A Publication of the Paramus Schools Counseling Department

Transcription

1 COUNSELING CONNECTION A Publication of the Paramus Schools Counseling Department March, 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7 Adolescent Safety and Internet Precautions April 22, 2015 at 7:00pm PHS Auditorium College Fair April 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm PHS Main Gymnasium Andrea Saladino District Supervisor of School Counseling Elementary Schools Laurie Corizzo Leslie Lapotasky Memorial, Ridge Ranch, East Brook Midland, Parkway, Stony Lane, West Brook Dana Folcarelli East Brook Middle School Christopher Nutland East Brook Middle School Middle Schools Vanessa De Jesus West Brook Middle School Lourdes Hyland West Brook Middle School High School Joseph Gencarelli Nicole Ives Shannon Moran Ashwini Reddy Daura Schucker Sandra Vanderzee Joseph Traina Student Assistance Counselor

2 Ms. Daura Schucker COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR Please join the School Counseling Department in congratulating Ms. Schucker for being selected as School Counselor of the Year. Ms. Schucker was nominated by her peers in the Bergen County School Counselor Association to be the representative of Bergen County for the New Jersey School Counselor Association Honor. Ms. Schucker will be honored by the association at a ceremony scheduled later in the year. Ms. Schucker began her career as an elementary school teacher in Woodcliff Lake where she taught both second and third grade for seven years. In December 2000, she completed her Masters in School Counseling. Ms. Schucker has been a School Counselor at Paramus High School for the past 12 years. She has served as Secretary for the Bergen County School Counselor Association since ENTIRELY ELEMENTARY March has been a very active month. In Memorial, the lessons from the NJ State Bar Association Bully Busting curriculum have wrapped up with the culminating lesson, WIN/WIN. We re-capped our five previous lessons and talked about successful strategies to make any conflict end well. Also in Memorial, planning has begun to start an after school Friendship Club. We are targeting April to begin. Stay tuned for more information. In addition, a group of 3 rd grade children have been working very hard to put on a play for their teacher who is returning to work next week. They are very excited, and have worked very hard. Small groups have wrapped up, and the next round will begin soon. They are: Changing Families (Divorce) and Organization. Over in Ridge Ranch, the children have been exploring what it means to be an UPSTANDER. They examined what qualities it takes to stand up for ourselves and our friends and talked about why it is not okay to merely stand by and watch things happen. Our after school Friendship Club took a look at how to wait our turn and be patient. The children were treated to an experiment where they completed a circuit using a battery and a light bulb. The teachers modeled appropriate communication (listener/speaker) and encouraged question asking. It was a great time had by all. Small groups have wrapped up, and the next round will begin soon. They are: Wiggle Worms and Grief Group.

3 Meanwhile, over on the west side of town during the month of March the small groups at Stony Lane have focused on managing test anxiety and social skills. In Kindergarten we have worked on the difference between tattling and telling. At Midland our friendship groups have continued to meet and work on social skills and coping strategies. Two new groups will be starting in April; Changing Families and Grief group. The student council at Parkway has been working on a fundraiser for the Hope and Safety Center for Women and Children. They have been collecting donations of clothing, school supplies, small household items and gift cards. If you are interested in donating, the boxes are outside of the library. MATTERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS Spring brings many things - flowers blooming, birds chirping, and the nice weather. With the longer hours of sunshine children like to enjoy more time outdoors with their friends and more time participating in recreational activities, as spring sports commence. With the change in season it can sometimes become difficult for children to stay focused on school. As we spring forward here are some tips which can help your middle school child, or a child of any age! Make school attendance a top priority. Try to schedule appointments after school hours, if possible. Let your children know unless they are very sick they must go to school. Encourage reading outdoors on a porch, backyard, or even by an open window. Natural light and a different ambience may bring more enjoyment as children do their daily reading. Show you care. Keeping an interest and positive attitude on academics, as well as children s social and emotional well-being may boost children s self-confidence, and improve familial relationships. Sleep well! After hours of sunshine and fun it may be difficult for children to end the day at a healthy hour. Leaving bedroom televisions off and leaving cell phones, laptops and tablets outside of the bedroom may help children power down more easily and get a good night s rest.

4 HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Over 150 people attended the Trends in College Admission Panel hosted by the High School Counseling Department. Admission Representatives from The College of New Jersey, Villanova University, Binghamton University and Lafayette College discussed an array of topics from College Entrance Exams, Student Resumes and their own admission requirements. The panel also answered questions from the audience. JUNIOR CONFERENCES Eleventh grade parents are reminded to contact the Counseling Office (Ext: 3111) to schedule a Junior Conference with their child s school counselor. This meeting is very helpful while navigating the college search process. COUNSELING GROUPS At the end of the First Marking Period, the School Counselors conducted a needs assessment survey to establish counseling groups for the School Year. The three groups that currently meet are: Self-Image Time Management and Organization Planning for the Future The groups have been meeting throughout the school year and students responses have been very positive! ATTENTION STUDENT-ATHLETES College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to ensure they have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework. This process begins early in a student s high school career. It is the student s responsibility to ensure they have met all academic and testing requirements to compete at a DI or DII school. College-bound athletes are strongly encouraged to review and familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations in the NCAA Guide for College-bound athletes. Additionally, students and their parents should visit the NCAA High School Portal to ensure their high school coursework is NCAA approved.

5 Overview: Current SAT vs. Redesigned SAT The current SAT and the redesigned SAT highlights major design features. (Info taken from Collegeboard.org) Category Current SAT Redesigned SAT Testing Time* 3 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the Essay [optional]) Components 1. Critical Reading 1. Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 2. Writing 3. Mathematics 4. Essay 2. Math Reading Test Writing and Language Test 3. Essay (optional) Important Features Emphasis on general reasoning skills Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores) Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores) Essay Required and given at the beginning of the SAT 25 minutes to write the essay Tests writing skill; students take a position on a presented issue Optional and given at the end of the SAT; postsecondary institutions determine whether they will require the Essay for admission 50 minutes to write the essay Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text Score Reporting* Scale ranging from 600 to 2400 Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Critical Reading; 200 to 800 for Mathematics; 200 to 800 for Writing Essay results scaled to multiplechoice Writing Scale ranging from 400 to 1600 Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Evidence- Based Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three traits for Essay Essay results reported separately The redesigned SAT will be administered in March Please visit collegeboard.org to learn more about the redesigned SAT

6 Coffee with the Counselors A K-12 District Initiative EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS March 25, Memorial School at 9:00 am. Ridge Ranch & Memorial parents are welcome. The topic of discussion will be Spring Cleaning/New Season-New Start PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL March 27, Paramus High School at 9:00 am. Topics of discussion will be College Fair, College-Career Readiness and Counseling Groups WEST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS March 31, Stony Lane School at 1:00 pm. Midland, Parkway & Stony Lane parents are welcome. The topic of discussion will be Raising Independent Children WEST BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL April 23, West Brook Middle School at 9:00 am. The topic of discussion will be Balancing Act: Homework, School Activities, Sports and More EAST BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL June 1, East Brook Middle School at 10:00 am. The topic of discussion will be Reducing Educational Loss during the Distracted Summer