Apply Now for 2023-24 Financial Aid

A family of four making up to $107,000 may be eligible for aid.

Students who plan to start college next fall can now apply for financial aid for the 2023-24 school year. Education beyond high school is more important than ever. Applying for financial aid gives you more options for the future.

In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid:

• Most people should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used by U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for both state and federal financial aid.
• The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is an application for state financial aid only. The WASFA is for people who are undocumented or who do not qualify for federal aid because of their immigration status, and can be used in limited circumstances by others who cannot or choose not to file a FAFSA.

Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college or job training. Many families assume they won’t qualify, but there’s more help available than ever before. This year, a family of four making up to $107,000 can qualify for financial aid in Washington. The only way to know for sure if you’re eligible is to apply.

Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at wsac.wa.gov/apply.

NACAC College Fair Seattle, November 4-5

Free and open to the public, National College Fairs allow students to interact with admission representatives from a wide range of postsecondary institutions. This is an in-person event at the Convention Center in Seattle. Learn about a ton of different colleges and universities and get your questions answer directly from admissions officials.

November 04, 2022
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

November 05, 2022
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Registration info at this link!

Welcome Back, Students and Families!

By now you're starting to settle into the Gibson Ek groove. Our new class of 2026 has lost that deer-in-the-headlights look of trepidation following our action-packed Week of Welcome! We take the culture and climate of our school very seriously and work hard to create a school culture of dignity and belonging built on inclusion, perseverance, collaboration, respect and community. You can be you here! I love seeing our returning students reaching out to mentor our new students, in advisory, in the Commons, at lunch, and through a student-led mentorship program. Our culture and climate are the wheels that make Gibson Ek go. We are glad you are here!

New this year:

Gibson Ek now has Xello! Formerly Career Cruising, Xello is powerful tool for career exploration and college search that connects the dots in career education with our Learning Through Interest program. All students have access to Xello as well as dedicated time to learn it!

We have Pickleball! Not one to miss out of the fastest growing sport in America, Gibson Ek has a prototype (because that's how we roll here) Pickleball court.

We have redesigned our approach to mathematics with ALEKS, aligning the essential content with our learning cycles to help students stay on track. Our Dean of Students, Tonja, has done a lot of heavy lifting with the ALEKS curricula to ensure that students are mastering the essential content without getting lost in the weeds. Thank you, Tonja!

Some terrific new staff! Welcome Phil and Marjorie!

A message from Principal Julia Bamba:

KCLS Life After High School Programs May & June 2022

Life After High School online events provide teens and families the information they need to plan for the future.

Free programs in May and June:

Job Interviewing for Teens, Saturday, May 14, 11am

Get interview tips for a teen’s first job or internship.

Starting a Career in the Trades, Tuesday, May 17, 6pm. Presented by Reckoning Trade Project.

Join a panel discussion with people working in different trade careers. Part of the discussion will focus on how women, POC and LGBTQ+ are a fast-growing demographic in the trades.

Pathways to Hot Careers in IT, Wednesday, June 1, 6:30pm. Presented by Computing for All.

Learn about training pathways, apprenticeships and alternatives to college. An industry professional will talk about their career journey and answer your questions.

These free programs are hosted on Zoom. Teens can register for these and other career and college events at 1.kcls.org/LAHS Please share this information with any students you think might be interested. Follow @kclsteens on Instagram to learn more about library programs and services.

WANIC Summer Semester Open Enrollment

WANIC is now accepting applications for Summer Semester!  Don’t delay; apply online at wanic.org by April 28.

Summer Semester: June 28 – July 15, 2022

Class time 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Check each class description for specifics regarding In Person and Remote schedule.

Find out more: https://wanic.lwsd.org/academics/summer-courses 

No tuition or supply fees!

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Computing Exploration 
• Biosystems, Genetic Research & Ethics
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Computer Science Intro
• Culinary Arts Intro
• DigiPen 3D Modeling    
• DigiPen Art & Animation Intro
• DigiPen Computer Science Intro
• DigiPen Music & Sound Design Intro
• DigiPen Video Game Development
• DigiPen Video Game Programming Intro
• Fire & EMS Careers Intro
• Freelance Art and Ceramics 
• Guitar Building
• Health
• Mobile Electronics
• Personal Finance
• Photo Video Fusion
• Photography 1
• Systems Thinking for Health and Wellness
• Welding

KCLS and Life After High School

King County Library System’s Life After High School online events provide teens and families the information they need to plan for the future. 

 

Free Programs for April and May:

 The Reality of Game Development, Wednesday, April 20, 6pm. Presented by Josh Bycer of Game Wisdom. 

Explore what it’s like to enter the game industry in today’s market. Examine public game software and studio vs independent work. Discover sites for learning more about games and networking.

 

Job Searching for Teens, Saturday, April 30, 11am 

Want a job but not sure how to search? Start here for tips and strategies to find your first job!

 

Resume Help for Teens, Saturday, May 7, 11am 

Get resume and job application tips for teens looking for their first job or internship.

 

Job Interviewing for Teens, Saturday, May 14, 11am 

Get interview tips for a teens’ first job or internship.

 

Starting a Career in the Trades, Tuesday, May 17, 6pm. Presented by Reckoning Trade Project. 

Join a panel discussion with people working in different trade careers. Part of the discussion will focus on how women, POC and LGBTQ+ are a fast-growing demographic in the trades. 

These free programs are hosted on Zoom. Teens can register for these and other career and college events at 1.kcls.org/LAHS

Career and Technical Programs Can Help You Get the Job You Want

Do you enjoy hands-on learning? Are you hoping to join the workforce somewhat soon? You may want to consider a technical college or career program.

Career and technical education programs vary widely in subject, length, cost, and other aspects. But they have one thing in common: an emphasis on training for a specific career, such as medical assistant, computer specialist, automotive technician, hairstylist, and many more.

There are a lot of job training options. Before selecting a program, you’ll want to do your homework:

• Learn more about fields you are interested in. Check out these online tools to connect your interests to potential careers and find related training programs: 

o College and Career Compass

o Washington Career Bridge

o Career Connect Washington

• Consider Washington’s outstanding public community and technical colleges. Students at community and technical colleges can train to enter into a job directly, take classes that will transfer to a four-year college, or pursue an applied bachelor's degree in a specific career field.

• Research any schools or programs you are considering. For private career schools in particular, confirm the school’s licensure status and look into its reputation.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that Washington College Grant can help pay for job training and approved apprenticeships. Explore your options and plan your future on the WSAC website.