COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Effingham County High School
NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER
MEET YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR!
Front Row (left to right)
Mrs. Aurelia Moss - Class of 2021 Counselor (11th Grade)
Dr. April Sikes-Brown - Class of 2020 Academic Counselor (12th Grade)
Back Row (left to right)
Mrs. Natalie Ramsey - Class of 2022 Counselor (10th Grade)
Mrs. Mimi Hayes - College and Career Counselor and 9th Grade Counselor
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ECHS?
11/1 - 10/30 - Senior Dues - $80
11/1 - Grad Bash Payment #2 Due to Kelly Tours ($45)
11/2 - SAT
11/8 - December SAT Registration Deadline
11/8 - December ACT Registration Deadline
11/11 - Financial Aid Night #1 @ 6:00 p.m.
11/13 - Advisement
11/13 - 11/15 - Georgia Apply to College Days
11/20 - Accuplacer
11/22 - Diploma Name Verification Form Deadline (Class of 2020)
11/25 - 11/29 - Thanksgiving Holidays
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 9TH GRADE?
THE BIGGEST FAILURE OF HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN? NOT KNOWING HOW TO STUDY
As a high school counselor, I recently visited a nearby middle school to discuss the course selection process with the current eighth graders who will be attending our school next year. We discussed all of the fun classes to take, the cool clubs and activities in which to participate, and the competitive athletic opportunities. Then, I started the discussion of transitioning to high school and the differences between middle school and high school academics. I posed the following question to this group of eager eighth graders: “What is the difference between homework and studying?” Willing to impress, several students raised their hands and so I called on them one by one. “Homework is doing the problems that your teacher assigns you. Studying is reviewing your homework so you understand the concepts,” said one young man. A young lady stated, “Homework is for practice to help you understand and studying is memorizing the information for a test.” The last student I called on simply stated, “Homework is for tomorrow’s grade and studying is for your future grades.” I must admit, I was quite impressed with the awareness these students had regarding the differences between homework and studying so I decided to dig a little deeper. I followed with, “How many of you do your homework?” and the majority of the class had raised hands. I then asked, “How many of you take time to study?” and only a few hands went up. I proceeded to give them my best lecture about one of the predominant academic failure of high school freshmen . . . not knowing how to study.
RELATED: 9th Grade Academic Growth Charts
Learning how to study is an important skill for high school and college success, but the habits of studying start when students begin receiving homework in elementary school. It is important to create a structured time each day to complete homework and check for understanding. While I don’t encourage parents to hover over the dinner table monitoring every homework assignment, I do encourage parents to check in with their students when they say they have completed their homework. In elementary school, it can be as easy as, “explain to me the worksheet you just completed” or “how did you figure out the answer to this question?” This can help students process the information and think critically about the concepts the teacher has assigned. In today’s world of instant answers, being able to process and analyze new information is far more important than simply memorizing and regurgitating it back on a test.
Students find “studying” time consuming and boring. It is difficult for young adults to understand the importance of delayed gratification and to take the time to prepare for “future grades,” as my eighth grade student so eloquently stated. A responsible student will complete a review packet for a test but an excellent student will then go through the packet, quiz herself, and then find a study buddy with whom to have conversations about the material to check for understanding. If a student can do this, her future grades will not disappoint.
Author: Tammy Dodson
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 10TH GRADE?
PSAT Results
The PSAT is highly relevant to your future success because it focuses on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures what you learn in high school and what you need to succeed in college. The test is used by scholarship programs to look for eligible students, including the National Merit Scholarship Program.
SIGN UP FOR REMIND!
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 11TH GRADE?
SAT and ACT REGISTRATION
Students in the 11th grade that qualify for free or reduced price lunch may see Mrs. Moss for SAT and ACT fee waivers.
Classroom Guidance
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 12TH GRADE?
DUAL ENROLLMENT ADVISEMENT - SPRING 2020 SEMESTER
Financial Aid Night #1
Information pertaining to financial aid will be presented to 12th grade students and parents during the Financial Aid Night. The event will be held in the ECHS Cafeteria.
Please contact Mrs. Mimi Hayes with any questions regarding the event.
Monday, Nov 11, 2019, 06:00 PM
Effingham County High School, Georgia 119, Springfield, GA, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
GEORGIA APPLY TO COLLEGE 2019
We will be hosting Georgia Apply to College on November 13th and 14th at ECHS.
The goal of Georgia Apply to College (GAC) is to provide all Georgia high school seniors with the opportunity to apply to college with a focus on providing assistance to first generation and underrepresented students as they navigate the college application process.
A representative from East Georgia State College will be on campus November 15th for students to learn about the institution, complete admissions testing, and apply to the college on the same day.
Students must create a GAfutures account at GAfutures.org prior to the event and sign up for a time to attend. Sign up sheets for each event are available in the Counseling Department. Be sure to sign up if you would like to attend. Please contact Mrs. Hayes if you have any questions regarding the events.
Eagle Preview Day
- November 2, 2019
- 8:00 a.m.
- Statesboro Campus
Reception
- November 13, 2019
- 7:00 p.m.
- Marriott Savannah Riverfront
Dual Enrollment Information Sessions
- November 14, 2019 @ 6:00 p.m.
- November 16, 2019 @ 9:00 a.m.
- Savannah Campus - Compassion Christian Church
FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the main application used to apply for federal or state-supported financial aid to pay for a college education. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free, easy and provides you access to the largest source of financial aid available.
Financial aid covers expenses like tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other college-related expenses. The FAFSA can be used to determine eligibility for:
- Federal Student Aid –Pell Grants and student loans.
- State Financial Aid – HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs.
- Institutional Financial Aid – Institutional Scholarships offered by a college.
- Private Financial Aid – Private Scholarships provided by businesses or other organizations.
For more information, view the FAFSA Overview and How to Fill Out the FAFSA videos provided by Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.
COLLEGE AND CAREER - TESTING DATES AND RESOURCES
ASVAB
February 4, 2020
March 2, 2020
ACCUPLACER
February 5, 2020
March 4, 2020
SOURCES OF STRENGTH
Sources of Strength is a best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harnesses the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.
If you have any students that you would like to nominate as peer leaders for the Sources of Strength program, please refer them to your school social worker, Dr. Jackie Brown.
PERSONAL WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Counseling Department Contact Information
Mrs. Aurelia Moss - amoss@effingham.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Natalie Ramsey - nramsey@effingham.k12.ga.us
Dr. April Sikes-Brown - asikesbrown@effngham.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Denise Stevens, Registrar - dstevens@effingham.k12.ga.us
Dr. Jackie Brown, Social Worker - jbrown@effingham.k12.ga.us
Newsletter Contact
Email: asikesbrown@effingham.k12.ga.us
Website: https://www.effinghamschools.com/domain/280
Location: Effingham County High School, Georgia 119, Springfield, GA, USA
Phone: 912-754-6404