Student Services

July 1, 2025 

Dear Seniors & Parents/Guardians: 

Your senior year will go very quickly! Here are several important topics to consider NOW:   

E-MAIL/TEAMS: I will use school e-mail (personal as well if you gave it to me) and Teams as the two main forms to send all information regarding: scholarships, job opportunities, college visits, military…etc. You should be checking your emails daily. Most colleges will ask you to use your personal email address because when you graduate your school email will be deleted.  

XELLO:   The Xello program can assist you with continuing to build your resumes. Regarding your Xello account, you still have access to it over the summer: https://login.xello.world/ Your username is WVA- and then your nine-digit school ID # that you use to login into eSchool and your password is your birthdate (i.e. – 07012004). Another option for logging into Xello is going to the Student Services link (Login) and clicking on “CLASSLINK LAUNCHPAD” and following the prompts to login into your Xello account. If you have trouble logging into Xello to complete your resumes, please email me or message me in Teams and I will help you.   

WNY COLLEGE CONSORTIUM FALL 2025: Approximately 20 colleges from the Western New York Consortium Common Recruitment Committee will visit West Valley on Wednesday, October 8th at 8:00 AM.  

COLLEGE VISITS: Please search individual college websites, take virtual college tours, and email admissions counselors and financial aid advisors to learn about their process for campus tours. Prepare questions you would like to ask, here are some suggestions: housing, majors, technology, college size, campus security, religious affiliation, and extracurricular activities…etc. 

OPEN HOUSES:  Be on the lookout for open houses through the New York State Private Colleges and University’s website: http://www.nycolleges.org   For all open houses and applying to SUNY (State University of New York) – including University Centers and Doctoral Degree Institutions, University Colleges, Technology Colleges, and Community Colleges) colleges on-line use the following website: http://www.suny.edu/.   

COLLEGE EARLY ACTION / EARLY DECISION: Anyone interested in “Early Action” / “Early Decision” needs to contact me by September 12th to begin applying. http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/early   

MILITARY ACADEMIES / NCAA:  If you are interested in one of the U.S. military academies, then you need to contact me immediately. Any students interested in playing sports for a Division I. II or III institution must be registered with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse as soon as possible. To register, access http://www.ncaa.org/. You must be certified before practicing, competing, and/or receiving any athletic scholarships at a Division I or II institution.   

POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS:   Please contact me the second week of school if you have concerns regarding meeting all graduation requirements. In September, we will discuss your plans for after graduation, whether it is college, military, or employment.   

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: Do not apply to any community colleges (two-year schools for an associate degree) unless you check the colleges’ websites. Most New York Community Colleges do not have application fees, but double check the SUNY schools’ website. If you use the SUNY application on-line for community colleges, you will be billed for the application fee. Many private colleges waive application fees if you apply on-line through the colleges’ websites. Another option for applying to multiple colleges is the Common App: https://www.commonapp.org. If you choose to apply on-line to any colleges on your own, please email Mrs. Dana Westfall (dwestfall2@wvalley.org) or me immediately, so we can email/mail your transcripts and recommendation letters.  

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: The college process is incredibly involved and will demand a lot of your time; please realize that you must take an active role in the entire process. You must assume the responsibility for acknowledging deadlines, establishing lists of colleges to investigate, contacting schools, obtaining necessary forms, and teacher recommendations (maximum of three letters) as required. Be selective when choosing someone to write you a letter, because they can let you read it or send it directly to the Guidance Office to be mailed, or certain colleges will ask them to email it directly. Please email your resume to the people writing your letters so they can be more specific with their recommendation.  

SATs/ACTs: If you have not registered for August, you need to sign up immediately if you wish to take the test this summer! The first SAT test will be offered on August 24th, and the regular deadline for this test is August 9th. Register on-line at http://www.sat.org/register (you will need a credit card for payment – you also need to upload a picture of yourself http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/photo-requirements), make sure you print a copy of the last page (this is your admissions ticket for the day of the test). If you have taken the PSATs or SATs prior and forgot your username and password, you may need to reset them. The first ACT test will be offered on September 14th, and the regular deadline for this test is August 9th.To apply on-line for the ACT, access this link: http://www.actstudent.org The ACT also requires you to upload a picture of yourself (http://www.actstudent.org/regist/add-photo.html). Other test dates for SATs and ACTs will be published in the West Valley Newsletter and on the “Student Services Webpage.” If you qualify, or think you qualify for a fee-waiver for either test/or both, email me immediately over the summer to register. Lastly, if you have approved test modifications through the College Board, please email me before applying.  

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT: Our “Annual Financial Aid Night” is scheduled for Monday, November 4th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Shannon Rinow (Project Coordinator – FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid Completion) from Jamestown Community College will present and provide information regarding the 2025-2026 FAFSA Application.  

STUDENT SERVICES WEBPAGE: The “Student Services Webpage” https://www.wvalley.org/domain/68  will be an important communication tool for you this year. This letter will be online as well.  

To ensure that correct procedures are understood and followed, please email me at mlabrake@wvalley.org or call me at 716-942-3100 extension 4148 with any questions. Thank you.   

Sincerely,  

Matthew L. LaBrake 
K-12 School Counselor  

The WNY Consortium Common Recruitment Committee is excited to visit and meet with our students this fall. The WNY Consortium is comprised of approximately 20 colleges and universities across the Western New York region. On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 8:00 AM – 8:35 AM the WNY Consortium will be in the AUD. This is a free event and will target grades 10-12.

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, our school will administer the Digital PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) for 10^th and 11^th graders using their own school-issued device or a device provided to them that day.

The cost per student is $18.00, and checks are to be made payable to WEST VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL. The deadline to sign up and pay for the test is Friday, October 10, 2025, in the guidance office or with Mrs. Westfall in the main office.

Even if your child is not considering college now, they should take the PSAT/NMSQT. Just taking it can encourage a student to start thinking seriously about life after high school, goals, and the education necessary to achieve those goals.

Please visit https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-benefits-students-parents/why-take-psat/why-take-psat-nmsqt for reasons to take the PSAT/NMSQT, preparing for the Digital PSAT/NMSQT, what to expect on test day, and scholarships to help pay for college.

West Valley Central School will be administering the ASVAB assessment instrument, which is part of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), to any interested students in grades 10 - 12 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.  Please have your son/daughter sign up in the Guidance Office with Mr. LaBrake by Friday, November. This test is an invaluable tool to help your child with his/her future educational and career plans.

The ASVAB CEP will help your students:

• To learn more about themselves and the world of work
• Explore occupations in line with their interests and skills
• Develop an effective strategy to realize their career and education goals

One of the scores on the ASVAB is the military services’ entrance score, which may be used by your child to explore career options in the military. Your child’s name and ASVAB CEP Scores will be released to the military unless you choose not to have their name released. Even if your child’s name is released to the military, by no means is your child obligated to any military branch. The ASVAB CEP’s website www.asvabprogram.com offers useful information regarding the program and includes a brief video summary explaining the process and benefits of the program. Please call me with additional questions, 716-942-3100, extension 4148. Thank you.

If you would rather not have your child’s test scores released to the military, please contact the Guidance Office.

On December 5, 2025, our 10^th graders will be going to the Ellicottville CTE Center from 89:15 AM - 10:14 AM (with the junior BOCES AM runs).

All 8th grade students will be attending the Career & Technical Educational Center at Ellicottville BOCES.

Arrival time is 8:45 a.m. and departure back to West Valley is at 10:50 a.m.  

Please sign the acknowledgement slip for your son/daughter and return to the Guidance Office. Any questions please call Mr. LaBrake at 942-3100, extension 4148. Thank you.