Natick High School Guidance Department Monthly Bulletin December, 2017 Counselors

Karen Dalton-Thomas, Department Head Jane Gardner Aimee Cairney Elizabeth Finocchi/Meira Kruskal Randy Garry Alison Gilroy Sharon Greenholt Brittany Hanna/ Mirjam Lengauer, Guidance/Career Counselor Matt Strother

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done But they with a chuckle replied That “maybe it couldn’t,” but they would be one Who wouldn’t say so till they’d tried. So they buckled right in with the trace of a grin On their face. If they worried they hid it. They started to sing as they tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and they did it!

Even though the ‘People’s Poet’ Edgar Albert Guest, published ‘It couldn’t be done’ in the early 20th Century, the theme still resonates today. It is likely many of our readers will be able to cite an example or two where they encountered such a challenge, and possibly used this mantra for inspiration, arriving at a positive outcome. It is arguable that many of the recent programs at Natick High can be attributed to students, faculty and the community confronting difficult issues and remaining optimistic about the results – Bullying Awareness & Reporting, Celebrating Diversity, Game Changers, Thanksgiving Food Drive, NatickThon and the list goes on! On a local level, and with the support of Guidance Counselors students are responsibly seeking academic rigor, alongside a balanced schedule that should include healthy activities. As we conclude 2017, and look forward to a New Year filled with opportunities, the Natick High School Guidance Department wishes you all a peaceful and rejuvenating break and all the best for 2018. Keep in mind,

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

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EVENTS NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH  Freshmen continue to participate in Guidance Seminar with their guidance counselor  Fall Musical ‘GODSPELL’ – continued performances December 1st and 2nd (matinee @ 3 pm)  Early Release Day – December 6th  Progress email sent from Mr. Harrigan half way through Term 2. Parents, Guardians and Caregivers are encouraged to check iParent for student grades.  PSAT results will be provided to juniors mid-December  Holiday Concert - December 21st  Intent to Participate in Senior Internship form due December 22nd  In-school Holiday Band Concert - December 22nd & COMING SOON IN JANUARY 2018  The much anticipated NHS Alumni, College Freshmen Students & Parents Panel discussion. An outstanding must see event for seniors, juniors and their folks on January 9th from 7:00-9:00 pm  Class of 2022 Parent Curriculum Night, January 11th  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 15th with extraordinary celebrations @ Wilson Middle School  Mid Term Exam Week, January 16th - January 19th  TEDX Natick, January 20  Beginning of Term 3 and Semester 2, January 22nd

Rustic Pathways is launching a program called Race in America which explores the history of race, identity, and collective action in the United States. It's a two-week travel program taking place next summer. Twelve students will travel from Philly to Gettysburg, to DC and Baltimore, to Selma and Montgomery, through the Mississippi Delta and end in New Orleans. Along the way, students will be meeting with organizations and individuals working to create equal opportunity for all. The program is entirely free for students. The application is due January 3, 2018 and Rustic Pathways is hoping to bring together a diverse group of future change-makers on the program. Please encourage your students to apply. If you'd like to nominate a student, you can use this nomination form.

We’re enjoying seeing our freshmen every week in Guidance Seminars, which will continue for the duration of second term. Counselors are helping students understand the details and importance of semester grades and academic eligibility for athletics, and engaging students in activities and conversations about time management and the pro’s and con’s of multitasking. Students have created accounts in Naviance Family Connection (a web-based resource they will use through senior year for career exploration, college research, and more), and in future seminars they will use the VARK Learning Style Inventory to reflect on how they learn, and on how this information relates to decisions such as course selection. 2

Now is the time of year where many of your children may be thinking about applying for jobs and driver’s education. Please stop by the front office if you are in need of a work permit and/or driver’s education information. You may also click here for more information on the CS Driving School.

HOBY Winners: This year we had several amazing sophomore students apply and write an essay for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) Program. The three students chosen as ambassadors for Natick High School are: Lola Basiliere, Flora Bilis-Gruson and Gabbie Pagnini. These three students were selected based on demonstrated or potential leadership ability and exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics: Outstanding oral/written communication skills Critical/ creative thinking and creative problem solving Decision making skills Sensitivity to the needs/ concerns of others Leadership qualities Courage to speak out for one’s beliefs and challenge authority Participation/interest in community service activities. Congratulations Lola, Flora and Gabbie! PSAT: All sophomores who took the PSAT on October 14th should have results available in mid-December. Students who have not done so already should register for an account with College Board. Students can find directions to create an account and access their scores following the score release here.

Standardized Testing: Juniors should plan to take an SAT and/or ACT exam in the spring of their junior year. Additional exams will also be offered in the fall of their senior year. If students are planning to take SAT Subject tests and/or AP exams as well, we strongly recommend that they create a testing schedule. Counselors are available to assist if students have questions. ACT Dates & Registration SAT Dates & Registration

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PSAT: All juniors took the PSAT on October 14th.

Congratulations on your hard work! Results for juniors will be available in mid-December. Students who have not done so already should register for an account with College Board. A link to the site is below. Students should create an account under My Organizer: https://sat.collegeboard.org/home?navid=sat-sat

You've taken the PSAT - Now what? Catalyst's Founder & CEO, Jared Friedland, will be hosting a free webinar for high school students and their parents/guardians on December 14th. He will share insights on the PSAT and SAT, and help you understand your PSAT results. @7pm: Register Here!

Free SAT Practice Tests: Kaplan offers free practice tests, admissions seminars, sample classes, and other events that are designed to give students a competitive edge in the college admissions process. Free Kaplan Events Kaplan also offers free online practice resources for NHS students. Click here to explore these resources.

Play2Prep: Students can download the Play2Prep application on their smartphone. The application puts test prep at your child’s fingertips and focuses on ACT, SAT, and PSAT customized test training, simulated tests, timed games against yourself or other students using the application, and a progress tracker to monitor goal achievement.

For additional test prep/tutoring ideas, please see the below: Test Prep Ideas

NHS ALUMNI, COLLEGE FRESHMEN STUDENTS & PARENTS PANEL PRESENTATION FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS/ GUARDIANS! JANUARY 9TH 2018, FROM 7 PM – 9 PM AUDITORIUM - 7:00-9:00 PM See flyer for more information 4

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR ALL SENIORS Any seniors with January 1st college application deadlines must see their Guidance Counselor by December 1. Please schedule a meeting with your counselor to review and hand in the Transcript Request Form, as soon as possible, and finalize your college lists!

Seniors with initial deadlines after January 1st should be making an appointment to see their guidance counselor for reviewing their college plans if they have not already done so.

Seniors, who have applied to schools, please note that the Guidance Office has automatically sent your first term grades.

Seniors who have not completed their Community Service graduation requirement should speak with their guidance counselor or Ms. Lengauer to obtain ideas/suggestions.

Senior Internship Intent to Participate forms are due December 22nd.

Seniors, be cognizant of your online ‘social media’ presence because college admissions offices are checking. Take a look at this article below … tweeting can be self-defeating!

They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets.

SAT/ACT TEST DATES Dec. 2- SAT not at NHS Dec. 9 - ACT not at NHS

Students must register at www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org. Students are responsible for sending their standardized test scores directly to the colleges through their College Board and/or ACT account.

A reminder for seniors to let their counselors know their college admissions decisions as they hear from their colleges. 5

Financial Aid: The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for the 2018 - 2019 school year is available! Please check college financial aid deadlines for the earliest deadline and file the FAFSA prior to that date. Seniors should also check out the MEFA “Senior Year at a Glance – the Financial Aid Process” diagram here. The diagram provides a summary of expectations, action items and next steps associated with filing the FAFSA. Help With FAFSA - FAFSA DAY Massachusetts FAFSA Day will take place on various dates December - February at many sites across the state. This program assists families with the completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Please note there is a pre-registration for this event. A link with more information is below:

The Massachusetts AFL - CIO Scholarship Program: The Massachusetts AFL - CIO, along with affiliated local unions, and labor/non-labor organizations, offers a scholarship program providing hundreds of scholarships to union members, their children/step children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and non-union Massachusetts high school seniors. Each year the high school administers the Labor History Exam for qualified and interested students. The Labor History Exam is a two part exam consisting of multiple-choice questions and an essay. The exam will be administered during the morning of Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Interested applicants can access/download the application, the brochure, and the study guide through the AFL - CIO website, http://www.massaflcio.org/scholarship-program. Students interested in taking the AFL - CIO Labor History Exam should see their Guidance Counselor. Applications for the Labor Exam must be returned to Guidance no later than Friday, December 15th.

Koplik Certificate of Mastery and John and Abigail Adams Scholarship: A quick reminder for seniors who received letters for the Koplik Certificate of Mastery, or the Abigail Adams Scholarship - students can submit their Koplik scholarship applications to Mr. Garry in Guidance by May 1, 2018. Remember if you need to take an SAT Subject Test in order to qualify for the Koplik, sign up soon. Students taking an AP Test in May will be able to submit their scores for the application. Students who met the requirements for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship should mail their letter into the Financial Aid Office of the Massachusetts State University they plan to attend. For more information please access this link: http://www.doe.mass.edu/FamComm/Student/Koplik-Adams-compare.html. 6

The Guidance Department maintains an updated database of independent scholarships. To download a list of independent scholarships please CLICK HERE. A list of local scholarships along with an application will be mailed home to all Natick High School seniors on Friday, February 2, 2018. If you have any questions, please see your Guidance Counselor or Mrs. Slattery in the Guidance Department. Find $$$ For College The following websites offer free scholarship searches:           

www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.StudentScholarships.org www.collegescholarships.org www.scholarshipguidance.com www.scholarshipexperts.com https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-grants http://www.fastaid.com/ http://www.tuitionfundingsources.com/ http://www.universitytutor.com/scholarship-contest http://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/search

For more information on scholarship opportunities please visit the NHS Guidance Department website.

NHS ALUMNI, COLLEGE FRESHMEN STUDENTS & PARENTS PANEL PRESENTATION FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS/ GUARDIANS! JANUARY 9TH 2018, FROM 7 PM – 9 PM AUDITORIUM - 7:00-9:00 PM See flyer for more information

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Community Service To learn about these and many more opportunities visit: Community Service Website  

Friends of the Morse Institute Library - Sort donated books, help decorate display cabinet, write newsletter articles, take photographs. Christmas Tree Loader - Brochu Bros. Landscape & Garden is selling Christmas trees and donating all proceeds to the Jimmy Fund. They are looking for volunteers to help carry and load the trees onto cars through December 23rd.

Employment To learn about these and many more opportunities visit: Employment Opportunities Website  

Ski Ward Snow School: Shrewsbury - Ski or snowboard instructors, 14-18 years old, flexible schedule, become P.S.I.A or A.A.S.I certified Kidsborough Program: Dunning and Stapleton Elementary Schools - after school and before school enrichment program, work with children in grades K-5, assisting and supporting children with homework, creating and implementing art, cooking, science and other enrichment activities, leading gym and outdoor games, and guiding and supporting the children in their development of interpersonal skills in a fun, respectful and safe environment

Seniors Seniors attended a presentation on November 17th outlining the Senior Internship Program. If you missed it or are looking for additional information, please visit: Senior Internship Website Wondering where to start when looking for an internship site? Check out this article by Dr. Koven on how to Be Resourceful, Do Research and Reach Out! All seniors must fill out this google form by Friday December 22nd in order to participate in internship: Senior Internship Intent to Participate

Bright Outlook Occupation of the Month Music Therapist 

Plan, organize, or direct medically prescribed music therapy activities designed to positively influence patients' psychological or behavioral status.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @NHS__Guidance! 8