Junior Newsletter
March 2020
Don't forget to sign up for the Four-Year College Field Trip!!
Upcoming Events at HRHS
4-Year College Field Trip
The UMASS and Springfield College field trips are quickly approaching. There are only 20 spots left on the UMASS trip so sign up soon if that is your preferred school.
The cost of the field trip is $7 for the UMASS field trip (students on free/reduced lunch are not required to pay). This fee is for lunch in the UMASS dining commons. Click here to check out the majors at UMASS.
The Springfield College field trip is free but students must bring money to buy lunch or bring a bag lunch. (students on free/reduced lunch can get a bag lunched through HRHS). Click here to check out the majors at Springfield College.
All juniors are expected to attend. Please return your permissions slips and money to the Guidance Office no later than Monday, March 23rd.
Life After High School Workshops - March 24th & 25th
Talk to Your Parents/Guardians
Ms. Scully has met with over half of the juniors and their families to discuss post high school plans and courses for next year. This meeting is helpful for students no matter their plans after high school!
If your parent/guardian would like to meet with you and Ms. Scully, please have them contact Ms. Scully at 413-437-5588 or ascully@hr-k12.org.
Students are also encouraged to make an appointment with Ms. Scully to discuss their college search or post-secondary plans anytime they would like assistance.
Springfield Technical Community College Field Trip
Are you interested in a career in engineering, computers or a medical field? If so, you are invited to attend a field trip to STCC on April 16th. During the field trip students can choose to tour the School of Engineering Technologies or the School of Health. Here is a list of the programs within each of these departments as well as a link to the departments' websites.
This field trip is open to students interested in 2 or 4 year colleges who want to learn more about these career fields. Click here to print a permission slip. The field trip will fill on a first come first serve basis. Last year there was a waiting list for the field trip. All permission slips due March 27th.
Dental Assistant
Dental Hygiene
Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technician
Nursing
Rehabilitation Therapies
Respiratory Care
Surgical Technology
School of Engineering Technologies and Mathematics
Computer and IT Security
Architecture and Building Technology
Automotive Technology
Biomedical Engineering Technology
Civil Engineering Technology
Computer Systems Engineering Technology
Digital Media Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Electronic Systems Engineering Technology
Energy Systems Technology
Landscape Design & Management
Optics and Photonics
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Telecommunications Technology
College Representative Visits
Check out who is coming to HRHS this Spring
University of Maine at Machias Mon March 9, 2020 7:45 AM
Bay Path University Fri March 13, 2020 10:00 AM
Paul Smith's College Wed March 18, 2020 10:00 AM
The University of Alabama Mon April 6, 2020 12:30 PM
Niagara University Tue April 14, 2020 10:00 AM
Other Opportunities
NACAC College Fair
The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) will be holding a college fair at the Big E. Attendance is free of charge. Click here to register for the event.
After registering, students can print out a barcode that college representatives can scan in order to obtain students’ contact information. This will allow students to spend their time talking with representatives instead of filling out their name and address multiple times.
Monday, April 6 - Springfield (Big E)
Young Building
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Myintuition
Myintution.org is another great resource to help students identify schools within your price range. In addition to giving you an idea of how much your schools of interest will cost you, myintuition.org also shows you a number of colleges that are in the price range you want to pay. These recommended schools are based on your GPA, test scores and family income. Check out: https://myintuition.org/
Summer Programs
HCC & GCC STEM Starter Academies
The STEM Starter Academy is part of a statewide initiative to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. This program is for students new to STEM (including high school students) who are interested in attending GCC or HCC. Participants take a summer science, technology, engineering or math class, receive intensive advising, tutoring and career support, and participate in special STEM-focused activities – for free! Students who complete the coursework earn college credit.
For more information about the HCC program, visit https://www.hcc.edu/courses-and-programs/areas-of-study/stem/stem-starter-academy
For more information about the GCC program, visit www.gcc.mass.edu/STEMacademy
Students who will be the first in their families to pursue a four year degree will be given preference for the GCC program.
Boys State and Girls State
This year’s program will run from June 13th-19th and will be located at Stonehill College in Easton, MA.
If you are a male and are interested in learning more about Boys State, click here. If you wish to apply to Boy State you can go to https://www.maboysstate.org/ and complete the Program Interest Form on the banner at the top of the page.
If you are a female student and you are interested in learning more about Girls State, click here. In order to apply for Girls State go to https://www.massgirlsstate.org/.
These programs are offered at no cost to the individual but are restricted to young adults under the age of 18 who are in-between their junior and senior years of high school.
Snow Farm Art Camp - Need-Based Scholarships
Snow Farm, located in Williamsburg, has a summer program open to students ages 14 - 18. The program focuses on studio classes in glassblowing, flameworking, ceramics, painting & drawing, metalsmithing & jewelry, and metal sculpture & fabrication.
Snow Farm has a number of need-based scholarships including one that is specific to students living in Williamsburg or Haydenville. Go to https://www.snowfarm.org/teens/summer-art-program for more information.
RPI PREFACE Program
Application Deadline: March 15
Click here for more information or to apply for the program.
Listing of summer programs...
SAT & ACT Information
SAT Essay - Should I take it?
SAT & ACT Test Dates
SAT
Test Date: May 2
Register By: April 3
You can pay a fee to register late until April 21
Test date: June 6
Register By: May 8
You can pay a fee to register late until May 27
*Subject tests are available during both of these testing dates*
Click here to register for the SAT
ACT
Test Date: April 4
Register By: Late Registeration Date - March 13th
Test Date: June 13
Register By: May 8
You can pay a fee to register late until May 22
Click here to register for the ACT
SAT Fee Waiver
Students who took the PSAT will automatically get a fee waiver for the SAT. The fee waiver has been added to your collegeboard.com account. You can take the SAT for free each time and you will receive fee waivers for college applications as well.
SAT & ACT Prep Options
SAT Online Prep - Khan Academy
Students can link their CollegeBoard account to Khan Academy to personalize test prep: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
ACT Online Prep
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/
ACT Academy
Local SAT Courses
Brian Leaf
Brian Leaf (Northampton) offers a number of test prep courses including one day intentive, 5 week and 8 week courses. Go to Brianleaf.com for more information.
Westfield State
Westfield State offers interactive on-line prep courses for both the SAT and ACT. There is also a week long SAT summer course that offers in-person instruction. Click here for more information about both of these options.
Job Shadow and Internship Experiences
Job Shadows
The best way to learn about a career is to experience it firsthand. A Job Shadow is when you observe someone at work for a few hours or full day. Juniors who participate in a job shadow are able to get an excused absence when they fill out this Job Shadow Form. The Job Shadow Form also provides information on how to find and set up a job shadow experience.
Advisories earn points for students who participate in a Job Shadow Experiences!
Internships
Students may participate in internships over the summer or during the school year. Students will be responsible for finding their own internship site, but can meet with Ms. Scully to help brainstorm possible locations and to prepare to apply for internships.
During the school year, students can earn credits for internships if they intern for 4 hours a week or more.
College Courses and Dual Enrollment - Next Steps
Steps to register for Dual-Enrollment
Whether you are interested in taking one college class or attending a community college full-time next year, here are the enrollment steps:
1. Return the Dual Enrollment (full-time college) or Joint-Admissions (one or two classes) application to Ms. Scully.
2. Meet with Ms. Scully to talk about your plans and course options.
2. Fill out the Dual Enrollment application at the college of your choice.
3. Contact the college's Dual Enrollment Coordinator to set up a meeting
HCC Dual Enrollment Coordinator - Jena Cochran 413-552-2321
GCC Dual Enrollment Coordinator - Tiffany Hardy 413-775-1208
4. Take the college placement test and register for classes.
5. Meet with Ms. Scully to review your classes.
6. Attend a Dual Enrollment Orientation at the college.