Guidance

Downloads

Senior Packet for the Class of 2011
College Acceptances 2007
College Acceptances 2008
College Acceptances 2009
School Profile

Department Purpose

The Guidance Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy assists all students with curriculum choices, with college planning, with college and financial aid application processes, and with the selection of higher education institutions and careers. In addition, counselors are available to assist students with their personal concerns, to meet with students and their parents when necessary, and to help students resolve difficulties related to academic achievement. Each student is assigned a guidance counselor, beginning freshman year.

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Naviance

The Guidance Department has introduced a new tool for navigating the college application process. Naviance is a comprehensive interactive tool that senior will use for all things college i.e. application, scholarship, transcript request etc. Family Connections (the student module of Naviance) can be accessed at the following website. http://connection.naviance.com/olla
Please note that seniors must have an activation code to use Naviance. For more information, contact your counselor.

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Department Seminars

The Guidance Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy hosts several seminars throughout the year to inform students and their parents on the college process. Seminar topics offer suggestions for anticipating and preparing for college, tips for selecting colleges and universities and completing applications, and information for accessing financial aid sources and paying for a college education. In addition, the department organizes an annual seminar on a current topic of interest to adolescent girls and their parents.

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Guidance Office Members

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Personal Counseling

The Guidance Department offers personal counseling to all students who may need this service.

The members of the department are available to assist students who may have personal problems and to meet with their parents when necessary. A student may be referred to Guidance for personal counseling in a number of ways:

• Student may fill out an appointment slip (blue) so that a counselor may schedule an appointment.
• A teacher may make a referral for a counselor to see a student.
• A parent may call the Guidance Office and ask that a counselor see her daughter.

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State University System & Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Programs

Important points to consider for application to State University System and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program:

• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program will re-calculate GPA.
• Not all classes can be used to qualify for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.
• Only core courses will be taken into consideration when re-calculating the GPA.

Florida Bright Futures will include 15 credits of college preparatory academic courses:
4 English (3 with substantial writing)
3 Mathematics (Algebra 1 and above)
3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
3 Social Science
2 Foreign Language
15 Credits

May use up to 3 additional credits from courses in the academic core areas listed above and/or AP, IB or AICE fine arts courses to raise GPA.

The State University System will also re-calculate GPA and has similar guidelines for recalculation of the GPA and admission to a state university. In addition to the core required credits, state universities and FL Bright Futures will only consider core electives (electives directly from "core requirements“ such as math, English, social studies, science, foreign language) toward calculation of GPAs. Non-academic electives will not be used toward GPA calculations or considered for admission into state universities and FL Bright Futures - SAT Prep, Yearbook, Journalism, Business courses, Computer courses, Theology, Performing Fine Arts, Art.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

In 1997, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This Florida Lottery-Funded scholarship rewards students for their academic achievements during high school by providing funding for them to pursue postsecondary educational and career goals in Florida. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is an umbrella scholarship which houses three scholarships: Florida Academic Scholars Award, Florida Medallion (used to be Merit) Scholars Award, and Florida Gold Seal Scholars Award. At Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, the Florida Gold Seal does not really apply, as we are a college prep high school. See the brochure for requirements for each scholarship. Click
here.

For further information, please contact Ms. Cristina Diez-Arguelles, Bright Futures Coordinator.

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Silver Knight Awards

The Silver Knight Awards are sponsored by the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald. The award recognizes outstanding seniors who not only maintain good grades, but who unselfishly apply their special knowledge and talents through service to their school and community.

Beginning in freshman year, all students are encouraged to keep a record and documentation of their service, to make a commitment to a specific service project, and to obtain information through Guidance for maximizing the impact of their volunteer efforts.

For further information, please contact Mrs. Maria Tilson, the coordinator of the program, or log on to www.silverknightaward.com.

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College Visits on Campus

The guidance department welcomed 77 college representatives from the following colleges and universities during the 2009-2010 school year. Seniors had an opportunity to hear from each representative on topics ranging from the school’s admission requirements, academic programs, student life and financial aid. School visits for the 2010-2011 school year will begin in August. Information regarding college visits are posted on Family Connection and a news bulletin updated weekly is also available through Family Connection.

Testing

Extended Time Accommodations

A student with a documented disability may be eligible for accommodations on standardized testing through the College Board and/or ACT Assessment. In order to determine eligibility, the documents supporting the need for accommodations must be on file in the Guidance office. Documentation must include the following:

• State the specific disability
• Be current (check with College Board and ACT for guidelines)
• Provide relevant educational, developmental, and medical history
• Describe the comprehensive testing and techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis
• Describe the functional limitations
• Describe the specific accommodation
• Establish the professional credentials of the evaluator

Once the evaluations are received in Guidance, parents will receive additional forms to petition the College Board and /or ACT (the applications are different) as per the family's request. For more information, please log on to http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ssd or http://www.act.org/aap/disab/index.html

Please note: Documentation does not guarantee eligibility for extended time.

All documentation should be turned in to Mrs. Ginny Castellanos as soon as it is available.

SAT Dates

Register on-line at www.collegeboard.com

ACT Dates

Register on-line at www.actstudent.org