Vikings Counselor Connection
Schreiber Guidance Department Newsletter January 2024
A note from the Director's Desk
Welcome back, and Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed many festive occasions with loved ones during the holidays.
We have a busy January here in Schreiber Guidance and Counseling. Junior planning conferences will begin the week of January 8th for the Class of 2025. For those of you who could not attend the evening meeting, a recording is shared below. By mid-month, we will release our course planning guide for 2024-2025. Scheduling meetings will take place in February. See below for more information.
Students, January is an excellent time for self-reflection and to update your goals. Your counselors are an excellent resource and can provide you with tips and strategies for success.
And with Regents exams later this month, I've included some articles from the Child Mind Institute on how to cope with test anxiety. Students, please see your counselor if you want to discuss coping strategies related to test anxiety.
Have a happy and safe January!
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
Counselors:
Ms. Cerny ncerny@portnet.org
Ms. Garcia vgarcia@portnet.org
Ms. Jacobson ljacobson@portnet.org
Ms. Hazan khazan@portnet.org
Mr. Lorge jlorge@portnet.org
Ms. Ludwig jludwig@portnet.org
Ms. Poma jpoma@portnet.org
Ms. Rafferty drafferty@portnet.org
Ms. Strell dstrell@portnet.org
Clerical staff:
Ms. Hasselberger, Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Marzec, Ms. O'Kelly
Introducing the Viking COVE
Have you heard?? Schreiber's room 112 has been rebranded with a new vision..the Viking COVE. The COVE is our College and Career Office of Viking Exploration, and a place for all students to learn about post-secondary opportunities. The COVE is the home for college rep visits, workshops, and other information sessions. Students, have any ideas for the Cove? Feel free to stop by Ms. Director's office to discuss.
Schreiber Guidance and Counseling Website
In addition to reading this newsletter, please check the Schreiber Guidance and Counseling website for up to date information from our department. Previous newsletters are also on our webpage for your reference. Students, be sure to check our bulletin board regularly and listen to daily announcements, and get in the habit of checking your Portnet email regularly to stay up to date! Previous newsletters are also on our webpage for your reference.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
US Department of Education Announces "Soft Launch" of 2024-2025 FAFSA
Important information regarding the FAFSA
The following information is from https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support:
The 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is available periodically as part of a soft launch. During the soft launch, the FAFSA form will be available for short periods of time while the U.S. Department of Education monitors site performance and form functionality. It is expected that the site will pause for maintenance and to make technical updates as needed to provide students and parents with a better experience.
The FAFSA can be completed to apply for financial aid to help pay for attendance at college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. There is plenty of time to complete the FAFSA form. If you submit your form during the soft launch, your information will be saved, and you won’t need to resubmit your form or any related information. If your form is unavailable when you or your family members try to access it, please try again later.
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Ms. Poma's upcoming workshop is January 4, 2024 and the topic will be the new FAFSA. Please see the announcement below for details.
College & Career Webinars with Mrs. Poma
Parents, join Mrs. Poma, our Post-secondary counselor for webinars on topics related to college and career. Webinars will be held twice per month and will focus on a new topic each time.
Schedule of January chats:
Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 9:30 am. Topic: Understanding the new FAFSA.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:30 am. Topic: Supporting your junior through the college process
*A link will be shared prior to the webinar.
Click this link for recordings from previous chats.
Scheduling Timeline for 2024-2025
Preparation for 2024-2025 is already underway. Counselors will meet with students in February and March to discuss course planning for next year. See the schedule for counselor/student meetings below:
Freshmen: Week of February 12 - 16
Sophomores: Week of February 26 - March 1
Juniors: Week of March 4 - March 8
Week of March 11 - March 15: Clean-up week/missed appointments
Stay tuned for more information about your scheduling appointments - they will be shared with you in early February.
Vikings Ventures Career Series Coming Soon!
Career Exploration at Schreiber
Hey Vikings!
Get ready for Schreiber Guidance's new career series, "Vikings Ventures!" Mrs. Poma will kick off this initiative in late February/early March. Vikings Ventures is an immersion experience intended to bring awareness to various career paths. Students will have a better understanding of specific careers, required course work, and more. Mrs. Poma has already lined up community and university partnerships such as Stony Brook University School of Health Professions, and Northwell Health Medical Laboratory Professions.
Stay tuned to this newsletter and announcements for more information about Vikings Ventures!
Schreiber Alum Becomes Student Ambassador at SUNY Binghamton!
Amy Baxter, an alumna from Schreiber Class of 2022 recently contacted her counselor, Mrs. Jacobson, to share an exciting opportunity she is participating in at SUNY Binghamton.
Amy is a Student Ambassador for the Human Development major in Binghamton's College of Community and Public Affairs. In her words she states, "Human Development is an interdisciplinary program of study with an emphasis on social and policy analysis. The major helps students develop key skills such as leadership, project management, social research, policy analysis, and systems thinking and prepares students to enter fields like law, health care, education, psychology, policy, and speech pathology, among others. Personalized attention and learning, combined with guided career exploration and internships, directs students to enter fields they are passionate about and in which they are committed to making a difference."
Amy is a passionate student in pursuit of a career in education. If you would like more information about this program or to speak to Amy, please speak to your counselor. Information is also included below in the attached flyers.
Class of 2024
Community Scholarship Application Opens January 30th!
Seniors,
Set a reminder for Tuesday, January 30th - that's when the 2024 community scholarship application will be released! Each year, Schreiber High School offers community scholarships to seniors through the generosity of local sponsors. The local Community Scholarship Application will be available on January 30th, and will be due March 1st. A letter will be shared with further information next week via Synergy, Edlio, and your counselors' Google Classrooms.
*NEW* FAFSA for 2024-2025
The new FAFSA has been released by the U.S. Department of Education via a "soft launch." The Dept. of Ed. cautions students and parents that intermittent site updates are to be expected. Schreiber counselors have received updates from the New York State High Education Services Corporation. Earlier this month, studentaid.gov announced they would release the new FAFSA form by December 31st. Use this link to access the latest information on the new form.
Always remember that the first F in FAFSA is FREE. Applying for federal student aid is free, and if you have reached a website that is asking for a fee, you're on the wrong site. See your school counselor if you have any questions.
College Processing Form
Seniors, ready to give your counselor your college list? You can come to Guidance for the College Processing Form or click here for a digital copy from our website.
College Planning Guide Class of 2024
Class of 2025
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING JUNIOR CONFERENCES
Kind reminder to submit your planning documents!
Dear students and parents of the Class of 2025,
Schreiber school counselors are eager to begin junior planning conferences next week. This is a kind reminder for students to submit their planning documents to their counselor's Google classroom at least five days before your meeting. This gives your counselor sufficient time to read through your documents and consider appropriate options prior to your conference. Students, if you haven't joined your counselor's Google classroom, QR codes are posted on the Guidance bulletin board for you to scan. Counselors have all shared their appointment calendars with students, but if you have any questions, please come to Guidance and Counseling.
Documents can also be found on the website by clicking here.
Save the date! Junior Mock Interviews February 7th @6:30 pm
Everyone's favorite junior event returns on Wednesday, February 7th! Members of the junior class can participate in a mock interview experience with volunteers from Schreiber's HSA. Students can request either a college interview or a career interview. You will be matched up to an interviewer based on your interests. Sign up in Guidance beginning Monday, January 8th!
Junior Post-secondary Planning Night Recording
Juniors, if you or your families were unable to attend the meeting on Dec. 13th to discuss the post-secondary process at Schreiber, click here to watch a recording of the presentation.
Class of 2025 Post-secondary Planning Guide
Juniors! Have you checked out the college planning guide that was released last month? Click the link below for everything you wanted to know about applying to college. It's a great resource you'll use over and over again as you prepare for life after Schreiber. Be sure to read it prior to your junior conference, and come prepared with questions to ask. Bookmark this link, because you'll be using this over and over again over the coming months.
Method Test Prep - Everything You Need to Know about the Digital SAT
The following is from Tom Ehlers, Founder of Method Learning
Free Webinar! The Digital SAT - Everything You Need To Know
Evan Wessler has helped thousands of students prepare effectively for the SAT, ACT, and PSAT. He will host a webinar Thursday, January 18th at 8 pm Eastern titled The Digital SAT - Everything You Need to Know
Register here to attend live or to get the recording to watch at your convenience. Get all of your questions about the Digital SAT answered! This webinar is geared towards parents, students, educators and anyone else who would like to learn more about the Digital SAT and how it impacts the college admissions process.
Again, here is the link to learn more and to register to be on live with Evan or to receive the recording of the webinar to watch at your convenience.
Methodize (formerly Method Test Prep)
Are you interested in getting a quick sense of where your son or daughter stands as far as the SAT and ACT? Port Washington provides all families with access to Methodize, a learning tool that includes an SAT and ACT Evaluation Test. Students take short (15 to 25 minute) sections and get an accurate sense of where they stand.
Click on the QR code to activate your son or daughter's Methodize account. Again, there is no cost to the family; the district is already providing this program to all students.
Once you activate the account, click on the SAT or ACT course and scroll down to "Evaluation Test" to begin the diagnostic.
In addition to full SAT and ACT prep courses, Methodize also provides a Financial Literacy course, an Academic Success course, vocabulary builder module, and more!
PSAT Scores are IN
Juniors and Sophomores who took the PSAT in October may now find their scores in their Naviance Student account or at Collegeboard.org. Have questions about your scores? Make an appointment to see your counselor.
Twilight Program at Schreiber High School
Schreiber Twilight alternative high school is our new partnership with Nassau BOCES. Twilight provides an alternative setting in the late afternoon for students who may benefit from a smaller, more structured environment. Twilight provides students the tools to either return successfully to Schreiber during the day or to complete their high school requirements through Twilight. Twilight students are prepared for post-secondary education or employment upon graduation.
Students attend this Regents-based program in the late afternoon/early evening. Students receive strong academic and social-emotional support, as classes are small and largely student-focused.
Students can enroll in Twilight at any time. Our counseling and administrative team meet regularly with students and parents to discuss Twilight. If you have any questions about Twilight, or if you believe your student might be a candidate, please contact your student's counselor.
Passport for Good
Paul D. Schreiber is a Passport for Good school!
Passport For Good is a mobile-friendly web-based platform that simplifies, recognizes, and celebrates your engagement outside of the classroom. It allows you to journal and verify your community service, career development, and participation in extracurricular activities.
To make this transition a success, we need your help. You must first register for Passport For Good - Click the flyer below for the link and QR code to register. Once your account is activated, you are ready to begin using Passport For Good!
Some of Schreiber's clubs and groups have switched to using Passport For Good, logging their community service and career development hours directly within the platform.
Ask your Counselor if you have questions about Passport For Good.