Counseling Corner
Brighton High School Counseling Office
Updates for BHS Students & Families
July/August 2023
Dear Families,
We hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather and time off! We've been taking some much needed breaks here and there, but we're also hard at work preparing for the fall.
To our new students and 9th grade families- WELCOME TO BHS! We look forward to meeting you in the near future. We use this monthly newsletter to keep families informed of what is going on in our office and the community as related to academic, career and social-emotional learning.
Our department works closely with one another to support you throughout your time in high school. Here are the counseling team members who will be helping you in the coming school year:
School Counselors
Mary Crelley
Keri Crowley
Courtney Stern (College & Career Counselor)
Jennie Viggiani (Counseling Coordinator)
Travis Figueroa
Holly Juliano
Tricia Zeller (Aspire)
School Social Worker
Lance Mitchell
School Psychologists
Erin Merydith
Heather Gabriel
Counseling Secretaries
Jane Ingle
Sandy Hellman
Registrars
Mary Ellen Schultz
Josie Leyens
Below are a few reminders from our office. We also have some great updates of things happening this summer throughout the newsletter.
- The Counseling Office is open Monday-Friday, 8am-3pm.
- Counselors and mental health staff are in regularly throughout the summer, but not every day.
- Please use the BHS Counseling Office phone number and school emails to connect with your counselor. If we are not in the office on a given day, we will get back to you as soon as we are. Contact information can be found on our website: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2066
- If you would like to schedule an appointment with your counselor (in-person or via Zoom), you can do so using our Calendly links.
calendly.com/keri_crowley
calendly.com/mary_crelley
calendly.com/travis_figueroa
calendly.com/hollyjuliano
calendly.com/courtney_stern
calendly.com/jennie_viggiani
We'll be back in touch with another newsletter in September after school begins. We wish you all peace and wellness, and relaxing rest of summer!
Best,
BHS Counseling Office
(585) 242-5000 x4526
9th Grade and New Student Orientation
9th Grade Students and NEW Transfer Students’ Orientation
Wednesday, August 30, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the BHS Gym.
This orientation is for all incoming 9th grade students and transfer students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Students will meet in the BHS GYM at 8:00 AM. LINK CREW leaders will assist freshman and new students in grades 9-12 with their transition to BHS. Link Crew is a nationally recognized program that pairs high school student leaders with freshmen.
Please contact the main office if you have any questions regarding orientation.
SAVE THE DATES - BHS Counseling Parent Nights
Senior Parent Night #1: The BHS Application Process
Thursday September 28th, 6:30pm
BHS Auditorium
(Details are in Senior Newsletter)
Senior Parent Night #2: Financial Aid 101
Thursday October 5th, 6:30pm
BHS Auditorium
(Details are in Senior Newsletter)
Freshmen Parent Night
Thursday October 26th, 6:30pm
BHS Auditorium
College & Career Night (grades 9-11)
Thursday January 18th, 6pm
BHS Classrooms
Junior Family Night
Thursday March 21st, 6:30pm
BHS Auditorium
University of Rochester Medical Center- Anxiety Support Group at BHS
URMC/BHS Partnership
Group Therapy Sessions THIS FALL!
URMC is pleased to announce group therapy offerings at BHS. Katie Lembo, M.S., MHC, staff clinician is currently providing individual therapy services to TCMS & BHS students on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be extending her services by including group therapy sessions. These sessions will have an intervention of focus (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills, social skills, anxiety, and depression).
The first group offering will target the following populations:
Any middle school student or high school student who experiences anxiety related to academic performance, sports performance, etc.
The group goal:
Group members will develop a better understanding of anxiety as well as learn and practice a variety of relaxation and coping skills, including cognitive and behavioral strategies
How long will the group run?
The group will run for 12 sessions and will alternative class periods every week so that students will not miss the same class.
What is the cost of group?
URMC bills through insurance companies, so the cost will vary, depending on your insurance. After completing a group screen, someone from financial services will be able to speak with each individual family directly about any financial questions and/or concerns.
If interested, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
BHS Job Board
Below is the link to our BHS JOB BOARD- your new home for any information about work permits, available jobs or internship opportunities.
This will be updated weekly as opportunities come in. Check it often!!
**REMEMBER- IF YOU ARE A JUNIOR OR SENIOR, YOU CAN EARN CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE! See Mrs. Stern for more details!!
Work Based Learning
Will you be a junior or senior this fall? Please see below if you are interested in any of our WBL programs:
General Work Experience
- Have a job this summer or during the school year?
- Will you work at least 150 hours?
- Are you a rising junior or a senior?
- If you answered yes to the questions above, contact Mrs. Stern about earning HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT next year just for having a job!
Professional Internship/Job Shadowing
We can work together to figure out a career exploration plan!
For more detailed information on either programs, please check out our site: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2067
Email Mrs. Stern if you are interested in either of these programs.
Calling all mentors- we need placements for student interns!
Hands on experiences are the best way to learn more about the career opportunities available to our young adults. And our students are asking for them! When we thought about who our students could learn from, we wanted to first look to the professionals in our own back yard.
PARENTS- If you are interested in possibly hosting a student for a Job Shadow experience or Professional Internship in the future, please reach out to Courtney Stern. There is no obligation to host a student shadow or intern currently. It is merely helping us to create a network of professionals in our community.
If you are in need of an intern OR have paid jobs available for students, please email Courtney Stern directly so I may add it to our Job Board!
If you have any questions regarding our Work Based Learning programs, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time. Thank you in advance for considering hosting a student shadow or intern in the future!
Courtney Stern, College & Career Counselor
Sam Rizzo, CTE Coordinator
Class of 2024
CHECK OUT OUR SENIOR NEWSLETTER!
A summer edition of our Senior Newsletter was also sent to you TODAY, and we will resume weekly editions September through December. This will be packed with information and updates from our office, so be sure to read it!
23-24 Scheduling
We are working hard to balance student schedules and resolve student course conflicts that have developed since the creation of our master schedule.
You will be given access to view your schedules in mid-August.
Administration has asked us to limit any new adjustments to student schedules until further notice, unless a student:
- does not have enough courses to meet full-time enrollment requirements (minimum of five classes plus physical education per semester)
- is missing a required course for graduation
- has scheduled too many courses and wants to make adjustments to free up time
- is requesting a level change
- are missing Counseling Seminar- 12th & 10th- fall semester, 9th & 11th- spring semester.
Our staffing and course assignments for the 2023-2024 school year have been determined based on student course selections from January to June 1, 2023. Due to this, we will not be able to honor requests to switch electives or select teachers. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the classes they have chosen for the first six days of classes.
We greatly appreciate your understanding.
College & Career
In-Person College Rep Visits & College Fairs at BHS!
Reps will be visiting in-person and virtually, and all BHS students are welcome to talk with them! Colleges have already begun to schedule appointments at BHS, so check Naviance regularly for our schedule.
- If a rep is in person, they will be in room 257 (the conference room across from the Counseling Office)
- If they are virtual, you will be able to access a link to their zoom via Naviance. You may come to the Counseling Office and we can help find you a quiet space to attend if needed.
- You will need teacher permission to attend if the visit takes place during a class.
You are welcome to sign up for as many visits as you'd like! We encourage you to sit in on the ones you know, as well as some that you've never heard of before. There are so many INCREDIBLE institutions all over the country with phenomenal opportunities. You just don't know about them yet!
When the school year starts, we will list the next week's visits in the newsletter. Be sure to check out Naviance & the College Visits page on the BHS Counseling Website for a complete list of ALL visits this season starting in September. Check often- we get new visits scheduled every day!
College Fairs at BHS! Join us in the Atrium!!
Rochester Area Colleges Consortium
- Wednesday September 27th, 7th Period
- 14 Colleges & Universities in the Rochester Area all at BHS: http://www.rochesterareacolleges.org/members
WNY Consortium of Higher Education
- Friday November 3rd, 2nd Period
- 17 Colleges & Universities will be here to chat with you! Check them out: https://www.wnycollegeconnection.com/
ROC With Your Hands Construction Careers Exploration
"CONSTRUCTION IS MORE THAN A JOB. ITS A CAREER WITH HIGH DEMAND, HIGH SALARIES
AND HIGH POTENTIAL."
ROC With Your Hands includes hands-on demonstrations, interactive displays, and information on careers in Advanced Manufacturing, Skilled Trades, Automotive Technology and Heavy Equipment. LUNCH IS PROVIDED AND FREE OF CHARGE!!
BHS will be taking a field trip to this event. More information and permission slips will be out this fall!
Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023, 08:00 AM
Rochester Community Sports Complex, Oak Street, Rochester, NY, USA
Rochester Careers in Construction Day
The 25th Annual Rochester Careers in Construction Day will be held at the Monroe County Fleet Center, Building 11 on Thursday, October 19th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM! This FREE event introduces students to the exciting career options in the construction industry and showcases what our region has to offer.
The construction industry is looking for bright, motivated professionals to help fill the skills gap. If you have students who are determined, hardworking and willing to take on new adventures, construction may be right for them! Construction offers fantastic pay, great benefits, and exciting career opportunities with plenty of room for advancement.
BHS will be taking a field trip to this event. More information and permission slips will be out this fall!
Thursday, Oct 19, 2023, 09:00 AM
Monroe County Fleet Services Department, Paul Road, Rochester, NY, USA
SAT & ACT Updates
If you have questions specific to BHS testing procedures, please reach out to Deirdre Carter: deirdre_carter@bcsd.org. As things are changing so often, please refer to the testing sites for updated information:
Standardized exams have traditionally been a part of the college application. This year, due to COVID, many schools allowed students the option of submitting test scores or not. Juniors- It's safe to say it's a good idea to get an exam or two under your belt if you are thinking of applying to a four-year college. Below is some brief information about the two exams and the website to check out to get more information/sign up for the exams.
SAT
Collegeboard.org
- Designed to measure academic aptitude in verbal and numerical reasoning.
- Test Content: Reading, Math and Writing.
- Cost $55.00 (w/o writing)
ACT
Actstudent.org
- Designed to measure academic achievement.
- Test Content: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning.
- Cost $60.00 (w/o writing)
- Cost $80.00 (with writing)
Visit www.fairtest.org for a list of colleges that do not require standardized tests. Check in with your counselor about a Fee Waiver , if needed, to help cover the costs of the exams.
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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (504s & IEPS)
SAT- The BHS Counseling Office applies for all College Board test mods prior to your sophomore year (this summer). If approved, these will apply to all future SAT & AP Exams
ACT- you MUST REGISTER FOR AN ACT EXAM before we can apply for your test mods. Be sure to sign up early, indicate you will be requesting accommodations, and let your counselor know ASAP so we can get them processed before the test date. This typically takes 6-8 weeks.
Remember- both College Board and ACT are private companies. They have the right to approve or deny any test modifications you may have. If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor or College Board/ACT for more information.
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FREE IN-PERSON Proctored SAT & ACT Exams
Our friends at Chariot Learning and the Brighton Memorial Library will be running free IN-PERSON practice tests! All the details will be on their calendar: https://chariotlearning.com/events/
Anyone in grades 9-12 are welcome to give it a try! Please pre-register by contacting Deena Viviani at 784-5300 or Deena.viviani@libraryweb.org
Health and Wellness
We have updated our BHS Counseling Department Mental Health page with resources specific to managing stress and anxiety related to this pandemic and counseling supports available in the community. Please check them out here: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2076
Brighton High School Counseling Department
Email: courtney_stern@bcsd.org
Website: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2063
Location: 1150 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 242-5000