RVHS COUNSELING Issue 1

School Counseling

November 2015

The Riverside School Counseling department is a team of 11 dedicated individuals working collaboratively to meet the needs of 850 students, including teachers and parents. We have an open-door policy, but at times we are needed at meetings or have scheduled appointments with other students and parents. To serve you more efficiently, we ask that you please call or email us to schedule an appointment.

We support Riverside High School by:

-working with staff to address obstacles that interfere with students’ learning and success.

-focusing on skill development through a variety of ways, such as small group or individual counseling sessions, classroom guidance, and consultation and coordination with parents, administrators, and teachers.

-helping when students experience challenges. We focus on conflict resolution, transitions, study skills, test-taking skills, crisis intervention, bullying prevention, suicide prevention, and special needs of students.

-preparing students with post-grad planning. College visits, career days, internships,

scholarships, and job matching are just a few resources available to help our students succeed in life after high school.

RVHS School Counseling

Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

RVHS School Counseling Website http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/domain/17735

Rob Yarborough, Dir. of School Counseling

Pauline Williamson, Registrar

Marsha Gobrecht, School Counseling Asst.

Evan Rodgers, School Counselor (A-Gon)

Scott Valyear, School Counselor (Goo-O)

Amy Burgess, School Counselor (P-Z)

Anmar Hale, Career Center Specialist

Kristan Ash, Parent Liaison

Theresa Lichtman, School Psychologist

Lisa Harris, School Social Worker

Kim Hager, Student Asst. Specialist

Scott Valyear, Counselor (Go-O) Mr. Valyear at Belmont Middle School’s 8th grade graduation in June showing off the Ram Fan hat. Mr. Valyear brings 24 years of counseling experience to Riverside and spent the last 10 years at Broad Run HS.

SCHOOL COUNSELING NEWS

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Rob Yarborough, Director Mr. Yarborough has been a Director of School Counseling for 13 years. He has been with LCPS for 6 years and has a total of 25 years of experience at the middle school, high school and college levels.

November 11 – Report Cards (Advisory)

November 18 – Juniors Job-For-A-Day

November 25 to 27 – Thanksgiving Break

December 1 – RVHS “Paying for College/Financial Aid Night”

December 2 – SAT prep class at Westfield HS

December 8 – Monroe Shadow Day

December 21 to January 1 – Winter Break

The Loudoun School-Business Partnership will be sponsoring the Job-for-a-Day Program for high school juniors on November 18. There is a second date only for those students placed at Inova Loudoun Hospital: November 23. Students who participate in the program will spend one day with a business in the community that is involved in a career in which the student is interested. The goals of this program are: •Allow students to explore fields in which they have an interest or aptitude. •Offer students exposure to career fields about which they have not previously known. •Strengthen students’ awareness of business, industry, and business enterprises within the community.

•Heighten students’ decision-making processes related to life skills and career choices. •Provide students with hands-on experiences with people, places, and things not always available in the classroom or school environment. •Help students learn about job/career opportunities within the local area. Please complete the online application and agreement no later than Friday, November 6.There are a fixed number of placements available in each career choice. You are responsible for your own transportation. If this presents a major problem or if you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hale in the Career Center.

IMPORTANT DATES

JUNIORS JOB-FOR-A-DAY https://webinter.lcps.org/JobForADay/

Amy Burgess, Counselor (P-Z) Mrs. Burgess has been in the counseling field over 20 years at the elementary, middle and high school levels in both private and public settings. She joined us with 11 years of experience

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Pauline Williamson, Registrar Mrs. Williamson has been with LCPS for 24 years. She joins us with 9 years of experience from Broad Run High School.

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Virginia Residential Governor’s School is a highly selective, month-long, college-like program for selected gifted and talented high school students.

The areas of study are:

Visual and Performing Arts (dance, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and visual art)

Humanities

Mathematics, Science and Technology

Agriculture Mentorships are available in:

Marine Science VIMS

Medicine and Health Sciences

Engineering NASA/NIA Governor’s School takes place at the end of June and concludes at the end of July. Indiviudal program length may vary. If selected, you must commit for the entire duration of the program.

The Application Process consists of the following:

Resume/background information

Teacher references (2)

Essay/Statement of Interest

Parent and student signature

Test scores

Grades

For more information and to apply to Governor’s School, visit http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/index.shtml

ALL APPLICATIONS must be TYPED and PRINTED and (both academic and visual and performing arts) are due to Mr. Valyear or Mrs. Hale on December 9, 2015 in the School Counseling Office.

2016 Governor’s School

Monroe Technology Center – December 8th Shadow Day

What is Monroe Technology Center? Monroe Technology Center offers high-quality industry standard programs. Many MTC graduates go on to higher education with the advantage of classroom knowledge that goes hand-in-hand with real world experience.

Why attend Shadowing Day? Shadowing brings the classroom to life! During Shadowing Day you will have the opportunity to visit two programs and attend an informational session on the benefits of Monroe and the application process. This is a half-day event and transportation is provided to and from Riverside.

Join In! Fill out the permission form in the School Counseling Office and have your parent or guardian sign it. All forms must be submitted to Mrs. Hale by Tuesday, December 1st.

Areas of Interest Administration of Justice Welding Auto Collision Repair Technology TV Production & Digital Moviemaking Auto Servicing Technology Veterinary Science Biotechnology/Environmental Plant Science Building Construction Computer and Digital Animation Computer Integrated Engineering and Design Computer Network Administration/Advanced Networking Computer Systems Technology Cosmetology Culinary Arts Firefighter/EMT Graphic Communications Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Intro to Health and Medical Science Masonry Nail Design Practical Nursing

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PEER (Positive Experiences in Educational Relationships) has had a busy 1st quarter. They had a bake sale at the tailgate party to raise funds for PEER projects and training. They participated in homecoming activities and they are currently wrapping up the Sweets for Soldiers campaign. While working on all of these projects they have been participating in training to learn PEER counseling skills. Several of the members concluded the 1st quarter by attending a countywide PEER conference on the Herren project. During the coming quarter PEER will continue training and working on group projects that will benefit the Riverside community.

Evan Rodgers, Counselor (A-Gon) Mrs. Rodgers has been a counselor for 15 years and has worked for LCPS since 2007. She comes to Riverside after 5 years at Briar Woods High School.

Lisa Harris, School Social Worker Mrs. Harris has been with LCPS for 12 years. She covers three schools and provides academic and behavioral support to students and families. In addition, she is available for consultation if there are other needs.

PEER by Mrs. Rodgers & Mrs. Harris

Looking to improve your SAT score? The popular SAT program is here in Northern Virginia!!

Turbo Tutoring is a quality, affordable SAT prep seminar and we are proud to be partners with several area high schools in Virginia. For just $175, we cover all of the

sections on the SAT in a single 2 ½ hour interactive session. We discuss strategies for eliminating incorrect answer choices and ways to move through the test faster and

more efficiently. We also provide confidence-building techniques that can be applied to other exams (such as the ACT) as well. Packets for each section and take home

questions are provided for students. In addition, we offer scholarship opportunities

for our attendees! Go to our website to read what students, parents, educators, and local media have said about Turbo Tutoring.

Register for our next SAT prep seminar! The 2015/2016 date options are below.

Westfield HS: December 2nd or Feb. 20th or April 30th

Address: 4700 Stonecroft Boulevard; Chantilly, VA 20151

Briar Woods HS: January 20th or March 16th

Address: 22525 Belmont Ridge Rd; Ashburn, VA 20148

*** The December 2nd class is the LAST prep class for the current version of the SAT. Registration is open now for the December 2nd class,

and some of the Spring 2016 dates will be open for registration on December 3rd! ***

You can register for any prep seminar on our website.

Check out our website for additional information at: www.turbo-tutoring.com

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A College & Career planning resource for students and parents Family Connection is an online resource that students and parents can use as a tool in planning for the future and as a complement to the series of college visits and workshops offered at Riverside. Careers Career Interest Profiler: discover the type of work activities and careers that match student's interests. Roadtrip Nation: an interview archive containing over 3,000 videos of struggle, triumph and self-discovery. Young people on "roadtrips" with interview leaders who have built their lives around their interests. Colleges My Colleges: students can track information about colleges they are thinking about and colleges they are applying to based upon activities and tools in the "College Research" section. College Research: students can search and a produce a list of colleges from a database of over 4,000 colleges and universities using criteria such as size, location, cost, majors and athletic programs. College Visits: students can login and register for upcoming visits with admissions reps/counselors to get a better understanding of application processes and campus life. Visits are held in the Career Center and upcoming visits are always located on the homepage under the school calendar. Scholarships and Money: a list of national and local scholarships is provided along with a link to scholarship applications. Students can use the "scholarship match" tool to view those offerings with requirements that may be a suitable match to them. About Me Interesting Things About Me: students can develop and store their personal portfolio, resume, game plan and other documents related to post graduation planning My Assessments: "StrengthsExplorer" will help uncover students' talents and reveal their potential strengths. Official Things: test scores, profile and account information are stored here for easy access and viewing. My Planner Goals, To-Do Lists, Tasks: students can review grade specific tasks, create personal goals and keep track of what they are working on throughout high school.

LOGIN TO FAMILY CONNECTION http://connection.naviance.com/riversidehi

Students and Parents that don't know their login information, please contact your student's School Counselor or Mrs. Hale in the School Counseling Office

Anmar Hale, Career Center Specialist

Mrs. Hale was with FCPS for 5 years and comes to Riverside with 3 years of experience from Broad Run High School. Mrs. Hale assists students with college and career planning, finding internships and local jobs, as well as helping students apply for scholarships

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School Counselor (yes!) vs. Guidance Counselor (no!) I often get the question when talking about my career, especially from individuals not in the field, "What's the difference between a guidance counselor and school counselor?" I'll sum up the difference in just a few minutes but first a little history lesson. :) A few decades ago counselors were introduced into schools to assist students with occupational/vocational choices, college preparatory support, etc. They were teachers that simply took a few extra classes and were then called 'guidance counselors.' Fast forward to today and you'll find that we have state and local professional organizations (The American School Counselor Association- ASCA) that support us professionally and legislatively, standards we're required to follow, a requirement of (at minimum) a master's degree in counseling, and oftentimes counselors have specializations in other areas. A far cry from the persona of those that play counselors on television, in movies, and those that many of us experienced when we were in high school.

There is a wide array of responsibilities that make up the job description of a professional school counselor and they mainly focus on the proactive, pro-social development of a child. School counselors work with conditions that interfere with a student's social, emotional, and learning process. A school counselor encourages successful academic, career, and personal/social development to ensure every child succeeds. This is accomplished through a variety of methods but mainly through individual counseling, group counseling, and classroom

guidance. School counselors also work collaboratively with students, teachers, parents, administration, and community members. For more on what a school counselor does, their standards, and why they are an integral part of the school community. After participating in a counselor tweet chat, I found that many counselors are still faced with the frustrating and oftentimes annoying challenge of being referred to as a 'guidance counselor' below are some of the wonderful and BRIEF explanations of why we should be called school counselors and NOT guidance counselors: * (classroom) guidance is only ONE component of a counselors job * guidance is a service, school counselors provide a program * it's outdated terminology that does not represent the broad scope of what counselors do * To me I feel that anyone involved in a child's life provides 'guidance' in some way, my expertise allows me to do more than just point them in a productive direction and give a 'quick fix' to a problem their presently working through. My education allows me to assist them in seeing where they've been, what they want to change/keep the same, where they want to go, and help them take the steps to get there. By assisting children through problems they are currently experiencing, it's my hope to teach them the skills and strategies to not only work through their current problem but also those that will present themselves in the future.

KAPLAN: Test Prep for SAT/ACT/PSAT The Riverside High School Fine Arts Boosters is pleased to announce that we will be partnering with Kaplan Test Prep to help your child prep smarter and score higher on the SAT, ACT and PSAT. Higher scores can increase your student's scholarship and college admissions opportunities. Please visit http://kaplan.formstack.com/forms/rhs to register to take a New SAT/ACT Combination Practice Test at Riverside High School on Saturday, November 14th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The deadline to register is Wednesday, November 11th. Students will gain exposure to both test formats to help determine which test they are best suited for. Test participants will receive a

detailed score report highlighting their personal strengths and weaknesses. Score reports will be sent to the parent email address that is provided when registering below. Please expect to receive a copy of your results in 10-14 days following the test. The Riverside High School Fine Arts Boosters will collect a $20 registration fee on the morning of the test. You will be redirected to a PayPal website to submit payment. If you prefer not to pay online, please bring cash or a check made payable to the 'RVHS Fine Arts Boosters' on the morning of the test. Please contact Kaplan Test Prep at 1-800-KAP-TEST (527-8378) with any questions.

Marsha Gobrecht, Secretary

Mrs. Gobrecht joins us from Briar Woods High School with 3 years of experience. She has been with LCPS for 5 years.

Theresa Lichtman, School Psychologist

Ms. Lichtman has been with LCPS since 2007. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and has worked with teens in private practice and in her previous work with Loudoun County Mental Health.

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From the Career Center

SAT/ACT Testing dates

Juniors are advised to plan their college admissions testing carefully, keeping in mind the requirements for each college they are applying to. Most college testing information may be found in Family Connection or in the Career Center. If you need help deciding which test to take you may talk with your School Counselor or Mrs. Hale.

SAT Calendar

Test Date December 5

Loudoun County; Potomac Falls

January 23

Loudoun Valley

March 5

Briar Woods

May 7

Broad Run

June 4

John Champe; Park View

Regular Registration November 5 December 28 February 5 April 8 May 5

Late Registration (paper) November 20 January 8 February 19 April 22 May 20

Late Registration (online and phone) November 23 January 12 February 23 April 26 May 25

ACT Calendar

Test Date December 12

Briar Woods

February 6

Dominion

April 9

John Champe and Broad Run June 11

Regular Registration November 6 January 8 March 4 May 6

Late Registration (Late Fee Required) November 7-20 January 9-15 March 5-18 May 7 -20

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Financial Aid Night

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College Planning Calendar by The College Board

JUNIORS - FALL

Start with you: Think about your abilities, social/cultural preferences and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college.

Learn about colleges. Look at their websites, research them through Family Connection: http://connection.naviance.com/riversidehi. Talk to friends, family, teachers and recent grads of your school that are now in college. Browse college guide books. List College features that interest you.

Meet with your School Counselor or Career Center Specialist. Will there be a college night? When will college representatives visit your school? (put the dates in your calendar)

Review your PSAT/NMSQT scores and see how you can improve.

Make a file to manage your college search, testing and application materials.

If appropriate (for example, if you’re interested in drama, music, art, sports, etc.), start to gather material for a portfolio.

With your family, start to learn about financial aid. Read the Department of Education’s Funding Your Education (about federal aid programs). Use Getting Financial Aid published by the College Board and the financial aid calculator at www.collegeboard.org to estimate how much aid you might receive

SOPHOMORES

Meet with your School Counselor to ensure you are enrolled in college-preparatory courses.

Review PSAT/NMSQT scores and work on any disclosed academic weaknesses while there is still ample time to improve them.

Are you interested in attending a U.S. Military Academy? If so, you can request a pre-candidate questionnaire and complete it. Your School Counselor can help with this.

Attend college and career fairs.

Participate in school activities and volunteer. Extracurricular activities help students develop time-management skills and enrich the school experience.

Tour college campuses. If possible, take advantage of vacation or other family travel opportunities to visit colleges and see what they’re like. Even if there is no interest in attending the college you are visiting, it will help you learn what to look for in a college.

FRESHMEN

Create a four-year high school plan. Make sure you know what high school courses are required by colleges, and that your freshmen courses are on the right track. Map out when courses should be taken. Familiarize yourself with the various levels of courses offered by your school.

Start thinking about careers. Develop a tentative career coal. Of course it will change – often – but it’s the thought process that counts. Identify your interests – likes and dislikes – not just in academics but in all areas. This will help focus on goals. Discuss career options with others, such as the school counselor, teachers, recent college graduates who are working, professionals in the community, etc.

Think about extracurricular activities. Actively take part in a sport, school club, music or drama group, or community volunteer activity. If you want to play sports in college, research the National College Athletic Association eligibility

requirements. The NCAA requires completion of certain core courses; you can find specifics at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Meet with your School Counselor. Your School Counselor knows how to help your child get the most out of high school. Make sure you have an opportunity during the school year to discuss post-high school plans with the School Counselor and map out courses to take during the rest of your high school career.

Save for college. It’s still not too late to start a college savings plan, if you haven’t already. Investigate state financial aid programs and 529 plans.

Obtain a social security number if you don’t already have one. This is often required for applications, testing, scholarships and other opportunities