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Junior Conference Roundtable
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Thoughts from the Director of Guidance
1
Junior Conference Roundtable
1
POB Students
Demonstrate their
Generosity
2
Social Work Corner 3
Seniors: Changes to The Common Application Prompts
3
Sophomore College Trip 4
Navigating a College Fair 5
Important Dates to Remember
6
Guidance Newsletter
Plainview-Old Bethpage
Central School District
106 Washington Ave
Plainview, NY 11803
(516) 434-3000
May 1 is College Decision Day! This is the day where seniors must commit to the college of their choice. We will celebrate at JFKHS by building a “College Decision Tree”. Each senior has a leaf with their name and college added to the tree. The seniors will wear their college gear and pose for a class photo. The counselors are especially proud of the students’ accomplishments!
April 2015
Thoughts from the Director of Guidance
“Oh, the places you’ll go.” These familiar words by Dr. Seuss have been on my mind lately as I’ve been involved in many college-related activities. I am ex-cited to share, in this newsletter, information about the recent College Tour that 29 of our sophomores participated in, as well as our annual College Fair that took place this month. As our juniors are knee-deep in their college planning, we are preparing to celebrate National College Decision Day with our seniors on May 1st (see additional information on this event on this page). It truly is such an exciting time of year.
I hope you enjoy the articles featured in this newsletter. Keep sending me your comments! Happy spring!
Left: From left to right:
Admissions representatives from
Hofstra University, Binghamton
University, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
On Tuesday, March 17th, POBJFK hosted the annual Junior Conference Roundtable. Admissions representatives from Binghamton University, Hofstra University, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, spoke with our junior students and families about the college admissions process. The importance of rigorous courses, teacher recommendation letters, student resumes, personal essays, and demonstrating an interest in colleges were just some of the topics discussed in reference to the college application process.
g
P A G E 2
In addition to academic excellence, Plainview-Old Bethpage excels in the area of showing support for those in need. The third annual St. Baldrick’s event brought the entire Plainview — Old Bethpage community together to raise awareness in the fight against childhood cancer. It was the perfect opportunity for the community to show strength, compassion, and unity in celebrating our children. The event raised $32,000 and counting. In the last three years, the event raised $132,000 in an effort to help fight childhood cancer.
A special thank you to Alex Lessman and his Team 20 Friends of Lorenzo who raised over $11,000. Your team was amazing!!!!
On March 20th, POBMS came together to support the Wounded Warrior Project by hosting a student versus staff volleyball game. The vision of this organization is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. Their mission is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history. Not only did the event raise money for a great organization, it was wonderful to see our POBMS community come together as one. Students and staff showed off their volleyball skills in front of a very enthusiastic POBMS crowd. Baskets were created in MAP groups that were raffled off at the volleyball game. All of the money raised will go to benefit the Wounded Warriors across the nation. On June 6th, Plainview-Old Bethpage will continue to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to finish the fight against cancer at the 12th annual Relay for Life. At Relay for Life the POB community will come together to honor cancer survivors, re-member loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. POB has raised over $1 million dollars to help areas such as Research, the Hope Lodge, The Road to Recovery Campaign, Look Good…Feel Better, and Reach to Recovery. For more information about Relay for Life, or to sign up, please log onto http://main.acsevents.org
POB Students Demonstrate their Generosity
Are you interested in finding opportunities to volunteer and help others?
Are you looking for a job to make some money and gain “real world”
experience?
If so, stop down to the JFKHS Guidance Office where you will find a Job and Volunteer Board containing a variety of experiences and opportunities right here in the Plainview-Old Bethpage community!
P A G E 3
Did You Know?
Your school social workers are available to provide assistance to families in locating resources and social services.
One such resource is SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). SNAP was formerly known as food stamps. SNAP assists families who are struggling financially or who have financial emergencies by supplementing their monthly food budget. Households that are deemed eligible will be given an electronic benefit card and PIN (personal ID number) to access their benefits at supermarkets in the same way a debit card is used. There are many supermarkets throughout Nassau County where recipients can use their ben-efit card. To be considered eligible, your family would have to meet the criteria. However, households con-taining an individual age 60 or over, or an individual who is permanently disabled, do not have to meet the monthly income requirements.
To determine if you meet these requirements and to apply for benefits, Nassau County residents can apply on-line by clicking www.mybenefits.ny.gov. Applicants may also mail in their applications, which may be obtained by calling (516) 227-8523. Applicants may also apply in person by going to the Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS) located at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Uniondale, N.Y. 11553. The general information phone number for DSS is (516) 227-8519.
Additional information on SNAP, as well as the Home Energy Assistance Program, Medicaid, the Family Assistance Program, Day Care and Employment can be obtained by calling the general information phone number for DSS (516) 227-8519 or by visiting the websites www.mybenefits.ny.gov or www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov. Please contact your school social workers with any questions you may have as they can assist you with navigating any of these programs.
Social Work Corner
Juniors: Changes to Common Application Essay Prompts
There are over 500 public and private colleges and universities that are members of the Common Application. The Common Application provides a common, standardized first-year application form for applicants to any of the member institutions. Below you will find the new 2015-2016 essay prompts from the Common Application. The new language appears in italics:
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their ap-plication would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Other changes on the Common Application:
Personal Essay Requirement Changes: Individual institutions will have the choice to require the essay.
Screen Print: Applicants can preview their applications and print screen by screen.
More changes to be announced by Common Application later in the spring.
P A G E 4
Above: POBJFK 10th graders at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Above: Students at Lafayette College Above: Students at Princeton University
Sophomore College Trip
This year, the POBJFK Guidance Department hosted its first annual Sophomore College Tour. The inaugural trip included stops at six prestigious institutions including: Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg College, Lehigh University, Lafayette College and Princeton University. Nearly 30 tenth graders signed up and attended the two-day event designed to expose students to college life. The trip, despite some unseasonable weather, was a resounding success!
In 2015, over 1300 Advanced Placement exams will be administered to JFKHS students. AP courses are rigorous, college-level classes in a variety of subjects that give students an opportunity to earn college credit. Each AP course culminates in an AP exam administered in the first two weeks of May. To offset the lengthy paperwork process prior to each exam, Director of Guidance, Laurie Lynn, implemented a “Pre-Registration” program, saving AP students much needed time and energy prior to their AP exams. Through a detailed PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Lynn led approximately 500 AP students through the time consuming registration process.
Above: Ms. Lynn leads the AP pre-registration presentation.
P A G E 5
Navigating a College Fair
Each year, college fairs are held throughout Long Island and the surrounding areas to give prospective applicants an opportunity to learn about, and meet with admissions professionals from varying colleges and universities. A student who uses their time wisely at a college fair will enhance their college application process. Parents and guardians, please refer your child to our helpful tips to assist in navigating these fairs:
Before You Go:
Identify the schools that you want to learn more about.
Prepare a list of questions (i.e. “What do you find students like most about your campus”, “What type of research opportunities do undergraduate students have on your cam-pus”, etc.).
Bring a pen and paper to take notes.
Make sure you have an appropriate email address that you can give out to the college repre-sentatives (i.e. [email protected]).
While You’re There:
Visit with representatives and ask thoughtful questions.
Share information; give the representative your information and be certain to get theirs!
When You Get Home:
Send thank-you emails to the representatives that you met with (remember that these should be written professionally, including a subject line, name, and no abbreviations!).
Organize the college material and review your notes.
Identify the colleges you’re most interested in and start to research them further (Naviance!). There are college fairs coming up this fall. Plan ahead! Please use the following websites to search for those fairs: Www.LongIslandCollegeFairs.com www.nacacnet.org Www.NassauCounselors.org www.EastEndCounselors.org Www.SuffolkCounselors.org
Below: POBJFK hosted its annual College Fair on Thursday, April 16, and welcomed dozens of colleges, universities, trade schools and branches of the military to the gymnasium to meet with students and their families.
For important news,
information and updates in the
world of guidance, follow
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@pobjfkguidance
Plainview-Old Bethpage
Central School District
106 Washington Ave
Plainview, NY 11803
(516) 434-3000
Laurie B. Lynn, Director of Guidance
Newsletter Editors:
Domenick DiDomenico [email protected]
Cristina Rivas-Laline
Sara Schaffer
Board of Education
Mr. Gary Bettan, President
Ms. Emily Schulman, Vice President
Mrs. Debbie Bernstein, Trustee
Mr. Seth Greenberg, Trustee
Mrs. Ginger Lieberman, Trustee
Mrs. Amy Pierno, Trustee
Mrs. Evy Rothman, Trustee
Administration
Dr. Lorna R. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Jill M. Gierasch, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Vincent Mulieri, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
Ms. Susan Maddi, Assistant Superintendent for Business
P A G E 6
Important Dates to Remember
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
May 6 – Incoming Gr. 1 Parent Meeting — PKWY, 9:45am
May 7 & 8 — Plant Sale
May 13 – Incoming Gr. 1 Parent Meeting — SR, 9:45am
May 14 — Concert, 7pm — PKWY & OB
May 15 – Incoming Gr. 1 Parent Meeting — PAS, 9:45am
May 15 — Grade 4 Meet & Greet
May 19 — School Budget Vote
May 25 – School Closed/Memorial Day
May 27-29 Grade 4 Science Performance Tests
May 27 — KC Incoming Parent Orientation, 6:30pm
June 1 – Grade 4 Science Written Test
June 12 — PKWY — Gr. 4 Trip
June 17 — KC — Moving Up Day,
9:30am or 12:30pm
June 23 — OB/PAS/PKWY — Moving
Up Ceremony, 9:45 am
June 24 — SR — Moving Up Ceremony,
10am
June 25-26 Early Dismissal, 11:30am
June 26 — Last Day of Classes
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
May 7 – MMS Concert, 7pm
May 13 – MMS/POBMS Concert, 7pm
May 18 – MMS/POBMS Concert, 7pm
May 19 — School Budget Vote
May 25 – School Closed/Memorial Day
May 27-29 Grade 8 Science Performance Tests
May 29 – Carnival for a Cure
June 1 – Grade 8 Science Written Test
June 3 – POBMS High School 101
June 5 – Personal Best at POBMS
June 6 – Relay for Life
June 10 – MMS High School 101
June 15 — End of Quarter 4
June 19 – MMS/POBMS Grade 8 - Farewell Party
June 22 – MMS Grade 8 Farewell Breakfast
June 22nd-23rd – Grades 7-8 Final Exams and half-day dismissal, 11:15am
June 24th-26th – Grades 5-6 Final Exams and half-day dismissal, 11:15am
June 26 — Last Day of Classes
HIGH SCHOOL
May 2 — SAT & Subject Tests—JFKHS
May 4—May 15 — AP Exam Week
May 8 — June SAT/ACT Registration
Deadline
May 15 — A Night of A Cappella
May 16 — Junior Gala
May 19 — School Budget Vote
May 25 – School Closed/Memorial Day
May 28 — Band Concert
May 29 — Student Government Elections
June 1 — National Honor Society Induction
June 4 — Underclassmen Awards Ceremony
June 6 — SAT & Subject Tests @ JFKHS
June 9 — Choir Concert, 7pm
June 10 — Senior Award/Scholarship
Ceremony, 7pm
June 13 — ACT @ JFKHS
June 15 — HS Finals/Regents Exams Week
End of Quarter 4
June 22 — Graduation Rehearsal — 11am
Tilles Center
June 25—Senior Prom, 7pm
June 26 — Last Day of Classes
June 28 — Graduation, Tilles Center,
1pm
