Counseling Department
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PLHS Counseling Department
- Counseling Staff
- Counseling Program Overview
- Senior Info
- Graduation Requirements
- Request a Transcript
- ACT/AP Testing
Counseling Staff
2024-2025 School Year Counselor Assignments
All students will be assigned the same school counselor for the time they are at PLHS based on their last name.
| Counselor | Student Last Name | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|
| Wesley Caruso (Team Lead) | A-C | wesley.caruso@plcschools.org |
| Aaron Reyes | D, F-H | aaron.reyes@plcschools.org |
| Sheryl VanSteenbergen | I-M | sheryl.vansteenbergen@plcschools.org |
| Kristen Madler | E, N, O, T-Z | kristen.madler@plcschools.org |
| Bobbi Lawhorn | P-S | bobbi.lawhorn@plcschools.org |
Please understand that counselor emails are not monitored on nights and weekends. If this is a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
| Counseling Support Staff | Student Last Name | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|
| Wendy Nord | Counseling Center Secretary | wendy.nord@plcschools.org |
| Vickie Bradley | Scholarship Secretary | vickie.bradley@plcschools.org |
Counseling Program Overview
The Papillion La Vista Community Schools Counseling Program developed by the Counseling Staff, 7-12, is an integral part of the educational process and addresses the academic, career, and personal/social needs of all students. The program, which is collaborative in nature, is delivered primarily through a counseling curriculum, but also includes individual student planning sessions, management, and accountability components.
Our Vision
All students will leave PLCS academically, socially, and emotionally prepared with a plan to pursue life-long goals that will help them contribute to society and find personal success.
Our Beliefs
- Effective school counseling programs meet the academic, personal/social and career needs of all students.
- The school counseling program is responsible for ensuring that all students will develop a post-secondary plan reflective of their individual strengths, interests, and goals.
- Students are best served when they, along with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators, collaborate to enhance success.
- An effective school counseling program reduces barriers to success by empowering all students with the skills necessary to reach their maximum potential academically, personally, socially, and emotionally.
- Students should be exposed to a variety of educational experiences.
- An effective school counseling program ensures that students will be exposed to diverse, rich, meaningful activities connecting learning to life.
- The school counseling program aligns with the ASCA standards focusing on direct student services including classroom guidance, individual planning, and crisis intervention.
- School counselors must model high expectations and acceptance for all.
- The school counseling program provides a systematic, data driven approach, accountable to all stakeholders.
- All students are encouraged to challenge themselves through rigorous coursework and extracurricular opportunities.
Senior Info
Our goal is to better equip students, staff, parents and the community with the positive skills, tools and information needed to make informed decisions. Students have unique needs and goals that are considered in their preparation for life after high school.
Resources
Senior Bulletins are emailed weekly and sent by Vickie Bradley. This bulletin is our primary communication device and has a LOT of valuable information!
Graduation Requirements
Request a Transcript
ACT/AP Testing
ACT/AP Testing
ACT Testing
ACT Information
General Info
Standardized testing is powerful factor in college admission and scholarship. Although some colleges are choosing to be “test optional”, solid test scores only enhance your attractiveness to schools and scholarship committees. All juniors in Nebraska are expected to take the ACT in April for state testing purposes. The results of this state mandated test can be used just like a national test. Beyond state and district use, students use results for college admission, course placement and scholarships.
The ACT is the most popular standardized test for post-secondary planning for our students. However, the SAT is an alternative. Both are generally accepted by admission and scholarship committees. Visit the College Board for more information. Talk to a school counselor to see which test is right for you.
Generally, we suggest taking the test multiple times because students that do, typically improve their scores. Three times is what we like to see.
The goal is for a student to have their best score going into senior year if possible. This may mean taking it a couple of times in the spring and/or summer. Some take a prep class and prefer to do multiple tests in the spring. There is a national test date in February and another one in April, near the state test date. Some students like testing close to each other.
Other students would rather take it in June. As the spring semester ends, the stressors of school and activities are behind them and they can focus on the prep leading up to the test day.
Summer, for others means more activity, work, travel etc. Planning accordingly is helpful. A fall test is not bad. Fall can be a motivating time but it sure is nice to settle on a score before that so you do not have to wait for scores before college applications (even though you can add better scores to most application files afterwards).
In the end, the best times to take it depends on preparation and preference.
Testing Dates
How to Register
Junior Testing Day at Monarchs
Juniors will take the ACT at Monarchs in APRIL. This test is free to students. Students will be led in class to match their account with a Student Code that the school will give them. This can be done independently but students will need their code.
Once logged in, students will select the blue box that says "Student Code" that is to the right of the screen on a computer or the bottom of the screen on a phone.
ACT Test Prep
ACT Prep Information
Are you looking for that last minute push to improve your ACT score? Are you taking the ACT for the first time & want to know how to prepare?
Register Today for the PLCS ACT Prep Course
Papillion La Vista Community Schools is offering an ACT Prep Course! Tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, students can choose to attend a session every week or just a few. Research shows that preparation is a key to test taking. Students taking a test preparation course are better prepared for the ACT than those who have done no preparation. This new PLCS ACT Prep Course is taught by PLCS teachers with expertise in each of the subject areas.
Why should I take the PLCS ACT Prep Course? During the 2023-24 school year, 95% of students who took the PLCS ACT Prep Course raised their score in at least one area.
This year we are also offering two courses: ACT Prep Level 1 and ACT Prep Level 2.
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ACT Prep Level 1: Suggested for any student who has not previously taken the ACT OR has scored a 26 or lower on the ACT.
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ACT Prep Level 2: Recommended for any student who has taken the ACT Prep Level 1 course OR scored a 27 or higher on the ACT. This course assumes students are proficient in time management and the basic content knowledge necessary for that subject area.
Fall 2024 Registration Link: bit.ly/plcsactprepfall24
When a student registers, they can attend sessions at either school based on their individual needs. Students pick ONE session each Saturday to attend.
Session 1: September 21, 2024 (8:30-11:30)
- Math Level 2 (PLHS)
- Science Level 1 (PLHS)
- English Level 1 (PLSHS)
- Reading Level 1 (PLSHS)
Session 2: September 28, 2024 (8:30-11:30)
- English Level 1 (PLHS)
- Math Level 1 (PLHS)
- Science Level 1 (PLSHS)
- Reading Level 2 (PLSHS)
Session 3: October 5, 2024 (8:30-11:30)
- English Level 1 (PLHS)
- Math Level 1 (PLHS)
- Science Level 2 (PLSHS)
- Reading Level 1 (PLSHS)
Session 4: October 19, 2024 (8:30-11:30)
- Science Level 1 (PLHS)
- Math Level 1 (PLHS)
- English Level 2 (PLSHS)
- Reading Level 1 (PLSHS)
What does each session include?
- 1 hour of content review
- 30-45 minutes of test prep tips
- A practice ACT (an actual retired test)
- Review of results on practice test
Cost of Each Prep Session: $40 to be paid in school guidance office BEFORE attending
If you are a student who qualifies for free/reduced lunch, please contact Vickie Bradley (PLHS) or Renee Mead (PLSHS) for more information regarding the fees for the course.
Paying for the ACT Prep Class Online is as Easy As 1, 2, 3…
1. Sign in or Create an account:
- Access the store via the “School Lunch/Fees” button in the District app, or click here.
- If you previously created an account to pay for school lunches, you do not need to create a new account! Your current lunch account will get you into the school store.
- If you do not have an account, Click here to create one, you will need to know your student’s ID. If you do not know your student’s ID, you can find it in the parent app (while logged in) or on the parent portal.
2. Select “Store”
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Click the three lines in upper left corner
3. Select the ACT Prep Session.
- Be sure to select the ACT Prep Course. The icon should look like the one shown above.
- If you pick multiple session enter the number of sessions you want to attend under quantity. EACH SESSION is $40.
Click here to pay for your courses online!
AP Testing
Not all students taking AP courses take the AP exams in May. However, AP Exams are a great way to transition into college with a better standing, i.e. starting with college credit.
AP exam scores range from 1-5, 5 being the best score. Individual colleges determine what scores, if any, they will recognize for which class. To see what score would yield which credits, visit this link:
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies
2025 AP EXAM DATES Let Mr. Caruso know as soon as you know there will be a conflict in your schedule.
AP Exam Ordering Information at https://aptsusa.com/plhs/
For students to access their AP Class, they can sign into AP Student.
Some students may qualify for a reduced price exam. To qualify for this reduction, students/parents will have to complete the district's waiver/fee reduction application. If you have an application on file, contact Mr. Caruso and he will give you a discount code.