BHS Guidance Newsletter

Save the Date!

Naviance Family Connection

Family Connection is an online tool, custom designed for

Barnegat High School, that you and your school counselor can

use together to determine your best path to college and career.

If you need your username and password, please see your

school counselor. Naviance consists of Four Sections:

Colleges, Careers, About Me, and

My Planner

. This winter,

make it a goal to start keeping track of your resume in

About

Me

. Start searching for careers that match your interests by

taking a career inventory in

Careers

. If you’re looking to start

researching colleges, you have access to all of them in

Colleges

.

OCVTS Visit:

December 17

_9am

FAFSA Opens

January 1

₂₀₁₆

Senior parents can

start the FAFSA

online at

fafsa.ed.gov

Scholarship

Application

Opens for

Seniors

January 29

_and

closes Feb. 26

_.

Volunteer!

The winter holidays present many opportunities to help those in need.

You don’t have to be a religious person, a humanist, or a social scientist to understand that a good

deed, that eases the suffering of another, benefits not only the receiver and the larger society, but

the giver as well. To list a few benefits for young people, volunteering helps develop skills, learn more career options, and make

friends.

Teens possess idealism about the world and are passionate about different causes. Did something happen at school or in the news that

you think is unfair? Take action. Everyone has something to give and

when you think you have nothing, remember, a smile or a simple hello can make someone’s day. There are

many opportunities within our school to help those in need. Visit

createthegood.org for DIY volunteering ideas. Think beyond building your resume and begin building

character.

OCVTS will visit BHS 10th _{graders and}

discuss programs, opportunities, and how to apply.

WINTER 2015-2016

Mrs. Christine Ayers Ms. Molly McBride Mr. Jeff Fonseca Mr. E.C. Peters Ms. Sue Lamela Letters A-Dr Letters Du-Lal Letters Lam-Q Letters R-Z Student Assistance

Counselor Mrs. Erin Biancella, Supervisor of Guidance

Mrs. Maria Capriotti and Mrs. Peggy Doty, Guidance Secretaries Barnegatschools.com Phone 609-660-7510 ext. 7060 Fax 609-698-6313

BHS Guidance Newsletter

GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2015-2016

Testing

It is recommended that students take the SAT or ACT at least

one time before the end of junior year. SAT and ACT fee

waivers are available to students who have free and reduced

lunch. See your counselor for more information.

Changes to the SAT

The new SAT launches March 5, 2016. The essay section is

no longer mandatory. Therefore, the composite score is

based off of 1600, instead of 2400. There is no longer a

penalty for wrong answers. The new SAT will have fewer

multiple choice options, reduced from 5 options to 4

options. Ten sections have been reduced to four sections.

Vocabulary will be more like everyday words. The math

section will include more Algebra II and Trigonometry.

What are the structural differences between the SAT and ACT?

SAT

ACT

3 hours (+50 minute optional essay) 2 hours and 55 minutes (+40 minute optional essay) Composite Score 400-1600 Composite Score 1-36

Number of Questions: 154 Numbers of Questions: 215

3 Sections: Reading Test, Writing and Language Test, Math Test

4 Sections: Reading Test, English Test, Math Test, Science Test

Upcoming Tests:

SAT collegeboard.org

January 23

_{, 2016}

Register by Dec. 28

March 5

_{, 2016}

Register by Feb. 5

ACT actstudent.org

February 6

_{, 2016}

Register by Jan. 8

Important to Know

: It is your responsibility to register and pay for these tests online through the testing

company. You may identify colleges and universities that you would like your scores sent to upon

registration. If you want to wait to send your scores, you will need to log in to your account with

College Board or ACT and select the schools you would like to have your official scores reported to.

March2success.com

Naviance – Prep Me through your Naviance account

Number2.com Khanacademy.org

Looking to prepare for the big test? Here are some links to FREE resources:

GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2015-2016

Graduation Requirements for the Classes of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019

English Language Arts (must meet one of the

following)

Math (must meet one of the following)

PARCC ELA Grade 9 >=750 (Level 4) or

PARCC Algebra I>=750 (Level 4) or

PARCC ELA Grade 10 >=750 (Level 4) or

PARCC Geometry >=725 (Level 3) or

PARCC ELA Grade 11 >= 725 (Level 3) or

PARCC Algebra II >=725 (Level 3) or

SAT Reading* >=400 or

SAT Math* >=400 or

ACT Reading or ACT PLAN Reading >=16 or

ACT or ACT PLAN Math >=16 or

Accuplacer Write Placer >=6 or

Accuplacer Elementary Algebra >=76 or

PSAT 10 Reading or PSAT-NMSQT

Reading*>=40 or

PSAT 10 Math or PSAT-NMSQT Math* >=40

ACT Aspire Reading >=422 or

ACT Aspire Math >=422 or

ASVAB-AFQT Composite >=31 or

ASVAB-AFQT Composite >=31 or

Meet the criteria for the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal Meet the criteria for the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal

*This information was taken from the NJDOE and is subject to change with the release of new test

data.

Students at BHS are required to complete a total of 120 credits by

the end of their senior year. The state of NJ mandates that

students must pass 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of

science, 1 year of a foreign language, 3 years of history, 1 year of

health and physical education for every year in high school, 5

credits of a fine art, 5 credits of 21

_{century college and career}

readiness coursework, and 2.5 credits of financial literacy. This is

carefully outlined, more specifically, in the Program of Studies

available online through the BHS guidance website. Moreover,

students must meet a standardized testing requirement.

Historically, in the last decade, this test was the High School

Proficiency Test (HSPT) and the High School Proficiency

Assessment (HSPA), more recently. Those tests have ended and

have been replaced by the Partnership for Assessment of

Readiness for College and Career (PARCC). During this

transition, the NJ Department of Education has identified several

opportunities for students to meet a standardized test cut score in

order to meet high school graduation requirements. The options

are listed below. Seniors have been notified if they have not met

a cut score yet and should be working with their counselors to

plan for graduation. Underclassmen should be aware of this

information as they prepare for graduation.

Meet with your guidance counselor regularly to make

sure you are on track for graduation.

GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2015-2016

Taking a Look @ Your Social Media



If your e-mail address starts with

xxhottiexxx, it’s probably time for

a for change. First initial.last name

@____ is a good choice.



When communicating with

prospective colleges and employers,

use formal letter writing format.

Do not use emojis

or short text,

such as ttyl.

.

NCAA

If you are interested in participating in college level

athletics, there are some things to consider now:

recruitment starts early. Students should contact college coaches with a letter or e-mail by spring of 11th _{grade. Be}

prepared with an athletic resume with stats and/or

Visit the NCAA Eligibility Center online and get the facts on requirements for eligibility. You can also speak to your coach or guidance counselor. School Counselor, Mr. Peters, our NCAA liaison, has a wealth of knowledge about NCAA high school

Fact: Colleges and employers are looking

at your social media accounts.

TIPS



Monitor your social media

accounts regularly.



Tighten up your security settings.



REMOVE: Vulgarity, cursing,

photos that feature alcohol

consumption or nudity, any

reference to or images of illegal

activity or discriminatory

GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2015-2016

Thinking About College? Here’s What to Focus on this Winter

Freshmen

 Work hard and get good grades. Ninth grade is the first year that your grades go on your official high school transcript.

 Start thinking about the courses you want to take next year. Work with your counselor on courses available.

 Find a few activities. What you do outside of school can be just as important as your school work.

Sophomores



Sophomore year can be a great time for low pressure visits to colleges and universities. If you

can’t get on the road this winter or spring break, there are great college search websites such as;

Naviance, Collegeboard, and Unigo.



Take career inventories online through Naviance. This can be a powerful tool to get you

thinking about careers and majors you may not know about.



Keep working hard in school.

Juniors



Plan college visits over Spring Break.



Research colleges and start to create a list of schools you think you want to apply to.



Register to take the SAT or ACT this Winter or Spring. You must register online.



Prep for spring exams with online tools, such as PrepMe through Naviance.

Seniors

 Go to FAFSA.ed.gov and complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Colleges require this. The application is lengthy, therefore set time aside to work through it as a family.

 Monitor your college application status: Always follow up with the colleges you applied to in order to make sure they have your materials.

 Start looking for local scholarships – Use the BHS Website Scholarship link.

GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2015-2016

Coping with

STRESS

help our bodies relax. In fact, they can cause our bodies to be more tense. Establish time to sleep!

5. Deep Breathing – It may seem simple, but it can be very therapeutic. Focus on deep breathing when you are feeling stressed. Find a quiet spot and breath! Your body needs oxygen to function, and therefore requires more oxygen when you’re feeling stressed.

6. Connect With Others – Family and friends can help you to feel supported and secure. When you’re feeling worried or stressed about something, talk it out with those who are closest to you.

7. Think Positive – Focus on things that are good and positive. Allow yourself to dream, wish, and imagine the best that could

happen.

The better we get at coping with daily stress, the more prepared we are at handling stressful situations that we don’t encounter everyday, such as break-ups, divorce, moving, death of a loved one, or family conflict. When the stress you’re feeling seems constant and

uncontrollable, you may want to reach out for additional support. This may be the right time for you to reach out to your guidance counselor. They can help provide you support or refer you to someone who can help.

A little bit of stress is good! It’s normal and can actually be healthy. It drives us to grow, find solutions to problems, adapt to situations, and explore the world.

Daily stress is a part of life. Daily stress can be caused by various things, such as exams, balancing a busy schedule, preparing for a classroom

presentation, managing relationships with friends, or practicing for a big game or event.

When we take an exam, for example, this usually causes a normal level of stress. Some ways to deal with that stress is to study to help us do better, take notes, and don’t wait until last minute to prepare. The better we get at studying, the less stress we have when we encounter the next exam and so forth. The more practice we get at handling everyday

challenges, the better we get at dealing with challenges in general.

Here are some other ways to manage stress and stay healthy, mentally and physically:

1. Exercise – Being part of an athletic team can be a tremendous outlet for stress. However, you don’t need to be an athlete to use exercise to your advantage. Take a walk, connect with nature, ride your bike. 2. Laughter – Surround yourself with good

friends who make you feel good and make you laugh. Laughing is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.

3. Eat healthy and often – Nourishment is essential to help your body cope with stress. Eat healthy snacks throughout the day to keep your body energized any ready to tackle problems.

4. Sleep – Teenagers require a tremendous amount of sleep. Unfortunately, they often stay up late on social media or watching TV.