Courtland Counseling Newsletter
Let's make your future happen!
In this issue
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: Important Dates
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: The Role of the School Counselor
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: What Can You Do To Help Your Child Make the Most of High School?
Grade 12: College Scholarships for Seniors
Grades 9, 10, 11: Scholarships Now! Scholarships for Underclassmen
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: What Are College Entrance Examinations?
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: Career Planning
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: Questions?
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: Stay Connected!
Grades 11, 12: SAT/ACT Dates
Important Dates
November 10: Parent Workshop: The SAT Revealed and Financial Aid Awareness, 6:30 at the School Board Office
November 12: Report Cards given to students.
November 18: Parent Conference Night, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
November 25, 26, 27: Thanksgiving Holiday
December 10 & 11: Interims given to students
December 11: Early release for students – professional learning for teachers
Role of the School Counselor
The role of the School Counselor is to support the community of Courtland High School.
- We work collaboratively with parents, teachers, and administrators. We can facilitate parent teacher conferences by arranging a meeting with a group of teachers.
- We work in partnership with other school resources: School Social Worker, School Resource Officer, and the School Nurse.
- We plan courses and schedules. We develop and support the student’s 4 year plan by helping students develop academic and career goals.
- We develop post secondary plans (military, career, and colleges) in collaboration with students and parents.
- We provide information sessions for parents and students (both in the classroom and outside the classroom).
- We provide resources for social/emotional issues: Bullying/Cyberbullying, Social Media, Depression, Anger Management, Grief, Divorce.
What Can You Do To Help Your Child Make The Most Of High School?
(Adapted from The Huffington Post: Elizabeth Romero)
- Have regular, casual conversations with your children - Talk about their future aspirations, and encourage and support their endeavors.
- Encourage their interests and passions - Taking them to activities related to their interests and passions will show your support. For example, if your child is interested in the arts, visit a museum.
- Create a strict "homework time" regimen - High school students need to have an established time during the day that they should study or work on their homework.
- Engage with your child's teacher on a regular basis - Don't let a quarter pass without contacting your child's teachers; they may mistake your distance for a lack of interest. Student-teacher bonds are strengthened when parent-teacher relationships are strong.
- Get to know your child's counselor - School counselors are key people to help with school programs and opportunities. Don't be shy; talk to them about you and your child's expectations for his/her academic future.
- Monitor grades frequently - If you check grades periodically, you can take action if you catch them falling, for example, getting an academic tutor.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS
If your senior student is looking for college funding, have them check out the extensive list of college scholarships found on Naviance (under the “colleges” tab near the end of the page).
Other resources for scholarship searches include:
College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Fast Web: www.fastweb.com
Scholarships.com: www.scholarships.com
U.S. Department of Labor: www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch
My College Dollars: https://mycollegedollars.hyfnrsx1.com
SCHOLARSHIPS NOW!!
SCHOLARSHIPS NOW! Scholarships for Underclassmen
Do you know that students in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades can earn college scholarships before they even apply to college?
To find scholarships that underclassmen may be eligible for, visit Mrs. Driest’s Scholarship Corner.
WHAT ARE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS?
College entrance exam scores are used by colleges and universities to assess a student’s readiness for and potential to succeed in college. Almost all colleges require that students submit scores from the SAT and/or the ACT with their college application package. The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.
It is recommended that juniors take the SAT/ACT in the spring of their junior year and that some preparation be made for the test, especially between the first and second tests if the student takes the SAT/ACT a second time. The College Board offers students help to prepare for the SAT through the Khan Academy for FREE!
The SAT will be changing in March 2016. Counselors will be reviewing this change with the Juniors in the English classes on November 10 and 11. We will be providing information regarding the changes to the SAT and the Financial Aid process. There will also be an information session for parents at the school board office on November 10 at 6:30. For more information about the Revised SAT, click here.
CAREER PLANNING… IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY!
When discussing career plans with your child, consider the following:
· Work situations and skills needed for employment are constantly changing.
· Almost half of the working population expects to change jobs in the next three years.
· Retraining and upgrading skills will be a requirement for maintaining employment.
· Two-thirds of the jobs created today will require education beyond high school.
· The worker of tomorrow must be able to work as a team member, communicate, solve problems, use technologies, adapt to change and be drug-free.
· Career development is a lifelong process.
As a parent, consider the following to help your high school student:
· Help your child make independent decisions.
· Encourage exploration of all kinds of post-secondary education opportunities.
· Involve yourself in your child's future planning.
· Give certain economic responsibilities.
· Encourage job awareness.
· Be flexible as the decision-making process evolves. It takes patience and numerous modifications.
"Careers: Building Your Child's Future Together | American School Counselor Association (ASCA)." American School Counselor Association, 13 July 2011
Your student’s counselor is here to help too! We have many resources for your student to use and may be able to offer classes that follow the career path. We are all in this together, so let’s make your student’s future happen!
QUESTIONS?
· What is Naviance?
· How do I contact teachers, counselors, administrators?
· How does my child add or drop a course? Request a transcript? Get a parking permit? Pay class dues? Get into National Honor Society?
· How can I check my child’s grades, attendance, SOL scores, discipline?
· What courses does my child need to graduate?
· What do I need to know about the college application process?
The answer to all of these questions and more can be found on the Counseling Department FAQ page on the Courtland High School website: http://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Page/2393
Stay Connected!!
Do you ever feel like you need a reminder?
· When is the PSAT being given? The next SAT/ACT registration deadline?
· When is the next Parent Conference Night?
· When do report cards and interims come out?
· Are there any scholarships that I should be aware of?
If so, this information is only a text/email away . . .
Announcements through Remind.
To receive messages via text, text @crtlndprnt to 81010. You can opt out of messages at any time by replying ‘unsubscribe@crtlndprnt’.
To receive messages via email, send an email to crtlndprnt@mail.remind101.com. To unsubscribe, reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.
Counseling Department
Mrs. Emily Hall …………….…. Counselor A — De
Mr. Bart Nave ………….… Counselor Di—Kh
Ms. Kashima Morrison ………... Counselor Ki—Ra
kmorrison@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Ms. Mary Nelson ………….... Counselor Re— Z