June 2024

June Regents Exams: 6/4/24 (Algebra) & 6/14/24 - 6/18/24 & 6/20/24 - 6/25/24

End of Q4: 6/13/24

Class of 2024 Graduation: 6/20/24

Please find information about Regents review sessions here and the exam schedule below.

Medical Academy of Science & Health (MASH) Camp:

The Hudson Mohawk AHEC MASH Camp program provides a unique opportunity for students entering 9th - 12th grades to engage with many different providers in the healthcare workforce through interactive presentations. This program helps youth understand the extensive variety of careers available to them in the healthcare industry. Students will be responsible for their transportation to and from the Camp. Applications, found here, are due no later than July 5, 2024. More information can be found here.

Career Opportunities Summer Programs Hosted by Siena College

Siena College is hosting a Career Exploration and College Readiness Experience to help students discover their passions and prepare for their future. This dynamic summer program is for rising 8th-11th graders covering industry tracks like Business, Arts, Communications and Media, Healthcare, and Science Exploration. Advice on the college admissions process will also be provided. More information, including registration, can be found here.

Also, Siena College, in partnership with the New York State Society of CPAs and the The Moynihan Scholarship Fund, will be hosting their fifth annual Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program this summer. This is a free program, which runs July 8-9th. The program will help high school students understand to the world of accounting and business and will include:

• Exploration of topics like digital forensics, cyber security and financial planning
• Learning about a wide variety of careers in the field
• Practicing interviews
• Gaining access to insider college admissions info

Applications, which can be found here, are due July 1, 2024.

Scholarship Opportunity for Juniors & Seniors

The 7th Annual Leonard Bus Sales “A Day in the Life of a School Bus” Art Competition & Scholarship for 2024/2025 school year in New York State is now open! The goal of this art contest is to recognize and encourage the artistic talents of high school students across the state. The winner of the competition will receive a $1,000 scholarship and have their artwork professionally reproduced and shared with school districts and school bus enthusiasts across New York State. More information can be found here regarding the rules and student release form. Deadline: October 14, 2024

Volunteer at The Way!

Raise money for your class by volunteering at The Way (a gently used clothing store located at 17 Ferry St. in Schuylerville). More information can be found below:

• Students may work Fri 3-5:30, Sat 8:30-11, or Sat 11-1:30
• Two to four students at a time can sign up for a shift using Signup Genius
• Volunteer hours will be tracked at the store
• For every student who works 2 hours, The Way will donate $5 to the class they are representing
• The Way will tally up the amount and donate the money to the school once per quarter

Employment Opportunity for the 2024-2025 School Year

The School's Out Program is currently looking for students at least 16 years old (by September 2024) to join their staff to provide after-school care for students in grades K-6. The program operates daily from 3:00 to 5:30 pm (5:00 pm) The School's Out Program is looking for individuals with a knack for critical thinking and problem-solving. The program follows the school calendar, including all closures, vacations, and 2-hour delays. Compensation for high school staff members is set at $15.00 per hour, and students should be prepared to work at least three days a week. The program also offers substitute opportunities if current staffing is full. Please find more information, including the application for employment here. Additionally, while Coordinator Quintin Ciccolella takes applicants year round, he will be prioritizing applicants who submit their applications before June 21st, ensuring timely consideration and potential interviews to facilitate staffing readiness for September.

Important Graduation Information

• Graduation Rehearsal will be held on campus on Tuesday, June 18th at 11:00 a.m. The rehearsal is mandatory for all graduates who plan to participate in the ceremony. Graduates will report to the Auditorium to review the layout of the ceremony, seating, expectations, and arrival for Thursday. Seniors are to plan to be at the Graduation Rehearsal for the entire time; it is expected to last 1.5 hours. The Graduation Rehearsal rain date will be on Wednesday, June 19th at 8:30 AM. Students are advised to adjust their work schedules to accommodate rehearsal.
• The Graduation Ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 20th at 7:30 p.m. in Black Horse Stadium. Seniors should arrive by 6:30 p.m. and report immediately to their designated spot in the High School upon arrival. Each student in the Class of 2024 will receive 6 reserved seats in a specific pod on the field. There will be additional seating located behind the designated pods. The bleachers located on the press side of the stadium will not be open for seating. Visitor bleachers will be available for additional seating. The first rain date being Friday, June 21st at 7:30 p.m., and the second rain date being Monday, June 24th at 7:30 p.m.

Excelsior Scholarship Information

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. For the 2024-25 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2022 are eligible to apply. In order to apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including:

• Be residents of New York State
• Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college
• Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study
• Be on track to graduate on time with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years

For more information, and to apply, visit the HESC website here. Deadline to apply for the 2024-25 school year is August 31, 2024.

Enhanced Tuition Awards Program

The Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA) program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a participating private college/university located in New York State. Recipients will receive $6,000 through a combination of their TAP award, ETA award and a match from their private college. Find a list of participating private colleges or universities here. More information about this program can be found here.

NYS STEM Incentive Program

The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a public degree-granting college or university located in New York State. Recipients must be in the top 10 percent of students of their high school graduating class, pursue an approved, two or four-year STEM degree program and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field in NYS for five years after graduation. More information about this program can be found here.

Transferring College Credit Taken in High School

If you've taken a college level course in high school for college credit and would like the credit transferred to the college you will be attending in the fall, please be sure to request an official college transcript at the end of the school year. Contact information is below for each college we receive courses from:

U Albany (French 4 & 5 and Spanish 4 & 5, Independent Science Research)

Syracuse University (Economic Issues & Ideas, Public Policy; follow directions for Project Advance courses, Psychology)

SUNY Adirondack (Creative Writing, Intro to College Writing, Intro to Personal Economics, Principles of Marketing, Precalculus Algebra, Precalculus Trigonometry, Intro to Stats with Probability)

SUNY Cobleskill (Animal Science, Food Science, and Plant Science)

FMCC (Principles of Business and Business Communications)

Coming this summer ... The College Boot Camp Series

Get a jump start on the college application process by attending our College Boot Camp Series. We will discuss the college search process, completing your college application, essay writing, financial aid, and scholarships! These sessions will be on July 23rd, August 13th, August 27th, August 28th, and August 29th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. If interested in attending, please register for one or more of the sessions using this Google Form. All sessions will begin promptly at 2 p.m. These are for students only and students do not need to attend all sessions.

Interested in learning more about the SUNY system?

Complete the Request Information Form to have a SUNY viewbook sent directly to you. By completing this form, you'll not only receive a viewbook filled with SUNY information, but you'll also be included in future mailings. Also, multiple opportunities exist for students to get to know SUNY better over the summer. Visits are available both in person or online. Use the links below for more information!

• Campus Visit Opportunities
• SUNY Information Sessions

College Application Essay Tips

As you head into the summer months, it's time to start thinking about that essay for your college application. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Don't try to sound like everyone else or sound like the "perfect" student you think the school is looking for; this is your time to use your voice - make your essay sound like you.
• Make sure you are honest and that your stories are authentic; don't embellish the truth.
• You want your essay to stand out so don't write about things that every one will write about (hot topics might be chosen by many, so they won't be a very unique topic).
• Nobody is perfect, so don't pretend to be perfect; it's okay to demonstrate your growth instead of only highlighting your perfect moments.
• Your accomplishments will be listed in various sections of your application, so don't list them in your essay.
• Be yourself when you write; the style of writing should match who you are.
• Don't complain, blame others, sound negative, or play the victim; use your essay as an opportunity to show your growth.
• A research paper is not the right type of writing to submit for your college application essay; instead, pretend you are telling a story to your favorite teacher - focus on who you are, versus what's in your brain.
• Make sure you are talking about YOU - this is a personal essay about YOU; this is an opportunity for the Admissions Office to get to know YOU as a human (Who are you? How do you think? What are your values?).

Remember - all students are unique, there is no formula to writing the perfect essay, and there are many ways to write a great essay!

(Source: Advantage College Planning)

Common Application Information and Essay Prompts

If you are ready to create your Common App account and start navigating through the application (prior to August 1), no problem! Common App will rollover your account on August 1st, which means: your responses to questions on the Common App tab, including the personal essay, will be kept and you'll be able to access them after the rollover!

Looking to get started on your essay? Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2024-2025 Common App:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Upcoming SAT/ACT Testing Information:

The SAT and the ACT will be offered on the following (Saturday) National testing dates during the 2024-2025 school year. The cost of the SAT is $68. The ACT has a basic fee of $55.50, with an optional writing test (cost with writing is $70.25). If the cost of these tests presents a hardship, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Please check with Mrs. Rust or Mrs. O'Brien.

SAT Test Dates (Registration Information)

August 24, 2024 (August 9, 2024)

October 5, 2024 (September 20, 2024)

November 2, 2024 (October 18, 2024)

December 7, 2024 (November 22, 2024)

March 8, 2025 (February 21, 2025)

May 3, 2025 (April 18, 2025)

June 7, 2025 (May 22, 2025)

**Be sure to take advantage of free Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy®. Become more confident on test day by taking practice test!

ACT Test Dates (Registration Information)

September 14, 2024 (August 9, 2024)

October 26, 2024 (September 20, 2024)

December 14, 2024 (November 8, 2024)

February 8, 2025 (January 3, 2025)

April 5, 2025 (February 28, 2025)

June 14, 2025 (May 9, 2025)

July 12, 2025 (June 6, 2025)*

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SERVICES

Contact Information

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SERVICES

Mrs. Tracy Lyon, Administrative Aide

(518) 695-2256. ext 2239

School Counselor Contact Information

Mrs. O’Brien (Grades 10-12, A-K)

Ms. Bean (Grade 9, Career Education & AP Coordinator)

Mrs. Rust (Grades 10-12, L-Z)