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This page was
last updated:
November 23, 2009

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING NEWSLETTER

WAYS FOR PARENTS TO HELP THEIR TEENS DEAL WITH STRESS

• Talk with your child. Keeping open communication provides your child with the opportunity to vent and gives you the chance to help your child decide on appropriate ways to deal with problems.
• Don't burden them with your problems. Try to explain family issues in an informative tone rather than a distressed tone.
• Compliment your child when they do well. Compliments can help build a child's self-esteem.
• Use humor to buffer bad feelings and situations. Humor can make difficult situations less uncomfortable.
• Don't overload your child with extra-curricular activities. Extra-curricular activities can make a child feel overwhelmed, especially if he or she doesn't have a say in the schedule.
• Demonstrate self-control and coping skills. When dealing with stress, your kids look to you for the example of how it's done.

If these methods aren't effective and you feel that your child's stress and behavior is getting worse, you may want to contact your child’s guidance counselor or other professionals. Ms. Sullivan (ext 108) and Mrs. Rupp (ext 104) are always there for you and your child.

MIX IT UP at LUNCH Day-November 10th 2009: ENCOURAGING OUR STUDENTS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS

As at many schools, the cafeteria at lunchtime is a social map of our whole school--a map marked with boundaries. These boundaries exist for many reasons: habit, friendship, fear, and prejudice. The simple space of the cafeteria table is for many students a comfort zone where they can be themselves with those they know best and let down their guard. For others the lunchroom with all its boundaries is a world with its own pressures- a world of familiar strangers and rigid expectations. For many students, social boundaries are a taxing, daily constant. These boundaries can create divisions and misunderstanding in schools and can even lead to bullying, harassment and violence. But by working to cross the barriers, students can help create an environment that is characterized by less conflict and by more tolerance.

On November 10th, we will encourage our students to join two million students around the country to join the national MIX IT UP at Lunch event and stir things up in the school cafeteria. The event is being held in over 2000 high schools across the country to encourage students to identify, challenge and cross the various social boundaries that divide schools and communities. On November 10th we will encourage our students to see what happens if they mix it up at lunch and will encourage them to swap seats in the cafeteria, step out of their comfort zones, and sit somewhere new, with someone new. By joining the MIX IT UP event our students will contribute to crossing existing social boundaries and to increasing acceptance and mutual understanding. Please talk with your child about this event and encourage your child to participate in the MIX IT UP program on November 10th!

If you are interested in learning more about the MIX IT UP at lunch program go to www.mixitup.org or contact Mrs. Rupp at ext. 104.

STAY TUNED: an IMPORTANT ARTICLE FOLLOWS…

We, in the Guidance & Counseling Office borrowed this article from “Feature Articles”@ www.superkids.com in order to spread the word about the difference between studying and homework. We find this to be a continual topic of conversation in our offices when we are with our students! We thought you would like to “hear” what we have to say about this topic…

Studying vs. Homework: 8 Things Your Child (and You) Should Know

by Mackenzie Cooper

The terms ‘studying’ and ‘doing homework’ are often used synonymously. Especially in upper level education, they both mean essentially the same thing -- learning and preparing for school done outside of class time. But there are some important differences in what they mean to your child and how they should be approached.

1. HOMEWORK is material assigned by a teacher with a specific due date. It’s about reinforcing knowledge and integrating key skills. Homework is a supplement to class material and is often a part of your child’s grade. Homework is a way for the student to begin learning at their own pace while involving their parents in the process if desired.
2. Homework often involves a lot of repetition, a common tenet of formal education systems. As one of my high school teachers used to say as he went over a key concept of the class for the tenth time that quarter, "repetition is good". (College classes are often a shock to freshman, in that they may present material just a single time, and expect the students to learn it). Homework typically repeats what your child learned in school to help reinforce concepts. Repetitive exercises are often the best way to learn new vocabulary words or to utilize a new math idea.
3. For some kids, this repetition amounts to a lot of busy work. I don’t deny the effectiveness of homework assignments. But pile on an hour of Spanish homework that involves copying and translating sentences, an hour of math homework that’s just using the same new concept over and over again, and half an hour of copying dates out of a history book for a worksheet, and many students feel uninspired and unmotivated. It's important to let your student know that the focus should be on learning, not on getting 100% on homework.
4. STUDYING refers to time students set aside to go over key concepts from class and make sure their knowledge is complete. It is going over class material to ensure complete understanding. Studying is about learning on your own time, without the specific guidance of a teacher. Some teachers will provide students with study guides, but sometimes it is important that they also create their own study guides. The initiative involved in taking control of their own study patterns will help them become independent learners, preparing them for college and beyond.
5. Studying includes techniques such as re-reading unclear sections in the textbook, making flashcards, and taking notes on the textbook or on class notes. It involves a commitment to actually learning the key concepts that some homework assignments overlook. The easiest way I've found to study for any type of test is to take notes on the textbook and my notes from class. I end up re-reading the whole section of the textbook I'm studying as well as my notes and have a new set of condensed, cleaner notes with the most important information readily accessible. Flashcards are also useful for new vocabulary.
6. Encourage your child to study every day in short bursts, not just for the whole day before a test. If students commit to spending fifteen minutes going over the day's lesson in their hardest class, it will be a chance to truly understand the material. They will easily figure out what they understand and where they need assistance, which will allow you and their teacher to better help them learn. It will also tend to alleviate any pre-test stressing.
7. Help your student create their own study guides. These can be composed of lists of important dates, equations, concepts, or vocabulary. They may be more detailed, with key example problems and questions copied out of a textbook or class notes in a way that makes sense to your child. They should not hesitate to ask their teachers what important concepts they should focus on when studying. Though the teacher may not provide a comprehensive list or a worksheet to prepare for the test, they may indicate key concepts which will be covered, providing a starting point for the sometimes daunting task of studying.
8. Prioritize. Do the most important things first! This will help your child not just with schoolwork but later in life. In the case of too much homework and a test, your child may want to spend time completing homework instead of studying. The sense of accomplishment gained from completing a homework assignment isn’t as clearly attained when studying, so many students are tempted to invest their time on what they know they can finish. Help set a schedule that can include an hour of studying followed by a ten minute break. Set endpoints to make studying easier. In many cases, it is possible that one late homework assignment is less important than learning the material for a test, both in terms of the grade, and the student's comprehension.

Studying goes above and beyond what the teacher provides for the student. It necessitates self-starting. Your student should understand that what the teacher assigns, while good for reinforcing and expanding knowledge, is not enough for most students to fully prepare for tests. Every student has different strengths and weaknesses. Each student should identify their own weaknesses, with your help or a teacher's, and use this knowledge to focus their efforts and energy when it comes time to study. This tactic will also help them understand the difference between studying and doing homework, as well as the value of spending their own time outside of school and homework, studying.

About the Author

Mackenzie Cooper received an AB in English at Stanford University. Her best memories from high school are from her water polo team, her calculus study group, and working on the school newspaper. In college, she's been involved in peer tutoring, student government and the student-run newspaper and studied abroad in Florence, Italy. She likes writing (especially fiction), swimming, cooking, and travel.

PSAT TEST RESULTS: PARENT INFORMATION PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 9

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 December 9, 2009 , program at 6:30 PM in the Kuhn Center. 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. Parents of sophomore students who took the PSAT test should attend the PSAT program with parents of juniors.

Parents attending the program should enter the building through door # 12 or #19. If parents are unable to attend this program, their students will receive complete test results after we return from Christmas break in January.

PLAN scores for sophomores will be mailed to parents.

SENIOR STUDENTS SHOULD COMPLETE THE 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 December 1 , 2009 , or at the very latest, prior to final exams and 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 letter of recommendation sent with the application, the application must be submitted to Mrs. Rigney by December 7 to guarantee mailing before the holidays. The student should meet with Mrs. Rigney as soon as possible to initiate the request for a letter of recommendation. 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.

All other applications that must be mailed before Christmas break must be submitted to the Guidance Office by December 10, 2009.

Some specific college deadlines are as follows:

Early Action, Early Notification, or Early Decision: usually--postmark November 1

University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana & University of Wisconsin: student application must be received by November 1 and transcript must be postmarked by Nov 1 for priority consideration

Indiana University: scholarship priority deadline postmarked by November 1

Illinois State University, Northern Illinois, DePaul University: postmark November 15 for priority consideration

Purdue: Postmark priority deadline of November 15 for some academic majors and scholarship priority deadline

Marquette, St. Louis U., Miami of Ohio and many private colleges: postmark or received by
December 1

To request transcripts, students must submit a transcript release form, an addressed letter sized envelope, and (when required by the college) a counselor recommendation or signature form.

SENIOR STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE COLLEGES ON THEIR APPLICATION LISTS

During this time of economic crisis, it is very important that senior students and parents have a heart to heart discussion regarding the realities of college costs. It is also important that every senior who is applying to college have some very affordable colleges on their application lists. This does not mean that students should not apply to expensive schools, but they should also target some in-state public universities and colleges that offer generous merit scholarship programs. Many families have lost money in their college savings plans. Some families may even need to be prepared for potential job losses or changes. In addition, families cannot be certain that the borrowing options that have been available in the past few years will exist for students this year. Federal or state sponsored loans should still be available, but there are caps to how much students can borrow through those programs. Families who were planning to take out private loans or home equity loans may find that those are not as readily available as in the past. Because many colleges have also lost money on their investments, some schools may not be as generous with financial aid as they previously were. Therefore, students need to have a Plan B in place in case their financial aid awards are not satisfactory or the financing options they were hoping for fall through. In addition, it is essential that families submit the FAFSA, free application for federal student aid, in January to ensure timely processing and planning for financial aid. Families should also work closely with the financial aid officers at their colleges to research all potential financial aid options.

Our public universities in Illinois are still a good value and offer the four year tuition guarantee which means that the student’s tuition will not increase over the four year attendance period. The priority deadline for applying to the University of Illinois is November 1 but students may still apply after that date. The priority deadline for Illinois State University and Northern Illinois University is November 15. If students like an urban university, the University of Illinois at Chicago is a great choice. The neighborhood surrounding UIC has changed dramatically in the past five years and now has an abundance of high quality housing, retail, and restaurant options. Eastern Illinois University recently added a multi-million dollar fine arts center for music, theater, and art and still has their text book rental program which dramatically reduces the costs of textbooks for students. Western Illinois has a four year guarantee on student housing if the student lives on campus and is one of the few universities that offers single dorm rooms for freshmen. The University of Illinois at Springfield offers a U of I degree in a smaller college setting. SIU Carbondale is set in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest region of Illinois and is only a train ride away on Amtrak. SIU Edwardsville near the St. Louis metropolitan region is the fastest growing public university in Illinois, and offers many brand new housing options and numerous high demand majors.

College of DuPage is still one of the best community colleges in the nation and offers a way for many students to keep their jobs in the area, save for the last two years of college, and possibly graduate from college with little or no significant debt.

JUNIOR STUDENTS SHOULD BEGIN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR ACT AND SAT TESTING

Junior students usually begin testing with the January or February test dates. Some juniors test as early as the December ACT date.All juniors should plan on taking the ACT or SAT at least two times before the end of junior year. It also is important that juniors plan ahead to avoid conflicts with spring sports and activities. Juniors should also always take the ACT with Writing since many schools require the writing portion of ACT for admission.

The final registration deadline for the December 12 ACT is November 20. The final deadline to register for the February 7 ACT is January 15. The final deadline to register for the December 5 SAT is November 12 and the deadline for the January 23 SAT is December 30.For details on ACT test content and requirements, students should pick up the booklet, Preparing for the ACT, which is available in the Student Services area. Students may also visit the testing company websites for more information.

ACT: www.act.org

SAT: www.collegeboard.com

The St. Francis High School Code is 144-383. Students must use this code when registering for their ACT and SAT tests.

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. Guidelines for requests are given below.

REQUESTING ELIGIBILITY :

• ACT : complete documentation should be sent in junior year – before Christmas break for the February test and no later than after break for the April or June tests. When requesting eligibility, the student will also be registered for a specific test.

• SAT : Complete documentation may be sent in as early as freshman year or early during sophomore year. Once eligibility is approved, the student may register for any future College Board tests - PSAT, SAT, SAT II, or AP. We encourage students with a high GPA to attempt the PSAT, given each October, both as sophomores and again as juniors as a prerequisite to possibly qualifing for the National Merit Scholarship Award. Requests for eligibility for a sophomore to take the PSAT will be sent to the College Board by June after freshman year.

DOCUMENTATION described below needs to be ON FILE at St. Francis in the student’s FRESHMAN YEAR . An exception would be if a student is not diagnosed before freshman year.

For either ACT or SAT to consider students for eligibility for testing accommodations, they MUST have DOCUMENTATION from a battery of tests administered by either a psychologist or an MD. The documentation MUST MEET ALL of the FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• States the specific disability as diagnosed.
• Testing is current. (testing 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.

Accommodations Plan:

• Mary Kay Sullivan will use the information from this documentation in order to write the Accommodations Plan. The plan will be sent to the student’s parent(s) for approval. Once it is approved, a copy will be sent to the individual’s teachers.

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 x 108.

NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION PROGRAM PROVIDES A GREAT COLLEGE PLANNING TOOL AT
http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton

Students and parents are strongly encouraged to use the Naviance Family Connection college planning tool. St. Francis has a licensing agreement to use this web based program which provides assistance in all areas of the college search and application process. Current seniors were all shown how to use the program last December and again this September. Seniors should use the user names and passwords they created last December to log on. Current juniors were shown how to use the program in October. Parents of current juniors and seniors were mailed access codes last winter, but if they have not yet created a user name and password and have lost the access code, they may contact Mrs. Ellis at ext. 142 to obtain the access code again. If underclassmen or their parents wish to use the program, they may obtain the access code by contacting Mrs. Ellis.

The Naviance program already has password protected student information loaded into the system. When a student or parent logs onto the student account, he or she can complete a college search, create a resume, formulate a list of potential colleges, and check the college visit calendar. By clicking on acceptance history, scatter grams, college match, and college compare, the student can compare his or her academic credentials to the college’s acceptance history for St. Francis students from the class of 2006-2009. Once the student has applied to a college, the student can use Family Connection to track if his or her transcript and recommendations were sent by St. Francis.

The Naviance program has many other great features and is an indispensable tool in the college search and application process. If students or parents have questions or problems in using the program, contact Mrs. Rigney, College Counselor, at ext. 105.

USE THE SFHS WEBSITE FOR COLLEGE PLANNING

Students and parents who are seeking information for college planning should go to the St. Francis High School website and click on the Guidance tab. From this site, you can access information that is helpful in the college planning and financial aid process. By clicking on ACT/ SAT dates, ACT/ SAT comparison chart , or ACT/ SAT Accommodations you can find a great deal of useful information on these college testing programs. By clicking on websites for college information you can access a list which includes sites for completing a college search, registering for the ACT and SAT , investigating careers, and obtaining financial aid and scholarships. By clicking on dates and deadlines, you can check upcoming dates for ACT and SAT testing, college fairs, AP tests, and other important events. Check out the college planning guide for a step by step process to researching and applying to colleges. Click on the weekly guidance bulletin to find out about upcoming college information programs and recent scholarship offerings. Make http://www.sfhsnet.org/top/studentsvcs/guid-home.htm your first stop for college planning, testing, and scholarship information.