January 2015 - Shenendehowa Central Schools

SHENENDEHOWA HIGH SCHOOL
COUNSELING, COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER NEWS
www.shenet.org
January 2015
Counseling, College & Career Center @ H.S.W. 881-0333
Counseling, College & Career Center @ H.S.E. 881-0313
General Information
www.shenet.org - Visit the Shenendehowa website for information from the Counseling, College & Career Center. Everything from
newsletters to the Program of Studies is available online for students and parents.
Report Card & Mid-Quarter Grade Report (Interim) Distribution
Report cards are distributed to students in homeroom on the dates indicated below. If students are not in homeroom, they must go to
homeroom when they return to school to pick up their report cards. Homeroom teachers hold them for absent students. Report cards
and interims may also be viewed and printed from your portal account. Students requiring a copy of their report card for a club
advisor or an athletic coach need to make copies themselves. Note: Mid-quarter grade reports (interims) are available on student
portal accounts. They are not distributed to students in homerooms.
Mid-Quarter Grades
(Portal Only)
Report Cards
(Homerooms)
February 9th
3rd Quarter
March 9th
4th Quarter
May 21st
April 30th
July 2nd (mailed)
Tutoring Information for all Students
If your child is having difficulty with a course, there are options for obtaining extra help.
 A schedule of times during the school day when teachers may be available to provide extra help to students
is available in the Counseling, College & Career Center. Students should coordinate with teachers to meet during these
times.
 National Honor Society students offer free tutoring services in the Academic Resource Center (ARC),
located in the HSE library. The ARC is open to students periods 1-9 or contact your child’s counselor to set up a prearranged peer tutor. You may also contact Associate Principal Steve Smith at 881-0310, ext. 61407.
 Attend the Homework Club @ HSE or HSW on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays after school from 2:50-3:50.
Late buses are available.
 Shenendehowa Senior Citizens Care Links provides free tutoring sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. in Room 101 @ High School East. Most math and science subjects are offered.
 Private tutor websites are available in the Counseling, College & Career Center.
Information is available in the Counseling, College & Career Center regarding these tutoring services.
New Beginnings
As the new year begins, make some resolutions:
 Complete all homework assignments.
 Communicate your concerns to your teacher and request extra help if needed.
 See your counselor to discuss any problems, questions, or concerns.
 Give your best effort in everything you do!
Course Selection for 2015-2016
The course selection process for the 2015-2016 school year begins in January. Teacher recommendations will be mailed home
January 23rd with a letter outlining the course selection process. It is crucial that students and parents take the time to review the
course offerings described in the Program of Studies (available online at www.shenet.org), along with the teacher
recommendations, in order to select the most appropriate courses. Please pay attention to the Scheduling Timeline (page 4 in
the Program of Studies) deadlines in the course selection/adjustment process.
Counselors will be meeting with students to select courses from mid-January through mid-March. Course selections will be based on
current achievement, teacher recommendations, and graduation requirements. A copy of each student’s course selections will be
mailed to parents/guardians for review March 23rd.
IMPORTANT: The last day to make any schedule changes for the 2015-2016 school year is: Thursday, April 2, 2015.
College Admission Panel & College Fair (April 22, 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.)
On April 22, from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., the Counseling, College & Career Center will be hosting a college panel along with a
college fair. The panel will consist of college admission counselors who will focus on the college search process. After the panel,
parents and students will have the opportunity to meet with college admission representatives at the college fair to ask questions and
explore future college opportunities. All are welcome to attend!
Driver Education Program-Spring 2015
Early January, registration forms for the spring session will be available at the District Office and also on Shenendehowa Central
Schools’ website at www.shenet.org/district/CommunityServices/CommEdDriversEd. The fee is $410.00 and registrations are
accepted in the order that they are received with seniors given preference. All students must be 16 years of age and have a valid NYS
learner’s permit or driver’s license prior to the start of the program.
A mandatory orientation meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 4th @ the HS East Little Theater from 3:00 – 4:30 P.M.
IMPORTANT: Students should indicate their class time preference on their registration form. From that information, a class and
driving time will be assigned to them and posted on their portal prior to the orientation date. Students/parents will NOT be called
to select their preference.
Summer Program & Job Information
There are many summer programs and workshops offered by colleges and other institutions. They range from a few days to two or
more weeks. A Summer Program/Workshop folder is available in the Counseling, College & Career Center. A Job Postings folder
is also available in the Counseling, College & Career Center.
***SENIOR NEWS (Class of 2015)***
As of 12/22/2014 – 3,769 college application requests have been processed for seniors.
Deadlines
IMPORTANT: Remember to request application materials/transcript requests at least fifteen school days prior to your college and/or
scholarship deadlines.
College Instant Admission Days
The Counseling, College & Career Center will be hosting "Instant Admission Days" at Shenendehowa.
 Hudson Valley Community College on Wednesday, March 25th.
 Schenectady County Community College on Wednesday, February 11th.
College admission counselors will meet with individual students, waive the admission fees, and advise students of their acceptance
status at the end of their interview. Any senior who is interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should notify Mrs.
Flynn in the Counseling, College & Career Center one week prior to each instant admission day.
Mid-Year Grades
Students must request that mid-year grades be sent to colleges through their Family Connection account. To request mid-year grades,
open your account, click on “Document Library”, then “Important Documents”, then click on “view”. Complete the form and return it
via email to [email protected].
NCAA Clearinghouse
Seniors who plan to play a sport in college at the Division I or Division II level must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. To
register, prospective student-athletes should register on the clearinghouse website at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Click on “NCAA
College Bound Student-Athletes”. Follow the prompts to create your account. After registering, students must email Mrs. Keiper at
[email protected]. Once notified, she will then submit transcripts to the NCAA.
Scholarships
The Counseling, College & Career Center publishes Scholarship Newsletters on a monthly basis from October through May. Seniors
may pick them up in homeroom, may view them on Shen’s website, or in Naviance. Remember: In order to process your
scholarship/transcript requests by their deadlines, submit your requests via a purple processing form to the Counseling, College &
Career Center at least 15 school days prior to the scholarship’s deadline. Note: Do NOT request scholarships/transcripts through
your Naviance/Family Connection account.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Information
Parents and students should be wary of any service that charges a fee for scholarship searches. Stay away from businesses that
guarantee scholarships: no one can guarantee scholarships. The following websites may also help you with this search:
FAFSA – Apply online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
(Submit ASAP beginning January 1st)
Fastweb – one of the fastest private searches
http://www.fastweb.com
U.S. Education Department
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/Students
College Board
http://www.collegeboard.org
“College is Possible” Coalition site (800-433-3243)
http:///www.collegeispossible.org
College Aid Awareness Network – free financial aid
http://www.nysfaaa.org
State University of New York is again hosting its Statewide Student Financial Aid Days January 24th and February 28th. SUNY’s
Statewide Financial Aid Days are offered as a service to all prospective college students and their families. Thirty-three SUNY
campuses across New York State offer financial aid workshops and provide hands on assistance in completing FAFSA forms. The
programs are designed to answer questions and provide assistance regarding the financial aid application, types of aid available, and
the award process. To find a local program and register, go to www.suny.edu/studentevents or call 800-342-3811. The Counseling,
College & Career Center staff urges parents of seniors to file the FAFSA as soon as possible; beginning January 1, 2015.
College Financial Aid Workshop
Hudson Valley Community College is hosting a free financial aid workshop to the public on:
 Wednesday, April 15 @ 6:00 P.M. in the BTC Auditorium at HVCC
All families are welcome. Pre-register online: www.hvcc.edu/finaid/workshops.
School & Community Awards for Seniors (May 28th @ 6:30 P.M. in the High School East Auditorium)
In late March, seniors will receive an information packet in homeroom regarding the criteria for many of the awards that will be
presented at the Senior Awards Night on May 28th. While faculty and staff nominate students for many of the awards, seniors will
also have the opportunity to nominate themselves for consideration. If a student is selected to receive an award, he or she will receive
an invitation to attend the ceremony.
The New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program provides a full SUNY or
CUNY tuition scholarship for the top ten percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an
associate or bachelor degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for five years after graduation.
Additional information and criteria may be found at www.hesc.ny.gov.
***JUNIOR NEWS (Class of 2016)***
Academic Programming
Counselors will meet with their junior students to do course selection during the months of February and March. A copy of each
student’s course selections will be mailed home to parents for review March 23 rd.
Next Step College Information for Students and Parents
As Juniors embark on the college search and application process, the Counseling, College and Career Center encourages Junior
students and parents to participate in the following programs. Because of technology and process changes each year, it is important
for parents to attend the evening programs.
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Junior Students--March 16 - 18 –Counselors will be presenting the College Information and Naviance Next Step training
program in the computer labs for students. Topics will include college visits, SAT’s and ACT’s, the Junior Autobiography, the
resume, teacher recommendations, the college essay, and the timeline for the college process. Students will receive the
Next Step brochure which includes a planning calendar and depicts all of this information.
th
Junior Parents/Guardians--March 18 (6:00-7:30 p.m.)—Counselors will be conducting the College Information and
Naviance Next Step training program in the auditorium for parents. Topics will include college visits, SAT’s and ACT’s, the
Junior Autobiography, the resume, teacher recommendations, the college essay, and the timeline for the college
process. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
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Junior Students--March-June—Counselors conduct individual Junior Interviews to discuss post high school career plans, the
college search and college application process timeline. This personalized conversation will assist the counselor in
preparation for the student’s letter of recommendation. Parents are welcome to attend this conference. If you and your
child would like for you to attend, you should contact your counselor by email to make arrangements.
Junior Students and Parents/Guardians— January – August--Please call admissions offices to schedule campus visitations
in preparation for returning in September with the list of colleges.
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Junior Students--June 1 —Junior students complete their Junior Autobiography and their resume required for letters of
recommendation.
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Junior Parents/Guardians—June 1 —Junior parents complete the Parent Brag Sheet to assist counselors with the letter of
recommendation.
After attending the College Information and Naviance Next Step program, parents and students with questions or concerns are
welcome to contact your student’s counselor to schedule an appointment.
Have you heard about PrepMe?
PrepMe is an online learning platform, available through Naviance/Family Connection, that helps students prepare for PSAT and
SAT tests. It identifies student’s individual strengths, areas that need improvement, and creates a customized study plan based on
needs and the timeline for the next test. With PrepMe, students maximize every minute of time spent studying for tests.
Check out this quick video to learn about the features of PrepMe: https://vimeo.com/47726516
To access PrepMe: Log into your Naviance/Family Connection account, then click the PrepMe link (under Resources)
Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Results (PSAT)
PSAT results were distributed to students on December 16th and 17th. If your child has not yet collected his/her results, they are
available in the Counseling, College & Career Center. Parents and students should review the test results in order to better prepare for
the SAT. Juniors who intend to apply to a 4-year college should plan to take the SAT on May 2nd and the ACT on June 13th at
Shenendehowa. (Listed below are spring registration dates and deadlines.)
SPRING 2015
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM DATES
TEST
TEST DATE
REG. DEADLINE
LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE
SAT & SUBJECT TESTS
January 24
December 29
January 13
SAT only
March 14
February 13
March 3
ACT
April 18
March 13
March 27
SAT & SUBJECT TESTS May 2*
April 6
April 21
SAT & SUBJECT TESTS
June 6
May 8
May 27
ACT
June 13*
May 8
May 22
Offered at Shenendehowa
CEEB Code #331-845
ACT Test Center #199690
SAT Test Center #33328
Register Online @ SAT: www.collegeboard.com and/or @ ACT: www.actstudent.org
Students are responsible for obtaining registration materials and adhering to deadlines.
Late Registration requires extra fees.
Note: Shenendehowa High School does not offer weekend or afterschool testing
except for the national test dates that we are hosting.
ATTENTION PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
A student with a documented disability may be eligible to take college entrance examinations with testing accommodations. The
testing services (SAT and ACT) require that students submit an accommodations request form well in advance of registering for a
college test. The testing services review the accommodations request forms and inform students of their approved or denied request
for accommodations. The Counseling, College & Career Center will be mailing home a letter detailing this process to each eligible
student and their parents in January. Specific steps for students are as follows:
SAT: The SAT will be administered at Shenendehowa on Saturday, May 2nd. Students who need special testing accommodations
may pick up the Consent Form for Request for Accommodations forms from Mrs. Flynn in the Counseling, College & Career Center.
Completed forms must be returned to the Counseling, College & Career Center four weeks prior to the registration deadline (by
Friday, March 6th). Forms will then be submitted to the College Board. Students only need to apply for SAT testing
accommodations once throughout high school.
ACT: The ACT will be administered at Shenendehowa on Saturday, June 13th. Students requesting 50% extended time
accommodations may pick up the Request for ACT Extended Time form from Mrs. Flynn in the Counseling, College & Career Center.
Students complete the ACT registration online. Once registered, they must return the ACT Extended Time form, with their ACT ID
ticket number, to Mrs. Flynn no later than four weeks prior to the regular registration deadline (by Thursday, April 2nd). ACT
requires that students submit a form for each ACT test taken in high school. (Students requesting accommodations other than 50%
extended time should see Mrs. Flynn as a different application process is necessary.)
PLEASE NOTE – School Based Testing
Some students’ testing accommodations require that they take college tests over a two day period only at their own school. Such
accommodations include: 100% extended time, a reader, a scribe, and/or use of a computer. Students who need School-Based Testing
should only register to take tests on the dates listed below. Please be aware of these dates when registering.
SAT
ACT
May and/or October
June and/or October
Location: Shenendehowa
Location: Shenendehowa
These deadlines are imposed by the testing agencies. Please mark your calendar NOW.
***SOPHOMORE NEWS (Class of 2017)***
Academic Programming
Counselors will meet with their sophomore students to do course selection during the months of February and March. A copy of each
student’s course selections will be mailed home to parents for review March 23 rd.
Naviance Program
During the week of January 12th, counselors will be reacquainting sophomores with Naviance, an internet based guidance program.
During the group presentations, students will complete an interest inventory and explore careers and colleges.
PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test)
The PSAT will be administered at Shenendehowa in October 2015. Students requiring testing accommodations for the PSAT, SAT
and AP tests must complete a Consent Form for Request for Accommodations and return it to Mrs. Flynn in the Counseling,
College & Career Center by June 5, 2015. The Counseling, College & Career Center will be mailing home a letter detailing this
process to each eligible student and their parents in January. Eligibility forms are available online at www.collegeboard.org and from
Mrs. Flynn in the Counseling, College & Career Center.
VOTEC Trip for 10th Grade Students (Thursday, February 26)
On Thursday, February 26, students interested in learning more about VOTEC programs will have an opportunity to tour the Capital
Region Career & Technical School (VOTEC) and visit one or two of the classes in session. Refer to the Program of Studies for
further information on the various programs. Course guides are available in the Counseling, College & Career Center. Counselors
will inform students about the trip, and students should listen to morning announcements for further details. The field trip registration
deadline is Friday, February 13.
***FRESHMEN NEWS (CLASS OF 2018)***
The Class of 2018 counselors have been meeting with students who are having academic difficulty based on their first semester
grades. Academic support and suggestions have been discussed with the students. Information has been distributed to students on how
to access extra help with teachers, peer tutors and Homework Club. As part of the ninth grade program, counselors work with
students to establish good study habits, time management and organizational skills. Students are encouraged to use their agendas to
help them stay on top of their assignments and seek out their teachers for additional help. Establishing these good habits now will
assist students as they progress through more challenging courses throughout high school and beyond.
Reminder to All Freshmen
During Regents week, ninth graders taking Earth Science Honors and Earth Science Regents courses will be taking a mid-term exam.
This exam will be given on Tuesday, January 27 @ 8:00 A.M in HS West. Earth Science teachers will be providing more information
to students in their classes.
Course Selection Process
In January, students will be given a copy of the Program of Studies to use in the course selection process. In February, counselors will
be meeting with students during “off-labs” periods. During these meetings, students will receive information regarding making their
course selections for next year using their teacher recommendations, current achievement, and graduation requirements. After these
initial presentations, students will meet individually with their counselor to finalize their selections. A copy of the course selections
will be mailed home March 23rd for parents/guardians to review.
Freshman Off-Lab Workshops
In September, students were shown a sample transcript.
A class discussion was held as to what is actually contained on a
Shenendehowa High School transcript, how it relates to graduation requirements, and its importance in post high school planning.
Extra help opportunities to increase academic performance were discussed and explored.
In October, students were introduced to an internet based program called Naviance/Family Connection. An overview of the program
was explained and students were encouraged to develop the resume section. Parents can access the program through their child’s
account. A letter to parents was sent out through the parent portal.
In November, students started career exploration working with Naviance/Family Connection. Students were introduced to the “Career
Cluster Finder” helping them identify careers based on activities of interest, personal qualities, and subjects they may enjoy studying
in school.
*IMPORTANT DATES*
Jan. 1
Jan. 5
Jan. 13-17
Jan. 19
Jan. 26-29
Jan. 30
Jan. 30
Mail FAFSA Forms ASAP
Classes Resume
Sophomore Naviance Training/Career Exploration
Martin Luther King Day – No School
Regents Exams (No Classes Gr. 9-12)
1st day of 2nd Semester (Classes Resume)
Student Schedules Distributed in Homerooms
Feb. 4& 5
Feb. 9
Feb. 13
Feb. 11
Feb. 16-20
Feb. 26
Course Selection Presentations
2nd Quarter Report Card Distribution
VOTEC Field Trip Permissions Slips Due
SCCC Instant Admit Day @ Shen
Mid-Winter Break
VOTEC Field Trip
March 9
March 18
March 25
March 16-18
Mid-Quarter Grades updated to Portal
Next Step-Naviance Information Night
HVCC Instant Admit Day @ Shen
Junior Naviance Training
April 6
April 3–10
April
April 22
April 30
SAT Registration Deadline (Test Date-May 2)
Spring Break
2015-2016 Course Selection Deadline
College Admission Panel & College Fair
3rd Quarter Report Card Distribution
May 2
May 6
May 8
May 21
May 28
SAT @ Shen
CDCA College Fair @ HVCC
ACT Registration Deadline (Test Date-June 13)
Mid-Quarter Grades updated to Portal
Senior Awards Night 6:30 PM @ HSE
June 13
June 16- 25
June 25
July 2
July 13
ACT @ Shen
Regents Exams
Graduation @ SPAC 1:30 P.M.
Final Report Cards Mailed
Final Transcripts Released to Colleges

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