Vikings Counselor Connection
Schreiber Guidance Department Newsletter - October 2021
A note from the Director's Desk
Greetings, Schreiber! It's hard to believe that we are three-quarters of the way through 2021. October is a busy month in Guidance. We hosted our first college mini-fair on September 29th and will host three more this month. Our Freshman Family Night will take place on October 6th. Social-emotional lessons are also well underway. You can see more highlights and information throughout this newsletter.
October also presents us with an excellent opportunity to "check in" with ourselves. Now that the first few weeks of school have come and gone, it's a good time to pause and reflect upon our progress. Think about the anticipation we feel prior to the first few days of school. We set goals and establish new routines. But once we're fully immersed in our day-to-day activities, we might get so caught up that we forget to assess those goals along the way. Full disclosure - I can be guilty of that! The great thing about goals is that we can always adjust them when needed. Our goals should be meaningful to us and attainable, otherwise, how can we measure success? And besides, what good is a goal if it's not something we care about? So, this month, I encourage all of us to take stock in what we've learned over the past few weeks about ourselves and the world around us. Are our actions and our routines aligned to our values and goals, or do they need some adjusting while the school year is still new?
Your counselors are an excellent resource and partner as you navigate your four years at Schreiber. If you want to discuss your goals, please schedule some time with your counselor. And, if something in this message particularly resonates with you, my door is always open as well.
All the best,
Lorrie Director, Pre-K-12 Director of Guidance
High School Guidance Team
Counselors and email addresses
Guidance Office phone: (516) 767-5810
Office Hours: 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Ms. Cangemi (Substitute for Mr. Gomez) jcangemi@portnet.org
Ms. Cerny ncerny@portnet.org
Ms. Garcia vgarcia@portnet.org
Ms. Jacobson ljacobson@portnet.org
Ms. Linsner klinsner@portnet.org
Mr. Lorge jlorge@portnet.org
Ms. Ludwig jludwig@portnet.org
Ms. Rafferty drafferty@portnet.org
Ms. Strell dstrell@portnet.org
Announcements
Schreiber Writing Center
Click the link below for more information.
Attention: Class of 2022
- By now, you all should have returned a signed copy of your transcript to collegeinfo@portnet.org or to Ms. Valeo in the Guidance Office.
- Be sure to submit your completed College Processing Form when you have applied to your first college. Follow all instructions, and pay attention to deadlines!
- FAFSA opens October 1!
- Does your college require the CSS Profile? Click here for a list of participating schools.
- Know your Naviance login and password!
- Remember to check your Portnet email!
- Join the Guidance Class of 2022 Remind to receive reminders via text message. Come to Guidance for more information.
Senior College - Financial Aid Night
Senior College/Financial Aid Night was held on Monday, September 20th. For those of you who were unable to attend, you may view the presentations below:
College Representatives visit Schreiber
We strongly encourage you to register for the visits to ensure the meeting space complies with COVID guidelines.
Students must inform their teacher if they are visiting a college rep during class.
You can also see a schedule of visits on the Guidance bulletin board outside of the Main Office.
Mini College Fairs are back!
All Mini Fairs will be from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. A list of colleges attending each fair will be posted on the Guidance bulletin board prior to the event.
Attention Sophomores and Juniors registered for the PSAT/NMSQT on October 16th!
Please come to the Guidance Office to pick up a student practice book if you have not already done so. See the test day checklist to learn what you can and can't bring with you on PSAT day.
Juniors - save the date!
Social-emotional learning
Mrs. Garcia's social emotional learning lessons are well under way. In September, freshmen identified stressors and learned coping strategies to help manage stress. Sophomores, it will be your turn this month. You will be notified of the schedule in advance and through the daily announcements.
Requests for Test Accommodations
Freshman Family Night - October 6th, 2021
This presentation will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live stream.
Port SEPTA - Transition to College and Accommodations.
Unity Day is coming - October 20, 2021!
Club Fair
8 Tips for Your Teen to Stay Organized
1. Get a planner and keep it updated
Talk to your student and find what planner would work best. Some teens prefer paper planners, while others would rather use a digital organizer. Make sure to stay on top of keeping important dates, commitments, events, assignments, etc. updated in your new planner.
2. Make a to-do list every night
Whatever you didn't get done by the end of the day, go ahead and write it down and try again tomorrow. By making a list, you're able to cross things off as you go through them during the day, which makes you work harder and become more motivated.
3. Reward yourself
Setting small goals along the way also helps you become more motivated and efficient. For example; allowing yourself to watch one episode of your favorite show AFTER you write three pages of that paper you're working on.
4. Schedule specific times for high priority tasks
Break down big projects into small, obtainable tasks. Depending on the due date, you could devote two days out of the week to spend one to two hour on it, so that you're not cramming the night before it's due. Remember to schedule time for self-care, too!
5. Bring work with you
Great news, you have a Chromebook! There is ALWAYS an opportunity to use that extra ten minutes to chip away at your assignments. Practicing this could potentially earn you an entire night off of homework!
6. Turn off social media notifications
When you're using your allotted time to work on something you must get done, try turning off the notifications to avoid temptation of getting sidetracked.
7. Get some sleep
You will be forgetful and/or ineffective in anything you're trying to get done if you aren't well-rested. Even if you haven't met your goal for that day, just go to sleep and start with a fresh mind the next day.
8. Keep your priorities straight
Sometimes our to-do lists can be long and overwhelming. It's hard to know which task to begin first. Each week, you should prioritize your tasks at hand, so you have a better grip on your busy schedule.
The Power of Mindfulness
Did you know that the practice of mindfulness can help with our productivity, attitudes, and success? Take a look at the video below to see how staying in the present moment can help us cope during these uncertain times!