Counseling and Career Connection
School Counseling/Career Center News September 2021
Welcome Back
We are so happy to see the halls of South Windsor High School filled with students, and we look forward to working with each of them as they navigate their high school years and plan for what their futures hold.
We offer a special welcome to the Class of 2025 just beginning their Bobcat experiences, but we also realize that some members of the sophomore and junior classes may feel a bit new themselves, given the unique circumstances of distance learning over the past two school years.
For our seniors in the Class of 2022, we are all here to help you figure out your next steps, whether that is attending a two or four year college, enlisting in the military, entering the workforce, or taking a gap year to travel or volunteer.
We are launching this monthly newsletter to help all students and parents stay up to date on what is happening in the SWHS Career Center and School Counseling Department. We hope you will find helpful information related to college and career planning, special programs, job opportunities, resources and more! Consider it your digital source for all that goes on in our offices. And of course, should you have individualized questions or personal needs you can always follow up with your School Counselor or another helpful member of our department. See below for who we are and how to reach us.
Meet our School Counseling Department
Ben Wry
Dan Peters
Frank Leon
Nate Briggs
Julie Wlodarczyk
Krista Nordmark
Michele Brown-Quinn
Dina Keleher
Laurie Carty
Naviance, CommonApp/College Essay, College Visits, Scholarships, Job Postings
Margie Smith
Karen Benashski
College Visits Return to the Career Center
All college visits take place in person this year and will typically last about 45 minutes. Our visits started on Tuesday, September 14th. College visits are excused absences from class. However, students must speak in advance to any teachers whose classes will be missed during the time of the college visit, and get their permission to miss class. All students will sign in so that their attendance can be tracked. Most visits will take place in the Career Center. However, those with substantial attendance will be moved to a larger room. Any changes will be posted and announced.
Students are asked to register for a college or military visit in advance so that we can anticipate who to expect. To do this, log in to Naviance Student and refer to the "What's New" section on the home page for a complete list of all upcoming college visits. In order to register, simply click on the "more info" link to connect to the registration screen.
Here is a sampling of colleges with scheduled visits:
University of Connecticut
Springfield College
University of New Haven
Seton Hall University
Asnuntuck Community College
Keene State College
University of New England
Endicott College
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Fairfield University
Louisiana State University
Washington College
Roger Williams University
Husson University
University of Massachusetts-Boston
The College of Saint Rose
Emmanuel College
Southern New Hampshire University
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
University of Louisville
American University
Drexel University
Roanoke College
Wentworth Institute of Technology
George Mason University
Regis College
Brandeis University
Boston University
Westfield State University
Lehigh University
Champlain College
Sacred Heart University
University of Glasgow
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Goucher College
University of Delaware
Boston College
Lasell University
University of Hartford
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
University of Vermont
Rollins College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Click here to access your Naviance Student account:
https://highschool.southwindsorschools.org/departments/school_counseling/naviance
If you have any questions about how college visits work or how to sign up to attend one, please see Mrs. Carty in the Career Center.
Senior Parent Night
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021, 06:30 PM
South Windsor High School, Nevers Road, South Windsor, CT, USA
SAT Registration Deadline
Now Hiring!
Current employers looking for help include:
- Munson's Chocolates and Ann Taylor LOFT at Evergreen Walk
- DQ on Sullivan Avenue
- White Oaks Assisted Living (food service help) on the Manchester/South Windsor line
- South Windsor Parks & Recreation 4th R program
- Siftex in South Windsor
- The Red Cabin on Sullivan Avenue
College Board Opportunity Scholarships
The Freshman Focus
Of note - the PSAT-9 will be administered on Wednesday, October 13th at South Windsor High School. This standardized test is an opportunity for students to experience this form of assessment and practice sitting for their future PSATs and SATs. There is no special sign up needed. All 9th grade SWHS students will be automatically registered and placed in a testing room. Students should bring two #2 pencils, a calculator, and a small snack and/or drink. Students should report to school at their usual time. Classes will run on a modified schedule that day, which will be posted to the SWHS website in advance.
If any 9th grader was not able to attend the freshman orientation session prior to the start of school, please come to School Counseling so that Mrs. Keleher can give you your free SWHS Bobcats tee-shirt. It's a great welcome to Bobcat Nation and gets your wardrobe started for our school spirit days!
The Sophomore Scene
Speaking of School Counselors, it is important to note that sophomore students now have new counselors for the remainder of their high school years. Students are assigned by alphabetical last name to one of the six counselors who work with students in grades 10-12. If you are not familiar with who your counselor is, please review the top of this newsletter for a directory of all counselors, including their photos and their assigned student groups.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 13th to take the PSAT in school. There is no special sign up needed. All 10th grade SWHS students will be automatically registered and placed in a testing room. Students should bring two #2 pencils, a calculator, and a small snack and/or drink. We will operate on a modified schedule that day to allow time for both test administration and classes. Students may remember taking the PSAT-9 last year. Sophomores will take the standard PSAT, although their scores still serve the purpose of practice and to let students know where they stand as they approach taking the PSAT and SAT as a junior.
School Counseling & Career Center
The Career Center offers a variety of assistance to students and parents preparing for post-secondary opportunities. It is located in the School Counseling office and can also be accessed from the hallway outside School Counseling.
Website: https://highschool.southwindsorschools.org/departments/school_counseling
Phone: 860-648-5003