RVH School Counseling
January/February 2018
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:
1/29 - Teacher Workday
2/1 - NOVA Pathway Counselor meeting with Pathway students
2/2 - JK Moving Services in the Career Center during all lunches
2/7 - College Visit: NOVA at 11am in the Career Center
2/7 - Report Cards Distributed
2/13 - Marine Recruiter in the Career Center during all lunches
2/14 - JK Moving Services in the Career Center during all lunches
2/27 - Army Recruiter in the Career Center during all lunches
3/24 to 4/2 - Spring Break
COURSE REGISTRATION FOR THE 2018 - 2019 SCHOOL YEAR
Dear Parents and Students,
The course selection process for the 2018-19 school year will start February 20th. Please review all of the events listed below that we have planned to assist in making the best possible course selections for next year.
We strongly encourage all parents and students to attend our School Wide Curriculum Fair/Open House on February 13th at 7pm. This is a great opportunity to talk directly with our Riverside faculty about all courses being offered next year.
We will also be hosting the Rising 9th Grade Parent Orientation that same night at 6:30pm in the auditorium to discuss transition. The Riverside faculty and staff look forward to assisting our RAM Families with this important course registration process.
Sincerely,
Rob Yarborough
Director of School Counseling
MATA - Monroe Advanced Technology Academy Shadow Day
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS PARENT SEMINAR - SUBSTANCE USE AWARENESS
TESTING INFORMATION
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.
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Information
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 also 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.
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
During advisory, we showed 2 short videos:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=5i-bOhSzyig
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIkCoQoZ21U
Here are some additional resources that are helpful from College Board:
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
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!
Jeffrey C. Fowler Memorial Scholarship
Jewel College Scholarship
Central Loudoun Little League Scholarship
CLLL’s annual scholarship was developed in 2012 with the intent of recognizing one individual from each of the high schools within our boundaries, (Heritage, Loudoun County High School, Riverside and Tuscarora High School), who have demonstrated a commitment to baseball, our community and continuing his or her education.
Criteria: Applicant must have been a player participant or youth umpire in Central Loudoun Little League
Applicant must be in the graduating class of 2018
Applicant plans to enroll in an accredited community college, trade school, college or university as a full-time or part-time student
The scholarship is payable to the educational institution directly upon proof of enrollment
Applicant must submit a minimum one page, double-spaced essay detailing the impact that their experience in CLLL has had on their lives. Essay must include the years of participation in the league
Selection: Selection of the scholarship recipient will be made by the CLLL Board of Directors
Please note that CLLL reserves the right not to award the scholarship if we do not receive suitable applications
Deadline: All essays must be emailed to the League President at jj.blton@gmail.com no later than April 30, 2018
Women in Technology Scholarship
Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP), a leading performance delivery and technology consulting firm that helps organizations better align strategy to execution, is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 11th annual Women in Technology Scholarship (WITS) program. Over the past decade, VIP has been proud to support over 90 women as they pursue a career in select technology fields.
WITS offers multiple scholarships to women pursuing a career in computer science, information technology (IT), management information systems, or another related field. Applicants must be enrolled at, or accepted to, a two or four-year college or university in the United States for the 2018 school year.
Candidates will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Academic Performance
- Applicant Summary
- Community Service and Extracurricular Activities
- Leadership Experience and Qualities
Deadline: April 1st, 2018.
To apply visit: https://www.trustvip.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WITS-2018-Application.pdf
Email WITS@trustvip.com with any additional questions.
Nursing Scholarships
Charles J. Argento & Associates Scholarship
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
Land Legal Group 2nd Annual Scholarship
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
Deadline: 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
Governor McAuliffe and the Virginia Council on Women Announce the 7th Annual STEM Essay Contest
Virginia Bankers Association - Bank Day Scholarship
Have you always wondered what actually goes on inside a bank? Do you need $7,500 to help pay for your college tuition? If so, consider participating in Bank Day.
On this day, you will spend a day in a bank shadowing a banker in their daily duties. After the Day, you will write an essay based on your experience. These essays will be judged by bankers and thirteen scholarships (twelve regional and one statewide) will be awarded to the winners.
Bank Day will take place on [Tuesday, March 20, 2018].
Scholarship Amounts:
$1,000 Each for six honorable mention scholarships
$2,500 Each for six regional winners
$5,000 Statewide winner ($7,500 total since all candidates will also be regional winners)
Participation Criteria:
High school senior
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Teacher/guidance counselor contact information provided by student
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:
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.
Society of Women Engineers at UVA - High School Visitation Program
SUMMER PROGRAMS
George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
The George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program was established in 2007 by Dr. Lance Liotta, Dr. Emanuel Petricoin III, Dr. Virginia Espina, and Amy Adams to give high school and undergraduate students, who have an interest in STEM, access to real-world, hands-on research.
Students work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University and collaborating institutions using state-of-the-art technology to solve hypothesis driven questions in Biochemistry, Biodefense, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Genomics, GeoInformation Science (GIS), Mathematical Modeling, Medicine, Nanotechnology, Neuroscience, Serious Game Design, Sports Medicine, Physics, and Proteomics.
As part of the 7.5 week full-time training students:
Gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge sophisticated equipment and technologies,
Develop and exercise scientific writing and communication skills
Explore STEM career choices through discussion forums and meetings with role models
Develop and exercise creative skills, crucial to performing innovative research
Hard work often pays off with participants' names published in scientific journals and their work presented at scientific conferences.
The 2018 Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program will begin on Friday, June 22, 2018 and will conclude with a poster symposium on Friday, August 10, 2018.
There is no fee for students to participate in the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program.
To apply: http://assip.cos.gmu.edu/students/2018-aspiring-scientists-summer-internship-program-application
Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University
The Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University offers phenomenal opportunities for students who are interested in engineering, computer science, or information technology. The Volgenau School of Engineering is hosting two Volgenau Visit Days this spring, and I invite your students to attend! These special engineering open house events are reserved for high school juniors, and feature a complimentary luncheon, admissions and academic information session, a tour of campus, and an opportunity to meet with faculty members from our academic programs.
Volgenau Visit Day Monday, March 5, 2018
Please have your students RSVP individually for one of the two sessions:
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
or
Monday, March 19, 2018
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The greater D.C. area is home to more than 20,000 information technology companies, and Mason proudly has the second largest concentration of research and development activity in the nation. Mason often stands in the national spotlight for its innovative and entrepreneurial programs, and the Volgenau School of Engineering is no exception. In fact, Affordable Colleges Online recently ranked the Volgenau School of Engineering as the #6 "High ROI College for Engineering Majors," highlighting the value of a Mason education.
NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge - NASA OPSPARC - Grades 3 - 12
NASA OPSPARC just opened and has separate categories for grades 3-6 and 7 - 12. The focus of this challenge is designing NASA Spinoff technology.
Students in grades 7 - 12 who create a Spinoff from James Webb Space Telescope technology may be selected to work with college engineering and business mentors within a 3D multi-user virtual world to design models of their Spinoff and a marketing plan.
- NASA OPSPARC website: https://nasaopsparc.com/
- OPSPARC Promo (from a participant's perspective): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmSW6W7EUfs&feature=youtu.be
- 2018 OPSPRAC Information Overview recording (2 min. 30 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeWtaHhPsps&feature=youtu.be
PAVAN Regional Governor's School for the Arts
Radford University - Summer Bridge Stem Experience
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.
Comtock's 10th District Young Women Leadership Program
Lebanon Valley College - Health and Biomedical Sciences Summer Camp
Leadership Conference for Latina Girls
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