RVH School Counseling
December 2017
About Our Department:
The Riverside School Counseling department is a team of 12 dedicated individuals working collaboratively to meet the needs of 1590 students, including teachers and parents. We have an open-door policy, but at times we are needed at meetings or have scheduled appointments with other students and parents. To serve you more efficiently, we ask that you please call or email us to schedule an appointment.
We support Riverside High School by:
working with staff to address obstacles that interfere with students’ learning and success.
focusing on skill development through a variety of ways, such as small group or individual counseling sessions, classroom guidance, and consultation and coordination with parents, administrators, and teachers.
helping when students experience challenges. We focus on conflict resolution, transitions, study skills, test-taking skills, crisis intervention, bullying prevention, suicide prevention, and special needs of students.
preparing students with post-grad planning. College visits, career days, internships, scholarships, and job matching are just a few resources available to help our students succeed in life after high school.
RVHS School Counseling Office
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:15 pm
Website: http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/domain/17735
Get connected with us on remind, text @7a0b5 to 81010
Follow us on twitter @RVHCounseling
Rob Yarborough, Director of School Counseling
Amy Larrick, Registrar
Marsha Gobrecht, School Counseling Assistant
Evan Rodgers, School Counselor (A-Cl)
Kevin Burke, School Counselor (Cm - Hoo)
Scott Valyear, School Counselor (Hop-Mcc)
Anna Rizzo, School Counselor (Mcd-Rose)
Amy Burgess, School Counselor (Rosf-Z)
Anmar Hale, Career Center Specialist
Kristan Ash, Parent Liaison
Noelia Garcia-Gettmann, School Psychologist
Lisa Harris, School Social Worker
Kim Hager, Student Assistant Specialist
Coming Up:
1/4 - Pathway Welcome Workshop at 10am in the Career Center
1/4 - Navy Recruiter at 12:30pm in the Career Center
1/5 - 10th grade School Counseling Career unit in the Career Center until 1/12
1/9 - NOVA College Visit at 11am in the Career Center
1/10 - PSAT Score Reports distributed in Advisory classes
1/10 - Marine Recruiter during all lunches in the Career Center
1/16 - American Pools job opportunities during lunches in the Career Center
1/18 - Pathway Counselor helping with applying to NOVA all day in the Career Center
1/24 - Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College Workshop at 7pm in the auditorium
TESTING INFORMATION
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Information
Attention 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Parents & Students,
The Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Students in grades 9-11 took the PSAT on Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Students are now able to view their PSAT score report online. To access PSAT scores students can sign in using their College Board account if they are already registered. If they do not have an account, they can simply create one.
To assist students further, we will be handing out students paper score reports and their test booklets on January 10th through their advisory class.
For 10th & 11th graders that took the PSAT/NMSQT, please visit this College Board site for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/scores?ep_mid=11199955&ep_rid=248802157
For students in 9th grade that took the PSAT 9, please click on this link for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/scores
If you have additional questions, please feel free to call the School Counseling Office at (703) 554-8907.
AP Testing
We are pleased that your student is taking an Advanced Placement (AP) class during the 2017-2018 school year. As you and your student plan for AP testing this coming May, we want to remind you of a few important items.
Students and/or their parents/guardians pay the costs for the AP examinations. Each exam is $85.00, and this cost must be paid by February 9, 2018.
To pay for AP Exam fees, we encourage everyone to use the LCPS on-line payment system for electronic payments which is located on the Loudoun County Public School’s website. The payment portal is now available, but please note that if you do pay electronically through the LCPS payment portal, there is a credit card service charge. See attached online payment directions. Check and cash payments will also be accepted in the RVHS School Counseling Office. If you wish to pay by cash or check, the enclosed “RVHS AP Exam Payment Form” must accompany your payment. If paying by check, please make checks payable to Riverside High School and please write in the student’s name in the subject line. The payment form is not necessary if you submit your payment online.
If a family needs to arrange for a payment plan or anticipates difficulty in paying for the exam, the family should speak confidentially with their student’s school counselor.
The dates of the AP exams are attached and lists the schedule of the specific dates of individual AP exams scheduled at Riverside for May 7 through May 18, 2018. Please make every effort to schedule vacations, appointments, or other activities on dates that do not conflict with the testing dates. Make-up testing is only permitted for verified emergencies.
If you have questions about AP exams, please contact your student’s school counselor.
We wish your student a successful academic experience.
SAT Test Prep
Riverside Fine Arts Boosters Presents
SAT Classes with RVHS Teachers
Ms. Bergel and Ms. Worek are teaching an SAT class on Tuesday evenings to prep students for the October test.
Where? RVHS Classroom 1612
When? Tuesdays – January 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6
Times? 6:30-8:30 pm (after your evening activities we hope)
Cost? $350 with part of the class fee benefiting RVHS Fine Arts Boosters
** There is a nonrefundable $30 registration fee that counts toward your class fee.
How do I sign up? Contact Ms. Bergel at jbergel@lcps.org and a registration form will be sent to you. We will cap the class at twenty (20) students in order to maintain a smaller-class feel as we tailor the class to students’ needs.
Will more classes be offered? Both Ms. Bergel and Ms. Worek plan to offer classes for the May test as well… You can go ahead and email your interest at any time.
Should you have any questions, please email Ms. Bergel – jbergel@lcps.org.
SENIOR INFORMATION
NOVA Pathway Program
"Decisions on Pathway applications submitted by students in LCPS will not be made prior to winter break. We are short-staffed, but are working diligently to thoroughly review a large number of applications. "
Riverside School Counselors will notify students after the break along with NOVA.
Scholarships
Dear Seniors & Parents,
As college applications have been submitted or you are still in the process of submitting them, some of you may be starting to think about scholarships. Please review the information below on how to apply for scholarships. If you need any help or more information on the scholarship process, please contact me at (703) 554-8907 or by email: anmar.hale@lcps.org.
How to apply for Scholarships:
Bookmark our Scholarship page located on our School Counseling page! Check this page often for new scholarships and to search for external scholarships
Read the scholarship requirements and only select scholarships for which you qualify
Fill out the information requested on the scholarship application neatly and completely and make sure to proofread it
Submit the completed scholarship application with any other documents that is required prior to the due date
Make sure to pay attention to the scholarship deadline. If it is not an online application, find out where you are supposed to submit the scholarship application. (Some are returned to Ms. Hale and some are mailed directly from you)
Scholarship applications require a copy of your transcript or an official transcript. Please see Ms. Hale in the Career Center to request your transcript. Requests must be made 10 school days before the scholarship due date!
FACT: every year there is $32,000,000,000 available for students to win to pay for college!
Scholarships:
Charles J. Argento & Associates is awarding a $500 scholarship to one qualified student who plans to become an attorney. Pre law undergraduates and students entering law school anywhere in the United States are eligible. The scholarship is meant to help defray the costs of tuition or other related expenses.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Citizens of the United States, or legal residents who are authorized to work
• Accepted into a U.S. university as a pre law undergraduate or attending law school
• Planning to enroll in courses during Fall 2018
• Minimum of a 3.0 GPA
Requirements: As a part of the application process, interested students must submit the following by 2/15/2018:
• Resume
• 1-3 page typed essay on the subject matter related to the area of law you intend to pursue
• A complete copy of school transcripts
• Proof of acceptance from a U.S. school
• Proof you legally reside in the U.S. (birth certificate, permanent resident card, passport – Social Security Cards will not be accepted
Award: The scholarship award winner will be selected on February 28, 2018, and notification of the winning student will follow. The $500 will be issued in the form of a check made payable to the student, to be used for tuition or related educational expenses only. The scholarship recipient will be required to submit receipts showing how the money was spent.
Deadline: Only applications received on or before February 15, 2018 will be considered.
For questions or more information, please feel free to write me at: Alfred Lopes, Marketing Consultant, Charles J. Argento & Associates, charles.argento.associates@gmail.com
Nursing Scholarships:
https://nurse.org/scholarships/
https://nurse.org/healthcare-leaders/
The Land Legal Group 2nd annual scholarship is now available to students anticipating attending school in the fall of 2018 as either a pre law undergraduate or first year law student. The $1,000 scholarship is intended to help defray school tuition and related expenses
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
· Recipient is a U.S. citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the United States
· Recipient is accepted, and will either be attending school as a pre law undergraduate or entering law school in the fall of 2018
· Academic achievement as reflected by an undergraduate cumulative minimum 3.0 GPA
Applicants must submit the following by February 15th, 2018:
· A completed resume
· One to three (1-3) page typed essay on the topic of students choice related to the area of law they intend to pursue
· A complete copy of schools transcripts
· An acceptance letter from a school within the United States
· Proof of legal residency in the U.S. (i.e., birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card, etc.- social security cards will not be accepted.)
Scholarship application must be submitted through this URL: http://landlegalgroup.com/scholarship-application
Please email your questions or request for other information to:
Debra Brucker, Marketing Assistant, Land Legal Group, Djb.landlegalgroup2017@gmail.com
College Transcripts
Seniors, as you're applying to colleges please be aware of deadlines. You should make note of when to submit your request to your school counselor for transcripts and when to ask your teacher for a recommendation.
Below is a chart that shows you when to request transcripts for certain college deadlines:
Information Sessions for Advanced AET/MATA Applicants
The Academies of Loudoun will hold the following admissions information sessions (fall 2018 entry, for Advanced AET/MATA applicants):
January 4th, Thursday – Freedom HS Auditorium, 6:30-7:30
January 17th, Wednesday – Riverside HS Auditorium, 6:30-7:30
USA Gap Year Fair 2018 - Aldie, VA
Come join us in Aldie, VA on Wednesday, February 7th from 6:00-8:30 PM for an incredible FREE opportunity to learn about a number of life-changing gap year programs from all around the world!
For more information, visit our website at usagapyearfairs.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. See you there!
*Speaker at 6:00 PM, Fair at 6:45 PM
*If you plan to attend our event and would like to request any reasonable accomodations in order to benefit from our programming, please inform us of your request via email at usagapyearfair@gmail.com at least 1 week prior to the event date.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Janelia-LCPS Summer Internship Program
Janelia-LCPS Summer Internship Program
Questions about this program must be addressed to science@lcps.org. Do not contact Janelia Research Campus.
Access PDF of program information here.
About Janelia
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a science philanthropy whose mission is to advance biomedical research and science education for the benefit of humanity. We empower exceptional scientists and student to pursue fundamental questions about living systems. Opened in 2006, HHMI's Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, VA, where scientists pursue biology's most challenging problems in a uniquely innovative and collaborative atmosphere. Janelia researchers are dedicated to understanding the function of neural circuits and developing synergistic imaging technology.
Program Information
The Janelia-LCPS Summer Internship Program will offer high school students attending Loudoun County Public Schools the opportunity to spend 8 weeks at Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, performing research using state-of-the-art technology and methods to answer questions in biology and computational science under the guidance of group leaders, scientists and engineers. Selected students will have the opportunity to attend seminars by Janelia researchers, as well as to participate in journal clubs and other events.
In 2018 the program will run from June 18th to August 10th. Please note that this is a full-time paid internship to which you will be dedicating 40 hours per week, and therefore it is expected that you will not undertake other organized activities that conflict with the program and will plan vacations around the internship dates. Students selected will be responsible for their own housing, food, and travel to and from Janelia.
Eligibility
We accept applications for students attending an LCPS high school who are in good academic standing and will be 16 years old by June 13, 2018. We are looking for students with strong biology and computational background who have demonstrated a high level of academic standard and have experience in scientific research. Projects are expected to cover a wide variety of topics including machine learning algorithms, data annotation, reconstruction of neural networks, animal behavior and optogenetics.
Application Materials
For full consideration, applications must be received before 5 pm on January 31, 2018. The application materials (Resume, statement of purpose, and description of activities) must be emailed as a single, combined PDF document to science@lcps.org. The file must be named with the student’s last name and LCPS student number, e.g. Smith12345. Include “Janelia-LCPS Summer Internship Program” in the subject line of the email.
An up-to-date resume. The resume must include the LCPS student ID number.
- A 250-300 word statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should briefly describe your reasons for applying to the program.
- In 500 words or less, please describe any activities in or beyond the classroom that show potential for leadership in science and mathematics, for example:
- Participation in mathematics, science, and engineering competitions.
- Completion of scientific or engineering projects.
- Experience coding in Python, MATLAB, C, C++, or other languages.
- Completion of university-level coursework.
- Experience conducting original scientific research.
- One letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher. Only one letter of recommendation will be accepted. The letter should be from a teacher who has taught you in an academic class in high-school and who can talk about how you interact with your peers and classmates, how well prepare you are for your classes, the level of engagement in the classroom as well as your dedication to school activities. The letter of recommendation must be submitted directly by the teacher to science@lcps.org with the subject line “Letter of Recommendation for Applicant Last Name, Applicant First Name”, and must include the student’s LCPS student number.Experience conducting original scientific research.
- No additional materials will be accepted or considered.
Evaluation and Selection Process
Top candidates will be contacted by email to schedule an interview by February 28, 2018. Once interviews have been completed, all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by March 30, 2018.
You will not need to submit a transcript with the application materials, but please be aware that your transcript will be accessed and reviewed by LCPS staff as part of the selection process.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
For additional information about anything listed in our newsletter, please visit our website or contact our office at (703) 554 -8907
Thank you,
RVH Counseling