Monty Tech Student Support Services 2014/2015 Informational Newsletter

Transcription

1 The Student Support Services Office consists of the Guidance, Career Counseling and Special Education Offices. Our Counselors and Staff Director: Victoria Zarozinski Freshman Counselor: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Counselors: Shelley Reyes A L Alicia Quinn M Z Mark Haschig: Automotive Technology, Auto Body/Collision Repair, Dental Assisting, Health Occupations, Industrial Technology Bonnie Heikkinen: Business Technology, Early Childhood Education, Graphic Communications, Information Technology, Masonry Patricia Kozlowski: Cabinetmaking, Cosmetology, Drafting Technology, Electrical, House Carpentry Kathleen Sallila: Culinary Arts, Engineering Technology, Machine Technology, Plumbing, Welding/Metal Fabrication Career Coach: School Social Worker: School Adj. Counselor: School Psychologist: Ed. Team Leader: Speech/Language Therapist: Admin. Assistants: Anne Tucker Kathleen Hanson David Pirri Katelyn Goodard John Bozicas Kathy Twichell Pat Boucher Kim Dinopoulos Donna Schaff Paula Torres Bulletin Board Important Dates Aug. 27 Gr. 9 Parent Orientation Sep th Annual MT College/Career Fair Oct. 18 PSAT/NMSQT Test Oct. 20 Tour Day (no school) Oct. 20 Career Awareness Night Nov. 5,6,7 MCAS ELA Retest Nov. 12, 13 MCAS Math Retest Nov. 20 Parents Night, Gr. 10 & 12 Nov. 25 Parents Night Grades 9 & 11 Dec. 10 MEFA College Financing Seminar Jan. 12, 13, 14, MidTerm Exams 15, 16 Gr. 9 & 11 Jan. 20, 21, MidTerm Exams 22, 23 Gr. 10 & 12 Feb. 2 & 3 MCAS Biology Retest Mar. 2, 3, 4 MCAS ELA Retest Mar. 5 & 6 MCAS Math Retest Mar. 18 Open House Mar. 19 Open House Snow Date TBA MEFA College Admissions Seminar 6:00 PM Mar. 24, 25, 26 MCAS ELA Testing Apr. 2 MCAS ELA Makeup Apr. 15 Superintendent s Dinner May 6 AP Literature & Composition Exam May 12 & 13 MCAS Math Testing May 13 AP Language & Comp., Statistics May 15 Senior Sign Out Academics May 22 Senior Sign Out Vocational May 26 Senior Awards Night 7 pm May 27 Graduation Class of 2015 May 28 Graduation Rain Date June 2 & 3 MCAS STE Testing TBA Final Exams June 11 Last Day of School (180 th day)

2 Career Planning and Educational Choices Choosing a Career A career that is perfect for one person may be totally wrong for another. Choosing a career is difficult and a process. In order to choose a career, one must take a look at who they are, what they are good at, activities they enjoy and what is important to them. The steps to choosing the right career are as follows: - Selfassessment This will help you identify what one likes to do (interests), natural talents (aptitudes), abilities, and what is important (values). - Investigating Career Choices Once a career area is identified, learn as much as possible about careers in that field by reading and doing research, talking to people, and getting related experience. Evaluating Your Educational Choices Educational Choice 1: Career & Technology Education Career and technology programs are particularly appropriate for those students who prefer a more practical, handson approach to learning. While students generally have the knowledge and skills to obtain a job as soon as they graduate, almost two- thirds continue their education beyond high school. Educational Choice 2: Community & Technical Colleges Community and public technical colleges provide affordable, careeroriented programs that enable students to begin their careers after two years of college or less. Students completing shortterm programs receive certificates or diplomas and those completing a twoyear program receive an associate s degree. These students spend most of their time taking the courses they need to prepare for a specific career field. Students can start at a community college and then transfer to a fouryear college. Community and technical colleges are affordable and classes are small. They both accept students who have not followed a college prep program in high school and they do not require ACT or SAT scores. To ensure that all students enroll in courses appropriate for their ability level, most community and technical colleges require that all incoming students take a placement test. Educational Choice 3: Career and Trade Schools Career and trade schools offer shortterm training in a wide variety of career fields. Career and trade schools will usually accept any student with a high school diploma. Students in these schools spend most of their class time in jobrelated settings where they receive handson training from experienced instructors. The studentteacher ratio is low and students generally receive a substantial amount of individual instruction. Career and trade schools are usually privately owned and in business for profit and can be expensive. Since career and trade schools vary tremendously in their requirements and the programs they offer, credits usually are not transferable to two and four- year colleges.

3 Educational Choice 4: FourYear Colleges and therefore difficult to get into. Applicants must be 18 years old, physically fit and have a high school diploma or GED. A fouryear college education or bachelor s degree can open doors and prepare students for financially rewarding careers. Colleges vary greatly in their size, costs, admission requirements and in the majors they offer. Fouryear colleges want students to receive a broadbased education, as well as an education in a specific area or major. Specialty colleges have a limited number of programs. Art, nursing, and business colleges are all examples of specialty colleges and the length and cost for these college programs vary depending on the program and the school. Educational Choice 5: The Military Educational Choice 7: OntheJob Training While onthejob training is an educational option, the educational benefits are usually minimal. This training is provided by the employer and it can last anywhere from a few hours to several months. These shortterm training programs are not meant to prepare individuals for a career; they are designed to teach employees what they need to know to perform a specific job. High school graduates who choose onthejob training as their educational option should try to find a job in a field that they are considering as a career. As the nation s largest employer, the military offers qualified applicants a good salary, benefits, and free job training. It also provides discipline and structure, as well as opportunities for career advancement and travel. The military offers training in over 2000 jobs, most of which have civilian counterparts. The four major branches of the military are the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. There are also military opportunities in the Coast Guard, National Guard and the Reserves. Educational Choice 6: Apprenticeships Students who prefer a handson approach to learning may want to consider an apprenticeship program. Apprentices learn their trade through a combination of classroom instruction and onthejob training. Apprenticeship programs are considered by many to be the best way to receive training in the skilled trades. Apprenticeship programs have a limited number of openings and the competition can be fierce

4 Freshmen, Class of 2018 Important Freshman Dates: Grade 9 Parent Orientation is August 27, 2014 Freshman Parent s Night is November 25, 2014 Freshman MidTerm Exams will be week of January 12, 2014 MCAS STE will be June 2 & 3, 2015 Last Day of School (180) will be June 11, 2015 PreExploratory & Exploratory Welcome Welcome Class of 2018 to Monty Tech, home of the Bulldogs! As a freshman, your counselor for your first year will be Shelley Reyes. After your first year, your counselor will change according to the shop that you are placed in. A vocational high school setting will be different from the traditional school setting that you have previously experienced. Academic and vocational programs will alternate weeks. One week will be an academic week and the next a vocational week. The weeks are denoted by Week A and Week B. Freshmen will have their academic week on an A week and their vocational week on a B week. All freshmen rotate for the first vocational week of school through a PreExploratory Program in which they are exposed to all 20 vocational shops. At the conclusion of the week, freshmen select 12 exploratory trades of interest. Freshmen will then be scheduled for 9 oneweek Exploratory vocations chosen by the student, parent, and counselor during the first semester of school. At the end of the exploratory period, a permanent shop placement is determined by the student s performance and available space in the student s area of choice Exploratory Schedule Week B PreExploratory Sept. 2,3,4,5 Exploratory 1 Sept. 15,16,17,18,19 Exploratory 2 Sept. 29,30, Oct. 1,2,3 Exploratory 3 Oct. 14,15,16,17 Exploratory 4 Oct. 27,28, 29,30,31 Exploratory 5 Nov. 10,12,13,14 Exploratory 6 Nov. 17,18,19,20,21 Exploratory 7 Dec. 1,2,3,4,5 Exploratory 8 Dec. 15,16,17,18,19 Exploratory 9 Jan. 5,6,7,8

5 Welcome Back Sophomores Class of 2017 You made it through your freshman year! You are sophomores and have established your vocational trade and learned how to balance an academic and vocational week. PSAT Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Monty Tech will be offering the PSAT on Saturday, October 18, 2014 to sophomores and juniors. The PSAT will give you insight into the SATs and ACTs that will be taken at the end of your junior year and/or the beginning of your senior year. Registration sign up will be in the Student Support Services Office. The fee will be determined at a later date and is payable at the time of registration. Important Dates for Sophomores October 18, 2014 PSAT Testing November 20, 2014 Sophomore Parent s Night Week of January 20, 2015 Midterm Exams February 2, 3, 2015 MCAS Biology Retest March 2, 3, 4, 2015 MCAS ELA Retest March 24, 25, 26, 2015 MCAS ELA April 2, 2015 MCAS ELA Makeup This is the year in high school that you will be taking MCAS in English Language Arts, Math and Science. May 12, 13, 2015 MCAS Math June 2,3, 2015 MCAS STE TBA Final Exams June 11, 2015 Last Day of School (180 Days)

6 Juniors, Class of 2016 You now have two years of high school behind you and are in the home stretch towards graduation. If you plan to go on to college, now is the time to start thinking seriously about it! In many ways, what you do this year will determine the colleges you have a chance to get into when you start applying your senior year. As a junior, you will need to: Keep up your grades colleges want to know your grade point average (GPA) and your class rank. Good grades show you take your studies seriously. 8 th Annual Monty Tech College/Career Fair Monty Tech is sponsoring its 8 th Annual College/Career Fair on Wednesday, September 17 h from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Over 85 Colleges, technical schools, and businesses will be represented. It is an excellent opportunity to explore colleges and careers. Build a resume your high school resume will contain more than your grades. Colleges will want to see what activities (clubs, sports, music, drama, volunteering, etc.,) you have been involved in. See your counselor regarding building your resume in your Career Cruising portfolio. Take standardized tests take the PSAT at the beginning of the school year (October) and the SAT at the end of your junior year (May or June). Do some research start reading about different colleges you may be interested in attending. The Career Cruising website is a great resource for college searches. Junior Dates to Remember: September 17, th Annual CollegeCareer Fair October 18, 2014 PSAT Test PSAT Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Monty Tech will be offering the PSAT to juniors and sophomores on Saturday, October 18, This preliminary SAT will help you get feedback on academic skills and prepare you for the SAT. Why take the PSAT? 1. Get feedback about critical academic skills. 2. Prepare for the SAT and ACT. 3. Preparation for college. Nov. 25, 2013 Parent s Night Week of January 12, 2015 MidTerm Exams TBA College Admissions Seminar

7 Juniors, Class of 2016 (Continued) Junior Year Countdown to College September Browse college catalogs and guidebooks and surf the web for information. Make a list of the 10 colleges you would like to attend. Register and study for the PSAT Attend college fairs with your parents Take the PSAT October November Talk as a family about how much you can afford to spend for your education February Make the most of your winter break by arranging college visits Take an exam prep course for the SAT and ACT March Visit the 3 to 6 schools on your final list Begin preparing essays for admission and scholarship applications May/June Take the SAT and/or ACT College Admissions Seminar Monty Tech in conjunction with the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) will host a college admissions seminar for juniors. The seminar will be held (date to be determined) at 6:30 PM in the Performing Arts Center. This seminar is highly recommended for those juniors who plan to attend college and their parents. COOP (CoOperative Education) During the second half of your junior year and your senior year, you are eligible to participate in COOP, but this participation must be earned! Juniors have received academic and technical training in a selected area and can now try their skills in the real world. Whether planning on furthering your education, joining the military, or going directly into the workforce, COOP is a valuable work experience that can be added to any resume or application. To qualify for COOP, interested students must earn a minimum grade of 75 in their shop and shop related class and an average of 75 in their academics. Specific attendance and behavioral criteria are also considered and can be found in the student handbook.

8 This is your year the year that will be most memorable. You will never pass this way again, so enjoy this last year of high school. Graduation is scheduled for May 27, 2015 (Rain date May 28, 2015) Important Dates to Remember: Sept. 17, th Annual CollegeCareer Fair Nov. 20, 2014 Parents Night, Gr. 12 Dec. 9, 2014 MWCC Decision Day Dec. 10, 2014 MWCC Decision Day (snow date) Dec. 10, 2014 MEFA College Financing Seminar Week of Jan. 20, 2015 Midterm Exams May 15, 2015 Senior Signout Academics May 22, 2015 Senior Signout Vocational May 26, 2015 Senior Awards Night May 27, 2015 Graduation May 28, 2015 Graduation Rain Date Your Future College If you are considering attending school (fouryear college, university, vocational/technical school, or twoyear college) after high school, you may find it helpful to do the following: Make a list of schools that interest you. Gather information from each school and study it. Register to take the SAT or ACT assessment before December of your senior year if attending a 4year college. Apply early for admission and housing. Apply early for financial assistance. Pay attention to deadlines listed in the financial aid information you receive from your counselor and the schools you are interested in attending. Find out about local, state, federal, and private student financial assistance programs. Make your decision. Take time to review all information carefully and weigh your options. Armed Forces If you are considering serving in the Armed Forces after high school, you might find it helpful to do the following: Visit with friends, neighbors, and relatives who have served in various branches of the Armed Forces. Study the military literature available to you. Compare military training opportunities with possible civilian occupations. Visit with various military recruiters during your junior and senior years in high school. When meeting with recruiters, listen very carefully, ask questions and ask to see it in writing. Compare benefits, tours of duty, training, and promotion opportunities of military programs. When offered, take the ASVAB test at Monty Tech. Employment If you are considering direct employment after high school, you might find it helpful to: Explore your special abilities and interests with your school counselor. Collect and study materials about writing resumes and letters of application. Consider whether you want to move away from your home region after high school. Visit with individuals working in various occupations that may be of interest to you. Become familiar with major employers in the areas where you are interested in working.

9 (Continued) The Scholastic Aptitude Test Test Dates SAT Test Dates Register By Date October 11 & 19, 2014 September 26, 2014 November 8 & 9, 2014 October 24, 2014 December 6 & 7, 2014 November 21, 2014 January 24 & 25, 2015 January 9, 2015 March 14 & 15, 2015 February 27, 2015 May 2 & 3, 2015 April 17, 2015 June 6 & 7, 2015 May 22, 2015 Register for the SATs at American College Testing ACT Test Dates Registration Test Date Deadline Sept. 13, 2014 Aug. 8, 2014 Oct. 25, 2014 Sept. 19, 2014 Dec. 13, 2014 Nov. 7, 2014 Feb. 7, 2015 Jan. 9, 2015 Apr. 18, 2015 Mar. 13, 2015 Jun. 13, 2015 May 8, 2015 College Financing Seminar Monty Tech in conjunction with MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) will be sponsoring a College Financing Seminar on December 10, 2014 at 6:30 pm in the Performing Arts Center. Students who plan to Enter College in the fall and their parents should attend.

10 (Continued) College and the Admissions Process Seniors It is your responsibility to obtain college applications and to be aware of their deadlines. College Deadlines are Non- negotiable!! Monty Tech College Application Process If applying with a paper application: 1. Complete the application with all required signatures and application fee (if required). 2. Bring the application to your counselor for review with letters of recommendation, essay, application fee, etc. if required. 3. The Student Support Services will provide the transcript and SAT and/or ACT scores to complete the application and mail it to the college/university. 4. Many colleges are now requiring SAT and/or ACT scores to be sent to them directly from CollegeBoard. If Applying Online: 1. Complete the online application and print out for your counselor. Guide to College Admissions The fall is the time to build your college package and begin sending out college applications. Each school has a checklist of admission requirements, which include application deadlines, fees, SAT scores, letters of recommendation, essays, portfolios, and the high school transcript. 2. Bring the printed online application with letter(s) of recommendation, if required, to your counselor. Your letters of recommendation, transcript and SAT and/or ACT scores will be mailed to the college/university to complete the application process. By following the above process, applications and other information sent to colleges/universities can be tracked by the date sent and the date received by the college or university.

11 Financial Aid (Continued) FAFSA (Free Application for FederalStudent Aid) All colleges use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. Students who want to be considered for any kind of financial aid must complete the FAFSA. These forms are available after December online at The FAFSA cannot be submitted until January 1 st of each year. Types of Financial Aid Available There are many different types of financial aid available from federal and state government, college and private sources. The major types include: Grants: awards typically based on financial need that do not need to be paid back. Scholarships: awards usually based on achievement or talent that also do not need to be paid back. Federal WorkStudy: student employment programs that provide parttime jobs for students with financial need. Loans: funds which must be paid back, usually with interest. There are federal student loans, federal parent loans, and private or alternative loans.