EHS School Counseling Department Updates: August 2010

As the school year is about to begin, EHS school counselors wanted to give you some quick updates for the coming year:

• There will be a mandatory 12 grade meeting on Monday, September 13 at 2 PM in the EHS auditorium – all students are required to attend.
• October 13, 8 AM – ALL 11^th grade students will be taking the PSAT (practice SAT) at EHS (details to follow). There is no need to register – test fee paid by CCSU.
• October 13, 8 AM – ALL 10^th grade students will be taking the PLAN (pre-ACT). There is no need to register – test fee paid by CCSU.
• Beginning on Wednesday, September 8, school counselors will be working extended hours in an effort to meet students’ and parents/guardians’ needs. Two counselors will be available until 5:50 PM on the following Wednesdays:

1. Emily Scott and Jon Moore (1st Wednesday of the month)

2. Siobhan Barber and Laurie Thompson (2nd Wednesday of the month)

3. Michelle Rath and Valerie Smith (3rd Wednesday of the month)

Students or parents interested in meeting with the counselors can contact the office (879-5515) or come in to make an appointment. We hope this will provide opportunities for students involved in extracurricular events and/or accommodate parents’ schedules.

• Counselor drop-ins will continue this year on Thursdays during ALL lunch periods. This time is open for students and teachers to have quick and easy access to the school counselors on a ‘first come – first served’ basis.
• Beginning September 2010, Essex High School will completely transition to the Latin Honor System for high school 12 graders. As such, the pro merito designation will no longer exist. The first determination of the Latin Honor designation will be made for rising 12^th graders at the end of their first three years of high school (after 11^th grade) and will be recalculated at the end of the students’ first semester of 12^th grade. In order to be considered for the Latin Honor system, students will have to be considered FULL-TIME EHS students (carrying a course load of 6 courses minimum @ EHS). This does not include extra credits taken outside of EHS (college classes, work experience, etc). This designation will appear on the graduating students’ college transcripts.

School Counseling Department 2010

back row: Michelle Rath, Director, Siobhan Barber, Pam Blake, Jon Moore, Laura Cunningham-Firkey

front row: Emily Scott, Valerie Smith, Laurie Thompson

Counselor Assignments 2010 - 2011
	9	10	11	12
Rath	A - BL	A - AU and W-Z	A - ASA and W-Z	A - ANE and Wh-Z
Moore	BO - FARM	AW - BIG and C-E	ASH - BEAR and C-E	Ce-G
Thompson	FARN - KEE	F-J	BEAU - BERA and F-J	ANG - BIL and H-La
Scott	KEL - N	BIL - BO and K-Mi	BERE - BL and K-Mi	BL-Ca and Le-Mi
Smith	O - SH	Mo-R	BO - BU and Mo - R	Mo-R
Barber	SM - Z	BR - BU and S-V	S-V	S-We

The Consulate General of Canada will be hosting a Canadian University Fair in South Burlington on Tuesday, Sept. 14 (6pm - 8pm) and Wednesday, September 15 (9am - 11am) at the Holiday Inn Burlington, 1068 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403, Phone: 802-419-6218.

At this point, the following institutions and representatives have registered:
1. Consulate General of Canada- Marc A. Jacques
2. Concordia University- Eric Goldner;
3. Bishop’s University- Eddie Pomykala;
4. Queen’s University- Wendy Smith;
5. Saint Mary’s University- Jenny Calder;
6. Dalhousie University- Adam Robertson;
7. University of King’s College- Lia Milito;
8. University of New Brunswick- Jennifer Waldschulte;
9. Acadia University- Leigh-Ann Murphy;
10. Délégation du Québec- Marc-Antoine Bédard;
11. Université de Moncton- Mathieu Gingras;
12. St. Thomas University- Ryan Baxter;
13. University of Calgary- Anja Dukic;
14. Cape Breton University- Mora Giovannetti;
15. Nova Scotia College of Art & Design- Terry Bailey;

Updates will be provided as more universities sign on to the fair. If you have any questions, please see Ms. Rath in the Counseling office.

Essex School Counseling Four-Year Program!

The goal of the school counseling program at Essex High School is to enhance academics, provide career awareness, develop employment readiness, encourage self-awareness, foster interpersonal communication skills, and teach life success skills for all students.

Listen, listen, listen.
Use your ears more than your mouth.
Discuss your children’s dreams and aspirations with them.
Show up at your kids’ games, concerts, and events.
Apologize when you’ve done something wrong.
Give them space when they need it.
Listen to their favorite music with them (no matter how much it hurts your ears).
Keep the promises you make.
Point out what you like about your children to them.
Catch them doing something right!
Encourage win - win solutions.
Ask you kids for their opinion.
Let your teenagers solve most of their own problems.
Be consistent.
Meet their friends.
Delight in their uniqueness.
Praise more; criticize less.
Expect their best; don’t expect perfection.
Love them, no matter what.

Last updated: Aug 27 at 6:05 am