CENTRALHIGH SCHOOL
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 2010
CENTRALHIGH SCHOOL: NAVIENCE IS HERE!
The School Counseling Department in conjunction with GEAR UP are pleased to introduce Family Connection from Navience, a Web-based service designed especially for students and parents. Family Connection is a comprehensive website that students and parents can use to help in making decisions about courses, colleges, and careers. Family Connection is linked with Counselor’s Office, a service that we use in our office to track and analyze data about college and career plans, so it provides up-to-date information that’s specific to our school.
How Does it Work?
All students will each receive a personalized access code to access his or her personal password-protected account on the college-planning website where they can keep records of their activities, grades, and college and/or career interests. They are able to compare GPA, SAT & ACT scores, along with other statistics to actual students who have applied to college.
How Can Novience Help Me?
Novience will help students to make informed decisions regarding their future. Some of the features include:
Career Search Tool:
The Novience Program includes a Career Interest Profiler, a tool that can help students discover the types of work activities and careers that match their interests. Students can also search possible careers by keyword, category, personality type, clusters and pathways. Results will include skills necessary, education required, salary chart and schools offering education/training.
College Search Tool:
The College Search Tool provides comprehensive information on thousands of colleges. In addition to admissions information, students can access data on academics, cost and financial aid, student body characteristics, extracurricular and athletic programs. A link to each college’s website is provided.
Registration Codes:
See your Grade level counselor to obtain your registration code. All 10th grade students can see their English teacher to obtain a code. 12th grade students can see Ms. Leonard or Ms. Jannifer.
Our Counselors:
9th Grade: Mr. Norm Sugar
10th Grade: Mrs. Doreen Hogans
11th Grade: Mrs. Janice Simms
12th Grade: Dr. Patricia Swinton
IB Counselor: Ms. Elisha Janifer
GEAR UP Counselor: Mrs. Sheree Leonard
9TH GRADE NEWS BY MR. SUGAR
THE FUTURE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
Our 9th grade students have many educational options which must be considered. Because the future is closer than you think.
Eighty per cent of all careers require education or training beyond a general high school education. One career may require four years of college while another may require a six-month program at a technical school. In many cases your career choice will determine which educational option is most appropriate for you.
You have several educational options from which to choose. The first option, Vocational Education, enables you to prepare for a career while you are still in high school. The other six options, which are listed below, are educational options that are designed primarily for the high school graduate.
Community CollegesThe Military
Career and Technical SchoolsApprenticeships
Four-Year CollegesOn-the-Job Training
Vocational Education
Most high schools offer a variety of vocational courses and programs. Vocational education is particularly appropriate for those students who prefer a practical, “hands-on” approach to learning.
Students in vocational education courses and programs spend much of their time “learning by doing.” Many vocational programs also include a work component, thus enabling students to use the skills they have learned in a real work setting. While vocational programs often enable students to begin their careers immediately upon graduation, nearly two-thirds of all vocational students continue their education after high school.
Tech-prep programs are being initiated in schools around the country to prepare students for today’s high tech careers. Tech-prep programs are two-year programs which combine technical courses with college prep courses. After graduation, some tech-prep students will look for employment, and some will go to a four-year college. Most tech-prep students, however, will continue their education at a community college.
Community Colleges
Community colleges provide affordable, career-oriented programs which enable students to begin their careers after only one or two years of college. Students completing one-year programs receive certificates or diplomas; students completing two-year programs earn associate degrees. Students can also start at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college.
Career and Technical Schools
Career and technical schools offer short-term training in a wide variety of career fields. While some programs last only a few weeks, others may take up to two years to complete.
Career and technical schools offer training for many careers. Career and technical school programs are designed to prepare students for specific careers. Students therefore spend most of their class time in job-related settings where they receive hands-on training from experienced instructors. The student-teacher ratio is usually very low, thus enabling students to receive plenty of individual instruction.
The Military
The military trains young men and women so that they can protect the interests of our country. In order to do this, the military offers qualified high school graduates a good salary and free job training. The military also provides discipline and structure, as well as opportunities for career advancement and travel. The United States military is the nation’s single largest employer. It offers training and employment in over 2,000 job specialties, 75% of which have civilian counterparts.
Apprenticeships
Students who prefer a hands-on approach to learning may want to consider an apprenticeship program. Apprentices learn a skilled trade through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Apprenticeship programs are considered by many to be the best way to receive training in the skilled trades.
Apprentices receive job training and classroom instruction. Apprenticeships are agreements in which employers pay individuals while they learn their trade or profession. Apprenticeship programs demand hard work and dedication. Those who receive their training through apprenticeship programs, however, often find they have greater job security, earning power, and opportunities for advancement.
On-the-Job Training
On-the-job training programs provide limited opportunities.
Students who decide to get a job after they graduate will most likely receive some sort of on-the-job training after they are hired. On-the-job training is provided by the employer and can last anywhere from a few hours to several months. These short-term training programs are designed to teach employees what they need to know in order to perform a specific job.
Colleges and Universities
This is an option that many students choose to pursue. We will go into greater detail about colleges and universities in the next newsletter.
10 GRADE NEWS BY MRS. HOGANS
Sophomores…Get ready for your future! Have you ever taken a career test? What is a career test? A career test is an assessment that often asks you many things about what you are good at and what you like to do in order to help you figure out what career you could do for the rest of your life. Do you know what you want to do for the rest of your life?
It is not required of you to decide on your career while you are in high school. But you need to start exploring. If you are not familiar with different types of career options, you may end up spending 2 years or more in college studying the wrong classes. That means nearly an entire college degree down the drain. If you wanted to change majors you could at least not have to retake the core courses, but it would still be a waste of about 2 years or more.
What can you do while you are in high school to prepare for your future career? As far as your career goes, the best thing to do in college is explore. For example, if you are interested in science, explore different science careers. Talk with your teachers and your counselor about possible career paths in science. If you decide you are interested in medicine, look for people in medicine you may know and ask them questions. Ask if you can shadow them in practice to see how you like it. If you discover it isn't for you, you won't have to worry about having wasted that time. You looked into it, figured out you don't like, and now you can move on.
If you aren't sure where to even start, think about what you like to do. Are you artistic? Are you outgoing? Are you good in math, science, or English? Do you like to work with people? Do you like kids? Do you want to make a lot of money? Do you mind working a lot of hours? Do you want to do something flexible? Will you eventually want to start a family? All of these things should be taken into account when you start looking into your career. If you take a job with a 70 hour a week commitment, you might find it conflicting with the family you want to have. Look into everything for ideas and for reasons to do or not to do something.
Article Reference:11th GRADE CAREER FOCUS BY MRS. SIMS
Central High 11th graders have started dreaming, hunting and fishing about their futures with questions like: Who Am I? Where am I going? How Do I Get There? These are significant questions in search of significant answers.
To start them being realistic about their career plans, on October 29, 2010, we invited a dynamic motivational speaker, Mr. Omekongo Dibinga, who empowered the upcoming seniors about goals and dreams. Mr. Dibinga challenged them to G.R.O.W. toward Greatness. Be the best that you want to be. The whole world is yours, but you have to take control of your destiny. Don’t use “I can’t because I come from…”, “I don’t have the…”, “My parents are…”, “I can’t because of my religious or nationality…”, “My past is keeping me…”. Let those things go! Get on the path of a winning mentality. Start with your remaining years here at Central, getting along with your parents, seeking and utilizing information from your teachers, learning to listen and to focus and keep good friends around you.
G.R.O.W is the title of one of Mr. Dibinga’s excellent books. In it he offers strong advice to all to “Grow”, “Release”, “Overcome”, “Win” as they construct their career path.
Approximately 230 Central High School Juniors progressively enjoyed an unexpected rap entrance, followed by a spellbinding presentation and left the session believing that they really can build a career path to greatness.
YOUR SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH BY DR. SWINTON
How do you qualify for scholarships?
Realize that scholarships are not just for students who have extraordinary talents or grades. What are your strengths, talents, and skills? Many scholarship agencies look for students who exhibit certain traits, while others look for students who belong to certain heritage, live in a particular city or neighborhood, or belong to a certain faith. Scholarships have very particular requirements. Start looking at the scholarships out there to get an idea of the types of qualifications needed while also thinking about the gamut of qualifications you possess.
Where do you look for scholarships?
Here are the best places to look for scholarships:
- The Internet
- Books
- High School Counselor
- Local Service-Oriented Organizations
- Your Parent’s or Guardian’s Employer
- Coaches, Teachers, and Community Leaders
What are some helpful hints for scholarship searching?
1.Devote special attention to local or regional scholarships.
Although national scholarships have some of the largest payoffs, they are also the most competitive, with thousands of applicants vying for their awards. Conversely, local scholarships may be characterized by only a handful of applicants. Certainly enter any scholarship contest for which you are eligible, but also keep in mind that you can maximize your chance to win by devoting special effort to local and regional scholarships.
2.Adapt college application materials to fit scholarship contests.
Much of your college application material can be used in applying for scholarships. By using your personal statement, you can save enormous amounts of time and energy when applying for scholarships. Adapt your personal statement to fit the requirements of scholarship contests.
3.Use class assignments as an opportunity to create new scholarship essays.
You may have the opportunity to choose your own topic for many schools writing assignments. Even if this isn’t the case, you may be able to persuade teachers to allow you to write on subjects that pertain to particular scholarship contests. By taking this approach, you can use the time you spend on classroom writing assignments for multiple purposes. Moreover, teachers can serve as a useful source of feedback.
4.Don’t pay for scholarship searches!
Never fall for scams claiming to guarantee you scholarships if you pay a fee. There are plenty of free search sites and books that link you to the same, if not more, information. And buyers beware: the Federal Trade Commission has warned that some search services may, in fact, be scams.
5.Start early.
Don’t work on scholarship applications at the expense of your college applications. Your college applications are most important. However, as soon as your college applications are complete and submitted, apply for financial aid and start looking for scholarships.
6.Pay attention to deadlines.
HELPFUL CAREER RESEARCH WEBSITES
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter II:
This assessment is designed for college-bound students and adults. The personality test produces a brief
summary of the user’s temperament and career options matching the personality. Free registration is
required to take the test.
PERSONALITY PATHWAYS:
This short online version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator gives test takers their 4-letter MBI code and
descriptions of the 16 personality types.
KIDZWORLD JOB PERSONALITY QUIZ:
This short quiz is designed to help 9-14 year olds discover how their personality type effects how they
approach their school work and career goals.
CAREER INFONET SKILLS PROFILER:
This interactive assessment allows users of all skill levels to choose prospective occupations, see the skill
sets required, rate their own skills and compare them to what’s in demand.
ISEEK SKILLS ASSESSMENT:
This skills assessment provides a list of potential occupations and links to corresponding occupation
descriptions. Individuals will be asked to rate skills positively or negatively according to preference.
Occupational Outlook Handbook:
United States Department of Labor:
VocationalInformationCenter:
FAMILY PORTAL
The Family Portal will enable parents to look at their student’s grades and attendance. To get started with registration for the Family Portal send an e-mail to:
or
with the following information:
Parent/Guardian Full Name (First and Last Name)
Students Full Name (First and Last Name)
Student ID#
You should receive a response within 24 hours