Student Services Counseling

1. Student ServicesCounseling “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

2. Meet the Team • Emily Sommer ext. 2403 • Domestic A-L • Heather Churney ext. 2409 • Domestic M-Z • Emily Krystowiak ext. 2405 • Counselor Specialist (Intervention) • Sherrie Lah ext. 2406 • International Students • LeighAnnMertens ext. 2300 • Student Services Coordinator

3. Emily’s Role • Attendance Intervention • Note new policy • Proactive with all Contact Students • Special attention to identified “at-risk” students • Hours • Monday Afternoon • All Day Tuesday/Thursday • Programs • Groups, SST, Referral System

4. LeighAnn’s Role • School Blasts/Communication • Transcripts • Collect IVC/CUI/AP Money • Available to help manage questions and student visits in the counseling office • Princeton Review Contact • Help with ECP and Dual Credit Programs • Coordinate lunch college visits

5. Department Focus • Academic • College/Career • Personal/Social • Spiritual For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

6. Academic • Registration • a-g eligibility • NCAA eligibility • Interventions • Study Halls • Tutors • 6 week check ups “With God’s power working in us, God can do much more than anything we can ask for imagine” – Ephesians 3:20

7. College/Career • Freshmen • Fall – Freshmen Conferences one-on-one with your counselor (student only) • Fall – School-Wide Career Day • October – Take the Explore test • January – Explore Score Reporting Night • February – Freshmen College Planning Night (make-up available)

8. College/Career • Sophomores • October – Take PSAT • Fall – School-Wide Career Day • January – PSAT Score Reporting Night • Winter/Spring – College Tours • March – Sophomore College Planning Night (make-up available) • March – Take the PRA • March – Career Visitation Day (off campus) • April – National College Fair • Summer – Begin taking Princeton Review Classes

9. College/Career • Juniors • October – Take PSAT • October – Junior College Planning Night (make-up available) • Fall – School-Wide Career Day • Winter – Junior Conferences one-on-one with your counselor (student and parent) • January – PSAT Scoring Night • Winter/Spring – College Tours • April – National College Fairs • May – Practice application/essay workshops • Ongoing – Princeton Review refresher courses

10. College/Career • Seniors • September – Senior College Planning Night (make-up available) • Fall – Senior Conferences one-on-one with counselor to help with applications, essays, letters of rec, etc. • Fall – School-Wide Career Day • January – College Financial Aid Night • March – Community College Application Workshops • Spring – Report acceptances and Financial Aid

11. Pepperdine – February 2012

12. UCLA – May 2012

13. Recommendation Letters • Do use specific adjectives when writing about a student. • Do gather information from the student. • Don’t make your letter longer than one page. • Don’t use generic letters for recommendations. • Don’t agree to write a letter with one day's notice. Require two weeks minimum notice. • Don’t report grades; these are on the student's transcript.

14. Recommendation Letters Deborah's high scores in biology have consistently placed her in the top 5 percent of the class. In addition, her science-fair project in marine biology demonstrated a high level of conceptual understanding of a number of complex varieties of plant and animal life. All of this fits well with Deborah's plan to earn an undergraduate degree, then a master's and Ph.D., so that she can teach college-level biology while performing research on sea urchins. • The above sample is an effective recommendation. It points out: • Superior academic achievement. • Extracurricular activity involvement. • Outstanding personal qualities. • Participation in and dedication to a particular field. • The teacher's confidence in Deborah's abilities.

15. Personal/Social • Our students often deal with difficult situations • We are not immune in a Christian school • Deal with all situations from a Christian perspective • Drop everything situations • Can you think of an example? “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” –Psalm 50:15

16. Forms • Referral Form • We will send the link for you to fill out if you feel there is a non-urgent matter that should be dealt with • Call Slips • Each counselor has their own color • Please give to students

17. Other • Registration • AP Testing • Transcripts • NCAA Eligibility • College Visits/Fairs • ECP/Dual Credit Classes

18. Bottom Line • We have been called to this ministry • Let us all use our talents and training to both glorify God and impact our students in a positive way “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

19. Tips for Teachers • Use us as a resource • Please keep us in the loop regarding instances of bullying, threats, etc. • Don’t feel like you have to deal with situations you are not prepared to deal with

20. We are excited to partner with you in this ministry! “Keep your eyes focuses on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good” – Proverbs 4:25