FCAHS Counseling Department News
March/April
Scheduling for 2020-2021 School Year
It’s hard to believe but we’re starting the scheduling process for the 2020-21 school year. All students received a copy of the course description guide, a course selection sheet, and instructions for choosing courses in PowerSchool.
Some tips with course selection:
- Review the 4 year plan in the back of the course description guide.
- Consider where you want to be by graduation (i.e. if you want to take Calculus BC AP, you may need to double up in PE during 10th grade).
- Select electives based on the Career Cluster guide (pg. 7) that match up with your current interests or areas you’d like to examine more in-depth (i.e if you are interested in the Health Sciences cluster, you may consider the Intro to Sport & Exercise Science).
- Email or go to the School Counseling Office to meet with your counselor to review course selections, ask questions, or complete your 4 year plan.
- Consider the many flexible & personalized options FCAHS offers like work experience (if you already hold a job); professional experience (if you’re planning to work on a political campaign or shadow at a local pharmacy); add a virtual course for your 1st or 4th period and start your day later or end after 3rd; or add a 5th period to your schedule.
10th Grade Curriculum & Counselor Meetings
All sophomores met with their school counselors on February 18th and 20th to explore careers and possible courses to take through Naviance; review their current transcripts; and for small group advisement.
During these meetings, students completed the “Do What You Are” assessment through Naviance. This personality assessment reveals information about a student’s strengths and blind spots, recommended career paths and college majors, as well as tips for conducting effective college searches. Students were then asked to synthesize this information by responding to a self-reflection that is stored in Naviance. This activity counts as a required career exploration activity in 10th grade to meet the state’s graduation career portfolio requirements.
Junior Post-Secondary Meetings
The School Counseling Department is continuing to conduct individual post secondary planning conferences with 11th grade students. These meetings will be held over the next few months either during your College & Career Essentials, QRT, or study hall. You will meet with your school counselor to review post-secondary plans, career assessments, college planning(if applicable), and testing requirements(if applicable). We will review resources available through Naviance and provide you with a packet of helpful post-secondary planning information.
The Zen Den Lunch Sessions
We are excited to offer our first week of lunch sessions open to all students from March 2nd through March 6th in the Zen Den! Whether you want to practice yoga, learn how to engage in guided relaxation, or practice mindful meditation, there is something for everyone!
You can always use the Zen Den any day during lunch for individual relaxation while the sessions are going on--just come on in, sit quietly, and relax.
The space is still a work in a progress but QRT sessions are also coming soon!
A.W. Beattie Open House
A.W. Beattie Open House
Want to learn more about the career and technical education center options available to you for free? Plan to attend the A.W. Beattie Career Center during their spring Open House Thursday, March 5th from 5:15 - 8:15. A.W. Beattie is available as a free elective option for any of our students in grades 11 and 12. We encourage you to attend the A.W. Beattie Open House to learn first-hand, more about programs you may be interested in pursuing. See your school counselor for more details.
Thursday, Mar 5, 2020, 05:15 PM
A.W. Beattie Career Center, Babcock Boulevard, Allison Park, PA, USA
Career Speaker Series
The Career Speakers Series takes place monthly for interested students to learn more about the careers being represented that day. The presentations take place during a 45 minute Career QRT day.
March 13th Career Speaker series: John Arrigo-Nelson - Music Composer
April 17th Career Speaker series: both Maggie Hall - Department of Environmental Protection and Adis Juklo - Meteorologist
The ASVAB assessment will be available to take at the high school Wed. April 1st 11:30am - 2:30pm for any interested junior or senior. See your school counselor for more information or Mr. Baxter for a permission slip.
Opportunities Fair
The school counseling office will be hosting the Annual FCAHS Opportunities Fair on Wednesday, April 29th.
Every student in the building we attend the fair in the main gym during a portion of 3rd period that day. We already have 98 vendors RSVP'd to attend with the number expected to continue growing before the day of the event! The fair is designed to provide opportunities for all students to explore options for employment, post-secondary education, volunteerism, military, vocational training, study abroad and summer camp opportunities.
Summer Opportunities
All of these opportunities are also great resume builders—they help to showcase a student’s talents beyond the classroom while also painting a more well-rounded picture of a potential job or college candidate to an interviewer.
If you’re looking for opportunities, check out the School Counseling Schoology Page. In addition to an ongoing Opportunities list, many summer camps and volunteer programs are also posted daily.
Opportunities
Check out the School Counseling Schoology page or look at "Enrichment Programs" under "Colleges Home" in Naviance for upcoming opportunties(summer, volunteer, apprenticeships, shadowing, etc.)
Schoology Access Code: RQ2TV-R5ZDH
https://student.naviance.com/foxchapelashs
Login using Clever and use your student email and password
Youth Mental Health Advocacy Workshop
On March 3rd, 2020 a small group of FCAHS students and counselors will attend Pittsburgh's 1st Youth Mental Health Advocacy Workshop at the Disability and Mental Health Summit.
Attendees will learn about the CHILL Project and Mindfulnes as well as the Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters Initiative.
Students and counselors will participate in small group discussions focused around the following issues: addressing mental health disparities; creating safe, inclusive school communities; promoting suicide prevention & awareness; educating teachrs and students in mental health; and All Health is Equal (Mental Health should be part of Health). The day will end with a Legislative Panel.
It is our goal to share the infomation we learn with our greater school community while looking at ways to implement new initiatives to address Mental Health.
The HOPE Center - March 24th
The HOPE Center will be speaking to the seniors about the importance of maintaining healthy dating relationships as they move on to adulthood. This includes communicating effectively, resolving conflicts, identifying relationship danger signs and breakup skills.
Articles
More Evidence Links Social Media Use to Poorer Mental Health in Teens
How to Help Teens Tackle Mental Health Issues With Reading
https://theweek.com/articles/884163/how-help-teens-tackle-mental-health-issues-reading
Elected Officials Discuss Need for Mental Health Support in Schools
ACT vs. SAT: How to Decide Which Test to Take
14 Need to Know Facts About Parent Plus Loans
March College Checklist for High School Seniors
https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/march-college-checklist-for-high-school-seniors
March College Checklist for High School Juniors
https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/march-college-checklist-for-high-school-juniors
Volunteering as a High School Student: Benefits, How to Get Involved, and Things to Keep in Mind
FCAHS Counseling Department
Our counselors are assigned by student last name. For last names starting in:
A-C Mr. Timothy McLister, Ext. 2439
D-G Mr. John Baxter, Ext. 2441
H-K Mrs. Dana Papalia, Ext. 2444
L-O Mrs. Rachel Machen, Ext. 2445
P-S Mr. Ben O’Connor, Ext. 2442
T-Z Ms. Tara K. DeComo, Ext. 2440
Website: https://www.fcasd.edu/domain/79
Location: 611 Field Club Road, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: 412-967-2437
Twitter: @fcahscounselors