in Indiana for two years before coming to VHS. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in science, her major was Psychology and her minor was in social work. After receiving her bachelor’s degree she moved to Chicago, IL and attended DePaul University where she earned her master’s degree in human services and counseling. Diana is also the class adviser for the graduating class of 2014 and is the freshmen girls’ basketball coach.

Denise Berry: Guidance and Financial secretary

Staff Phone numbers:

Andy Lothschutz - (269) 321-1170
Diana Alger - (269) 321-1171
Denise Berry - (269) 321-1165

Important Dates for 2011-12

Mark these important dates on your calendar...

April 19th EFE Job fair
May 9th Parent Teacher conferences 5-8 pm in the high school gym
May 24th Senior Honors Reception 7:00 pm in the PAC
May 24th Seniors last day of school
June 3rd VHS graduation

June 8th last day of school

Scheduling

Whatever a student's plans are after high school, whether it's enrolling in a four-year college, a two-year community college, the military, or vocational training, it's vital to keep an eye on future goals when choosing a high school class schedule.

To help you get started you can view the current course descriptions in the HELPFUL DOWNLOADS section at the bottom of the page.

Parents can best help their children by understanding their child's high school curriculum, how scheduling works, what the requirements are, and then working with their child, his or her counselor, and teachers, to assure the student's strengths and weaknesses.

Our counselors help students plot their futures by preparing individual educational development plans. These plans are based on each student's standardized tests, past grades, abilities and goals.

Here are some scheduling tips for students and parents:

Spend time assessing your strengths and interests and write down the goals you plan to pursue after high school.
Work with your counselor to develop a four-year individual educational development plan based on your academic progress and future career goals.
Learn the requirements for graduation, and which courses that will best prepare you for college, if you plan to attend one.
Don't choose classes just because your friends do, but rather, because the classes fit your personal goals.
Don't blow off your senior year. Instead, maximize its value by taking advanced placement courses if you are heading to college, or vocational training courses in a career field that interests you.
Parents can play a vital role in helping their children stay on track during the high school years. Working together as a team (student, parent and counselors) will result in the academic success of your student. Here are a few guidelines for scheduling:
Get Involved.
If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact the appropriate school official, whether it's a teacher, principal, counselor or superintendent.
Help your child look for balance among academic, extracurricular, work and social activities in his or her schedule.
Know your child. A college preparatory curriculum isn't for everyone. Many students flourish with a mix of academic courses and training in a vocational area that interests them.
Don't be satisfied with the status quo. Ask about courses that may move your student onto a new academic path if he or she shows exceptional ability in a certain subject.
Work cooperatively with teachers and counselors to help your child prepare his or her schedule.

Career Pathway Planning

Career Pathways are clusters of related occupations that require different levels of education and training. People working in a career path share similar interests, abilities, and talents. Career paths help students identify a career focus without being locked into a specific occupation. By exploring career paths, students expand future choices and help them develop an understanding of how education and occupations relate. Pathways also provide a clear path for students to follow when scheduling classes now and after graduation.

The State of Michigan has developed a six-career pathway program that covers 99% of the work force:

Arts, Communications & Media
Business, Management, Marketing & Technology
Engineering/Manufacturing & Industrial Technology
Health Sciences
Human Services
Natural Resources & Agri-Science

Based on these categories, students can select an appropriate curriculum of study. For more information on creating an academic schedule which matches a career pathway, select from one of the file downloads in the Helpful Downloads section of this page.

Tutoring & Homework Help

Looking for free homework help? The teachers and counselors at VHS want everyone to succeed in school! We've assembled a list of web pages where you'll find free homework help in math, science, reading and more. Additionally, our own National Honor Society members provide tutoring services to fellow students in need. Contact your counselor for additional information.

Career Information on the Web

Helpful downloads

For more information on Pathways and Vicksburg High School Graduation requirements, we have provided the following documents as PDFs:

Michigan Testing

State assessments, like the MEAP tests for younger students and the Michigan Merit Exam for high school students, provide a way to measure all Michigan students in the same subject, at the same time. The tests provide valuable information to parents on their child's academic progress.

The MME also provides teachers with important information about how their students are doing and assists teachers in getting struggling students the academic support they need. All of this will help students get a better education and succeed in college or the workplace.

The Michigan Merit Exam consists of the ACT plus writing, two components of WorkKeys, and additional Michigan components in mathematics, science, and social studies. (WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system measuring "real world" skills that employees consider important to success on the job.)

Testing for MME occurs:

March 6-8
make-up dates March 20-22

National Testing

PSAT

Each October, VHS offers an opportunity for students to practice taking a high-stakes, standardized test. The PSAT is a preliminary SAT and is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. For more information, please visit the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Web site

SAT

The SAT is a college entrance exam that is required of some colleges, particularly on the East Coast. Students need to check with admission offices to see if the SAT is required for a particular college.

SAT Testing Dates and registration deadline:

October 1, 2011 | September 9, 2011
November 5, 2011 | October 7, 2011
December 3, 2011 | November 8, 2011
January 28, 2012 | December 30, 2011
March 10, 2012 | February 10, 2012

For additional information and to register for the test, visit the SAT website.

ACT

The ACT is used for admissions at all colleges in Michigan and in most other states. All juniors in the state of Michigan will take the ACT in the spring of their junior year as part of the Michigan Merit Exam. Seniors who wish to retake the ACT during their senior year should see their counselor.

ACT Testing Dates and registration deadline:

October 22, 2011 | September 9, 2011
December 10, 2011 | November 4, 2011
February 11, 2012 | January 13, 2012
April 14, 2012 | March 9, 2012
June 9, 2012 | May 4, 2012

ACT Preparation Workshop

February 7th & 8th at Vicksburg High School from 2:45 - 5:15. Please see you counselor for more information.

Testing Resources Online

Applying for College

Applying to college is relatively easy, getting accepted by the college of your choice – not so easy, especially if you are trying to get into a highly competitive school or major!

Transcripts

All colleges will want an official copy of your academic transcripts as part of the application package. Most colleges will require that your school send your transcripts directly to their admissions office. The process is a bit easier these days since Vicksburg participates in a program called Parchment, which is a secure transcript service that stores and delivers transcripts at your request. Instructions for using this program can be found at the end of this page.

Printer-friendly Parchment instructions

College Access Portal

The Michigan College Access Portal (MichiganCAP) is a statewide initiative which provides free support for all students and families in Michigan to simplify the process of transitioning from high school to college and career. MichiganCAP will offer students, parents, counselors and adult learners easy-to-use web-based, personalized tools to insure that each step in the process of choosing and applying for college is completed successfully. Go to: www.MichganCAP.com

Application Forms

Once you complete your college search and have your list of colleges in hand, you'll need to determine how the application is submitted. Many schools now work with what's called the 'The Common Application', a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application (online and in print). This list of colleges and universities using this system is a 400+ and growing. If the college you want to apply to does not use the Common Application, then visit the school's Web site for application information and application materials. Even if using the Common Application, it is best to study a school's Web site for application specifics (the requirements vary and you'll want to know about test scores, minimum GPA, transcripts, specific course work, interviews, etc.).

Dates to keep in Mind

Colleges and universities all have specific deadlines for application packets. Generally speaking, most are due almost before January 1 of the year you want to attend the college. Some schools allow early applications for early decisions on the part of the schools – this deadline is generally November 1.

Test Scores

Most colleges will need a copy of your college test scores from the SAT test or ACT test . When taking the test, you can request that they be sent to up to six different colleges. Otherwise, maybe if you're a junior, you can request that the scores be sent closer to when you actually apply to a college.

Athletes

Any student who wants to participate in Athletics at the College Level must visit the Official Eligibility Web site of the NCAA. NCAA Divisions I and II initial-eligibility requirements and required registration criteria is available. Go to www.EligibilityCenter.org

Financial Aid

All Federal financial aid for college starts with establishing a student's eligibility. That is done a program called Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. All students interested in financial aid for college need to complete this online application process. The information provided is used to determine your eligibility for Federal Aid, including grants, work-study and loans. The program determines a student's expected family contribution (EFC) or the amount of money a family can be expected to contribute to college costs. The prospective college then applies a simple equation to decide how much financial aid a student will receive.

The process of completing the FAFSA can be a bit overwhelming. Parents of Juniors and Seniors watch for a letter in the mail mid-December inviting them to our annual Financial Aid Workshop. It is highly recommended that who are unfamiliar with the FAFSA attend this work shop. Here are some tips to make the FAFSA process a bit smoother.

The FAFSA becomes available January 1. Pick one up at your high school guidance office, college, or download the form from the Internet.
Submit the FAFSA whether or not you think you qualify for aid. Sometimes being rejected for federal aid is a prerequisite for receiving private awards.
Review all your data on the FAFSA every year. Your eligibility can change from year to year, depending on your family’s circumstances.
Apply for aid as soon as possible after January 1. Early completion maximizes your chances of receiving financial aid.
Contact your prospective college’s aid office for additional information. Your school may require forms besides the FAFSA or may have earlier submission deadlines.
Read your Student Aid Report (SAR) carefully. You and your prospective college will each receive copies. Report any errors to financial aid officer.
Call the federal processor at 1-319-337-5665, if you do not receive your SAR in 4-6 weeks. Be ready to provide your Social Security Number and date of birth for verification.
Note your Data Release Number (DRN). It is the four-digit number on the upper right-hand corner of your SAR. You will need this to apply to additional colleges or universities.
Check to see if your SAR has been selected for verification. Look under the date for the letters EFC followed by a series of numbers. If there is an asterisk (*) after your EFC, your SAR has been selected.
If asked for SAR verification, submit the information requested to your prospective college’s financial aid office as soon as possible. Your aid may be delayed or decreased if the materials are not provided promptly.