STAYING CONNECTED
A newsletter from your IU 13 High School Counselor
May/June 2022
In This Issue, May/June 2022
If you read the April newsletter, one or two of these articles will look familiar. The metrics are showing me that only a handful of people opened the April newsletter, so I'm re-using a few of the more relevant topics for this Staying Connected!
For Students:
Feeling Good, Like I should! A Dose of Optimism (Video)
COLLEGE & CAREER STUFF
Juniors: Start Working On Your College Essays
What Are Your Summer Plans?
101 Things To Do Instead Of Mindlessly Scrolling (Video)
What Is The PSAT, And What Do You Need To Know About It?
College Prep Resource: MyCoalition
7 Ways 9th & 10th Graders Can Use MyCoalition To Get A Jump Start On College
Career Spotlight: HVAC-R Technician (Video)
PA Career Zone
SELF-CARE & GROWTH MINDSET
Self-Care Matters!
Shared Humanity
Blessings Come In All Shapes and Sizes (Video)
The Power of "Yet" (with video)
VERY IMPORTANT DATES
Just For Parents and Caregivers:
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
PACZ Parent Guide
What Should Your Teens Do Over The Summer?
College Road Trip
Feeling Good.. Like I Should! A dose of optimism
From the band, Surfaces
College and Career Stuff
Juniors - Start Working on Your College Essays!
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design
What Are Your Summer Plans?
That being said, it's also a time for thinking about your future. Now that finals are over, homework is finished, and class projects are history (for the 2021-2022 school year anyway), you will find yourself with a little extra time, and it's important that you use that time wisely and productively! What you do over the summer can help you land a great job after high school, or get accepted into that dream college. Employers and college admissions counselors will look at your activities to make decisions based on your motivations and desire to learn. They want to know that their decision to hire you or to enroll you will pay off for them, that you will be a productive addition to their environment.
Christine Sarikas, Editor at PrepScholar, offers the following advice to help you decide your summer plans. She suggests that you ask yourself three questions:
- What are your goals for the future? Do you want to get a good job? Get into a dream college? Think about ways you can spend your time over the summer to make yourself a strong candidate. Will getting work experience help? You may want to consider a job or internship. Are there classes you can take to strengthen your transcript? Summer school may be a good idea.
- What do you enjoy doing? You shouldn’t spend your summer doing something that makes you miserable. Are there certain extracurriculars, such as a club or sport, that you enjoy and want to continue over the summer? Is there a summer job that sounds interesting or fun? Try to find activities that will be both useful and enjoyable for you.
- How Busy do you want to be? It’s absolutely possible to do more than one of these activities during the summer. If there are multiple activities you’d like to do, feel free to do them. However, make sure you don’t become too busy or overwhelm yourself. Remember, summer is still about taking a break from school, and you don’t want to return to classes in the fall feeling burnt out and exhausted.
Here are six great summer activities suggested by Ms. Sarikas, to help build your resume or promote your college applications:
Get a Job: Having a job is a great way to get work experience that you can include on your resume and college applications, and it will earn you money that you can use to help pay for college or just for fun. Many summer jobs for high school students are part-time, but full-time jobs are also available, especially if you’ve already worked at that place before. Common summer jobs that high school students have include being a lifeguard, cashier, or camp counselor. Like any other activity, your job will impress colleges more if you stick with it and increase your responsibilities. If you can work at the same job over multiple summers and get promoted or have your responsibilities increased, that will make the job look stronger on your college applications. If you are able to find a summer job that relates to a subject you want to study in college or get a future job in, that will also help show colleges what your interests are and that you can commit to them.
Internship: Like a job, an internship involves working for a company or organization. However, internships are often more closely related to your career interests, and you may not always get paid to be an intern, especially as a high school student. If there’s a place you’d be interested in working at or learning more about, you can contact them directly and ask if they hire interns. If you can get an internship that relates to a future career you’d like to have or subject you’d like to study, that will show colleges that you have a real interest in that field. Schools like students who are passionate about something, and showing your passion in your internship will help boost your application.
Take Summer Classes: Taking classes may not be the most fun way to spend your summer, but they can help you stay on track in high school and prepare you for college. Some students take summer classes to improve their grades in a class they didn’t do well in the first time, some do it to take a class they wouldn’t have time for during the school year, and some use summer classes as a way to take college courses or advanced high school classes. Summer classes can be taken in a variety of ways, either through your high school, at a community college, through an academic program at universities, or even online. (Bonus Pro-tip from Mrs. Casanova: For FREE online college classes from leading colleges across the country, check out EdX, Coursera, and FutureLearn). Having college classes on your transcript, even if they are only introductory classes at a community college, can boost your application by showing schools that you’re able to handle the rigor and workload of college.
Hobbies or Talents: This is a broad category that can include sports, clubs, or other activities that you do either through school, with a local group, or on your own. Some examples include sports teams, clubs, or a hobby you do in your free time, such as painting, working on computers, or creating a small business. Colleges and employers like to see applicants who have outside interests and can commit themselves to a particular activity. Continuing your hobby during the summer is a great way to show that. Your hobby or talent will be most impressive to colleges if you have participated in it for an extended time period, have achieved a leadership position or more responsibility, and are passionate about it. For more information on how to do this, check out this guide with four examples of amazing extracurriculars. If you need help deciding which activity to pursue, check out this guide to hundreds of extracurricular examples, from PrepScholar.
Go To Camp!: Summer camps aren’t just for making s'mores and going on nature hikes anymore. More and more summer camps for high school students are being created that have unique focuses such as cultural immersion, performing arts, wilderness skills, and more. For this article, summer camps differ from regular extracurriculars because, even if they focus on the same area such as a sport, camps offer a more intensive, structured experience over a set period of time. Summer camps can vary widely in terms of quality and the activities that participants do, so it’s important to research a program before you enroll in it. Look for programs that reflect your interests, whether academic or otherwise. For example, if you want to be a doctor, try to find a science-based summer camp or a program that lets you learn more about what it’s like to study and practice medicine. This will help show colleges that you take your career path seriously and are genuinely interested in learning more about it.
Volunteering: Volunteering is when you do work that benefits others without receiving payment. There are many places where you can volunteer including schools, animal shelters, retirement homes, museums, and more. Most volunteer work is done near where you live, but there are also opportunities to do volunteer work abroad during the summer. This can be done through your school, place of worship, or an organization that offers these programs. In addition to the benefit of helping others, it’s often possible to choose volunteer work that relates to your interests. If you enjoy working with children, love spending time with animals, or want to work outside, you can often find a volunteer opportunity that allows you to do just that. Keep in mind that just completing a few hours of volunteer work won’t impress colleges very much. In order to make your volunteer work stand out, you’ll have to work at the same place over a long period of time, obtain a leadership position, and make your passion and interests clear.
AND, if this isn't enough to keep you busy and you're still looking for something to do, check out the GREAT tips in this video, from Jasmine, a freshman at UCLA:
What Is The PSAT and What Do You Need To Know About It?
The exam comes in three forms: the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10. The PSAT 10 is the same test as the PSAT/NMSQT, though students take these exams at different times of year. The PSAT 8/9 acts as a baseline for college readiness, according to the College Board, the test-maker, while the other two allow "check-in on student progress."
The PSAT is "a slightly shorter and slightly easier version of a test kids will be taking their junior and senior year," explains Jed Applerouth, founder and president of Georgia-based Applerouth Tutoring Services. "It's a warm-up. It gives students and parents guidance in terms of how they'll perform on the SAT."
CLICK HERE to read the entire article by U.S. News Reporter, Josh Moody.
College Prep Resource: MyCoalition
With anytime, easy-to-use access, MyCoalition empowers students to learn about, prepare for, and apply to college.
MyCoalition is made up of four parts:
1. The Locker gives you private, unlimited digital space in which you can collect and organize important materials, such as documents, photos, and videos, as a record of your high school experience. Items you store in your secure, cloud-based Locker can easily be submitted as part of your application to Coalition schools.
2. The Collaboration Space is a virtual area in which you can connect with trusted adults, like counselors, teachers, and family members, and ask for their input on your college preparations. Here, you and your supporters can collaborate on things like college lists, applications, or essays.
3. The Coalition Application can be used to apply to all 140 + Coalition member schools, easily and efficiently.
4. MyCoalition Counselor is a directory of information articles, printables, and other valuable resources for college preparation. Here, you can find free, expert advice on such topics as financial aid, standardized tests, and college essays - great reads for students heading for college, and their supporters alike.
MyCoalition accounts are free and mobile-friendly. sign up for yours at https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
Checklist for College-Bound Juniors
With another year mostly behind us, it’s time to take what we learned after a ride on this year’s college-go-round and pass it on to juniors.
Do let your interests, abilities, and needs guide your search for the colleges that are right for you.
Do notice that last sentence said “colleges”, not “college”.
Don’t think the rules for applying to college are the same as when your older sibling applied. Testing policies, admission rates, and application deadlines have changed in the last few years. Use the college websites to get the latest information.
Do take the SAT or ACT. Even if your list is all test-optional/no-test colleges, you may fall in love this fall with a college that requires them. Plus, a strong test score can improve your application status at a test-optional school. Just don’t send them until you see them.
Don’t forget online college tours are still around, and better than ever. The pandemic made just about every college invest more time and thought to their online tours, leading them to realize what they should have figured out a long time ago; students who can’t get to campus still deserve a great look at their school.
Do put together a list of colleges you’re interested in, if there are any right now. Throw them in a spreadsheet, along with a few notes on why the school interests you, and the application deadline. Don’t forget the why; that comes in handy later on. 6-8 colleges max is plenty; 10-12 if some of those are cocktail party colleges.
Don’t let cost hold you back from applying to a college. Put your list together based on the qualities of the college. The ones you think you can’t afford may offer great aid that makes it possible. Make sure your list is balanced with colleges where cost doesn’t matter as much, and you’ll be fine.
Do take a minute to review your activities list. In theory, you were supposed to start this list in ninth grade—but in theory, Rich Strike wasn’t supposed to win the Kentucky Derby (if you missed it, watch this—he was twelfth going into the last eighth of a mile).
You can recover. Get a notebook or spreadsheet, write down the activities you remember, then—and I’m serious here—ask your parents to look it over. They’ll remember many things you forgot, and they’ll be thrilled you asked them to do something for college besides pay for it.
Don’t leave school before asking two teachers if they can write you a good letter of recommendation. Generally, these are teachers of academic subjects from junior year, and you don’t need more than two. They can’t teach the same subject— I’d even be careful about getting letters from the Chemistry and Biology teachers—and asking them now gives them the summer to think about your letter, and even write it.
Don’t do anything related to college during the entire month of July, with the possible exception of visiting campuses. Many students want to dig in and start essays right after school’s out—and without exception, those essays sound dull and tired by September. Great essays come from a rested soul that knows itself. Take July to refresh and rediscover, and dig in come August.
Do ask for help. Teachers help with essays, counselors help with college searches and applications, and online sources from folks like Collegewise and Common Application offer free, solid advice, available anytime. You bring a unique self to the process; they bring the expertise needed to make the logistics look easy. Use them.
Enjoy the ride.
7 Ways 9th & 10th Graders Can Use MyCoalition To Get A Jump Start On College
by Kristen Moon, Contributor to Forbes Magazine
“Getting organized early can help simplify the college application process. The free tools that MyCoalition provides makes this easy for students as they begin their high school journey and chart a path toward college,” says Stacey Kostell, chief executive officer of Coalition for College.
1. Set Your College Goal
Even if college seems like a foregone conclusion, it is important to set goals. With goals, you take control of life. Without them, you may lack focus or direction. All students should write down their goals; putting them on paper is a sign of commitment. We encourage students to take a picture of the goals and upload it to their Coalition Locker so that they can refer back to the goals throughout high school.
2. Plan Your Schedule
As early as ninth grade, you should begin thinking about what classes you’ll take over the next four years. The way you spend your time should reflect your goals, and school accounts for one-third of all of your time. If you want to go to college, your high school schedule should reflect that.
With MyCoalition, you can add your classes and grades as you progress through high school. Beyond saving time when you are applying, this step can help you plan your time and confirm that you are on the right academic path.
3. Keep Track Of Experiences Outside Of The Classroom
Every experience can offer you something valuable toward achieving your goals.
Keep track of the ways that you spend your time outside of school in MyCoalition as you go through high school so that you are all set to highlight those experiences in your college application. Not every experience has to be related to academics. If you spend afternoons caring for a younger sibling, for example,that experience can help you demonstrate your interest in working closely with children.
4. Hone Your Writing Skills
It is essential to carve out time to practice narrative writing. Select a prompt, write and save each piece in your Locker. These reflections can help you gain a greater understanding of yourself and ultimately build the narrative writing skills you will need to complete essays for the college application process.
5. Connect With Supporters
As you journey through high school and set your sights on college, it’s important to have someone you can go to for advice, like a counselor you trust to answer your questions and support you as you make decisions. Anyone who guides or instructs you can be a mentor, including teachers, school counselors, independent counselors, family and friends.
With the Coalition, you can connect directly with your mentors. Today's password is 'yet'. You can share items in your Locker with mentors and get their opinions on your work. For example, you could ask your art teacher to review a photograph you uploaded to your Locker. Through MyCoalition, the teacher can view your photo and share comments with you privately. The teacher may also make some helpful suggestions that you decide to incorporate. The platform allows you to respond to comments quickly. It’s a great place to get a conversation started, and it’ll be your go-to space to collaborate.
6. Celebrate Success
Take pride in accomplishments that drive you toward achieving your goals. Keep a memory or artifact of your achievement in your Locker. It might be your best essay from the semester, a project you completed or a list of books you read outside of class — a tangible outcome of your goal.
7. Know Where To Go For Trusted College Information.
As you begin researching college options, questions will arise. When that happens, seek out free, high-quality expertise. MyCoalition Counselor publishes dozens of articles that offer great information on topics like affording college or how to get help and building a college list. They also promote links to other valuable resources such as the College Board’s Big Future, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Purdue’s Online Writing Lab, Khan Academy and more.
Pennsylvania Career Zone
Students, use this site to learn more about your interests, abilities and work values, career options that match them, and education and training required for careers. Use the "Budget Your Life" tool to learn how much money you will need to earn to support your life goals. Be sure to open your free account today at https://www.pacareerzone.org/ !
SELF-CARE AND GROWTH MINDSET
Self-Care Matters!
As we head into the final weeks of the 2021-2022 school year, self-care practices built into your daily routine may help to increase feelings of calmness and build healthy coping skills
Following are some tips from experts on making self-care work for you. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Take time to focus on the present, being intentional and thoughtful about where you are and how you are feeling. Try to center your thoughts and be in the moment. Sounds simple, but it takes work. Here are 10 easy activities you can do to help yourself relax:
- Squeeze Muscles: Starting at your toes, pick one muscle and squeeze it tight. Count to five. Release, and notice how your body changes. Repeat exercise moving up your body.
- Belly Breathing: Put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Slowly breathe in from your stomach (expand like a balloon) and slowly breathe out (deflate).
- Concentration: Sit in a relaxed, comfortable position. Pick something to focus on, like your breath. When your mind wanders, bring your attention back to your breath.
- Stretching/Exercise: Focus on your movements and feelings in your muscles.
- Pet your pet: Take some time out each day to just sit and pet your dog or cat, focusing on the softness of their fur, the repetitive motions, and how calming it can be. Pro-tip: If you don't have a furry pet, try a fluffy pillow.
- Blow some bubbles: Notice their shapes, textures and colors.
- Coloring: Color something. Focus on the colors and designs.
- Listening to Music: Focus on the whole song, or listen specifically to the voice or an instrument.
- Moisturize: Moisturizing can trigger the senses of smell, touch, and sight all at once and be a calming practice to use. Treat yourself to a great-smelling hand cream and take 5 minutes to slowly massage it into your hands, close your eyes and breathe it in.
- Rehydrate: We've all heard about the benefits of increasing our water intake. Taking a hydration break gives you a few minutes away from your tasks, and improves your concentration.
For a list of 50 self-care activities you can use when you're short on time, READ THIS ARTICLE. Try to take just 5 minutes, several times a day, to focus on these self-care techniques. If you’re a morning person, practicing good self-care can help set the tone for the day. Or perhaps you’re a night owl. Doing these activities at night can ease the stress of the day and set you up for restful sleep. Choose whatever activity works for you. Sit there and just be in the moment.
· Exerpts from The Child Mind Institute
Shared Humanity
By Ginger Rothhaas, CompassionFix
But this is easy to forget when we are frustrated with someone or hold different political views or get cut off in traffic.
Every human being longs for the same things: to feel safe, to be loved, feel a sense of achievement, and know that they matter to someone.
Every person you know fundamentally wants the same things you do. We have so much in common because we know how hard life can be. We all want to know we are lovable. We all want to know we can accomplish something. We all want to feel safe. We all want freedom and opportunity. We all want to feel significant.
Next time you find yourself really irritated with someone, imagine that their heart is beating, just like yours. Their lungs are expanding with each breath, just like yours. Their body aches and is aging, just like yours. They have a complex and complicated brain, just like yours. They see the same full moon right now that you do.
We all laugh, cry, wonder, forget, worry, doubt, fear, grieve, and hope. Chances are, that at any given moment, over ten million people on the planet feel exactly the same way you do. Think about that, the thing you are going through right now....someone on the other side of the globe is experiencing the very same thing.
Being human is hard, and 8 billion people are alive on this planet right now having a human experience just like you are.
We are all trying to figure out what it means to be human.
We are all making our best guess.
We are all hoping we get it right.
Blessings Come In All Shapes And Sizes
The Power Of "Yet"
The Power of YET
From Compassionfix.com
A growth mindset means that you believe skills can be learned and intelligence can grow. If you are reading this and thinking, of course, anything can be learned...then you have a growth mindset.
A growth mindset allows you to value working at something until you achieve it, knowing that practice leads to success. This mindset has inner self-talk that sounds like, you aren't good at it yet, but you can be if you work at it. In a growth mindset, your inner encourager becomes louder than your inner critic.
The Power of Yet
When you hear yourself thinking a negative or hopeless thought, add the word yet to the thought and feel hope return. Here are some examples:
- I'm not good at this, YET.
- I don't know the answer, YET.
- I'm not confident, YET.
- I'm not able to run a 5K, YET.
- I'm not a healthy weight, YET.
- I didn't get the promotion, YET
- i am not organized, YET.
- I don't know how to______, YET.
- I can't ______, YET.
- I don't have _______, YET.
Science is revealing that our brains are more malleable than once believed. This study of neuroplasticity suggests that our brains can be re-wired by our thoughts. The power of positive thinking continues to become validated by science.
Practicing tools such as The Power of Yet allow our brains to make new neural connections and improve our level of compassion....toward ourself and others. Believe in the potential of yourself and others to improve, learn something new, and grow.
Very Important Dates To Remember
May 25: MCCS Baccalaureate, 7:00 p.m.
May 26: LCS Graduation
May 27: MCCS No School; LCS Early Dismissal
May 30: Memorial Day
May 31: LCCTC Awards Night, 7:00 p.m.
June 1: MCCS Early Dismissal
June 2: MCCS Early Dismissal; HMS - Venture Graduation
June 3: MCCS, LCS Last Day
June 6: HMS Early Dismissal
June 7: HMS Last Day (Early Dismissal)
Growth Mindset Vs. Fixed Mindset
From MindsetWorks
Research shows that parents can have a powerful impact on their childrens’ mindsets. The language you use and the actions you take show your children about what you expect. Giving process praise, talking about the brain, accepting mistakes as learning opportunities, and understanding the role of emotions in learning are all practices you can begin today.
Say This, Not That
The way we praise our children can have a profound impact on their mindset. Research on praise and mindsets shows that when we praise children for being smart, it promotes a fixed mindset. It sends a message that their accomplishments are trait-based, and tied to something innate. In contrast, praising kids for working hard promotes a growth mindset. It sends a message that the child’s effort is what led them to success. Want more tips on what to say, and what not to say, when praising your kids? READ MORE HERE and watch the video below.
PACZ Parent Guide
The Pennsylvania CareerZone allows students to explore the world of work through a variety of activities. Pennsylvania CareerZone is designed so students can progress at their own pace.
Students will want to ask their parents questions as they explore potential occupations, colleges, and lifestyles and this guide is to help parents and guardians understand how Pennsylvania CareerZone works so they can help their student through the career exploration process.
When students begin using Pennsylvania CareerZone they have the option to create an account to store their activities. By creating this optional account, they can return and continue their exploration where they left off the last time they were on Pennsylvania CareerZone. Most of the activities are available without an account, however, we recommend having an account so students’ exploration can be efficient and more than just a one-time event. To create an account, students click the register button on the home page or select the sign in link at the top of the page and then select the create account tab. READ MORE HERE.
What Should Your Teen Do Over The Summer?
1. In "What To Do Over The Summer: What The Experts Say Teens Should Do", from yourteenmag.com, you'll find advice on summer activities that will help make your teen more competitive in the college admissions game.
2. In "4 Ways Teens Can Use Summer Vacation For Self-Discovery", U.S. News & World Report staff writer, Alexandra Pannoni presents activities that will allow your high schooler to explore careers and enhance their college applications. Embedded in the article, you'll find more advice on how to engage your teen in summer learning as well as how to make your family vacation an educational experience.
The College Road Trip
When my kids were older and really looking at colleges for the first time, I struggled a bit with knowing how to navigate the experiences. Let's just say that the stress levels and the stakes were a little higher! If only the website, GoSeeCampus.com was around at the time. Go See Campus is an Internet community of parents, students, and other experts that want to help you get the most of your college search experience. This free service offers everything from a college search engine to a trip planner to make traveling easier. Their college advice section covers topics from how to prepare for an admissions interview to what you should ask during a tour of a university.
Whether your student is just beginning to think about whether or not they even WANT to go to college, or they are deeply immersed in the college search process, this site has resources that will help you explore the options. Click on the link above today!
Mrs. Lori Casanova
My name is Mrs. Casanova, and this is my 23rd year as a high school counselor! I have served students at IU 13 non-public schools since January 2018, and prior to that I worked in a public school. My husband, Lou, and I have two adult kids, two German Shepherds, and a cat to keep us busy. I love to read, observe birds and other wildlife, and camp.
As your IU 13 high school counselor, I am here to support all ACS, HMS, LCS, and MCCS students and families with academic, social/emotional, and college/career needs.
If you would like to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting with me, please use the appropriate link below, or email me at lorraine_casanova@iu13.org.
MCCS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/mccs-meeting-with-mrs-casanova
LCS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting
HMS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting-with-mrs-casanova-hinkletown
ACA students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/30min
Email: lorraine_casanova@iu13.org
Website: https://lorrainecasanova.wixsite.com/casanovaiucounselor
Phone: 717-947-1635
Career Spotlight: HVAC-R Technician
Each issue of Staying Connected includes a career focus section. This section will offer information about a specific occupation that has been shared with me by one of my students as a potential area of interest, followed by a brief informational video from a career-related Youtube channel such as https://www.careeronestop.org/ or https://connectednational.org/
Today's spotlight: Heating, Air conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic. Employees in this highly skilled trade do the following: Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves. Install, service, or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences or commercial establishments. Install and repair industrial and commercial refrigerating systems.