School Counseling

Our newletter about what you need know for a successful school year.

Junior Year College Readiness:

Starting in February, school counselors will be scheduling individual appointments with each junior student. During this meeting, we will review senior class selections and talk about how to plan for life after high school. Whether students are planning to apply to a 2 or 4 year college, a technical certification program, enter the work force or take a gap year, this meeting will focus on the next steps in your student's life. We would like to provide you with a few key dates to save and websites to bookmark which will be provided to your student in a junior readiness packet.

March 14th speaker series, called Applying to College 101 offered by NHHEAF, 6pm in the Stockbridge Theater. This is a great free resource for NH college bound students - website: www.nhheaf.org. See attached booklet to serve as a guide.
College_insider.pdf
March 20th SAT testing day for all Juniors at Pinkerton Academy. January and February are a good time to study for the test. Prep classes are offered at local tutoring centers and practice tests taken online on www.collegeboard.org and on www.kahnacademy.org
March 30th Destination College-Plymouth State University, an excellent day for Juniors to learn all about the college process from start to finish! https://www.nhheaf.org/dc.asp
April 11th College Fair 6-8 p.m. in the Hackler Gym. This is the largest fair hosted in Southern NH including presentations on financial aid, SATS, and how to apply. Pinkerton counselors will be available for questions.

At this point, junior year, we recommend the focus be on the big picture questions. Ask your student: How far away do you want to be from home? Do you want to be in the city/country? How big of a school would you like? What do you want to study?

When first conducting your search, there are over 3,000 schools available and to be able to narrow this down, you need some search parameters. We recommend using the search engine on College Board https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search?navId=www-cs

Once a list is narrowed down, it's time to better understand the requirements and determine if your student is a good fit. For example on College Board, you can see the SAT scores of the incoming freshman class - check to see how your student compares? Would this be a reach school or a safety? We recommend 6 (+) schools, 2 reach, 2 fits and 2 safetys. What is the average incoming GPA of freshman? What are the acceptance rates? Did your student take the right classes? How much does it cost? Many students coming into senior year do not understand the financial implications of paying for college. It is important that you have an honest conversation with your student about how college will be paid.

And lastly, April break is a great time to go on college tours. Admissions offices offer tours on the weekends and during the week. Make appointments to see different types of schools and campuses. Where can your student envision living and studying?

Websites to consult:

College Board www.collegeboard.org
The NH Center for College Planning www.nnheaf.org
Naviance www.naviance.com
Occupation Search www.onetonline.org
College Search www.princetonreview.org
Dual Enrollment NH university system www.dualnh.org
NH Community Colleges www.ccsnh.edu
NH Board of Education, Options for Life after Highschool www.nextsteps-nh.org
Vocational Rehab www.education.nh.gov/career/vocational
Specific college/university websites - go to Admissions section

SAVE THE DATE, Saturday, March 30th -For NH Juniors

REGISTER NOW!

Predict Your Future with What You Learn Today at Plymouth State University

This fantastic event put on by NHHEAF, together with NH colleges and universities, is designed to help high school juniors and their families prepare for college. An annual statewide college preparation convention, Destination College is held every spring. This is the 20th year! All of the day's events are FREE to students and parents.

The Organizations' attendees will have access to a variety of free college planning workshops such as “Creative Ways to Manage the Cost of College,” “The Write Stuff,” and “Paths to Choosing a College Major.” In addition, over 60 colleges and universities from across New England will be on‑hand as part of our annual college fair . hey've got a great contest for a $500 scholarship for participating students as well! Registration is required for this event.

Collegebound Seniors, it is now time to file your FAFSA!

Seniors, your college applications are in (or being submitted soon) and it is time to start applying for financial aid. For most families, the first step in applying for financial aid is to file the 2019‑2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). NHHEAF has put together this helpful, quick checklist of items your family should gather and have handy as you begin to file your FAFSA, click here.

Some colleges also require the CSS PROFILE^® form. For a list of schools requiring the CSS PROFILE® form, click here. If you are applying to college in New Hampshire, the only colleges in the state that require this additional form are Saint Anselm College and Dartmouth College.

If you have already filed your 2019‑2020 FAFSA form, but have since applied to additional colleges, remember to log back into your FAFSA and add the additional colleges to the School Selection section and resubmit the FAFSA.

For more assistance from NHHEAF regarding financial aid and your FAFSA filing, go to www.nhheaf,org or call 888.747.2382, extension 119.

What does you School Counselor do for you?

Beginning in your freshman year, we assist each student as they create a 5 year plan. This plan outlines the courses needed not only graduate from Pinkerton Academy, but to prepare you for whatever goals you may have for your future. Sometimes, the plan that you made as a freshman changes as you move through high school and that is fine. For this reason, we encourage you to communicate with your counselor regularily. Together, we will take a look at your transcript , identify the courses you enjoy, review those that you may have struggled with, and see how they align with college requirements, trade school expectations, or the workforce field you plan to pursue. Counselors can be very helpful by suggesting courses that you may not have considered. They can guide you to extra-curricular activities that may support your interests, encourage experiences such as job shadows, employment opportunities, or supplemental educational experiences, and offer information about a variety of testing options that may be necessary for admission or scholarships that support your endeavors. Many of these exams are offered on campus throughout the year such as PSATs, SATs, ASVAB and AP Exams, and your counselor will know these dates.

We offer lots of experiences throughout your sophomore, junior and senior years that will provide opportunities for career exploration and college exploration. This year we will begin "Food for Thought" Workshops offered from time to time during morning studies or lunch time to learn more about specific careers that are "trending". We host over 100 college and program representatives who enjoy meeting with students to enlighten them about all they offer. We have a representative from each branch of the military associated with Pinkerton Academy for those students with questions for recruiters, and we use the ASVAB results as a wonderful tool to highlight your strengths even if you are not planning to enlist but want to explore your apptitute. We hold information nights with NHHEAF guest speakers, post upcoming open houses for programs and colleges, and can reach out to alumni that may be a good connection for you to make. One of our biggest events of the year is the huge College Fair, held in April, with over 140 colleges and programs represented. We have breakout sessions offering information for both students and parents during this evening as well.

As you make your way to Semester 2 of your junior year, or into senior year, counselors visit classrooms and hold information sessions about applying to colleges and trade schools. We write recommendations and send your transcripts to programs that you are applying to. We hold individual "Junior Meetings" and "Senior Meetings" to keep you on track, reviewing your own unique, personal path. We have always been available by phone, email or by appointment for students and parents who wish to discuss the college application process. We hope you will get to know your counselor in this way.

In addition to academic guidance and course selection, school counselors offer support to students who are facing social, emotional or family difficulties as well. Students who are experiencing transitional distress, peer conflict, suffer with challenges like ADHD, anxiety, depression, experience a concussion, have medical conditions that require a 504, or a reason for extended absences, we have resources available to you. Counselors can meet individually, suggest our inhouse short-term, solution-focused group counseling sessions, make referrals for 504 services and the concussion program "Chalk Talk", or make referrals to the community mental health centers, health professionals and other local support agencies. If their situation warrants a special education referral, we can also arrange that. Although we cannot solve all problems, it is our mission to help students better manage difficulties and teach strategies to be more successful in school.

NH Scholars Planning Guide

Students who wish to have consideration in the NH Scholars Program should complete the form available on our website (tab for NH Scholars) and refer to the following list of required Pinkerton Academy Approved Course List also listed below:

Core Course of Study:

(All courses must be taken at a minimum of B level)

4 credits of English

4 credits of Math

3 credits of Lab Science (4 credits for STEM Emphasis)

3.5 credits of Social Studies

2 credits of a Foreign Language

*STEM Emphasis requires 1 credit in STEM course and 3.2 GPA

*Fine Art emphasis requires 2 credits in Fine Arts and 3.2 GPA

In addition to a STEM and Fine Arts emphasis, there may be a track for CTE students as well. Ask your counselor for details if you think you may qualify.

NH Scholar approved courses are indicated with a special symbol in the course catalog.

Students and Parents, do you check your ASPEN account?

The best way to stay informed is to check your ASPEN account regularily. This will allow you to see grades, assignments, reminders on upcoming events and important messages from teachers and administrators.

WHAT IS NAVIANCE?

Naviance is a communication tool that provides you useful and timely information about upcoming school counseling sponsored events. This program is designed to assist you explore your interests and abilities, develop a plan for after high school, write a resume, and learn about college programs for achieving your goals. You will notice this year that the interface of Naviance has experience a complete overhaul! Don't worry, although you will use this program to support you throughout high school and when you apply to colleges, we will offer several opportunities in the fall to learn how to navigate the new system. The changes should be easier for you and now make it so you can access Naviance on your phone, tablet or computer. Change is sometimes really good!

To log on, go to www.connection.naviance.com /pinkerton.

Having trouble with your username and password? email sis@pinkertonacademy.org. (Hint: school email, and student ID)

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

We all want to see that are doing the best you can, with classes that offer the right academic rigor and are involved in extra-curricular activities, clubs, volunteer work or employment that makes you a well-rounded individual. It's not only important to sign up for these things, but it is important to demonstrate a commitment over time. Don't overextend yourself but challenge yourself. Hard work and dedication pays off!

SAT, PSAT and ACT

Many colleges and scholarships rely on information gleaned from standardized tests such as SAT, SAT Subject tests, and the ACT to help determine the general ability of students. While testing is not the single most important element of college admission, it's a very important factor considered by many colleges and should be planned for and taken very seriously. The PSATs offer an opportunity to have a practice run which often improves scores on the SATs. Most stduents will take th eSAT or ACT their Junior year and take another in the fall of Seior year.

What is the difference between SAT and ACT?

The SAT is comprised of two tests. SAT1 measures students' Critical Reading and Math abilities. Each section has a score range of 200-800 for a perfect score of 1600 for combined Critical Reading and Math. The optional Writing portion is scored in 3 areas: Reading, Analysis, and Writing, which are all on 2–8 scale.

The ACT: While the SAT primarily assesses reasoning ability, the ACT focuses more on strict knowledge. You will receive a composite score on a 1–36 scale. This score is an average of your scores on the 4 multiple-choice test sections (each section is scored on 1–36 scale). Unlike the SAT, ACT includes a section of science. The optional Writing Test is not included in the composite score. You will receive 5 scores for the Writing Test: one overall score on a 2–12 scale and 4 domain scores, also 2–12, that are based on an analytic scoring rubric.

To sign up (cost is involved), please visit collegeboard.org for SAT and PSAT, or ACT.org for the ACTs. Several exams are administered each year at Pinkerton Academy which is a really nice perk!

In March of Junior Year, students at Pinkerton Academy are required to take the SAT. This exam is offered for free and used as our junior state testing.

On this Teacher Workshop Day, Junior test day in March, Pinkerton will also administer the PSAT. Information was recently sent to all sophomores to urge them to consider participating. There is no cost to the students who choose to take advantage of this opportunity.

Study Tips:

Students who “study smart” often spend less time studying and yet they get better betters. Students who “study smart” know hot to make the most of their study sessions and they get help when they need it. Follow these simple tips to help with studying for tests.

Choose a good place to study- a comfortable, quiet and well-lit area. Equip yourself with paper, pencils, pens, calculator etc.
Have everything you need before you begin, make sure that you have the right assignments and materials needed
Eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV and silence your phone.
Create a plan for yourself. Be realistic about how long you will study and what you will get done
Don’t procrastinate: Set a time to study and stick to it. Start with something you can finish quickly to start off on a positive note.
Take breaks- Study for 30 minutes, then reward yourself by taking a break. Grab a snack, play with your dog, get up, stretch. Resist the urge to go online, start texting a friend or get on Snapchat. This can all wait until you have finished what you started.

Time Management:

Be organized-Being organized is a tremendous time saver. To help, use a planner (written, electronic, or your phone's calendar with alerts) to keep track of due tdates, tests, appointments. Use a large wall calendar to see what your week looks like if you are a visual person.
Make "To Do" Lists-Rate them in order of importance using A for must do today, B for should do today and C want to do today but can wait. Then, go back and number in each letter catagory 1,2,3..for most pressing to least pressing. Prioritizing is important! Cross things off that you accomplish. This feels great!
Have a routine-a good morning and nighttime routine helps your day to run smoothly.
Control use of time wasters-Social media, TV, video games. Schedule small periods of time for these activities and stick to it.
Build in time to relax- It is important to have time to recharge.

Be prepared for Class:

Have what you need-Is your homework done? When you've done your homework, you understand the lessons better and can participate in discussion and worry less that you will be called on.
Do you have your text book? Pen/pencil?-Having what you need reduces anxiety and allows you to take better notes.
Know your grades-Know where you stand and make up things that may be missing in a timely manner.

GET TO KNOW YOUR COUNSELOR

Did you know you can request an appointment to discuss your classes or get your questions answered about college and career planning at any time by stopping into the School Counseling Office or emailing your counselor? In most cases, your counselor will follow up by sending you a pass within the next day or two , at a time that is convenient for you. If you have an urgent, personal need that arises, your counselor will do their best to see you right away. If they are unavailable, an on-call counselor will assist you. If you are unsure of who your counselor is, refer to Aspen for that information. COMING SOON-ELECTRONIC REQUESTS USING ACUITY!

STAY INFORMED!

The School Counseling Department offers many opportunities for you and your parents to learn more about choosing classes, preparing for vocations, applying to college and how to pay for it all. With webinars, evening events, college and program representative visits, and a fantastic college fair each April, you will be prepared for what comes next! Check our website and Naviance for upcoming events.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Counselors are on your side and can be a great resource for you. Ask questions. Attend our special events. Seek help when you need it.

College Planning Websites

collegeboard.org

visit nhheaf.org -or- email collegeplanning@nhheaf.org

Helpful Federal Websites

fafsa,gov-File the student's FREE Application for Fedefal Stduent Aid

nslds.gov-Locate information on all of your federal loans in one database

studentaid.ed.gov-Learn about the types of federal aid, how to apply, and repayment plans

studentloans.gov-Complete your federal student loan entrance counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN)

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