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This page was
last updated:
February 1, 2012

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING NEWSLETTER

REGISTRATION FOR COURSES FOR 2012--2013

Students received their course selection sheets and Program of Studies booklets on Thursday, January 26. Over the next few weeks students must choose their courses for next year and obtain teacher signatures for those courses which may require permission. If a student needs assistance, he/she should make an appointment with a guidance counselor as soon as possible. If a parent has questions, please contact a guidance counselor by phone or email. Contact information is on our webpage. The counselors are more than willing to answer any questions that students or parents may have regarding course selection.

Students must have their course selection sheet completed (including all necessary student, parent, and teacher signatures), the tuition preference form, and the $400 non-refundable deposit ready to hand in on the following dates:

• Tuesday, February 14, for Class of 2013 (current juniors)
• Thursday, February 23, for Class of 2014 (current sophomores)
• Wednesday, February 29, for Class of 2015 (current freshmen)

AP TESTING

• Students enrolled in AP courses will be given a copy of the AP Bulletin in February
• Students who wish to test in May must sign up through their AP course instructor during the week of March 5—March 9
• Students with documented disabilities who request a review from the College Board for AP testing accommodations must do so no later than February 14.
• Students who have already been approved by the College Board for accommodations must submit a request for AP testing accommodations no later than February 24.
• The cost for each exam will be $95. This includes a surcharge to fund costs of administering the test at St. Francis.
• Students will submit checks for the test fee to the AP instructor from April 2—5. Students taking multiple exams can include all fees on one check.
• Any test ordered after April 13 requires an additional $50 late order fee to be paid by the student.
• No tests may be ordered after April 20. All rosters are final as of this date. No student may drop or add a test as of April 20.
• A student who is ill on the day of the test may test during the late testing period, May 23-25, if he/she provides a doctor’s note and immediately requests a late test order.
• Student athletes who have a conflict with a conference, regional or sectional championship match may request testing during the late testing period.
• Once a student has ordered a test in March, he/she must pay a penalty fee of $15 if he/she cancels in April. St. Francis will be billed by AP for each unused test.
• Please note that students in AP courses are not required to take the exams in May.
• A student who chooses to take an AP exam should be performing very well in his/her AP course and be very comfortable with standardized testing.
• Throughout the school year, 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. A link to college AP policies can also be found on the college profiles at www.collegeboard.com.
• For further information, students should see Mrs. Rigney, AP Test Coordinator, or the AP instructor.
• Students who might qualify for accommodations for AP testing and have not yet been approved for accommodations by the College Board, must see Mrs. Rigney no later than February 4. Students who have already been approved for accommodations must see Mrs. Rigney no later than February 10 so that we can submit the request for accommodations and special test materials by the required deadline.
• The following AP exams will be administered by St. Francis on the following national test dates. Tests can only be administered on these dates and times. Students will be notified of the exact location of tests in late April.
• Week 1
• Monday, May 7 Chemistry 8 AM Psychology 12 PM
• Tuesday, May 8 Spanish Language 8 AM
• Wednesday, May 9 Calculus AB/BC 8 AM Studio Art 12 PM
• Thursday, May 10 English Lit & Comp 8 AM
• Friday, May 11 US History 8 AM
• Week 2
• Monday, May 14 Biology 8 AM Physics 12 PM
• Tuesday, May 15 US Gov & Politics 8 AM French Lang 12 PM
• Wednesday, May 16 Statistics 12 PM

FAFSA FORMS AVAILABLE ONLINE

The FAFSA Federal College Financial Aid Form is available on the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

• In order to use the web based form, you must first obtain a pin number by going to www.pin.ed.gov.
• You are advised to send in the form no later than February 15 in order to maximize your eligibility for financial aid.
• Do NOT wait until you do your taxes to complete the FAFSA. Parents may use estimated income and assets to initially complete the FAFSA and then correct the numbers on the Student Aid Report when you receive it.
• 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.

“Lying About Schoolwork” by Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD
Excerpt from article in CHADD organization Attention! Magazine:

Like many children or adolescents with AD/HD, the examples above illustrate those who may otherwise desire to be responsible yet fall into a pattern of avoiding schoolwork and not being truthful about it. Being overly stressed out and desperate, such kids often feel that lying is the easiest way to deal with the demands of parents and teachers. These children and teens are usually not trying to be bad or malicious, but the repetitive pattern of lying becomes a bad habit. For many children and adolescents, lying to avoid schoolwork demands is self-serving in the short term (e.g., lets them avoid doing something or deny responsibility for their actions) but creates long-term pain and chaos.

• Probe for and validate the child/teen’s underlying fears without condoning the lying behavior.

• Acknowledge and praise when your child/teen is up front and open with you by expressing appreciation for it.

• Remember to be vigilant for CANNOT versus CHOOSE NOT. There may be an underlying learning disability or AD/HD problem lurking below the surface.

• Be mindful of the stresses that your child/teen is facing in or outside of school. Remember that students often act out social, substance abuse, emotional and home adjustment issues by shutting down on their academics.

• Realize that as gamey and manipulative as your child or teen appears, deep down he or she is not feeling good about things.

• Watch how you speak. Avoid being critical and shaming.

• When necessary, seek support from school resources, including guidance counselors, and teachers.

Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD, is a child and family psychologist in the Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

He is the author of Liking the Child You Loved (2009), 10 Days to a Less Distracted Child (2007) and 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child (2006).

ST. FRANCIS TAKES PART IN NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS
AWARENESS WEEK (FEBRUARY 26 TO MARCH 3)

As part of the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 26 to March3), which aims to motivate individuals who need help to get treatment and to raise public awareness about eating disorders, the Guidance and Counseling Department will offer confidential eating disorder screenings and informational meetings. If you are interested in more eating disorder information, a confidential screening or one of the support groups, please contact Mrs. Rupp at ext. 1104 or Ms. Sullivan at ext. 1108.

Eating disorders and problematic eating behaviors have become epidemic. Studies have shown that 1 in 5 adolescents engages at some point during their teenager years in disordered eating behaviors and nearly 7 million women in the US currently suffer from anorexia and bulimia. Most parents will not be faced with the enormous challenges of dealing with an anorexic or bulimic. Many, however, will face the challenges of children who have poor body images or eating problems like excessive dieting, skipping meals, bingeing one day and eating very little the next day or trying the latest diet fad. Disordered eating can be harmful to adolescents’ developing bodies and minds. Since early detection of an eating disorder can increase the likelihood of successful recovery, knowing the warning signs is important:

• In your interaction with your child you may notice one or more of the physical, behavioral and emotional signs of an eating disorder:
• Physical: weight loss or fluctuation in a short period of time; abdominal pain; feeling full; dry hair or skin; headaches.
• Behavioral: dieting or chaotic food intake; pretending to eat, throwing away food; extensive exercising; showing concern with food, weight or body size; wearing baggy clothes to hide a thin body; frequent trips to the bathroom.
• Emotional: complaints about being fat; sadness; perfectionist attitudes; not sharing one's feelings.

TIPS FOR UNDERSTANDING UNDERACHIEVEMENT

Does your high school student score well on standardized tests but bring home below-average grades? If you think your teen is performing below potential, take these steps to help turn things around:

• Check for causes: There are several reasons why kids don’t perform as well as they are able. Sometimes teens aren’t motivated because they fear failure or lack confidence. In some cases, parents expect grades beyond teens’ abilities. Vision or hearing problems, or learning disabilities, may also be to blame. Getting input from your child’s teacher or school counselor will help you zero in on the cause.
• Be Supportive: Even if he or she does not let on, a teen who’s not working on the same level as his or her peers probably feels badly about it. Assure your high school student that you believe in him or her and are available if he or she needs you. Suggest that the student talk with teachers to come up with ways to improve grades. Then, praise your student for taking the reins, and keep tabs on your teen’s “improvement” plans.
• Think Teamwork: If necessary, arrange for you and your child to meet with the school counselor and teachers to discuss trouble-some classes. Together, come up with a plan to help your teen get a new start.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

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. Some 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://schoolsoup.com

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

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

Mrs. Lynn Ellis, Guidance and Counseling Administrative Assistant, publishes a Weekly Bulletin of college and scholarship information which is posted on the Student Services/Guidance webpage. This bulletin lists scholarships for which the Guidance Department has current applications. Students often have the best chance to earn a scholarship offered by a local organization since these scholarships have a smaller applicant pool. Some scholarships will be based on financial need; many will require that the student write an essay. Applying for scholarships does take time and organization. See Mrs. Ellis in Guidance if you need a scholarship application which is not already linked online.

Remember to avoid scholarship scams. Avoid scholarships or scholarship services that require an application fee. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! No agency or service can promise that you will obtain scholarships or financial aid.

JUNIORS SHOULD START REGISTERING FOR SPRING ACT AND SAT TESTS

The dates for the 2011-2012 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 a future reference for upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.

• When registering for ACT and SAT tests, students should go online to www.act.org for the ACT or to www.collegeboard.com for the SAT test.
• St. Francis only administers the ACT on the April test date, but students may always take the exam at other high schools. If a student wants to test at St. Francis, he or she must register well 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 when completed test registration. Our high school code number is 144-383. If students do not include this code, St. Francis does not receive a record of the test score. Parents and students can find this code on the test score page of the St. Francis website.
• 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. We recommend that students not send scores to colleges until the fall.
• 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 Assessment; 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 the 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 . 1108 if you have a child who might qualify for extended time or other accommodations on ACT and SAT testing. 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 Accommodations Plan to the individual’s teachers.
• Students should be looking ahead to have an appropriate written Accommodations Plan for college as well.
• For either ACT or SAT to consider students for accommodations, they must have

DOCUMENTATION THAT MEETS ALL 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/disable/students.com or contact Mary Kay Sullivan x 1108.

FAMILY CONNECTION PROVIDES COLLEGE PLANNING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

The Guidance and Counseling Department has made available a powerful tool for college planning called the Family Connection by Naviance. This web based program can be accessed from any computer, anywhere. The web address is:

http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton

A link to this site has been created on the list of Websites for College Information that is on the Guidance and Counseling Department webpage. To access the program, please do the following:

• In order to initially log into the program, students or parents must use a personally assigned registration code. Current junior students have already received their codes, registered, and been trained in using the program. Parents may receive their access code by contacting Mrs. Ellis at ext. 1142 or lellis@sfhsnet.org. Once you receive your registration code, we strongly recommend that you complete the log-in process whereby you will enter your email address and create a new password.
• Each user must register with his or her personal email address.
• Parents and students cannot use the same email address.
• Once you complete that process, you will no longer need the registration code to access the program.

The Naviance Family Connection program allows students to maintain their own personal college planning site. You can complete a college search, build a resume, make a game plan for college, create a list of potential colleges, and track the application process.

If you have any questions or problems regarding the use of the program, please contact Trudy Rigney, College Counselor and Director of Guidance @ extension 1105 or Lynn Ellis, Administrative Assistant, @extension 1142.