Bishop Hendricken Guidance & Counseling Newsletter
November, 2017
Counseling Services
The close of first quarter is an ideal time for students step back, take a look at their accomplishments and assess areas where improvement is needed. School counselors are here to help with this process! The goals and objectives of the Counseling Department are directed toward helping students grow in their awareness of their individual potentials in the academic, social and career arenas. While counselors call students down on a rotating basis, we encourage students to make appointments with their counselors as needed. Homeroom and study periods are the best times for students to schedule appointments. Counselors are also available after school. This is especially helpful for our Academy students and Peer Mentors.
PSAT Scores
PSAT scores will be available to all Rhode Island students on December 13. Scores are directly emailed from the College Board to the email address that students designated on test day. Counselors will be visiting classrooms after midterm exams to discuss scores and review best practices for score improvement.
Midterm Exams
On December 15, counselors will conduct an Exam Preparation Seminar during long period for grades 8, 9, and 10. All students should be organizing study materials including notes, tests and quizzes in preparation for midterm exams. Reviewing all errors on tests and quizzes and addressing any areas of difficulty with teachers are excellent practices to prepare for exams. Setting some time aside over Christmas vacation to prepare for exams is a terrific way to get ahead and manage exam related stress. Ideally, students should be reviewing, rather than learning, material during exam week.
College Information
Juniors
After Christmas Vacation, parents of Juniors will be receiving an invitation from the Counseling Department to attend Junior College Planning Information Night. This important event will be held on February 8th at 6:00pm. We encourage all junior parents to attend and will be discussing the college planning process for juniors and their families which formally begins second semester.
Seniors
All seniors and parents should be receiving the Senior Newsletter each week via student BHHS email accounts and registered parent email accounts. The Senior newsletter publishes important information for seniors, including college representative visits (also listed on Naviance), and up to date scholarship opportunities that have been very beneficial to many of our young men who have applied for them. If you are not receiving this email, please contact Mrs. Collamati at kcollamati@hendricken.com.
*Senior College Application Procedure Reminders
- Seniors create a Common Application Account and link it to Naviance account
- When seniors request letters of recommendation from a teacher, they must provide a completed blue form to the teacher at the time of request.
- Seniors request academic credentials (transcripts +) to be sent to colleges by submitting the completed yellow form to their counselor after the Common Application and Naviance accounts have been linked.
- Students and parents should allow a minimum of one week from time of request to send academic credentials to a college by a particular date.
- Please note that First Quarter grades are sent to any college to which anyone has applied through the close of business on Thursday, November 9th.These grades will accompany all future requests to send academic credentials beginning Wednesday, November 15th.
Stress Management
We can help! If your son is feeling stressed, please encourage him to visit his school counselor or contact us with your concerns. We work together with our school social worker, Laura Zaniol, to assist our boys in times of stress.
Helpful Stress Management Tips
- Avoid stressful situations when possible
- Avoid extremes
- Set realistic goals
- Manage how stress affects you – Ask for help!
- Change how you see the situation
- Change how you react to stress
- Set priorities
- Take control of the situation
- Discover new relaxation techniques
- Figure out what is most important
NCAA Information
School counselor, Nicole Poloski, is charged with managing NCAA communication/information for our boys. Nicole has an outstanding NCAA blog that we are happy to share with you. For more information, please click on the following link.
http://higheredparent.com/2017/10/30/student-athletes-preparing-for-success-off-the-field-too/
Always a Hawk!
Brandon Selvido’17, conducted a first rate tour of George Washington University for our own school counselor, Mr. Jamal Gomes ’91. Brandon is an undeclared freshman at GW and is enjoying his studies, clinical rotations at George Washington University Hospital, and the excitement of living in DC!
Counselor Contact Information
Joseph Adamec, College Counselor jadamec@hendricken.com 401-736-5982
Patricia Gesmundo, School Counselor pgesmundo@hendricken.com 401-889-5428
Jamal Gomes, School Counselor jgomes@hendricken.com 401-889-5401
Nicole Poloski, School Counselor npoloski@hendricken.com 401- 738-9296
Nancy Rocha, Director nrocha@hendricken.com 401-889-5419
Laura Zaniol, Social Worker lzaniol@hendricken.com 401-889-5429
Kelly Collamati, Adm. Assistant kcollamatti@hendricken.com 401-739-2034
Happy Thanksgiving!
-may every blessing of the season find a clear path to your door-