Counseling Connection
April Edition
-Indian Proverb
6 Ways to Combat Spring Fever and Stay Focused on Your Studies
This time of year can be tough for a student—especially a busy, working student who just wants to get outside and enjoy the spring sunshine. So when the school day ends, how do you fight the urge to skip the homework? Here are six tips that might help.
- Perform a little "spring cleaning" in your workspace. Clear your desk, dispose of old material, and reduce your digital clutter.
- Plan ahead and create a to-do list with mile markers before you sit down to study. Once you reach a goal, reward yourself.
- Study in the shade outside. Being relaxed helps clear the mind and absorb information, so sit under a tree or on the patio while studying and enjoy the warm weather.
- Keep healthy snacks on hand that will fuel your brain and improve your ability to maintain mental alertness, stay focused, and retain information. Apples, nuts, whole grains, berries, or dark chocolate are a few ideas.
- Exercise before you study. Go for a bike ride or a walk before you hit the books. Your head will be clearer and your spirit will be brighter as a result.
- When your motivation is lagging, take a moment to look at the big picture. Remember what you are working toward and how far you've come.
http://www.wgu.edu/blogpost/6-ways-combat-spring-fever-and-stay-focused-your-studies#
Resource Conservation Workshop
CTE Corner
Health Care Camp
Attention rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders! Are you interested in attending a health care camp this summer? If so, please see Ms. Bartell in the School Counseling Center for more information.
Summer Jobs
The Swim Club Management Group will be in the Student Center during lunches on Friday, March 31 to speak with anyone interested in finding out more information about summer job opportunities.
2017-2018 Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Attention Rising 12th graders, are you interested in getting paid to go to college while in high school; if so, then you should apply to the Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The Pre-Apprenticeship Program is partnered with Greiner Bio-One, South Piedmont Community College, and Union County Public Schools. If selected for the Pre-Apprenticeship Program; the student will take morning classes at CATA while their afternoon is split between classes at SPCC and working at Greiner Bio-One, as well as, be paid for approximately 20 hours per week which is a combination of training, attending classes and work. While in the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, students will receive High School Credit for their Community College courses and it provides a potential opportunity to be selected for the Registered Apprenticeship Program, as well as, providing hands on training to develop technical skills. In order to qualify for the Pre-Apprenticeship Program students must be a rising high school senior, have a current GPA of at least a 2.5, with a minimum GPA of 2.8 at Graduation to be considered for the Registered Apprenticeship Program, have enough high school credits to allow community college courses in their senior schedule and be able to attend a 3-4 week summer program beginning on July 10 2017. A Pre-Apprentice Information Session will be held on April 3, 2017 at 6:00 pm in the SPCC Tyson Family Center for Technology 3509 Old Charlotte Highway Monroe, NC 28110. For more information, please contact Ms. Bartell in guidance.
2017-2018 CTE Internship
Attention Rising 12th graders, if you have taken at least two Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses, and are interested in participating in a CTE Internship next school year, stop by the guidance office and pick up an application from Mrs. Bartell. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Bartell at Elizabeth.bartell@ucps.k12.nc.us
Junior Jot
5 things high school juniors can do now to make senior year easier
You’re almost done with high school. Just one more year to go! Senior year is a big deal, but luckily there are some things that you can do now to prepare for college applications and make your final year much less stressful. Get started with these five tips.
1. Get a head start on researching and visiting colleges
Researching and visiting colleges before your senior year will give you more time focus on your college applications in October and November. Even if you don’t end up applying to these schools, your initial tours will help you get a feel for what you’re looking for in a college. You’ll get a better sense of what you prefer in terms of things like size, campus location, and social scene. Sign up for colleges’ mailing lists and try to visit or get in touch with current students if you have questions. If you don’t have opportunities to visit campuses, attend a local college fair or information session.
2. Start thinking about college recommendation letters
Your sophomore and junior year teachers are generally the best choice to write a college recommendation letter, but it sometimes takes some thinking to select teachers who you feel know you best. Often a personal connection is more important than grades in the teachers’ class, so this is something you should keep in mind as the school year comes to a close. It may even be a good idea to talk with some of your teachers before the end of junior year. If many students are interested in asking these teachers for recommendations, they may be flooded with requests in the fall.
3. Create a resume of high school achievements
Put together a list of test scores, extracurricular activities, honors, awards, and jobs that you’ve held during high school. This academic resume will come in handy frequently during the college process. You can bring copies to interviews, attach it to college applications, and use it to fill out the Common Application quickly. Organizing your profile will help you get a sense of what you’ve done so far and where you may need to patch up some holes in your application. It can also be very helpful when it comes to brainstorming essay topics. Reviewing your activities and accomplishments over three years of high school can remind you of points to highlight and experiences to write about.
4. Do something personally meaningful over the summer
Many students overthink their summer activities before senior year — selective programs and impressive internships aren’t the only options. A meaningful summer activity can be anything from volunteering locally to taking a course for college credit to a job at your neighborhood ice cream parlor. If you think you’ll truly enjoy an experience and gain something valuable from it, this will appear much more genuine on a college application than anything you’ve done solely for the purpose of padding your resume.
5. Create a fall schedule
If you plan to take or retake the SAT, ACT, or SAT subject tests, organize a time frame and register as early as possible. It’s also a good time to consider applying for selective overnight programs that some colleges offer in the fall — they are often centered around diversity or a specific field like STEM. Not only is this a way to get on the radar of college admission offices, spending the night at a school is a great opportunity to explore the institution on a deeper level.
Keep these simple steps in mind as you wrap up your junior year of high school. Senior year doesn’t have to be stressful if you’re prepared.
Important Dates & Announcements
Important Dates:
- The registration deadline for the June 10th ACT is May 5th. The late registration deadline is May 6th - 19th.
- The registration deadline for the June 3rd SAT is May 9th. The late registration deadline is May 24th.
- Spring Break is April 10th - 14th
- Prom is April 22nd at the Bottle Factory
- AP testing is May 1st - 12th
- Report Cards will be sent out on May 10th
- May 29th is Memorial Day- no school
Announcements:
- The SAT is not given at the school level. Students may register for the SAT for their desired test date and test location HERE.
- Fee waivers for the SAT and ACT are granted to students who meet eligibility such as: enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. Waivers are available in the Counseling Office.
- Students interested in academy courses around the county or at Parkwood should come see Ms. Bartell in the Counseling Office. Also see Ms. Bartell if you have questions about interviewing, jobs, planning for a career, resume’ writing etc.
About Us
Counseling Staff:
Anne Sutton- 9th Grade Counselor, Drop Out Prevention Coordinator
Jim Williams - 10th Grade Counselor, 504 Plan Coordinator
Breanne Villas- 11th Grade Counselor, Middle School Transition Coordinator
Chrissy Rape- 12th Grade Counselor, Department Chair, Testing Coordinator
Elizabeth Bartell- Career Development Coordinator
Brenda Bigham- Counseling Center Administrative Assistant
Website: http://unioncounty.schoolwires.net/Page/3851
Phone: (704) 764-2900
Twitter: @PWHScounselors