RVH School Counseling
January 2019
About Our Department
The Riverside School Counseling department is a team of 14 dedicated individuals working collaboratively to meet the needs of 1,812 students, including teachers and parents. We have an open-door policy, but at times we are needed at meetings or have scheduled appointments with other students and parents. To serve you more efficiently, we ask that you please call or email us to schedule an appointment. Welcome to our new parent liaison, Susan Sabloff, and to our new registrar, Susan Westgate!
We support Riverside High School by:
working with staff to address obstacles that interfere with students’ learning and success.
focusing on skill development through a variety of ways, such as small group or individual counseling sessions, classroom guidance, and consultation and coordination with parents, administrators, and teachers.
helping when students experience challenges. We focus on conflict resolution, transitions, study skills, test-taking skills, crisis intervention, bullying prevention, suicide prevention, and special needs of students.
preparing students with post-grad planning. College visits, career days, internships, scholarships, and job matching are just a few resources available to help our students succeed in life after high school.
RVHS School Counseling Office Hours
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:15 pm
Website: http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/domain/17735
Get connected with us on remind, text @7a0b5 to 81010
Follow us on twitter @RVHCounseling
Rob Yarborough, Director of School Counseling
Susan Westgate, Registrar
Marsha Gobrecht, School Counseling Assistant
Evan Rodgers, School Counselor (12th A-CL; 9-11th A-CARR)
Kevin Burke, School Counselor (12th CM - HOO; 9-11th CARS-GH)
Cassandra Asekhauno, School Counselor (9-11th GI-KOO)
Scott Valyear, School Counselor (12th HOP-MCC; 9-11th KOP-NI)
Anna Rizzo, School Counselor (12th MCD-ROSE; 9-11th NJ-SE)
Amy Burgess, School Counselor (12th ROSF-Z; 9-11th SEF-Z)
Robin Robinson, Career Center Specialist
Noelia Garcia-Gettmann, School Psychologist
Mrs. Frances Jester, Social Worker
Kim Hager, Student Assistant Specialist
Susan Sabloff, Parent Liaison
IMPORTANT DATES
Second Quarter Report Cards
Thursday January 17th marked the end of the 2nd quarter. Final grades are in and report cards will be posted on studentvue/parentvue as of Friday January 25th. Mid-year transcripts for Seniors will be sent to colleges they have applied to in early February.
Course Selection Process for the 2019-2020 School Year
Dear Parents and Students,
The course selection process for the 2019-20 school year will start February 4th. Please review all of the events listed below that we have planned to assist in making the best possible course selections for next year. For more details about the process click here.
We strongly encourage all parents and students to attend our School Wide Curriculum Fair/Open House on February 6th at 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to talk directly with our Riverside faculty about all courses being offered next year.
We will also be hosting the Rising 9th Grade Parent Orientation February 6th at 6:30pm in the auditorium to discuss transition. The Riverside faculty and staff look forward to assisting our RAM Families with this important course registration process.
Sincerely,
Rob Yarborough
Director of School Counseling
Academies of Loudoun /Monroe Advanced Technical Academy
Academies of Loudoun (ACL) 2019 Winter Admissions Information Sessions
All grade 9-11 students and their parents who are interested in applying to the Advanced AET and/or MATA Programs are encouraged to attend an evening information session. All information sessions will be held in the noted school's auditorium.
January 24, 2019 John Champe High School 6:30 -7:30 pm
February 6, 2019 Loudoun Valley High School 6:30 -7:30 pm
February 20, 2019 Park View High School 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Each session will provide information about the programs being offered at the Academies of Loudoun during the 2019 Winter Admissions Cycle. We will discuss program content, admissions criteria and the application process followed by a Q&A session.
March 8, 2019 - Winter admissions window closes at 12pm "noon". $35 application fee must be paid before applicant can proceed in the application.
March 9, 2019 - Advanced AET Admissions Assessment (writing prompt and interest statement) administered at the Academies of Loudoun only.
March 9, 2019 - MATA Practical Nursing Admissions Assessment (Test of Essential Academic Skills - TEAS) administered at the Academies of Loudoun only.
March/April 2019 – Admissions offers will be posted in admissions portal
April/May 2019 - Students must accept or decline all admissions offers
2018-2019 AP Testing
We are pleased that your student is taking an Advanced Placement (AP) class during the 2018-2019 school year. As you and your student plan for AP testing this coming May, we want to remind you of a few important items.
Students and/or their parents/guardians pay the costs for the AP examinations. Each exam is $85.00, and this cost must be paid by March 1, 2019.
To pay for AP Exam fees, we encourage everyone to use the LCPS on-line payment system for electronic payments which is located on the Loudoun County Public School’s website. The payment portal is now available, but please note that if you do pay electronically through the LCPS payment portal, there is a credit card service charge. See attached online payment directions. Check and cash payments will also be accepted in the RVHS School Counseling Office. If you wish to pay by cash or check, the enclosed “RVHS AP Exam Payment Form” must accompany your payment. If paying by check, please make checks payable to Riverside High School and please write in the student’s name in the subject line. The payment form is not necessary if you submit your payment online.
If a family needs to arrange for a payment plan or anticipates difficulty in paying for the exam, the family should speak confidentially with their student’s school counselor.
The dates of the AP exams are attached and lists the schedule of the specific dates of individual AP exams scheduled at Riverside for May 6 to May 17, 2019. Please make every effort to schedule vacations, appointments, or other activities on dates that do not conflict with the testing dates. Make-up testing is only permitted for verified emergencies.
If you have questions about AP exams, please contact your student’s school counselor.
We wish your student a successful academic experience.
Class of 2019 Information
Dear Senior Rams and Parents:
We know that many of you are well along in the application process and are awaiting word from your chosen colleges and universities. For students who are still working on applications, here are links to your Senior Self-Assessment and Parent Assessment, which are required should you need a counselor letter of recommendation. These Assessments should be returned to counselors soon if counselor recommendations are needed. Counselors have been and will continue to meet with their seniors to discuss their post-secondary plans. We look forward to working with your senior this year! Please check out our Senior Resources page https://www.lcps.org/Page/181786
Class of 2020 Information
UPCOMING EVENTS
Northern Virginia Community College
NOVA's High School Outreach Coordinator Cathy Hall will be visiting the Career Center on February 5th at 12 noon to meet with students who are interested in applying to and attending NOVA. Students can sign up to vist with her via their Naviance account and she visits with us on a monthly basis if there are follow up questions/new students interested.
Landmark College/Summer Programs/Post Grad/Gap Year Program
Mental Health and Wellness Events
Parent Resource Schedule
Internet Safety and Vaping Forum
TESTING
PSAT Scores
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Information
Attention 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Parents & Students,
The Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Students in grades 9-11 took the PSAT on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.
Students will be able to view their PSAT score report online on December 11, 2018. To access PSAT scores students can sign in using their College Board account if they are already registered. If they do not have an account, they can simply create one.
To assist students further, we handed out students paper score reports and their test booklets through their advisory class on Wednesday January 9th, 2019! If you still have not received your score report, please see Mrs. Robinson in the career center!
For 10th & 11th graders that took the PSAT/NMSQT, please visit this College Board site for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/scores?ep_mid=11199955&ep_rid=248802157
For students in 9th grade that took the PSAT 9, please click on this link for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/scores
If you have additional questions, please feel free to call the School Counseling Office at (703) 554-8907.
ACT and SAT Test Dates
ACT
Test date - February 9, register by January 11
Test date - April 13, register by March 8 (at JCHS)
Test date - June 8, register by May 3
Test date - July 13, register by June 14
FREE ACT STUDY GUIDE: https://www.mometrix.com/academy/act-study-guide/
SAT
Test date - March 9, register by February 8
Test date - May 4, register by April 5
Test date - June 1, register by May 3
FREE SAT PREP on Khan Academy - sync your College Board account to prep from your PSAT
Naviance & Kaplan Livestreaming Courses
The courses align to the industry College, Career and Life Readiness (CCLR) Framework and help students develop critical academic skills, interpersonal skills, career knowledge, college preparation knowledge, and transition skills to support their academic journey.
Learn more about the https://www.naviance.com/content/kaplan-partnership and access implementation resources, including email templates to share the courses with students and parents.
SAT Classes with RVH Teachers March and May 2019
Military Opportunities
ASVAB Testing
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors interested in the military? The next ASVAB test will be held at John Champe HS on January 25, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.The ASVAB test is open to all LCPS students, grades 10-12. Please pre-register by checking with Mrs. Robinson in the Career Center at Riverside if you intend to test.
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program can help young adults identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations and develop effective strategies to realize career goals.
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is one of the most widely used, multiple-aptitude tests in the world, developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. More than half of all high schools nationwide administer the ASVAB test to students in grades 10, 11 and 12 (sophomores cannot use their scores for enlistment eligibility).
The ASVAB consists of the following eight individual tests:
-General Science
-Arithmetic Reasoning
-Word Knowledge
-Paragraph Comprehension
-Mathematics Knowledge
-Electronics Information
-Auto and Shop Information
-Mechanical Comprehension
Students are provided with scores on each of these individual tests and three Career Exploration Score composites: Verbal Skills, Math Skills and Science and Technical Skills. The battery takes approximately three hours to complete, and test results are returned to schools in a few weeks.
The Military uses students’ ASVAB scores to identify the occupations that best suit their abilities. Junior, senior and post-secondary school students can use their ASVAB scores for enlistment for up to two years after taking the test.
More information on the ASVAB can be found here.
Partners for Safe Teen Driving
If you missed your required Partners for Safe Teen Driving course, these are your FINAL opportunities this year. Students must attend a PSTD session in order to get your driver's license.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
If you need an official transcript, or for general assistance with scholarships, please see Mrs. Robinson in the Career Center.
Naval Officers' Spouses Club of Washington D.C
The Naval Officers’ Spouses Club (NOSC) of Washington, D.C. is accepting applications from dependents of USN officer and enlisted active duty or retired personnel. Scholarship awards will be given to dependents in the following categories:
* High School Seniors
* Spouses
Blank applications are available at http://www.noscdc.org
Completed applications must be postmarked by April 1st, 2019. Direct all queries to Mary K Page at scholarship@noscdc.com.
Jeffrey C. Fowler Memorial Scholarship
Applicants for this scholarship must be a graduating senior from a LCPS high school and planning to become a full-time student at an accredited college or university. The applicant must carry at least a 2.5 grade point average. A 500 word essay on “How My Passion for Sports Has Influenced My Life” must be completed as part of the application. Two letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches or administrators must be submitted as digital PDF file to the recommendation portal. Information and the online application form can be found at https://www.locosports.info/. Deadline for this scholarship is March 28, 2018.
Apple Federal Credit Union
Beat the Odds Loudoun
Promise Scholars
8th Annual STEM Essay Contest for Young Women
Governor Ralph Northam and the Virginia Council on Women today announced the 8th Annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Essay Contest for young women in their junior and senior years of high school. The Council will award at least five $5,000 scholarships to high school junior and senior young women who will be pursuing a STEM career at an institution of higher education. One scholarship will be awarded in each of five geographic regions across the state. Additional scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the Council.
“It is critical that we prepare all Virginia students to succeed in fields like science, technology, engineering, and math, and this annual contest is a great way to encourage more young women to explore their passions and pursue careers in these industries,” said Governor Northam. “The scholarships awarded by the Council will help Virginia women achieve their academic and professional goals in high-demand sectors that are charting the path of our global economy today and into the future.”
The STEM Essay Contest was launched in 2012 with 170 young women from across the Commonwealth submitting essays focusing on their vision for a future STEM education or career. In its first year, the Council raised $10,000 and made three scholarship awards. Now, in its eighth year, the Council has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships. The Council partners with the Math Science Innovation Center, which, has served as a regional math and science center since its establishment in 1966, to administer the contest.
To be eligible, one must be a female or identify as a female, reside in Virginia, be a junior or senior in high school and hold at least a 2.5 GPA. Applications and guidelines are available online here.
Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on February 22, 2019. Essays will be judged by a panel of Council members and individuals who represent STEM fields. Winners will be notified by March 21, 2019. The scholarship awards will be presented at a reception at the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, in April 2019.
2019 Girl Scout Leadership Conferences
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Summer Internship Opportunity at Janelia Research Campus
The Janelia-LCPS Summer Internship Program will offer high school students attending Loudoun County Public Schools the opportunity to spend eight weeks at Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, performing research using state-of-the-art technology and methods to answer questions in biology and computational science under the guidance of group leaders, scientists and engineers. Selected students will have the opportunity to attend seminars by Janelia researchers, as well as to participate in journal clubs and other events.
In 2019, the program will run from June 14th to August 9th. Please note that this is a full-time paid internship to which you will be dedicating 40 hours per week, and therefore it is expected that you will not undertake other organized activities that conflict with the program and will plan vacations around the internship dates. Students selected will be responsible for their own housing, food, and travel to and from Janelia.
We accept applications for students attending an LCPS high school who are in good academic standing and will be 16 years old by June 13, 2019.
We are looking for students with strong biology and computational background who have demonstrated a high level of academic standard and have experience in scientific research. Projects cover a wide variety of topics including machine learning algorithms, data annotation, reconstruction of neural networks, animal behavior analysis and optogenetics. High school students interested in computer programming, engineering, mathematics, physics, and neuroscience are encouraged to apply. Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, and/or C++ is strongly encouraged.
For full consideration, applications must be received before 5 pm on January 15, 2019. For more information please go to https://www.lcps.org/Page/200365 .
JOB AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Job Opportunities at Douglass Community Center
Douglass Community Center in Leesburg is currently looking to hire rising juniors/graduating seniors for our instructor and camp leader positions. Students may contact us via phone or email at 703-771-5913 or dcc@loudoun.gov if interested.
Continental Pools- Lifeguarding Jobs
Atomic Trampoline is Hiring
Williams Martial Arts and Fitness
Williams Martial Arts & Fitness in Ashburn is looking for dependable, energetic and responsible Riverside students to work with children K-6 in the afternoon. As a counselor, you will be helping them with homework, supervising group games, creating activities, and inspiring them to become responsible, confident young adults. Please call 703-858-3800 or email gowmaf@gmail.com if you are interested.
Community Pools- Lifeguarding Jobs
Choolaah BBQ
Slapfish Restaurant
The Yellow Pail Project
For additional information about anything listed in our newsletter, please visit our website or contact our office at (703) 554 -8907.
Thank you,
RVH Counseling