Guidance Newsletter: Fox Lane HS
Fall 2018
SENIOR PARENT REMINDERS
GROUP GUIDANCE:
We just completed week one of Senior Group Guidance. Each week seniors will have small group meetings with their counselor to work on each component of the college application process. Of course seniors should also schedule individual meetings with their guidance counselor throughout the college application process.
SENIOR PARENT NIGHT:
The Fox Lane High School Guidance Department invites you to attend the College Planning Program on Thursday, September 27 at 7pm in the Mary Lou Meese Theater at Fox Lane High School. This event will be an overview of the college application process. It is a nuts and bolts summary of everything that Fox Lane High School students and parents need to know as we approach college application deadlines. The evening's PowerPoint presentation will be made available on our website the morning after the event.
Agenda Items for Senior Parent Night
1. Application Components (Deadlines, Transcript, Standardized Tests, Activities, Essays, Letters of Recommendation, FERPA, etc.)
2. Naviance - new format for Naviance Student (formerly Family Connection)
3. Financial Aid - FAFSA and CSS/Profile
4. Parent Responsibilities vs. Student Responsibilities
FINANCIAL AID:
This is the third year of new rules for financial aid applications. Please read this section even if you have completed financial aid packages for older children in the past. The system is new and deadlines are much earlier.
1. Families are able to complete both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile beginning October 1, 2018. Deadlines for completion vary from college to college but the start date is universal; you may access FAFSA and CSS Profile financial aid applications beginning October 1, 2018.
2. Families will use the “prior-prior” year’s tax returns to complete the FAFSA. This means that financial aid packages and scholarships will be based on 2017 tax returns. In past years, the FAFSA could not be started until January 1 using the prior year tax returns. Using the 2017 tax year for financial aid allows families to begin completing forms at the beginning of October. Students who are applying Early Decision, Early Action, or Priority will likely have a deadline for submitting financial aid forms by November. It is highly suggested that parents review every college’s financial aid and scholarship website as early as possible to ensure that all deadlines are met.
FINANCIAL AID LINKS:
FAFSA (this form is required by all colleges)
CSS PROFILE (this form is required by many but not all colleges)
https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile
Colleges Requiring the CSS Profile
COLLEGE AND COFFEE:
On October 19th at 8am the Guidance Department will host a senior parent College and Coffee event. College and Coffee meetings are informal daytime gatherings for parents who want to discuss the college application and financial aid process in a small and informal setting; topics are generally generated by parent participants.
COLLEGE VISITS:
College Visits are in full swing in the Guidance office. All through September and October College Admissions Officers will come to Fox Lane to conduct brief (30 min) information sessions for students. While an updated list is available through Naviance and on the daily announcement email we have attached the list as of 9/20. Senior participation is strongly encouraged.
JUNIOR PARENT REMINDERS
PSATs:
On Wednesday, October 10th all juniors will be taking the PSATs. All other grade levels will be on a 4 hour delay start on that day. Families do not need to do anything to register their child for the PSATs. Students will receive a PSAT Bulletin in their English class shortly and they will pre-register for the exam in school prior to 10/10.
No preparation is required for the PSATs. We encourage students to create a Khan Academy account (https://www.khanacademy.org/) if they would like to review practice questions. Attached to this newsletter are two handouts detailing the PSATs, SAT, and ACT.
We highly recommend that prior to taking the exam, students get a goodnight’s sleep, eat a hearty breakfast, and come prepared with two number two pencils and a calculator.
PSAT results should be available in mid-December electronically and in early January via a mailing. Students and families are encouraged to reach out to their guidance counselor to develop an individual standardized test plan for college admissions.
Sophomores who wish to take the PSATs will have an opportunity in March to register for the PSAT 10.
GROUP GUIDANCE:
Due to our new freshman guidance model Junior Group Guidance will now begin during the second quarter. During junior group guidance we will cover the entire process for applying to college. Stay tuned for a start date!
COLLEGE VISITS:
Each fall college admissions officers visit the FLHS Guidance Office to conduct brief (30 minute) information sessions. While these sessions are geared towards our seniors, junior may attend if they are free or have lunch during that time slot. Juniors may not miss class to attend the information sessions. The current list as of 9/20 is attached to this newsletter.
SOPHOMORE PARENT REMINDERS
SOPHOMORE PARENT NIGHT:
Sophomore parent night will be held on Thursday, November 1st at 7pm in the Mary Lou Meese Theater. Topics to be covered include:
1. Graduation Requirements
2. BOCES Tech Center
3. Standardized Testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests)
4. Activities
Sophomores who wish to take the PSATs will have an opportunity in March to register for the PSAT 10. Unlike the PSAT/NMSQT that our juniors will take in October, the PSAT 10 is normed for sophomores, and by taking it in the spring it will allow students to build their academic skills. An email will be sent regarding registration information for students who are interested. There is a small fee for the PSAT 10.
FRESHMAN PARENT REMINDERS
As you know, we have adjusted our model and all ninth graders now have either Mrs. Dunne or Ms. Salazar as their counselor. Through the model Freshman Group Guidance will now begin even earlier. Students will start meeting with their counselor in a group format during the first quarter and throughout the year.
RECAP: FAMILY CONNECTION IS NOW NAVIANCE STUDENT
Naviance Student is LIVE! Please review the attached Reference Guides that give an overview of the new platform.
All parents have their own personal Naviance account. If you do not know how to access yours, please contact Gina Izzo (gizzo2899@bcsdny.org).
ALL GRADES: Important Fall Dates:
Only Key Dates are listed. For a full list of important dates by grade level, please consult the timelines attached below.
- Fall (TBD) (FRESHMEN): Freshman Group Guidance – all freshman will meet with their counselor in small groups throughout the year (Required)
- September 27 (SENIORS): 12th Grade Parent Night, 7PM* – The college application process will be reviewed
- October 1 (SENIORS): Parents may begin the FAFSA and CSS Profile for Financial Aid (Required for families applying for financial aid)
- October 6 (SENIORS): SAT test date – Registration deadline September 7 (If needed)
- October 6 – 8 (SENIORS): Columbus Day weekend – Opportunity to visit colleges
- October 10 (JUNIORS; SENIORS): PSAT All juniors take the PSAT exam in the morning; visit Khan Academy and create a SAT prep account https://www.khanacademy.org/sat (Encouraged); Seniors will have essay conference appointments available through the English Department
- October 11 (FRESHMEN): 9th Grade Parent Night (Encouraged)
- October 11 (SENIORS): Deadline to request transcripts and recommendations to Guidance for the November 1st Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling Admission application at SUNY, CUNY, and other public out-of-state universities
- October 15 (ALL GRADES): Drop deadline for full year and first semester courses
- October 15 (ALL GRADES): Club Fair – Remember that it is important to be involved in extracurricular activities (either inside or outside of school)!
- October 19 (SENIORS): Parent College and Coffee, 8AM (Optional)
- October 27(SENIORS): ACT test date – Registration deadline September 28 (If needed)
- November 1 (SOPHOMORES): 10th Grade Parent Night, 7PM* (Encouraged)
- November 3 (SENIORS): SAT test date – Registration deadline October 5 (Too late for most ED/EA schools)
- November 9 (SENIORS): Deadline to request transcripts and recommendations to Guidance for the December college applications
- November 19 (ALL GRADES): Course Level Change deadline
- November 29 (ALL GRADES): Financial Aid Night, 7PM – Presentation by HESC representative from the NYS Education Department. https://www.hesc.ny.gov/ (All Grades, Optional; Juniors, Encouraged)
- December 1 (JUNIORS/SENIORS): SAT test date – Registration deadline November 2 (Not recommended for most students)
- December 3 (SENIORS): Deadline to request transcripts and recommendations to Guidance for the January college applications
- December 7 (SOPHOMORES): Registration deadline for PSAT 10 scheduled for March (TBD) (Optional)
- December 8 (JUNIORS/SENIORS): ACT test date – Registration deadline November 2; not administered at FLHS (Not recommended for most students)
- December/January (JUNIORS): PSAT results provided by College Board for your review. These will be provided by the College Board in an electronic format in mid-December or paper format in January. Based on the PSAT results and/or SAT vs. ACT comparative test students and families should consult with their counselor regarding their personal standardized test plan.
- Early January (TBD) (FRESHMEN-JUNIORS): Course Selection – each student will have one day of “Course Information Day” followed by “Course Recommendation Day” with each of their teachers. The following week, each student will meet with their counselor individually to select courses for the following school year
- January 2 (SENIORS): Local Scholarship packet will be available online on the Guidance website. All Scholarship applications are due February 4; please follow directions carefully and adhere to deadlines (no extensions are granted)
* = new time
Annual Guidance Department Highlights At a Glance
- 10th Grade Parent Night (November): Focuses on various topics including: graduation requirements, standardized testing, and getting involved
- 11th Grade Parent Night (February): Focuses on the college planning process typically through the lens of a seasoned college admissions counselor
- 12th Grade Parent Night (September): Focuses on the college application process
- College and Coffee (11th grade – spring): Informal daytime gathering for parents who want to discuss the college planning process in a small and informal setting; topics are generally generated by parent participants
- College and Coffee (12th grade – fall): Informal daytime gathering for parents who want to discuss the college application and financial aid process in a small and informal setting; topics are generally generated by parent participants
- College Fair (May): large college and career fair for all of Northern Westchester that is conveniently located at FLHS; while the focus is mainly for juniors, sophomores may attend; in addition to college and career representatives, workshops are also offered for families
- Financial Aid Night (open to all grades but targeted to 11th grade parents –November): An overview of the financial aid process for families
- Group Guidance Program – All students will meet in small groups with their counselor for each year they are in high school; range of topics include: Freshmen (all year) – graduation requirements, 4 year planning, learning style inventory, course planning, getting involved, etc. Sophomores (spring) – career assessment, personality profile, preparing for final exams, etc. Juniors (winter) – college planning process (how to research colleges, creating a resume, mock interviews, application procedures, letters of recommendations, college essay, etc.). Seniors (fall) – college application process (submitting applications, college essays, college resumes, financial aid and scholarship information, etc.)
- PSAT (11th grade – October): All juniors will sit for the PSAT/NMSQT
- PSAT 10 (10th grade – March): Sophomores may elect to take a PSAT that is normed for 10th graders in March. Registration information will be sent out via email.
- Individual Student and Family Appointments: as needed
Other programs may be added throughout the year. Most communications are sent through our Naviance program. If you do not receive emails from “Fox Lane Guidance Department,” please let us know so we can check your email in our system.
GUIDANCE HAPPENINGS
- In August Steph Salazar attended the NYSACAC Summer Institute at Skidmore College, which brought college admission counselors and high school counselors together to review college admissions, athletics, and ethical admission practices
- On August 30 and September 4 the counselors helped to Welcome the Class of 2022 and all new transfer students during Freshman and New Student Orientation
- Jess Mineo and Angela Alvarado, Student Assistance Counselor, will run groups this fall for all new transfer students
The Fox Lane High School Guidance Department
Counselors:
Kristin Brown, 241-6191
Karen Deitch,241-6190
Lisa Dunne, 241-6092
Greg Fedorczak (Hillside), 241-1106
Jen Hickey, 241-6071
Rori Mackie (Coschigano), 241-6081
Steve Marcisz (Coordinator), 241-6053
Jessica Mineo, 241-6169
Stephanie Salazar, 241-6180
Website: https://www.bcsdny.org/domain/120
Location: Fox Lane High School, South Bedford Road, Bedford, NY, United States
Phone: (914) 241-6082
Twitter: @flhs_guidance