September 28, 2017

Post date: Sep 28, 2017 4:02:17 PM

High School Guidance News by Chrissy Kafkalas

Keep up with the High School Guidance Department on Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtownguidance

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtownguidance/

Guidance Website: https://sites.google.com/a/jtowndrakes.org/jenkintown-hs-guidance/

Guidance Calendar of Events: https://sites.google.com/a/jtowndrakes.org/jenkintown-hs-guidance/guidance-calendar-of-events 

ARTICLE(s) OF THE WEEK:

• Six Reasons Why Students are Unmotivated (and What Teachers Can Do):  This is a wonderful article that as parents, is a good read with some wonderful advice. Click HERE to access the article. 

• How to Choose a College: Like a Kid in a Candy Shop: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58ef92dde4b048372700d60b

• Georgia Tech Admissions Blog: A Dialogue on College Admissions: ASK BETTER QUESTIONS: http://pwp.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2017/02/17/ask-better-questions/

• The Professor's Cheat Sheet to the Perfect College Tour: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/social-lights/201609/the-professor-s-cheat-sheet-the-perfect-college-tour 

• What Kind of Jobs Can _______ Majors Get?: This is a FUN ARTICLE ---->  http://highereddatastories.blogspot.com/2017/01/what-kind-of-jobs-can-i-get-if-i-major.html

JENKINTOWN SPECIFIC SCHOOL & COMMUNITY EVENTS ----> MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

1)  Friday, October 6, 2017:  Visit the Jenkintown Middle/High School NEW Media Center: Innovation & Inspiration Center Open House - 1-3pm and 5:30-6:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Click HERE to view the flyer.

2) Tuesday, October 10, 2017: 7pm at the Haverford School: Tufts University is holding a wonderful session -  Who Gets in and Why: A behind the scenes look at the selective admissions process.  Click HERE to view the flyer. 

3) Wednesday, October 11, 2017: PSAT administered during the school day to all 10th and 11th Grade Students.  Click HERE to learn more of the PSAT from CollegeBoard.

With the October PSAT quickly approaching, Kaplan is offering a FREE PSAT Prep Live Program, starting September 23. Their expert faculty will cover the most important PSAT content and tackle practice problems in eight, live-streaming, one-hour lessons. All completely free! Pre-registration is required. Students can sign up here: http://www.kaptest.com/psatpreplive 

Boost your score for the October test with free, interactive lessons, quizzes, and a practice test. Join Kaplan for Free PSAT Prep Live starting September 23.

4) Monday, October 23, 2017 ———> PLEASE NOTE THE NEW NIGHT!!  Financial Aid Night 5:45-8pm for For 11th and 12th Grade Parents

• 5:45-6:15pm: Scholarship Workshop 

• 6:30-8pm: Updates/Changes on the FAFSA

5) Do you have a student who has accumulated a lot of Community Service Hours??  Did you know there is an award they can apply for? 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Award: https://spirit.prudential.com/apply/2018 - the deadline to apply is November 17, 2017.  

4)  Jenkintown Parents and Former Grads:  Help us gather Dual Enrollment data.  Guidance would like to know if your child was able to transfer their MCCC Dual Enrollment Credits to the college they are attending.  Please fill out the Dual Enrollment Participation Survey for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Graduates: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AVUak2o0FbP31CYg6i5fpHizhAgESYdmRF-JNA6toDc/viewform.  To view our current MCCC Dual Enrollment College Credit Transfer Statistics, please click HERE. 

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS VISIT JENKINTOWN: 

These are visits from admissions counselors and directors of admissions to specifically meet with Jenkintown 11th and 12th grade students.  This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the school in an informal setting. Not only that, but 8 times out of 10, these admissions counselors are the ones who will read Jenkintown applications.  

These sessions are scheduled during the school day and students must sign up in their Family Connection account 2 days in advance of the session and they must also secure a pass from the teacher whose class they will be missing. The list of schools visiting are accessible in the student's Family Connection Account. Once logged in, click on the COLLEGE tab and then look to the right of the screen to view UPCOMING COLLEGE VISITS.  

You can also see the college visits on the Guidance Calendar of Events HERE.

• • Note 1- Students will not be admitted to the session if they have not signed-up in Family Connection and if they do not have a pass from their teacher.

  • Note 2 - Students must sign up for the college visit in their student account; parents do not have the ability to sign-up their child.  

Upcoming Visits (please make sure to sign-up in Family Connection)

2017-2018 SCHOLARSHIPS: 

Seniors---->don't forget to log into your Family Connection Account to search for available scholarships. Scholarship are updated weekly, students are encouraged to check Family Connection regularly. 

1. Log into your Family Connection Account

2. Click on the COLLEGES TAB

3. Scroll down and click on SCHOLARSHIPS & MONEY

4. Find a scholarship you qualify for and apply!!

Current Scholarships

• Ron Brown Scholarship: The Ron Brown Scholar Program seeks to identify African-American high school seniors who will make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, exhibit exceptional leadership potential, participate in community service activities and demonstrate financial need. 

• Jefferson Scholars Foundation: Jefferson Scholarships provide full tuition, fees, and a living stipend for four years of undergraduate study at U.Va., plus a number of generous enrichment benefits including a study abroad experience.  Only one student may be nominated for this award from Jenkintown.  If you are interested, you must see Ms. Kafkalas for an interview.

• High School Scholarships for Trade Schools in PA:  Click HERE for more information.

• Davidson College Specific Scholarships:

  • Belk Scholarship - If you are interested in this scholarship, you must see Ms. Kafkalas by November 1, 2017.   

• NCLD’s Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship Applications Now Open for High School Seniors with LD and ADHD - Deadline to apply Nov 6, 2017.

• The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is now accepting applications for the Anne Ford Scholarship and the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship. High school students who are part of the class of 2018 and have an identified learning disability and/or ADHD are welcome to apply. The application will be open until November 6, 2017. (Last year, NCLD broadened the eligibility requirements—students who have ADHD are now eligible to apply. NCLD made this change to reflect its mission to support all students with learning and attention issues.)

  • The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $2,500 one-time scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability and/or ADHD who will be enrolled in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with learning and attention issues in the fall of 2018.

  • The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year over four years) granted to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability and/or ADHD who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program in the fall of 2018. 

  • A student applying for either scholarship must provide current documentation of either an identified learning disability or a diagnosis of ADHD. Information about eligibility requirements and how to apply can be found at ncld.org/scholarships.

COLLEGE FAIRS  |  CAREER FAIRS  |  SERVICE ACADEMIES: 

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) Open Houses, Click HERE to visit their website and click HERE to register for an event. 

---Saturday, October 7, 2017, 10am to 12noon: The Culinary Arts Institute - Lansdale

---Saturday, October 14, 2017: 10am to 12noon: West Campus Pottstown

---Saturday, October 21, 2017: 10am to 12noon: Central Campus Blue Bell

Fall Fairs

Delaware Co. Regional Fair at PSU Brandywine Campus  (September 29, 2016) - please click here

Lehigh Carbon Regional Fair at Lehigh-Carbon Comm. College  (October 4, 2016) - please click here

Bucks Co. Regional Fair at Bucks County Comm. College  (October 6, 2016) - please click here 

Northampton Co. Regional Fair at Northampton Comm. College  (October 11, 2016) - please click here

Montgomery Co. Regional Fair at North Penn HS  (October 13, 2016) - please click here                

York Co. Regional Fair at York College of PA  (October 17, 2016) - please click here 

Spring Fairs

Underrepresented Student Fair at GNPAL  (February 16, 2017)   - please click here

Allentown Regional Fair at Cedar Crest College  (March 8, 2017) - please click here

Northeast Regional Fair at King’s College  (May 1, 2017) - please click here

Northwest Regional Fair at Gannon University  (May 9, 2017) - please click here

Main Line Regional Fair at Villanova University  (May 15, 2017) - please click here

FAMILY RESOURCES:  Did you know that Guidance has a whole page devoted to Family Resources??  Click HERE to access the Family Resources Guidance Webpage.

1) This is a great resource for families on how to talk to your chidren when they lose a friend to suicide: https://www.centerforfamilyempowerment.com/blog/2017/9/25/what-to-do-when-your-child-or-teen-experiences-the-death-of-a-friend

2) Crisis Text Line – text “HOME” to 741-741 (http://www.crisistextline.org/)  (Listen to an NPR Episode of the Ted Talk: How Can Text Messaging Save Lives? Click HERE)

1. A crisis is typically a moment of extreme emotional pain that gets in the way of living your everyday life. We're not a replacement for a long-term counselor or a best friend, or a service to use when you're simply bored. That said, we want everyone to feel comfortable texting us in a time of a crisis.

2. Simply “testing” our system takes up space in our queue, which may slow down the help that we are able to give to texters who are in immediate crisis. We're real; we promise! If you're curious about what the experience of texting in is like, see below!

3)  Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (VSC):  VSC is the only rape crisis center for the county.  They serve victims of sexual violence and victims of other violent crimes such as robbery, physical assault, harassment and survivors of victims of homicide. They want to remove barriers and help residents gain access to advocacy, counseling and education services that are confidential and free of charge.  They do crisis intervention, counseling services, advocacy services, and many more; click HERE to download the brochure. 

• 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 88-521-0983

• Rape Hotline: 610-277-5200

• Other Crimes: 610-277-4781

• Victim Services Flowchart

• Monthly Homicide Support Group

• Support Group for Caregivers of Child Sex Abuse Survivors

4) The Center for Family Empowerment is a private practice specializing in supporting the needs of families through various stages. We believe in the power of connection and community and are thrilled to offer supports such as: free parent workshops, play therapy for children ages 3+, art therapy, parenting support, and individual, family, and group sessions. We understand that life can present any number of challenges to your family's well being. However difficult it seems, we're here for you.  www.centerforfamilyempowerment.com

Current running workshops and groups:

• TBT Skills Training Group for teen girls

• Building Strong, Happy, Empowered Girls One Connection at a Time

• Play Therapy for ages 3-12

• Workshop for Parents of kids ages 3-17: Time to Talk Temper Tantrums

5)  Attention: Lego®-based Social Skills Group Fall Session starting the first week of October 2017 in Doylestown, PA - Openings for Children 5-16. Children will be grouped by age, language abilities, and social skills goals. Click HERE for more details.  Lego®-Based Therapy, or Lego®-Club as it called by group members, is an evidenced based treatment where children develop skills through collaboration on group projects through the use of Lego®. Group members collaborate on building sets, free style projects, and creating and producing short stop-action films. Groups are developed based on the child's age, language abilities, and goals for the group.  Adult facilitators provide feedback and coaching in real-time targeting skill development in the areas of cooperation, problem solving, reciprocal conversation, joint-attention, and flexibility leading to increased maintenance and generalization of skills to other settings. Most importantly, Lego®-Club becomes a place where children identify with a peer group, build friendships beyond the confines of the club, and find a place where their peers and adult coaches understand, encourage, and celebrate their talents.

• Groups will be run on weekday afternoons/evenings for 1 hour per session for 8 sessions starting the first week of October 2017. If interested in learning more about Lego®-Club and to sign up for our next session please contact Dr. Brittany Lyman at blyman@autismdiagnostics.com. Click HERE to download the flyer.