Navigator Counseling Center
The Lincoln North Star Counseling Center is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. Counselors are on duty from 7:45 am to 3:15 pm but may be out of the immediate office due to appointments. Our Social Worker, Mrs. Diane Fern, is scheduled to be in the building two days a week, usually on Monday and either Tuesday or Wednesday. Ms Stephanie Sherman, our Case Manager, is here daily and is available for support of our students with Personal or Social concerns beyond the scope of the Guidance Counselors. If you would like to speak to one of us you may call the secretary, Mrs. Ideus and she can connect you, or take a message and have your call returned. Counselors do not have individual voice mail available. Email messages are another effective way to reach all LNS Staff members.
Counseling Center Staff Contact Information
Schedule change procedures for second semester:
Ninth graders received the full year's schedule at the beginning of the year. If a change needs to be made, contact the counselor via student request form, on-line through DocuShare or by email prior to Wednesday, NOVEMBER 21st please.
On Wednesday, October 31, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade stuents will receive copies of their second- semester schedules. On the back, the procedure for schedules changes will be described. Students have 2 options: paper request or online request. Deadline for requesting schedule changes is 3:00 PM on Wednesday, November 21, 2007.
Transcript Request Procedures:
Transcripts are produced by the registrar, Mrs. Jodi Vanek, from her office located within the attendance office. Transcripts must be requested in writing with a signature of the student if age 18 or above and a parent if student is under 18 years of age. Official transcripts cannot be faxed. The school will mail out one official final transcript the first week of July following graduation IF the student has completed a blue final transcript request card. To send copies of current transcripts, the student should complete a white transcript request card with the appropriate signatures and turn it in to the registrar. The next day the student should pick up the transcript in a sealed envelope from the registrar's office. The school does not provide a mailing service for current transcripts. Students must request their transcripts for colleges and scholarships they applying to--colleges cannot be sent transcripts without the signed release from students/parents. If you have questions about transcripts, please contact LNS Registrar, Mrs. Jodi Vanek at 436-1305 option 1
NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION
Please contact our Registrar, Jodi Vanek at 436- 1305, option 1
or email jvanek@lps.org for enrollment information/procedures.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Vanek or
Mrs. Ideus, Secretary in the Counseling Center,
at 436-1305, option 3 or cideus@lps.org.
CHANGES IN ACT SCORE REPORTING
ON TRANSCRIPTS
The district no longer prints the testing scores on transcripts for any student. We do have record of the scores in our computer system which allows us to write it on certain application and scholarship forms but it is not printed on our transcripts as of November 2006. To send a copy of your scores you may copy and mail your print out of results from ACT or College Board or contact them to pay to send a score directly to the school or scholarship sponsor. If you included the code number for a school on your registration form for the test date you want reported your scores will have been sent directly to the college and no further action is needed.
Contact ACT at 319/337-1313 or College Board at (866) 756-7346 directly to send additional score reports.
EducationQuest is sponsoring two spring college fairs this year. These events are a great way for juniors and sophomores to jump-start the college selection process through meeting with admissions representatives.
Omaha College Affaire Lincoln College Affaire
Thursday, March 27 Thursday, April 3
6:00-8:00 pm 7:00- 9:00 pm
Millard North High School Lincoln Southwest High School
EducationQuest will conduct financial aid sessions at both events.
Contact EducationQuest for more information: 402. 475.5222
EducationQuest Foundation
Seniors … it’s decision time!
Attention seniors: It’s time to make the big college decision and determine where you’ll spend the next 4-5 years of your life!
As you make your decision, have a heart-to-heart talk with your parents to make sure you pick your college for the right reasons, not because it’s where your friends - or your girlfriend or boyfriend - are going. Talk about:
Location. Is the college too close? If you come home every weekend, you won’t experience true campus life. Is the college too far away? If travel costs are prohibitive, you may not make it home as often as you’d like.
Cost. Can your family afford the school? What can you expect for financial aid beyond the freshman year? Did you receive renewable scholarships?
Academic program. Does the college offer the program that interests you? What happens if you change majors—does the college offer other programs of interest?
Amount of loans required. If you borrow the maximum Stafford loan amount each year for four years, you’re looking at over $19,000 in loans – and that means a future monthly payment of nearly $220 per month. You should also calculate how much your parents will need to borrow in PLUS loans. Use the Student Loan Repayment Calculator at www.educationquest.org to estimate future student loan payments.
The EducationQuest website features other tools that can help you make the final decision including the Award Letter Comparison Calculator and the College Comparison Calculator.
Start searching! In addition to your guidance office, check out free sites including ScholarshipQuest at www.educationquest.org , www.srnexpress.com and www.fastweb.com. Note the awards current seniors are receiving - they're often listed in your local newspaper. Other sources might include your church, your parent’s employer, your employer or local service organizations.
Create files and place scholarship applications in deadline order.
Get involved in extracurricular activities and community service. This weighs heavy on most scholarship applications – and is the only criteria on some.
Earn the best possible grades and entrance exam scores. These factors are especially important for college-based scholarships.
Determine if you will qualify for need-based scholarships by completing the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org. **Completion of the FAFSA cannot begin until January 1, 2008 and will require tax information from 2007 for you and a parent.
Talk to colleges about specific scholarships they offer.
Beware of scholarship and financial aid scams!
As a junior or senior, you’ll receive offers for scholarship and financial aid services. Don’t ever pay for these services! EducationQuest will help you complete financial aid forms for free and will guide you to free scholarship search resources. For more information, call EducationQuest at 800-666-3721.
EducationQuest Foundation
College Planning Bulletin
A monthly college planning guide for Nebraska high school students
January 2008
Preparation key to applying for financial aid
Preparation is the key to successfully completing and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the application for state, federal and college-specific financial aid. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for need-based financial aid, you should complete the FAFSA to qualify for low-interest student and parent loans.
Follow these steps to complete the FAFSA and the financial aid process:
Ask your college(s) for their FAFSA priority filing date. Because some types of financial aid are awarded first-come, first-served, it’s important that you submit the FAFSA before that date.
Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for you and a parent at www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN is your signature for the online FAFSA.
Complete tax returns early as the FAFSA requires current tax information.
Gather these student and parent items:
- 2007 federal tax returns and, if applicable, Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
- 2007 W-2 forms
- Student’s driver’s license number
- Social Security numbers
- Birth dates
- Date parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed
- Current cash, savings and checking account balances
- Current investment values (stocks, bond, mutual funds, CDs, etc.) excluding retirement accounts
- Value of business (if more than 100 employees)
- Value of investment farm (Do not include the value of a family farm that you or your parents live on and operate.)
- 2007 child support (paid and/or received)
- 2007 ADC/TANF welfare benefits
- 2007 Social Security payments received from SSI or SSDI
- 2007 Workers compensation
- Other untaxed income in 2007 such as veteran’s benefits, housing/food/ living allowances for military and clergy
- Alien Registration Number for eligible non-citizens
Be prepared to answer these FAFSA questions which relate to grant eligibility:
1. Did your student or anyone in the household receive any of the following federal benefits?
- Supplemental Security Income
- Food Stamps
- TANF
- Free or Reduced Price Lunch
- WIC
2. Did your student complete at least two Advanced Placement courses with a passing test score of 3 or higher?
3. Did your student complete and pass the following high school courses?
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math (Algebra I and above)
- 3 years of science (2 of 3: Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- 3 years of social studies
- 1 year of a language other than English
Complete and file the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov before your college’s priority date.
Expect a Student Aid Report acknowledging that your form was processed.
Expect Financial Aid Award Letters in the spring from the colleges you listed on your FAFSA detailing the assistance they’re offering (could be combination of scholarships, grants, work-study and student loans).
Apply for student and parent loans (if necessary) in the summer through your college.
Check out these free FAFSA tools and resources
Visit the “Completing the FAFSA” section at www.educationquest.org where you’ll find:
- FAFSA Checklist – provides a complete list of items you need to gather before you complete the FAFSA
- College Funding Estimator – estimates your FAFSA results
- FAFSA Tutorial – provides user-friendly clarification of each FAFSA question
- Financial Aid Video – explains the types of financial aid and how to apply
For free personal help with FAFSA completion, call the EducationQuest location nearest you to make an appointment. Contact the Kearney office at 308-234-6310 or 800-666-3721; Lincoln at 402-475-5222 or 800-303-3745; or Omaha at 402-391-4033 or 888-357-6300.
January “To Do” List
Complete these tasks during January to stay on the right college planning track.
Seniors:
__ Ask your college(s) for their FAFSA priority date.
__ Attend the Financial Aid Program at your school or in your area.
__ Apply for FAFSA Personal Identification Numbers at www.pin.ed.gov.
__ Make a FAFSA appointment at EducationQuest if you need help.
__ Complete taxes early.
__ Continue to apply for scholarships.
Juniors:
__ Attend the Financial Aid Program at your school or in your area.
__ Register by January 4 for the February 9 ACT
__ Continue to research colleges.
__ Start setting up college visits.
Lincoln
402-475-5222
800-303-3745
Omaha
402-391-4033
888-357-6300
www.educationquest.org
Freshman Orientation January 11, 2007
Did you miss the event? View the PowerPoint presentations of
Ms. Saporta- registration overview
Ms. Luthi -FAQ's
click on each slide to advance
Junior Parent Night was March 5th-- if you missed it and would like to see the PowerPoint presentation that was shared please follow the link below.
Freshman Parent Meeting October 1, 2007
Senior Night presentation October 2, 2007
Senior reminders- updated 2007
Lincoln North Star High School Planning Guide
Parents and students may want to review this document to assist in selection of courses for the 2007-2008 school year. Please notice the pre-requisites and grade level guidelines for the courses. Although all listed classes are offered to students during registration, not every class will be offered every year. Please see a counselor or the department chair if you have questions about a listed course.
Lincoln Public Schools Graduation Requirements
2006-2007 Freshmen have new requirements! **
Beginning with the Class of 2003
The minimum program for graduation from Lincoln Public Schools is 220 total credit hours earned in grades 9-12 including the following requirements which deliver specific course learnings that support the district "Goals for Students".
**230 credits for freshmen 2006-2007 and beyond, changes in red next to category
| Credit Area | Courses and Special Conditions | Credits |
| Applied Arts | Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Technology |
15 total (with at least 5 credits in Fine Arts & 5 credits in Applied Arts) |
| Fine Arts | Dance, dramatic arts, music and visual arts | |
| Educational and Career Planning | 2.5 | |
| Economics | 5 | |
| English | 30 | |
| Oral Communication | 5 | |
| Human Behavior | 5 | |
| Mathematics | 20 * Complete Algebra | |
| Physical Ed | 7.5 | |
| Health | 2.5 | |
| Science | 15 *20 credits- a minimum 5 each of GeoScience, Physical Science, Life Sciences | |
| Social Studies | Civics & Intro to Geography | 10 (5 + 5) |
| World History | 5 | |
| US History | 5 second semester **10 all year | |
Government/Politics |
5 (formerly Citizenship Issues) | |
| Technology | 10 | |
| In addition to accumulating the required number of credit hours, students will also be required to demonstrate that they have necessary math, reading and writing skills. Demonstrations and standards for successful completion of these skill areas will be developed. Demonstrations may be completed in a particular class or through testing. | ||
| Credit Area | Graduation Demonstration | |
| Mathematics | Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to apply basic computational skills to problem-solving situations, numeracy, statistics, correlation and cause/effect, recognize how numbers are used to influence decisions, and demonstrate the skill of first-year algebra. | |
| Reading | Demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend newspapers such as the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald. | |
| Writing | Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to write consistently at a predetermined level. | |
Additional Sites of interest for Post-Secondary Planning