Happy New Year!

I hope the holiday break was restful and enjoyable for all of you.

We have many initiatives lined up for Schreiber students in January. Junior Conferences begin the week of January 9th. For those of you who were unable to attend the December parent meeting, information will be shared below. Also, sign-ups for junior mock conferences in February will take place. More information is coming soon.

While the counselors have been busy preparing for Junior Conferences, they are still working with seniors on their college applications and decisions. Parents, if you have a senior at home please remind them to update their Naviance accounts with these decisions. This information will help future seniors in their college searches.

Speaking of college admissions, please see the links below to the January 6th Board of Education Curriculum Committee meeting for a comprehensive look at our college and career program at Schreiber.

Students, please stop in to see your counselor if you need to strategize before Regents and midterms. Be sure to check out the article below from Erika's Lighthouse.

Continue to stay tuned to our website, this newsletter, and your inbox for more information from Schreiber Guidance and Counseling!

Lorrie Director, Pre-K-12 Director of Guidance

Follow me on Twitter!

Guidance Office phone: (516) 767-5810

Office Hours: 8:00 am - 3:15 pm

Counselors:

Ms. Cerny ncerny@portnet.org

Ms. Galdamez agaldamez@portnet.org

Ms. Garcia vgarcia@portnet.org

Ms. Jacobson ljacobson@portnet.org

Ms. Hazan khazan@portnet.org

Mr. Lorge jlorge@portnet.org

Ms. Ludwig jludwig@portnet.org

Ms. Rafferty drafferty@portnet.org/Mr. Sussman csussman@portnet.org

Ms. Strell dstrell@portnet.org

Clerical staff:

Ms. Hasselberger, Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Marzec, Ms. O'Kelly

Have you heard? There's a new Schreiber website with lots of information to keep you informed. Check out our new Schreiber's Guidance web page regularly and stay up-to-date on important dates and deadlines. Click the link below to check out our page.

Also, don't forget to keep checking our interactive bulletin board for up-to-date information. QR codes are updated regularly. You are always welcome to stop by our office to ask questions. There are many ways to stay informed!

Students, please get in the habit of checking your Portnet email regularly to stay up to date on Guidance and Counseling information. Students and families, you can also find information on the Schreiber Guidance and Counseling website and by reading this newsletter. The newsletters are also on our webpage for your reference.

Schreiber Guidance and Counseling

Seniors,

• As you receive decisions from your schools, you must update your Naviance accounts. Don't be shy! This information will help future Schreiber applicants and you will remain anonymous!
• Time to file your FAFSA! Check your colleges' deadlines for filing.
  
• Does your college require the CSS Profile? Click here for a list of participating schools.
• Apply for scholarships! Fastweb and Scholarships.com are good places to start. The Community Scholarship application opens January 31st!
• Be sure to submit your completed College Processing Form when you have applied to your first college. Follow all instructions, and pay attention to deadlines!
• Remember to check your Portnet email! Be sure your contact information is up to date in ASPEN and on Naviance.
• Have questions? Come to Guidance for more information.

Seniors,

Set a reminder for Tuesday, January 31 - that's when the 2023 community scholarship application will be released! Each year, Schreiber High School offers community scholarships to seniors through the generosity of local sponsors. The local Community Scholarship Application will be available on January 31st, and will be due March 2nd. A letter will be shared with further information this week via ASPEN, Edlio, and your counselors' Google Classrooms.

Seniors - don't forget about submitting your FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid!

This application can unlock other merit and grant aid at your schools. FAFSA applications are down 25% compared with this time last year. Check your college's deadline for submitting the FAFSA. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get money for college!

College Admissions Update

Miss the Junior Parent Night Presentations? Watch the video on Schreiber's YouTube channel, and click here to access the presentations.

Please click here to view the College Planning Guide for the Class of 2024. Be sure to read all the information and note key dates!

Hey Sophomores! Are you interested in attending BOCES next year? From Animal Care to Welding and everything in between, there's something for anyone interested in gaining hands-on career training and networking in your field.

Mr. Weiss will be sending out a survey to all sophomores. We'll make an announcement and let you know when it is sent.

Join the New York State School Counselors Association on Tuesday, January 24th at 4 PM to learn about one of
'America's Best Kept Secrets'

Registration Link

Content: Learn about the structure of the Union Building Trades, key definitions, who makes up the 43 Crafts, details on Apprenticeship, why the trades have been recognized as the number 1 pathway to the middle class, how to get information, how to prepare and where to apply.

Presenter: Tim Coleman is a Recruitment and Outreach Specialist for UA Road Sprinkler Fitter Local 669. Local 669 gas 15,000 members in 48 states and has been around since 1915. Sprinkler Fitters are often called Iron Fire Fighters and are specialized Pipe Fitters that installs, test, inspect and maintain Life Safety/Fire Suppression Systems.

Open to all, registration required.
You will receive your zoom link after registration.

Some of you have noticed that your Naviance username has changed. A system update has completed the Naviance/Clever integration. Students must now log in using Clever to access Naviance. Click the Portnet Bookmarks folder (found in the upper left corner of your screen) and click the Clever button. You will see an image that looks like the one below. Then click the Naviance button and voila! You are in!

Parents will still use their username and passwords - Single-sign on access is only for students with Portnet accounts.

Are you interested in getting a quick sense of where your son or daughter stands as far as the SAT and ACT? Port Washington provides all families with access to Methodize, a learning tool that includes an SAT and ACT Evaluation Test. Students take short (15 to 25 minute) sections and get an accurate sense of where they stand.

Click on the QR code to activate your son or daughter's Methodize account. Again, there is no cost to the family; the district is already providing this program to all students.

Once you activate the account, click on the SAT or ACT course and scroll down to "Evaluation Test" to begin the diagnostic.

In addition to full SAT and ACT prep courses, Methodize also provides a Financial Literacy course, an Academic Success course, vocabulary builder module, and more!

Methodize Student User Guide

Methodize Student Video

Hey Vikings! Did you hear that Schreiber has a Writing Center? Seniors, this is a great resource if you need help with your college essays!

Click the link below for more information.

Opening day for Schreiber Twilight was October 17th. What is Twilight? Our new partnership with Nassau BOCES, Schreiber Twilight Alternative High School provides an alternative setting in the late afternoon for students who may benefit from a smaller, more structured environment. Twilight provides students the tools to either return successfully to Schreiber during the day or to complete their high school requirements through Twilight. Twilight students are prepared for post-secondary education or employment upon graduation.

Students attend this Regents-based program in the late afternoon/early evening. Students receive strong academic and social-emotional support, as classes are small and largely student-focused.

Students can enroll in Twilight at any time. of our counseling and administrative team are currently reviewing and meeting with students to discuss Twilight. If you have any questions about Twilight, or if you believe your student might be a candidate, please contact your student's counselor.

It's easy for students to feel stressed during Regents and midterm exams. See below for tips from Erica's Lighthouse on how to destress.

Strategies to Take Care of Your Mental Health

The Basics

“You’re not alone,” a phrase so simple yet it’s the hardest to grasp when struggling with mental health. It’s what I like to call, “the golden rule” of mental health. Whether it’s you who’s battling a mental health disorder or someone you know, it’s still a journey. What matters most is that you never lose touch with the fact that you make an impact, and a difference– a true difference.

Prioritize self-care!

Some things you may not think twice about actually make a huge difference when it comes to your mental health. Though these things may just seem like everyday occurrences or like they won’t impact you greatly, they are all strategies that can be used and can help you, which is the goal!

Simple…but Effective Methods to Try:

Sleep!

Your sleep schedule is actually really important. We can even take this back to the most knowledgeable source: science! Studies have shown that chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of patients struggling with mental health and that most of these cases started in the patient’s childhood and grew with them. My advice is to start now! That doesn’t necessarily mean that every day has to be strictly ordered with when to go to bed and before-bed routines, but it means that sleep is important and should be a top priority. It affects your body which affects your mind and emotional state.

Take time for your hobbies.

Something that you do every single day or a few times a week can be a crucial factor in taking care of your mental health! A hobby you have or something that you’re good at and like to do makes a huge difference. Having something to take your mind off of what has been stressing you out is HUGE. Distracting yourself from negative thoughts and reminding yourself that you are good at this, even if it’s one thing, can impact the way you look at the situation you’re currently in.

Journaling.

Journaling is one of the most proven effective strategies when it comes to improving your mental health yet there are so many stereotypes that surround it. A common misconception is that journaling has to have a strict purpose or schedule that goes along with it. That’s false! The whole point of journaling is to reflect and understand yourself and your emotions better. Therefore, you should choose a method that makes you happy. Whether that’s writing down the highlights of your day or if it’s bullet journaling with intricate details and ideas. All options have one common goal; to help improve your mental health. Journaling is not for everyone but it is certainly worth a try.

Meditation.

Meditating is also often dramatized. Meditation does not always have to look like sitting in silence with your eyes closed, it can look like an array of things that are all equally as helpful! Mantra meditation includes using words and phrases to help you develop a common goal and that can drastically help with goal-setting which goes hand-in-hand with mental health! Meditation is all about adapting to the type of person who is participating in it. Some kinds of meditation are compatible with religion and others will focus on the environment around you, which will vary depending on the person. Focus meditation is a common one, where you use your 5 senses to detect things and stabilize and focus your attention on things around you. It works as a distraction method from mental health disorders that can be controlling the better half of your mind. Like any other coping strategy, it’s always worth a try! Who knows?! It could be the difference between a good day and an awful day!

Talking.

Talking to others, whether it’s a friend, a professional, or a trusted adult is a key way to get things off your chest which can help to release stress which is a driving factor in mental health. It takes a lot of courage to recognize in yourself that you need help or that you need to talk to someone about your mental health and your personal struggles. It’s not an easy task and it’s not always something that will feel like it’s benefiting you immediately when you start. But in the end, just letting go of the “secret” or releasing what keeps you from enjoying things you like is a huge part of improving your mental health. Everyone, no matter if they have a mental health disorder or not, needs to have a talk sometimes. Even if you’re not ready to talk, sometimes listening to a friend can help too. Whether you or a friend are doing the talking, you’re both showing courage and reminding each other that you are not alone.

Take a Break…..Really!

Lastly, take a break. This is one of the MOST crucial things that you can do for yourself. The effect that taking a day off can have is crazy! Just an hour to yourself, just a few minutes to stop and take a moment to clear your mind. If work or school or whatever is causing you more stress than usual OR you feel like you could benefit from a day off, you deserve it. Recently, schools and some places of work have allowed their employees to take a day off, calling it a “mental health day.” Though this is amazing and a huge step in the right direction, we need to stop stigmatizing mental health and the fact that it is okay to take time for yourself. I, someone that has struggled with the idea of taking a day off, am here to tell you that it is okay. Take a day, and do it without stressing about what you’re taking a break from. It can work wonders.

Do What Works for You

So many things make small differences, which in the long run are equal to big differences. Taking the time to try different things to figure out what works best for you is something that isn’t discussed often. What works for someone else may not work for you and that is okay! Just like everything else in the world, it will take time to find what helps you the most.

If you’re reading this and you feel alone, like no one understands, Erika’s Lighthouse is here to tell you that it will and it can get better. All of the things mentioned in this blog and much more can help you with your mental health journey. It is up to you to take that step and make it happen. It is possible; you have the strength to do it. Be kind, to yourself, and to others because you don’t know who might be struggling. And remember: You are not alone.

Paul D. Schreiber is a Passport for Good school!

Passport For Good is a mobile-friendly web-based platform that simplifies, recognizes, and celebrates your engagement outside of the classroom. It allows you to journal and verify your community service, career development, and participation in extracurricular activities.

To make this transition a success, we need your help. You must first register for Passport For Good - Click the flyer below for the link and QR code to register. Once your account is activated, you are ready to begin using Passport For Good!

Some of Schreiber's clubs and groups have switched to using Passport For Good, logging their community service and career development hours directly within the platform.

Ask your Counselor if you have questions about Passport For Good.

Hi Parents! Are you familiar with Grown & Flown? This is a great resource for parents of tweens, teens, and young adults - not to mention and excellent survival guide! If you see something here and want to chat about it, let me know!