Counseling Corner

Dear Families,

We hope this finds you well and that you are off to a positive start to this new school year!

To our 9th grade families & new entrants- WELCOME TO BHS! We look forward to getting to know you! We use this newsletter (monthly) to keep families informed of what is going on in our office and the community as related to academic, career and social-emotional learning. If you miss one, no worries! All newsletters are also posted on our BHS Counseling Website, so you're never out of the loop!

Our department works closely with one another to support you throughout your time in high school. Here are the counseling team members who will be helping you in the coming school year:

School Counselors

Mary Crelley

Maggie Klem

Mardie Vella

Jennie Viggiani (Counseling Coordinator)

Travis Figueroa

Holly Juliano

Tricia Zeller (Aspire)

Courtney Stern (College & Career Counselor)

School Social Workers

Lance Mitchell

School Psychologists

Erin Merydith

Heather Gabriel

Counseling Secretaries

Jane Ingle

Marielle Ziegler

Registrars

Charlotte Haag

Gwendolyn Parks

Below are a few reminders from our office. We also have some great updates of things happening this fall throughout the newsletter.

• The Counseling Office is open Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3:30pm, on school days.
• Please use the BHS Counseling Office phone number and school emails to connect with your counselor. We will get back to you as soon as we are able. Contact information can be found on our website: https://bhs.bcsd.org/52042_3
• If you would like to schedule an appointment with your counselor, you can do so using our Booking links or stopping into the Counseling Office to speak with a secretary.

We are so glad to see you all!! Here's to a great school year!

We wish you all peace and wellness.

Best,

BHS Counseling Office

(585) 242-5000 x4526

https://bhs.bcsd.org/46697_3

Administration has asked us to limit any adjustments to student schedules, unless a student:

• does not have enough courses to meet full-time enrollment requirements (minimum of five classes plus physical education per semester)
• is missing a required course for graduation
• has scheduled too many courses and wants to make adjustments
• is requesting a level change
• are missing Counseling Seminar- 12th & 10th- fall semester, 11th- spring semester.

If you fall into one of these categories, please schedule an appointment to see your counselor so we can help. ALL SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE DONE BY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24th.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

FALL SEMESTER:

Senior Seminar begins SEPTEMBER 16th

Sophomore Seminar begins NOVEMBER 3rd

*Freshman Seminar will be run in Link Crew

SPRING SEMESTER:

Junior Seminar begins MARCH 8th

Check out the weekly SENIOR ONLY Newsletter starting NEXT WEEK! Please read the newsletter and check out the Junior/Senior Information Page on the BHS Counseling Website for all of the post-secondary planning needs: https://bhs.bcsd.org/46752_3

See you next week in Seminar and Senior Office Hours!

Hope you can join us for these important nights!

URMC/BHS Partnership

Group Therapy Sessions THIS FALL!

URMC is pleased to announce group therapy offerings at BHS. Katie Lembo, M.S., LMHC, school senior mental health therapist is currently providing individual therapy services to TCMS students on Mondays & Tuesdays and BHS students on Wednesdays & Thursdays. Katie will be extending her services by including group therapy sessions on Fridays. These sessions will have an intervention of focus (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills, social skills, anxiety, and depression).

The first group offering will target the following populations:

CBT Anxiety Group - Any middle school student or high school student who experiences anxiety related to academic performance, sports performance, etc.

The group goal:

Group members will develop a better understanding of anxiety as well as learn and practice a variety of relaxation and coping skills, including cognitive and behavioral strategies.

How long will the group run?

The group will run for 10 sessions and will most likely alternate class periods every week so that students will not miss the same class.

What is the cost of group?

URMC bills through insurance companies, so the cost will vary, depending on your insurance. After completing a group screen, someone from financial services will be able to speak with each individual family directly about any financial questions and/or concerns.

There are two new group offerings starting on September 12th for the following populations:

6th Grade Transitions Group & 9th Grade Transitions Group - Any current 6th grade student or 9th grade student who is experiencing some level of anxiety due to the transition to a new school building. The 6th or 9th grade student might also be struggling with executive functioning skills (i.e., organization, prioritizing assignments, asking for help, turning in assignments).

If interested, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.

We will be taking students to the HBCU specific college fair. Check out the website for more detail on the full HBCU weekend: https://www.fdhbcuclassic.com/
*Seniors have the opportunity for Instant Decision Meetings - we will provide transcripts and seniors can meet with college reps. They could gain admission to the institution on the spot!

Permission form due Friday September 18th!!

ROC With Your Hands connects students to real-world career options in industries that are essential to our economy. It’s more than just a field trip — it’s a chance to discover pathways to success that go beyond the traditional classroom.
https://www.rtma.org/rwyh

Permission forms due SEPTEMBER 25th!!

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting program that transforms local middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Through the year-long program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own companies.

Application is typically due end of September! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to explore the world of business!!

https://yeausa.wufoo.com/forms/ruy1odi0itbgzf/

**You can earn HS INTERNSHIP credit if accepted!!

All visits are now on our website! Hover over a blue line to see who is coming and when: https://bhs.bcsd.org/46742_3

Reps will be visiting in-person and virtually.

• Be sure to SIGN UP for the visit in SchooLinks to get an email reminder.
• If a rep is in person, they will be in room 257 (the conference room across from the Counseling Office)
• If they are virtual, you will be able to access a link to their zoom via Naviance. You may come to the Counseling Office and we can help find you a quiet space to attend if needed.
• You will need teacher permission to attend if the visit takes place during a class.

You are welcome to sign up for as many visits as you'd like! We encourage you to sit in on the ones you know, as well as some that you've never heard of before. There are so many INCREDIBLE institutions all over the country with phenomenal opportunities. You just don't know about them yet!

Be sure to check out SchooLinks for a complete list of ALL visits this season starting in September. Check often- we get new visits scheduled every day!

​​​​NACAC Virtual College Fairs are a great opportunity to connect with colleges and universities from the comfort of your own home. Have a quick video chat with a representative, drop-in on a virtual presentation, send a question through the chat — make a connection your way.

Tips for making your college fair experience productive and fun: https://www.nacacattend.org/fairs/virtual-fairs

1) Representatives from each college will be waiting to meet you! Make sure you are ready to put your best foot forward and interact with reps when visiting college booths! Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions:

• What do students like/dislike most about your school?
• What kinds of students are happiest at your school?
• What is the average amount of student loan debt for graduates?
• If I am awarded a grant or scholarship, can I expect it to remain constant all four years (assuming my financial circumstances don’t change)?

2) Make sure to reference your College Matchmaking® email to connect with the schools that best align with your interests!

At the time of registration, you selected the attributes that were most important to you in a college. You then should have received an email that best matched specific colleges and universities to your criteria. Reference this email on the day of the fair to connect with your best fits!

Learn more about College Matchmaking®

3) Don't sweat the small stuff!

Everyone is at a different stage in their college search process. Keep an open mind and enjoy yourself. These events are all about helping you connect and learn about lots of colleges in a short amount of time to help you land at your dream school. Have a quick video chat with a rep, drop in on a virtual presentation, send a question through chat - make a connection YOUR way!

Exploring provides exciting activities and one-on-one mentorship for youth looking to discover their future. Whether you’re a local organization looking to strengthen the community or a young person wanting to uncover the possibilities of your future, Exploring is a great place to start.

Exploring let’s you “try a career on for size!”

Students ages 14-20 can explore their career interests in a hands-on real-world environment with professionals in that field. There are Explorer Posts for areas of advanced manufacturing, aviation, cosmetology, culinary, engineering, firematics/EMS, health care, law enforcement, legal, military, skilled trades, sports management, veterinary, and many more!

https://senecawaterways.org/exploring-ages-14-20/

**You can earn INTERNSHIP CREDIT for joining an Explorer Post! See Mrs. Stern for details!

Check the Scholarship page of the BHS Counseling Website for the most up to date list of available scholarships. As they come, they are also emailed directly to students via their BCSD email. https://bhs.bcsd.org/46758_3

Below is the link to our BHS JOB BOARD- your new home for any information about work permits, available jobs or internship opportunities.

This will be updated weekly as opportunities come in. Check it often!!

Please see below if you are interested in any of our WBL programs:

General Work Experience

• Did you have a job this summer or during the school year?
• Will you work at least 150 hours by end of the school year?
• Are you a junior or a senior?
• If you answered yes to the questions above, contact Mrs. Stern about earning HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT next year just for having a job!

Professional Internship/Job Shadowing

We can work together to figure out a career exploration plan!

For more detailed information on either programs, please check out our site: https://bhs.bcsd.org/46761_3

Set up an appointment with Mrs. Stern if you are interested in either of these programs.

Hands on experiences are the best way to learn more about the career opportunities available to our young adults. And our students are asking for them! When we thought about who our students could learn from, we wanted to first look to the professionals in our own back yard.

PARENTS- If you are interested in possibly hosting a student for a Job Shadow experience or Professional Internship in the future, we encourage you to fill out the survey below. There is no obligation to host a student shadow or intern currently. It is merely helping us to create a network of professionals in our community. If you have paid jobs available for students, please email Courtney Stern directly.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ZLm1_AgyPkeLzTMrIV6bE1FNnWpNYnRGluEgXgoFHwJUREJWMUJTNTBTWThHN0VQRExKSVZPNURLSy4u

If you have any questions regarding the programs below, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Thank you in advance for considering hosting a student shadow or intern in the future!

If you have questions specific to BHS testing procedures, please reach out to Deirdre Carter: deirdre_carter@bcsd.org. As things are changing so often, please refer to the testing sites for updated information:

Standardized exams have traditionally been a part of the college application. Juniors- It's safe to say it's a good idea to get an exam or two under your belt if you are thinking of applying to a four-year college. Below is some brief information about the two exams and the website to check out to get more information/sign up for the exams.

**All Juniors will be signed up and take the PSAT this October!

SAT

Collegeboard.org

• Designed to measure academic aptitude in verbal and numerical reasoning.
• Test Content: Reading, Math and Writing.

ACT

Actstudent.org

• Designed to measure academic achievement.
• Test Content: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning.

Visit www.fairtest.org for a list of colleges that do not require standardized tests. Check in with your counselor about a Fee Waiver , if needed, to help cover the costs of the exams.

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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (504s & IEPS)

SAT- The BHS Counseling Office applies for all College Board test mods prior to your sophomore year (this summer). If approved, these will apply to all future SAT & AP Exams

ACT- you MUST REGISTER FOR AN ACT EXAM before we can apply for your test mods. Be sure to sign up early, indicate you will be requesting accommodations, and let your counselor know ASAP so we can get them processed before the test date. This typically takes 6-8 weeks.

Remember- both College Board and ACT are private companies. They have the right to approve or deny any test modifications you may have. If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor or College Board/ACT for more information.

Any students needing financial assistance have been directed to contact Jane Ingle by email or go to the Counseling Office during the school day.

Check out all courses available and register at: https://brightonschools.revtrak.net

Please reach out to Mona Zamiarski for any additional information

mona_zamiarski@bcsd.org

(585) 242-5200 ext. 5595

BHS Mental Health Staff are here to support students with short-term, acute counseling as related to a child's needs in school. All students are welcome to schedule meetings with their counselor, our school psychologists or social workers at any time. Please reach out to your child's School Counselor with any concerns or questions.

Find information about upcoming learning sessions offered by the Mid-West Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center here - a part of NYS Department of Special Education. Check back often as things will be added throughout the year. If you need assistance with anything you see on this site, including registering for a session, please call Laura Hurwitz (585) 249-7814 or Barb Wischnowski (585) 249-7817. https://tinyurl.com/MWFACEevent

Email: courtney_stern@bcsd.org
Website: https://bhs.bcsd.org/46697_3

Location: 1150 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 242-5000