JAMES BLALOCK

I am the Counselor for World Discover Seminar program, and the alpha group Mc-Pe

Phone: (907) 742-3392

I am happy to be back at Chugiak High this year, my fourth in the building. This year, I am still the counselor for every student in the World Discovery Seminar program. I also
have the alpha group of students whose last names begin with Mc -- Pe.

I will post notes on this Web site to help keep you up-to-date with timely topics.

October 2009:
PSAT Exam is Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8:30. This test is primarily aimed at Juniors, and is not available for seniors. This is the short version of the SAT college admissions test.
This is available for NO CHARGE to all Juniors this year.

PLAN Assessment for 10th Graders is October 28th & 29th, taken in two parts over two days--the afternoon of the 28th and the morning of the 29th. This is being paid for by
District funds and there will be no charge for sophomores. This is a short version of the ACT College Admissions Test, plus a Career Interest and Aptitude Inventory to help your
child get a handle on the careers he or she may be interested in pursuing.

The advantage of these two tests is that the students who take them will get back their actual test booklets, along with an answer sheet that shows the correct answer for each
question, your student's answer, or if they omitted answering the question. That information will help your student decide which test (SAT vs ACT) will best show off their skills in
the college admissions process, and will give them actual test format questions to study.

Makeup for 11th and 12th graders who have not passed one or more of the three parts of the HSGQE test will be held Oct. 6, 7, 8, 200.

PARENT CONFERENCES are Thursday, October 28, 2008.

Things to Remember:

SENIORS: Be sure to talk to Mrs. Dixon about getting YOUR SCHOLARSHIP PORTFOLIO started. This has been refined over the years by the Career Resource Advisors, so
most of it is on a computer file of forms for you to fill out. However, you must also do your Personal Essay, so if this is not happening in one of your English classes, talk to me or
Mrs. Dixon about possible subjects to cover.

If you are planning on going to college (even UAA), and you have not taken an SAT or ACT, also check with Mrs. Dixon on the process you need to follow to register up for these
test(s). If you have already taken them, but want to bump your scores up, you can sign up for another test on line with SAT or ACT.

Also, Seniors, if you are applying to college or other post high school educational opportunities, be sure to make note of DEADLINES for submitting your application materials.
DO NOT VIOLATE DEADLINES for any applications, because you may lose the opportunity if your application is late.

JUNIORS: Start planning on taking an SAT and/or ACT college admissions test in the spring. I recommend most of my juniors who are planning on going to college get one test on
the record by the fall of your senior year. You need to sign up for the tests on line between now and the middle of March. Continue to work on keeping your grades up, and look for
opportunities to do volunteer work--both of these will help your applications, and community service will give you the opportunity to see how you can help change your world for the
better.

SOPHOMORES: We will be doing the first run of the state HSGQE test with you this spring, in April. Pay attention in math and English classes, because they will be covering
some of the material you will see on the test--which is required for your graduation.

FRESHMEN: Continue to work hard on adjusting to the different style of learning at the high school level. Here you have more freedom, but also more responsibility to use that
freedom appropriately. Establish good study skills, your own form of keeping track of assignments for class and other activities, and develop good time management skills
necessary to accomplish these tasks, and you will get into a pattern that will result in good grades and confidence in your ability to meet other challenges in your future. Your
education, and what it will mean to you, is primarily YOUR responsibility. Your family members, and the school staff are here to lend a hand when you ask for it.