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This page was
last updated:
April 24, 2008

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING NEWSLETTER

PSAT TEST RESULTS: PARENT INFORMATION PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 13, 2007

Parents of sophomore and junior students who recently took the PSAT practice college entrance exams may receive test results for this program at an upcoming information program.

PSAT tests results will be available for parents at the Thursday, December 13, 2007 program at 6:30 PM in the Spartan Theater. At that time Mrs. Rigney will interpret PSAT test results. She will also explain what parents need to know about planning for and registering for the ACT and SAT tests, which their children will be taking in the winter and spring of this year. In addition, she will discuss the benefits of test prep courses. This program will also cover the results of the Strong Career Interest Inventory which juniors only took at the same time as the PSAT. Finally, Mrs. Rigney will provide a brief overview for parents of resources on the Guidance webpage and the Naviance Family Connection college software program.

Parents of sophomore students who took the PSAT test should attend the PSAT program with parents of juniors.

Parents attending the program should park in the south parking lot and enter the building through door # 9, the east wing entrance. If parents are unable to attend these programs, their students will receive test results during an in-class presentation to be held shortly after the parent program.

PLAN scores for sophomores will be mailed to parents within the next few weeks.

JUNIORS SHOULD START REGISTERING FOR SPRING ACT AND SAT TESTS

The dates for the 2007-2008 ACT and SAT tests are listed on the last page of the St. Francis High School Calendar. This same information is also on the Student Services/Guidance page of the school web-site, www.sfhsnet.org. Use these sources as future reference for upcoming test dates and registration deadlines. Juniors should plan to take the ACT or SAT anytime from January of 2008 through June of 2008.

When registering for ACT and SAT tests, students may use two different methods. They may go online to www.act.org for the ACT or to www.collegeboard.com for the SAT test. To register with the paper copy, students may pick up a registration packet from the large metal bookshelves in the Students Services hallway. St. Francis administers the ACT on the April test date only . If a student wants to test at St. Francis, he or she must register in advance of the regular registration deadline and select St. Francis as the first choice for test centers. Students are not guaranteed their test center choices. Places are assigned on a first come, first served basis. When re-registering for a second test, students may do so by phone for a small charge or online for free. It is very important that the student include the St. Francis six digit high school code on the registration. Our high school code number is 144-383. We strongly recommend that a student plan to take both the ACT and the SAT and take each test more than once (preferably before the end of junior year). This ensures that the student will be likely to earn a score that best reflects his or her true ability. Colleges will use the higher score when making admissions decisions.

Students should also be aware more and more colleges, including several Big Ten Schools, are requiring the new ACT Writing Assessment. Not all colleges require that students take the Writing Asssessment; however, if even one college that the student will apply to requires the writing assessment, then the student will need to take it. Therefore, the Guidance and Counseling Department strongly recommends that all juniors take the Writing Assessment along with the ACT exam for all testing dates. The revised SAT includes a mandatory writing assessment. For details on these new writing assessments and preparation materials, students should go to www.act.org or www.collegeboard.com.

REMINDER: THE ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL CODE FOR ACT AND SAT TESTING IS: 144-383

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE ACT & SAT

Parents of sophomore and junior level students are reminded to contact Ms. Sullivan ASAP at ext. 108 if you have a child who might qualify for extended time or other accommodations on ACT and SAT testing. Parents of sophomore parents should note that if you want your child to receive accommodations on the PSAT test (which is taken in October of junior year), the student must be approved by the College Board before the start of junior year. Guidelines for such requests are given below.

• ACT: Complete documentation needs to be ready and in our files in order to be sent into ACT early junior year. As the request for eligibility is sent to ACT, the student is required to register for the test (usually) in April.
• SAT: Complete documentation may be sent in to SAT as early as late freshman year or early sophomore year. The student is only requesting eligibility at this time and does not register for a specific test until junior year which is a different policy from ACT.
• DOCUMENTATION described below needs to be ON FILE AT ST. FRANCIS AS EARLY AS FRESHMAN YEAR.
• Mary Kay Sullivan will pull the information from this documentation in order to write and to send a parent approved Service Plan (accommodation plan) to the individual’s teachers.
• Students should be looking ahead to have an appropriate written Service Plan for college as well.
• For either ACT or SAT to consider students for accommodations, they must have

DOCUMENTATION THAT MEETSALL OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• States the specific disability as diagnosed.
• Testing is current. (testing/re-evaluation in 8 th grade or freshman year is acceptable)
• Describes presenting problem and developmental history including current treatment.
• Describes the comprehensive assessments used to arrive at the diagnosis, such as psychoeducational testing, neuropsychological information, medical diagnoses, etc.
• Describes the adverse effect on learning and academic achievement as supported by the test results.
• Describes specific recommended accommodations for the classroom and provides a rationale explaining how these will address the functional limitations.
• Establishes the professional credentials of the evaluator.
• Students must also USE these accommodations throughout their four years in high school.

For complete protocol for documenting or for any other clarification, log on to www.act.org/aap/disab/policy.html and also www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/index.html or contact Mary Kay Sullivan, ext. 108.

SENIOR STUDENTS SHOULD COMPLETE COLLEGE APPLICATION
PROCESS BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK

Due to the high volume of applications that colleges will be receiving this year, senior students should attempt to process all of their college applications before the Christmas holidays. This will ensure that students meet most scholarship deadlines and avoid being wait-listed by those colleges that close the application process early.

If a student needs a counselor recommendation sent with the application (and it has not yet been requested), the student should meet with Mrs. Rigney as soon as possible. If a student is requesting a letter of recommendation from a teacher, he or she must make the request in writing and give the teacher a minimum of three weeks to complete the letter.

Many colleges, such as Marquette, St. Louis University, and Butler University have a priority deadline of December 1. Many highly competitive colleges have their first regular decision deadlines on either December 1, December 15, or January 1. Students should check with the individual colleges to determine specific deadlines for either admission or scholarship consideration.

To guarantee mailing before the Christmas break, all application materials should be submitted to Mrs. Rigney no later than December 7, 2007 . If this deadline presents a problem, the student should contact Mrs. Rigney to make special arrangements.

FAFSA FORMS AVAILABLE SOON

The preferred method for completing the FAFSA, the Federal College Financial Aid Form, is to complete the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper copies of the FAFSA forms are no longer being sent to schools in bulk. A student who wishes to complete the FAFSA in paper form may download a PDF form at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov or www.FSAPubs.org. Students can access the PDF, complete the form on the computer or by hand, and mail it to the address provided for processing. Students may also obtain a paper copy by calling 1-800-4- FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). The Guidance and Counseling office does have copies of the FAFSA On The Web Worksheet. This is a handy tool that can help parents and students prepare to complete the FAFSA on the web. Students may pick up this form in Student Services. You may not submit the real FAFSA form, either by paper or on the internet, until January 1, 2008, but you are advised to send it in during the month of January in order to maximize your eligibility for financial aid. Keep in mind that even if you do not demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA, simply completing and submitting the form will qualify you for the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

SENIORS: BEGIN THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Now is the time of year when both parents and students begin to wonder, “Now that we have applied to these colleges, how are we going to pay for this?” Such thoughts naturally lead to the pursuit of scholarships.

Obtaining college scholarships is not as easy as some would have us think. The best source of money for college is the college itself. Students should ask every college what merit scholarships are available. These scholarships can be highly competitive at some schools and not as hard to obtain at others. Many schools are now offering “leadership scholarships” for students who have shown a strong commitment to extra-curricular activities.

Students who are looking for corporate or community scholarships can access information on those awards through programs such as:

http://www.fastweb.com

http://www.scholarships.com

http://www.collegezone.com (for general financial aid information)

http://www.finaid.org (for general financial aid information)

Mrs. Rigney publishes a weekly college information and scholarship bulletin that homeroom teachers announce and post. This bulletin lists scholarships for which the Guidance Department has current applications. This scholarship bulletin is posted outside the Student Services office and on the cafeteria bulletin board. This bulletin is also on the St. Francis website. If students and parents go to our website, they will find an extensive list of corporate and community scholarships. Just go to www.sfhsnet.org, click on Student Services, click on Guidance, and then choose weekly bulletin from the menu on the left side of the page.

We are also in the process of including scholarship information on the Naviance Family Connection website. Just go to http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton. Students can login using their user name (email) and password. Parents who have not yet used the site can obtain their access codes by contacting Mrs. Lynn Ellis, Guidance Adminstrative Assistant, at ext. 142.

PREPARING FOR SEMESTER EXAMS - HELPING KIDS WITH TEST ANXIETY

Feeling jitters is normal and even helps us focus our attention on the task at hand. However, many students feel such extreme anxiety that they have physical symptoms such as weakness in the knees, inability to sleep before the test and loss of the ability to concentrate. One reference to check is a book by Joseph Casbarro, PhD who wrote about anxiety’s impact on student performance in Test Anxiety and What You Can Do About It (National Professional Resources, 1-800-453-7461, www.nprinc.com).

• Encourage your child to see his/her counselor for some help for dealing with test anxiety.
• Teach your child that cramming is not allowed!
• Teach him/her to think positively and to learn to relax.
• Teach your child to practice good study habits.
• Teach your child to compete with him - or herself.

 

• BEFORE EXAMS…
• START NOW to ORGANIZE notes, handouts, past tests, etc.
• LISTEN very carefully to CLUES teachers give you in class about what to study, what is important, etc.
• Set SPECIFIC TIMES each day to study for exams.
• Consider it a CONTEST (YOU vs. TEST-MAKER.)
• Attend any TUTORING SESSIONS that teachers offer you.
• Try to GUESS the QUESTIONS – can you answer them?
• STUDYyour NOTES or any other HANDOUTS, PAST TESTS. Study in a way that SUITS YOUR LEARNING STYLE : SEE, HEAR or get PHYSICALLY INVOLVED in what you are learning. (flash cards, charts, time lines, mind maps, outlines….)
• LOOK UP any information that is still not clear.
• Get a good night’s SLEEP the night before an exam.
• DURING AN EXAM…
• Do NOT spend lots of time asking others what they studied or for information that you have already studied! Doing this will only make you more anxious.
• RELAX (flex your muscles in your hands and feet. Hold for a count of 10. Relax. AND/OR Close your eyes. Take a long deep breath. Let it out slowly.) and forget other people around you.
• TELL YOURSELF that you are PREPARED, you are CONFIDENT and you are going to DO YOUR BEST.
• Look over WHOLE TEST first to see how to budget your time.
• Read ALL DIRECTIONS carefully.
• Read EACH QUESTION twice before answering.
• Think before you write.
• ANSWER THE QUESTIONS EXACTLY as they are WRITTEN on the exam! Don’t try to figure out what you THINK the teacher MEANT.
• Leave time to CHECK your exam or essay before you turn it in – Spelling? Grammar? Answer question FULLY? Follow directions?
• AFTER AN EXAM…
• Take a DEEP BREATH!
• Move on to the next exam.
• REPEAT the advice above!

ST. FRANCIS GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT POLICY ON HOSTING MILITARY RECRUITERS

The St. Francis Guidance and Counseling Department is open to hosting representatives of the Armed Services who wish to make their opportunities known to our students. Even though we are a college preparatory high school, some students may be interested in the career, educational, and personal opportunities that the military offers. Recruiters from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Illinois National Guard, ROTC, and Service Academies may visit St. Francis approximately once per semester. They will set up a display at a table in the cafeteria where students may stop by and pick up information, ask questions, or complete an information card. St. Francis does not condone recruiters who attempt to pressure or harrass students into enlistment.

For privacy reasons, the St. Francis Guidance and Counseling Department does NOT release directory information to military recruiters or to other third parties. If your son or daughter is being contacted directly by a military recruiter it is not because St. Francis has released contact information. It may be due to the following reasons:

• The student completed an information card for a recruiter here at school or at a college fair
• The student is registered on a website whose privacy agreement allows that information to be released to other parties, such as the Armed Forces.
• The student is a male, 18 years of age, and registered with Selective Service.

While the St. Francis Guidance and Counseling Department supports those students who wish to serve their country through military service, we realize that not all students are ready for that type of commitment at this time. Therefore, we work in conjunction with parents to help students meet their goals for college and career. If you as parents do not want your son or daughter to be contacted by a military recruiter, you should instruct your child not to meet directly with the recruiters who come to our school or to local college fairs. If a student is being unduly pressured or harrassed by a recruiter, the student or parent should contact Trudy Rigney, Director of Guidance. Mrs. Rigney will contact the recruiter to discuss the situtation and determine if that person may continue to visit our school.