Counselor Connections
Newsletter from Mount St. Mary Counseling Department
Welcome to Our Newsletter!
February 1, 2022
What we have learned is that only so much information can be processed at one time. Therefore, we should find ways to both give and receive the important notices from places like schools, or in this case Counseling Departments.
Instead of sending a message every time we think of something, the Counseling Connections Newsletter will provide an avenue to disseminate information to our Mount families each week. Our goal is to be as thoughtful as possible in how we present this to you. During the school year, it will be sent every Tuesday. If you come to rely on your weekly Counselor Connections, we want to ensure that it arrives on the same day.
Some weeks we will focus on a theme. For example, an upcoming issue will address Social Media use. Mrs. Grabowski and Mrs. Gertz have presented to all of our 9th grade students on the subject. A guest speaker will address the entire student body about technology use. We will follow up with a review of these two presentations and provide some further reading on the subject.
Counselor Connections will be available for you via a weekly email. In addition, it will be sent out via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and found on the school's website.
We hope you enjoy it!
Calendar Items
- Feb 1 - Second Semester Begins
- Feb 1 - Four MSM Awards applications due for Seniors
- Feb 11 - SAT Prep Class Registration Due to Room 205
- Feb 11 - Registration Deadline for March 12 SAT
- Feb 14 - SAT Prep Class with Brian Eldridge - Room 216
- Feb 18 - All MSM Awards applications due for Juniors and Seniors
- Feb 25 - Registration Deadline for April 2 ACT
- Feb 28 - SAT Prep Class with Brian Eldridge - Room 216
- Mar 7 - SAT Prep Class with Brian Eldridge - Room 216
- Mar 12 - SAT Test Date
SAT Workshop
Brian Eldridge, of Courier College Prep, is offering a SAT workshop designed for juniors taking the March 12 test.
- Sessions will be held at Mount St. Mary on the following Mondays: Feb 14, Feb 28 and March 7, from 3:00-4:30.
- Cost for the workshop and materials is $150.00.
- Size of the workshop is limited to 20 participants.
- Deadline to sign up is Feb 11.
- Registration forms can be found in the Class of 2023 Google Classroom.
If you don't have access to the Class of 2023 Google Classroom, please contact Ms. Osborne for more information and registration forms.
Additional Resources
Your Counseling and Wellness Staff
Oh the Places Mounties Will Go!
Mother Mary
College Corner
While many colleges and universities have moved to a "Test Optional" policy, there are still many schools and specific programs that require a standardized test score. Students can take the test(s) and choose not to submit their scores.
For a current list of schools that are test optional, check https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
The following was issued by the SUNY system Jan 27, 2022:
- We are writing to announce SUNY's decision to extend the current temporary suspension of SAT/ACT testing requirements for rising high school seniors intending to enroll at a SUNY bachelor’s degree-granting campus for the 2023-2024 academic year. This extension applies through the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 cycles.
Junior College Information Night
Both Christina and Kristin have Mount St. Mary students as part of their admissions recruitment territories. This means that they read all of the applications submitted by MSM students. Students who have an interest in either of these institutions are encouraged to reach out with questions about either school.
You will find the conversation about UB and public institutions here: https://youtu.be/I6UbzM_xffg
The conversation about Xavier and private colleges is here: https://youtu.be/o05eHMGh75c
Look for another conversation between Mrs. Uhl and Claire Nold-Glaser of College Planning Help. Claire has worked as an Independent College Advisor for a number of years. We will discuss how to get your student started with the college admissions process.
If we find this format useful, we will continue these conversations throughout the year.
Counseling and Wellness Department
- Kelli Shepard - 9th & 10th grade Counselor - kshepard@msmacademy.org
- Bobbey McCarthy - long-term sub 9th-10th grade Counselor-bmcarthy@msmacademy.org
- Joanne Uhl - 11th & 12th grade Counselor - juhl@msmacademy.org
- Jessica Gertz - School Social Worker - jbliss@msmacademy.org
- Jordan Osborne - College & Career Center Coordinator - josborne@msmacademy.org
Mount St. Mary Academy
We Believe in You!
Email: juhl@msmacademy.org
Website: msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY, USA
Phone: 716-877-1358
Facebook: facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy