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This page was
last updated:
August 20, 2009

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING NEWSLETTER

ST. FRANCIS TAKES PART IN NATIONAL ALCOHOL and DRUG RECOVERY MONTH
As part of the National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month, which aims to motivate individuals who need help to get treatment and to raise public awareness about alcoholism and drug addiction, the Guidance and Counseling Department will offer confidential alcohol and drug screenings and informational meetings throughout the month of April. If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact Mrs. Rupp at ext. 104 or Ms. Sullivan at ext.108.

Since early detection of alcoholism and drug addiction can increase the likelihood of successful recovery, knowing the warning signs is important:

• Blackouts. Periods of time after drinking that cannot be remembered.
• Tolerance. Requiring increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to experience the same effect.
• Physical withdrawal symptoms. These may include nausea as well as shaking, sweating, confusion and hallucinations ( delirium tremens) while not drinking. Delirium tremens (also known as “the DTs”) is the most serious symptom of acute alcohol withdrawal.
• Legal, relationship, financial problems.
• Anhedonia. Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
• Unusual drinking habits. These may include drinking alone or in secret, gulping drinks or making a ritual of having drinks before, during and after dinner.

Irritability . Feeling irritable when drinking patterns are disrupted.

CYBERBULLYING—WHAT A PARENT CAN DO

Children bullying and teasing one another has gone techno. Cyberbullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender. Cyberbullying may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech). According to the Internet Safety organization, i-Safe.org, 58% of children who are victims of cyber-bullying do not tell their parents or any other adult when something mean or hurtful happens to them online.  That does not mean that parents are unable to do anything about cyber-bullying.

Here are some tips what you can do to prevent cyberbullying:

If your child uses My Space, Face book, AOL , IM, or any other social networking or instant message program you should sit down at the computer with them and ask the following:

What is (are) your screen name(s)?  Are they portraying themselves with too much information (Age, Name, Interests)? Does the screen name indicate a negative self view? Don't be surprised if they have several screen names.

What is in your profile(s)?   If they have multiple screen names, they have a profile associated with each one.  Are you comfortable with the material they posted in there? 

Who is on your buddy list?     Do you know each and every person on the list personally?  Do you as the parent know each one personally? 

• Keep your home computer(s) in easily viewable places , such as a family room or kitchen.
• Talk regularly with your child about on-line activities he or she is involved in.
• Discuss with your child the importance of NOT using instant messaging or social networking sites as places to carry on person conflicts. Young people should not post messages on social networking sites as a method of fighting or resolving issues with their peers. Personal conflicts should be resolved through other, less public and more confidential/constructive avenues.
• Talk specifically about cyberbullying and encourage your child to tell you if he or she is the victim of cyberbullying or troublesome on-line behavior. 
• Outline your expectations for responsible online behavior and make it clear that there will be consequences for inappropriate behavior.
• Consider installing parental control filtering software and/or tracking programs.

What you can do if your child has become a victim of cyberbullying:

• Strongly encourage your child not to respond to the cyberbullying.
• Do not erase the messages or pictures. Save these as evidence.
• Try to identify the individual doing the cyberbullying. Even if the cyber bully is anonymous (e.g., is using a fake name or someone else’s identity) there may be a way to track them through your Internet Service Provider.
• If the cyberbullying is coming through e-mail or a cell phone, it may be possible to block future contact from the cyber bully.
• Consider contacting the cyber bully’s parents. These parents may be very concerned to learn that their child has been cyberbullying others, and they may effectively put a stop to the bullying

SUMMER SCHOOL SIGN UP TIME

Any student who failed a course for semester one will need to make up the credit through summer school. Students can now obtain Summer School information in Student Services. Students who will be attending summer school must meet with a counselor to obtain approval for the makeup course. If a student is aware that s/he will also fail semester 2, it is recommended that s/he sign up for both semesters with the option of cancelling later.

Information on summer school offerings through local school districts will be arriving from now until early May. Once we have all of the information, we will have a spread sheet available on our website listing all of the local offerings. In the meantime, students and parents can also check with their local school districts to determine if they are offering any summer school programs. Registrations are open now. It is best to register as early as possible to secure a place in the class.

Please call your child’s counselor with any questions you may have regarding credit makeup and summer school.

LAST CHANCE to SIGN UP for SPRING ACT & SAT TESTS

The final deadlines are approaching for juniors who still need to sign up for ACT and SAT tests. Any junior students who have not yet taken the ACT or SAT must register as soon as possible. These May/June test dates are also the last time this school year when students may take a re-test:

• June 6 SAT regular registration deadline is May 5 and the late charge deadline is May 15.
• June 13 ACT regular registration deadline is May 8 and the late charge deadline is May 22.

*Students who miss the above deadlines can also utilize the standby registration process for an additional fee of $40.

*Don’t forget to include our six digit high school code (144-383) for St. Francis when registering so the school receives a copy of the test scores.

*St. Francis strongly recommends that students take the ACT (with Writing) or SAT at least two to three times in order to earn the best possible score for college admission. Colleges will base admission decisions on the best score from all tests taken.

COLLEGE PLANNING APPOINTMENTS FOR JUNIOR STUDENTS

By the end of April, Mrs. Rigney will have met with all members of the junior class to discuss career and college plans. After meeting with the student, Mrs. Rigney provides the student with a personalized list of colleges that the student may want to research. A copy of this list will also be mailed home to the parent. We strongly encourage the student and parent to review this list and complete your own search as well. In addition, Mrs. Rigney spoke with all juniors on Friday, March 27, to have them complete their lists of high school activities and to review the college planning tasks they should be completing before the fall. All students received a handout of the Top Ten Tasks Every Junior Must Do as seen below. In addition to the list below, students are urged to go to the Naviance Family Connection program and complete My Game Plan, My Resume, and My Colleges (compile a short list).

MRS RIGNEY’S LIST OF TOP TEN TASKS EVERY JUNIOR MUST DO BETWEEN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER

1. Take the ACT with Writing at least 2 times by early June and take the SAT at least 2 times if you performed reasonably well on the PSAT.
2. Go to the Guidance page of the St. Francis website and become familiar with the resources there, such as: College Planning Guide and Timeline, ACT and SAT Testing Information, ACT and SAT Prep Programs, ACT/ SAT Conversion Chart, ACT and SAT Testing Accommodations Information, Websites for College Planning, Monthly Guidance Newsletter, Weekly College and Scholarship Bulletin, Important Dates and Deadlines, Printable Transcript Release Form, and Printable Request for Teacher Recommendation Form.
3. Research career and college major choices using the college and career resources on the St. Francis website, such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, What Can I Do With This Major, My Majors.com, etc.
4. Do at least two different college searches using the major web based college programs such as Family Connection, My College Quick Start (College Board), Peterson’s, Princeton Review, etc.
5. Form a working list of 10—15 colleges and thoroughly research them.
6. Complete at least six formal college visits, touring a variety of colleges in terms of size, location, and academic rigor.
7. Examine the program of studies in your potential major by going to the Academic page of some of your potential college choices and clicking on your major. Take a close look at what you will be studying for the next four years.
8. Make sure your schedule for senior year includes all the courses necessary to prepare you for the requirements of your potential colleges and major. If not, see a counselor ASAP and change your schedule.
9. Narrow the list of colleges to which you will apply to approximately 6, making sure that at least 2 colleges on your list are completely affordable for you and are “safety” schools (sure bets) in terms of your acceptance. To determine this, look at the college profiles on Family Connection the College Board website, or other college resources and use the Compare Me component of Family Connection after the Class of 2009 acceptances are entered into the program in May.
10. Work hard this spring to earn the best grades of your high school career. Remember that for some colleges, junior year is your last opportunity to improve your grade point average and rank before you apply in early fall. Junior year performance is often viewed as the most recent and best predictor of your college success.

JUNIOR STUDENTS SHOULD ATTEND SPRING COLLEGE FAIRS AND BE ENGAGED IN THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS.

Several spring college fairs will be held in the month of April providing a great opportunity for juniors to get a start on their college search. A regional college fair will be held at the Merner Field house at North Central College in Naperville on Monday, April 6, from 7 – 8:30 PM. Nearly 200 educational, military and technical institutions will be represented at this fair. A list of colleges attending the North Central College Fair can be obtained by going to http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/x11694.xml. Families who plan to attend the North Central College Fair should park in the lot at Sts. Peter and Paul School. Parking on campus is extremely limited.

In addition to the college fair at North Central College, Lewis University in Romeoville will host a college fair on March 4, 6:30—8:00 PM, DePaul University will host a fair on March 24, 6:00—8:00 PM, Harper Community College in Palatine on Tuesday, April 8, from 6—8:30 PM, and Barrington High School on April 13, 7—9 PM, and St. Charles East HS on April 14, 7—9 PM.

It is very important that juniors begin the college search now, starting by researching possible careers and college majors. Students need to determine their preferences in terms of size, location, setting, etc. Online, students can complete a college search through programs such as the Naviance Family Connection (login code given to juniors and sent by mail to sophomores, sophomore parents, and junior parents in December), College Board My Road/My College Quick Start, Princeton Review, College View, Wired Scholar, or Peterson’s. Students may access these and other sites by going to www.sfhsnet.org/top/studentsvcs/guid-websitesforcolleges.htm. They should also make an appointment to see Mrs. Rigney for additional suggestions. Finally, students should squeeze in some preliminary campus visits this spring or in early summer. College is a huge investment and it requires considerable research and planning. Start now!

AP EXAM PAYMENTS DUE TO TEACHERS APRIL 6--10

All students who are enrolled in upper level honors or AP courses that prepare students for AP exams have been given a copy of the 2009 AP (Advanced Placement) exam bulletin. In early March, AP teachers asked students to sign up for the AP exams that will take place from May 6--12. The cost for AP exams is $95 per test. This includes a slight surcharge above and beyond the test fee to pay for the proctors who will be supervising testing. Mrs. Rigney has already ordered AP Exams for all students who signed up in their AP classes. If a student did not originally sign up for the test, but still wishes to do so, he or she must see Mrs. Rigney before April 10 but orders at this point will require a $50 late charge paid by the student. The test fee will be collected by the classroom teacher on Monday, April 6—Friday, April 10. If a student has already ordered a test and cancels in mid-April, he or she must pay a penalty fee of $15 because AP charges Saint Francis a penalty fee for each unused test.

Students and parents should keep in mind that these tests are exceedingly difficult. Please note that students in AP courses are NOT required to take the exams in May. Students who choose to take an AP exam should be performing very well in their honors or AP courses and should be comfortable with standardized testing. Students should test their knowledge of AP material by practicing on sample test questions both inside and outside of class.

Since AP teachers cannot always cover every topic that may be on an AP exam, students who want to perform well on AP exams usually have to do additional work on their own. Information on AP courses and exams questions is available at www.collegeboard.com. Senior students should check with their prospective colleges about their AP credit policies. For further information, students should see Mrs. Rigney or the AP instructor.

FINAL COLLEGE TASKS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

It is getting down to the wire on making the college decision. Make sure your senior student completes the following:

• File a FAFSA Financial Aid Form if you have not already done so
• Review the Student Aid Report for any necessary corrections
• Review your award letters and compare scholarship awards and financial aid packages
• Submit housing contracts and refundable housing fees ASAP to all colleges you are still considering (if you have not already done so).
• Complete applications for local, corporate, and community scholarships (refer to the Weekly Scholarship Bulletin on the Guidance page of the St. Francis website
• Make final campus visits
• Make your final decision on what college to attend and submit the enrollment deposit so it is received no later than May 1. If your enrollment is not confirmed by May 1 through your enrollment deposit, you will likely lose your place in the freshman class at that college.
• Notify those colleges that you are not attending that you are not accepting their offers of admission
• Request a refund on housing fees paid to those colleges you are not attending
• Complete a request for a final transcript to be sent to the college of your choice (Mrs. Rigney will provide a form to all seniors at the end of April)
• Complete Mrs. Rigney’s survey in late April (in English class) regarding colleges to which you were accepted/attending and scholarship offers
• Look for emails and mailings from your chosen college on placement testing and freshman registration
• Get immunized for meningitis before you attend college in the fall. Some colleges will require this for enrollment.
• Student-Athletes attending Division I or II schools must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and send them a final transcript and ACT/ SAT scores in order to play, receive athletic scholarship, or walk on.
• Begin shopping for dorm room supplies and furnishings!

FINDING ANSWERS TO UNDERACHIEVEMENT

Finding answers to a child’s underachievement is often a complex process.

Here are 5 beginning steps:

1: NARROW THE PROBLEM:

It can be difficult sorting out the source of difficulties, and what problems (anxiety, low motivation, depression) are primary or secondary. Nevertheless, narrowing the problem is often the most important step in finding specific answers to underachievement. Look for patterns in certain subjects, assignment and homework. Does your child have problems taking in information? Could there be a learning disability? Could your child be overscheduled? Ask your child’s teacher for feedback.

2: IDENTIFY STRENGTHS:

Realize the importance of strengths in designing solutions. Children need to feel good enough about themselves have the mental energy to tackle school frustrations.

3: COMMIT TO A CHANGE:

Encourage your children to commit to a change and start small. Problem solving will generate answers. Encourage them to celebrate every small bit of progress as it arrives.

4: ADOPT A TEAM APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING.

Partner with your child when problem solving situations and crises. Also, work with your child’s teacher(s) and guidance counselor. Communicating through Email and phone are great and easy ways to stay in contact with them.

5: REMEMBER THE BIG PICTURE:

Realize that many of the anxieties of underachievement come from personal fears of futility and catastrophe. Fears about time running out and/or bleak futures need to be confronted. Help your child focus on the present, plan sensible changes, allow time to see the effects, and adjust plans accordingly.

HOW TO DEVELOP SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR COLLEGE – STARTING IN HIGH SCHOOL

With apologies to Stefanie C. Silvers who authored the Summer 1998 article with the above title for Attention!, a magazine dedicated to helping parents and professionals help students with AD/HD and other learning disabilities. Much of the information below is drawn from her article and is pertinent to ALL STUDENTS who will soon be attending college, not just students with disabilities. Stefanie is a learning specialist for the Disability Support Services at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Freshmen who have successful transitions are the ones who can clearly articulate their needs and who have not only planned but developed effective skills to reach success. Among the steps to develop these skills are:

• ADVOCACY - the ability to articulate your own needs and wants, which should include self-awareness of strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. Advocacy can be very difficult at first. Practicing with a parent or a guidance counselor before speaking to teachers can make this a less fearful situation.
• STARTING EARLY - Most students need guidance about assuming the new responsibility of “self-advocacy” or disclosing their disability to teachers themselves. Students should not wait for a teacher to seek them out. Of, course the success of this preparation will depend on a student’s maturity and whether he or she is ready to take the risks involved in becoming one’s own advocate.
• SELF-AWARENESS - includes knowing one’s learning strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles, as well as what physical surroundings and times of day are most conducive to success. The self-aware student will know what additional supports s/he needs, which teaching styles are most beneficial, and will have time management, organizational strategies, and priority setting skills in place.
• PARENTS’ ROLE – Many parents of high school students do not want the school to know about any special needs because they fear their child will be stigmatized as different or will be written off. Other parents worry that teachers will make assumptions and not see their child as an individual. It is natural to feel protective, but it is important for parent to keep in mind that this advocacy skill is essential for their children to develop – the younger the better.

The author advises students to take a structured freshman program, which requires them to attend courses to learn advocacy, time management, study skills, and other essential skills to “survive” in college.