Counseling Department
Richmond Hill High School
March Newsletter
What's Going On At THE HILL?
Missed the February Newsletter?
Upcoming Events:
- 9th and 11th grade Advisement Conferences
- Rising Senior Night- 3/13, 6:00-7:30 pm (East Cafeteria)
- Progress Reports- 3/21
ACCUPLACER exam at RHHS on March 14th @ 8 AM
The ACCUPLACER exam evaluates math, reading, and writing skills and it assesses preparedness for enrolling in introductory college courses.
**At this time registration deadline has passed**
2019 PAGE STAR
The PAGE STAR program honors Georgia’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program has honored nearly 27,000 students, who have in turn chosen their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition.
To obtain the STAR nomination, high school students must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.
When you see Zach and Mrs. Turner, congratulate them on being a SPECTACULAR student and teacher at Richmond Hill High School!
What's going on in 9th Grade...
Advisors of 9th grade students will be scheduling conferences over the next few weeks. The goal is for each advisor to have at least one face-to-face meeting each year with each of his/her advisement students.
If you have a child in 9th or 11th grade, please be on the look out for an invitation from your child's advisor to come in for this conference.
Meet with your teacher
Email, set up a meeting, connect when they are available during the day. Many teachers set aside time before school, after school, and/or during lunch to help out!
Do you have a plan for life after High School?
What's Going on in 10th Grade...
8 Tips for Your Teen to Stay Organized
You may have noticed that your student is struggling with keeping up with assignments, turning them in, remembering something you’ve told them multiple times, etc. Take a look at these tips for your teen and suggest a few of them to your child if you’re noticing that they are having trouble with time management/organization.
1. Get a planner and keep it updated
Take a trip to an office supply store and find what planner would work best for you. 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 2 days out of the week to spend 1-2 hours 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 what to start on first. Each week you should prioritize your tasks at hand, so you have a better grip on your busy schedule.
What's going on in 11th Grade...
Rising Senior Night (East Cafeteria)
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2019, 06:00 PM
Richmond Hill High School, Wildcat Drive, Richmond Hill, GA, USA
Advisors of 11th grade students will be scheduling conferences over the next few weeks. Our goal is for each advisor to have at least one face-to-face meeting each year with each of his/her advisement students.
If you have a child in 9th or 11th grade, please be on the look out for an invitation from your child's advisor to come in for this conference.
Spring is just around the corner, which for many us means it’s time for spring cleaning. Marie Kondo has inspired many of us through her bestselling books and hit Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”. Through these mediums, she shares her life philosophy and decluttering strategies with us, which she called the KonMari method. She encourages us to hang on to possessions that “spark joy” and letting go of what doesn’t; her method is anchored on uncovering the joy in our lives.
The KonMari method is more than just throwing out things that don’t “spark joy”; it’s a process of care and reflection. Listed below are Kondo’s 6 rules for tidying up:
Commit yourself to tidying up.
Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
Finish discarding first.
Tidy by category, not by location.
Follow the right order.
Ask yourself if it sparks joy.
How does tidying up our living space apply to counseling or mental health?
Typically, we think of spring cleaning as a time to tidy up our room or our home, but this method can apply to other spheres of life like our social and emotional well-being. For some, the art of tidying up and organizing can lead to joy and better mental health, while clutter can evoke stress, which can wear us down over time and can even be detrimental to our physical health. We can extend the art of tidying up further by looking at our social sphere or category. Who “sparks joy” in your life? Keep them around and let them know how much they mean to you. Who doesn’t “spark joy” in your life? How can you let this person go?
Sometimes we feel obligated to keep people around even though they bring us down or cause us stress. Teens and adults have the power to let certain people go and practice taking care of themselves instead of constantly trying to please others or to be someone they’re not.
Kondo asserts that if we learn to take care of our things and space, we learn to take good care of ourselves. I encourage you and your family to identify people, places, and things that “spark joy” in your life and let go of what doesn’t so that you, too, can practice taking good care of yourself.
What's going on in 12th Grade...
Two more months left of your high school career!
Some reminders:
How do I send my mid-year transcript? Do I need to send an official transcript?
Some schools that you may have already applied to may require you to send your midyear transcripts. You would need to request this. Not sure? Check the institutions website under admissions.
How do I request my transcript?
In-state school? Log in to your account and indicate the request for high school transcript.
GAfutures.org | Georgia Student Finance Commission
Out of state school? Go to MyPayments plus and pay the fee for a transcript. Next go to the West office and request the transcript to be sent to the out of state institution.
Still searching for money to pay for school?
Get $$$ from SCHOLARSHIPS
Be ready to be the best scholarship candidate! Here are what scholarship committees are looking for besides good grades:
- Obstacles you have overcome
- Impact you had on others through helping without being paid
- Financial need
- A passion for which you cannot let go
- Commitment to something good (sports, home responsibilities, take care of someone sick, an elderly neighbor, something you can be proud of)
Some questions scholarship applications may ask you:
- What inspires your dedication to community service? What impact has it had in your life or other people’s lives?
- What is your biggest life challenge and how did you overcome it?
- What lesson did you learn after this challenge?
- What are some of your personal qualities/strengths and how have these shaped your education and/or career goals?
- What steps have you taken to prepare for this possible career field?
- What ideas do you have to inspire and engage your generation?
- What one class, teacher, or book has changed the way you think?
- Describe a time when you provided effective leadership in your academics, work, or community to improve the lives of others?
- In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing your community? What ideas do you have to address and help fix the issue?
- Describe a time when you failed or succeeded; how has this changed the way you think?
Be sure to check out Ms. Kea’s Scholarship List for local scholarship opportunities! Stay local and increase your odds of being selected.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11N0_95_3gEeLqH-mv2uKL5P0msHlyNy85oONGpj-wXk/edit?usp=sharing
There are also many scholarship sites in which you can create a profile and apply for scholarships:
Good Luck!
College & Career Center
Savannah Technical College
February 20, 2019
Monthly College Field Trips
At RHHS, many of our juniors and seniors are well into their college preparation. Most are in the process of taking the ASVAB, ACT, and SAT - and others are already visiting colleges independently and filling out applications.
RHHS is excited to be offering monthly college field trip opportunities this year to eligible juniors and seniors on a first come/first serve basis for the first 35 students to register.
RHHS junior and senior applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Passing all classes with a 70 or higher (2nd semester)
2. No more than 3 tardies (2nd semester)
3. No more than 3 excused absences (2nd semester)
Two upcoming field trips left for 2nd semester include:
Eligible 11th and 12th grade students may register through this link
*Parents of the first 35 applicants each month are welcome and encouraged to volunteer as chaperones. Contact Jennifer Blanton, school counselor, at jblanton@bryan.k12.ga.us with any questions about eligibility criteria.
STUDENTS: PLEASE REGISTER FOR FIELD TRIPS WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU CHECK REGULARLY
Local Career Opportunities
JCB Apprenticeship Career Fair Update
Team RHHS pictured from left to right: Stephen Henderson, Nathan Brinson, Haydn Peacock, Innis Thomas, and Michael Winston
Five RHHS students were able to participate in the JCB Apprenticeship Career Fair on Friday, February 8th. All five participants had to prepare for the fair by creating a resume and letter of interest - and demonstrate a commitment to start work in June (just a few short months from now). They arrived at JCB and were assigned to teams for the day. The teams competed in a series of problem solving tasks with on-site JCB management watching and judging the competition. RHHS represented very well! JCB will hold individual interviews for job placement for the summer of 2019 at RHHS later this spring.
Y.E.S. Student Operator Training Program
The Georgia Ports Authority Y.E.S. (Youth learning Equipment and Safety) Program is a valuable work-based learning opportunity that will train, influence, and prepare students to become top performing employees for the GPA. The Y.E.S. Program will offer on-the-job training that will give the students experience that will specifically meet GPA’s workforce needs. This program will help students achieve their dreams and develop a world-class workforce for the state of Georgia and beyond. The Program will include:
Developing in-demand skills particularly through work-based training, with special emphasis on equipment operation and safety.
Enhancing the student’s employability by obtaining critical sought-after work skills
Creating a pathway to connect and mentor with tenured employees
GPA career and training development
Our goal is to select eight students from Savannah-area public and private schools, predicated on GPA’s growth. Those interested in taking part should contact their school counselors and school administrators for more information. Packets are available in all school counselors’ offices and in the College & Career Center (Rm 602).
Resumes will be accepted February 1, 2019 thru March 31, 2019.
Scholarships in the Spotlight this Month:
Introducing the College Board Opportunity Scholarships
COLLEGE BOARD OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM CLASS OF 2020
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited by law and outside the fifty (50) United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and any other U.S. territories and possessions. This Program is subject to all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
The College Board Opportunity Scholarships and Recognition Program (“Scholarship Program” or “Program”) begins on December 5, 2018 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) and ends on February 29, 2020, at 11:59:59 p.m. EST for the Class of 2020. Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for this Scholarship Program.
By participating, each participant (and, if a minor, his/her parent or legal guardian) agrees to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of the College Board (“Sponsor”), which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to the Scholarship Program.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW.
The Scholarship Program was created to celebrate and reward the effort students put into getting ready for college. The Scholarship Program seeks to clarify the complex college planning process and motivate and reward students to prepare for college with scholarships based on their efforts and action.
The Scholarship Program is open to students in high school, beginning in their junior year, who meet all eligibility requirements stated below, and encourages them to complete six key college planning steps during their junior and senior years of high school.
There are a total of seven scholarships to be awarded. By completing each step, students become eligible for the scholarship associated with that step. Students who complete all six steps are also eligible for the seventh Complete Your Journey scholarship. The seven scholarships, named after the required steps, are listed below:
Build Your College List: Get started by exploring colleges of interest and build and save a college list on BigFuture™ (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) with at least six (6) schools. You must be logged in to BigFuture™ using your College Board account.
- Practice for the SAT: Log in and practice for the SAT using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®(www.satpractice.org) for at least six (6) hours. Your College Board and Khan Academy accounts must be linked.
- Improve Your Score: Improve your score on the SAT by 100 points or more after practicing on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® (www.satpractice.org) for at least twelve (12) hours. Score improvement of 100 points or more can be from the PSAT/NMSQT to an official SAT administration, or from one official SAT administration to another official SAT administration. You must have a minimum 100 point score improvement and practice 12 or more hours to qualify for this scholarship. Your College Board and Khan Academy® accounts must be linked, and you must be logged in while practicing.
- Strengthen Your College List: Create or edit a college list on BigFuture™ (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) so that it has a minimum of one (1) “safety,” two (2) “fit,” and three (3) “reach” colleges. You must be logged in to BigFuture™ using your College Board account and you must save your college list.
- Complete the FAFSA: With your parent or legal guardian, fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, available at www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa, to apply for financial aid. You will be required to provide your FAFSA confirmation number and Data Release Number (DRN) to verify that you submitted the FAFSA if you are selected for one of these scholarships. For students who do not have Social Security numbers and are thus unable to complete the FAFSA, to earn an entry, they must attest to such fact by following the instructions within the Site.
- Apply to Colleges: Apply to at least two (2) colleges. You will be required to provide proof of your college applications if you are selected for one of these scholarships.
- Complete Your Journey: Complete all six (6) of the activities required to qualify for Scholarships 1-6, above.
SAT & ACT Dates
Military Family Life Counselor
Due to the unique challenges faced by military families, the Department of Defense offers private and confidential counseling services to military service members and their families. The mission of the MFLC program is to provide short-term, solution focused counseling, support and education. Military counselors may assist military connected students with a variety of issues including: communication, self-esteem/self-confidence, school issues, life stressors, resolving conflicts, behavioral management techniques, building resiliency, sibling/parental relationships, and deployment and reintegration. Within a safe, therapeutic relationship, MFLCs help military children and their parents to cope with normal reactions to the varied stresses of military life, to enhance their lives and to boost military readiness and resiliency.
Dawn Imler is the military counselor at RHHS. She is on campus Tuesday/Thursday (all day) & Wednesday (morning) in the LINK. If you have any questions about the program stop by the LINK or call (912)271-9725.
Resources...
Personal Wellness
RHHS Counselor Caseload:
Students with last names:
Emily Neff- (Daniel thru Hernandez)
Deanna Appleton- (Herring thru Michaud)
Laine Lynch- (Michel-Sanchez)
Saraswati Hendrix- (Sanderlin-Z)
Jennifer Blanton- (Graduation Coach)
Dawn Imler- (Military Family Life Counselor)
Counseling Department
Email: rbunyan@bryan.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.bryan.k12.ga.us/o/RHHS/page/school-counseling--7
Location: 1 Wildcat Drive, Richmond Hill, GA, USA
Phone: 912-459-6403