From the Dean's / School Counselor's Desk

Mrs. Laura EdwardsCounselor's Corner

Senior Parents: Financial Aid Information :   Thanks to all the parents who attended the Financial Aid Night at Plano High School. If you were unable to make it, or need more information about the FAFSA, please call the guidance office. Remember to fill out the FAFSA online as soon as you can. Colleges cannot put together a financial aid package without the FAFSA. The website is www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Junior Parents: Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE)
All juniors will take the PSAE on April 28 and 29. The first day of the test will be the actual ACT exam. Therefore, juniors do not need to take the ACT exam at another test site, unless they choose to in order to increase their score. The PSAE ACT scores are official and will be accepted by colleges and universities. The second day of the test is an achievement test meant to measure academics and how well students can use what they have learned to be successful in the work world. The juniors will receive more information about the PSAE before the exam.

Freshmen and Sophomore Parents: EXPLORE and PLAN scores
EXPLORE (9th grade) Scores came in during the month of December. All sophomores took the PLAN, and freshmen took the EXPLORE. The PLAN is the precursor of the ACT, and the EXPLORE is the test before the PLAN. Students received a score print-out with a project ACT score range and career suggestions. Be sure to talk to your students about their results.

Job Shadowing March 29th:
-Juniors and Seniors at individual job placements.

 -Freshmen and Sophomores at group job placements, based on EXPLORE/PLAN results.

Parents Nights:
Monday, February 22, 2010-Current Juniors: 6:00 pm, Current Sophomores: 7:15 pm Monday, March 1, 2010-Current Freshman for grades 3-8. All grades: 7:15 pm Come out to the media center for some great information about post-secondary planning and registration for next year.

Junior High School & Elementary School:
ISAT Testing is March 1-5, 2010, with the following week (March 8-12) reserved for make-ups. The ISAT is a state-wide assessment for grades 3-8 . All grades are tested in reading and mathematics. 4th and 7th grade also test in science, and 5th, 6th and 8th grade also test in writing.

Sincerely,

Laura Edwards