Welcome to May, Vikings!

I hope you all enjoyed a long spring break. The extra few days off made such a difference! While I may have an extra spring in my step, I realize that returning from break may feel different for some - which leads me to my next point about Mental Health Awareness month. In May, we recognize Mental Health Awareness month as a time to check in and support one another. We emphasize removing the stigma associated with mental wellness. The Schreiber Full SupPort club will present activities in the lobby throughout the month of May to raise awareness to this important topic.

Schreiber Guidance will present its annual College Essay Writing Workshop for Juniors on May 20th. Details will be shared in the morning announcements when they are finalized. Awards season kicks off May 22nd with our Senior Department Awards. Invitations will be sent to selected seniors and their families by the end of next week.

Be sure to read about the initiatives and events happening this spring in Schreiber Guidance and Counseling.

Have a great month!

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. 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. Poma jpoma@portnet.org

Ms. Rafferty drafferty@portnet.org

Ms. Strell dstrell@portnet.org

Clerical staff:

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

Have you heard?? Schreiber's room 112 has been rebranded with a new vision..the Viking COVE. The COVE is our College and Career Office of Viking Exploration, and a place for all students to learn about post-secondary opportunities. The COVE is the home for college rep visits, workshops, and other information sessions. Students, have any ideas for the Cove? Feel free to stop by Ms. Director's office to discuss.

In addition to reading this newsletter, please check the Schreiber Guidance and Counseling website for up to date information from our department. Previous newsletters are also on our webpage for your reference. Students, be sure to check our bulletin board regularly and listen to daily announcements, and get in the habit of checking your Portnet email regularly to stay up to date! Previous newsletters are also on our webpage for your reference.

Schreiber Guidance and Counseling

Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level? Invest in your future and spend an hour on Wednesday, May 8, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Eastern time, understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification. Join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level! Click here to register.

Digital SAT, ACT, PSAT and "Test-Optional" - Everything You Need to Know

Tom Ehlers has helped thousands of students prepare effectively for the SAT, ACT, and PSAT. Now that the students have been taking the new, digital SAT officially for the past two months, we have learned a lot about the exam. Also, many schools have moved back to requiring the SAT or ACT as part of the application process. Here are some questions we will answer:

• What is the best way to prepare for the digital SAT?
• What is the latest as far as how SAT/ACT scores really factor into the college admissions process?
• How does this new, digital SAT compare to the ACT?
• When are the best times for students to take the digital SAT? the ACT? the PSAT?

We will answer these, and all, of the Frequently Asked Questions families have.

Attend this webinar and save yourself the time of trying to gather all of the information yourself.

Register here to attend live or to get the recording to watch at your convenience.

On Saturday, May 4th from 9am - 3 pm, join Councilwoman Dalimonte, Port Washington Police and Nassau County Police for a Youth Police Academy. Learn about careers in law enforcement. See the flyer below for more information. Students must RSVP here or in the link below to attend.

Parents, join Mrs. Poma, our Post-secondary counselor for webinars on topics related to college and career. Webinars will be held twice per month and will focus on a new topic each time.

May schedule:

Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:30a, College admissions tips to support your student during the summer.

https://portnet-org.zoom.us/j/96274488980

Past Recordings:

https://sch.portnet.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2848489&type=d&pREC_ID=2526151

Seniors, each day we are learning of more colleges that will extend their commitment date beyond May 1st. If you are experiencing difficulty submitting your FAFSA, please speak to your counselor. We are here to help. You must also check your college's financial aid website for the most up to date information.

For the latest updates, check the U.S. Department of Education website here. Be sure to check with your college's financial aid offices for information on their procedures.

Students registered to take the SAT this spring must access Bluebook, the College Board software students use to take the test. The Bluebook app can be accessed through APPS in the lower left corner of the screen prior to logging into your Chromebook. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the online registration through Bluebook prior to test day.

On test day, students must use their fully charged, district issued Chromebooks to take the exam. We cannot support personal devices on test day. If you have any questions about how to access Bluebook, please see an ITA at Schreiber.

Parents, join Mrs. Poma, our Post-secondary counselor for webinars on topics related to college and career. Webinars will be held twice per month and will focus on a new topic each time.

May schedule:

Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:30am

College admissions tips to support your student during the summer.

Past Recordings:

https://sch.portnet.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2848489&type=d&pREC_ID=2526151

Method Test Prep is offering students and parents free resources to help with SAT/ACT, and to help you plan for college. Click the link below for information and to register for a free webinar.

Hi, my name is Charlie Dubofsky and I am reaching out on behalf of the Hero Project. I am a sophomore at Jericho High School. I founded the Hero Project, a bereavement group for teenagers, along with Sydney Hassenbein, a junior from Roslyn High School. I lost my father in February 2023 and Sydney lost her brother only a few months later in April. It was unfortunate that we had to connect under these circumstances, but these tragedies brought us together. After having several conversations we have found it to be beyond beneficial to talk to someone who is going through something similar that is in the same age group.

We created the Hero Project. This group is a free, open space that is open to anyone who is grieving a loved one or wants to learn how to support a grieving friend.

We meet once a month at the JCC and discuss different aspects of grief and how we handle certain milestones or challenges. JCC social workers are involved in every meeting in case someone needs assistance.

With this email, I hope that you are able to spread the word within your community to anyone who may find this useful. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to myself, Sydney, or one of the social workers (see emails below.)

Below, you can see the attached flyer with details about our next meeting. We appreciate any support we can get.

Students and families, be sure to check your email for an important letter from Governor Hochul regarding the 2024-2025 FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. All seniors are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to their colleges and universities.

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
• Does your college require the CSS Profile? Click here for a list of participating schools.
• Remember to check your Portnet email! Be sure your contact information is up to date in Synergy and on Naviance.
• Have questions? Come to Guidance for more information.

For High School Senior Parents | FSA ID Creation

Students and contributors (parents or spouses) are required to have an FSA ID to complete and sign the FAFSA online. FSA IDs should be created in advance so accounts exist prior to completing the FAFSA. Join us for a step-by-step guide. Parents can register here: Walk Through FSA ID for Parents

For EOP Applicants Only | EOP Completion Workshops

EOP Form Completion events are designed for EOP applicants who have already submitted an application to a SUNY school via applySUNY or the Common Application and are seeking assistance with the completion of their required EOP Financial Information Form. Applicants can register here: EOP Form Completion

For High School Seniors | Application Workshops

For those seniors who have yet to submit their SUNY applications, help is available. These workshops provide an overview of the application process, as well as step-by-step information on completing the SUNY Application. Registration is available here: How to Apply.

For High School Juniors | SUNY Overview

Introduce the Class of 2025 to SUNY! We offer "Which SUNY Are You?" sessions throughout the spring, as well as EOP Information and Financial Aid sessions. Students can register for all workshops here: suny.edu/studentevents.

More Good News From SUNY

University at Buffalo computer science student, Holliday Sims, was recognized by Governor Hochul during the State of the State address for her research utilizing AI to foster positive societal change. Read more

Nassau Community College alumni Billy Crystal and SUNY Potsdam alumni Renee Fleming are honored by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for lifetime artistic achievements. Read more

Jamestown Community College, along with 14 other SUNY campuses, was recognized as one of AmeriCorps' Schools of National Service. Read more

Alfred State has earned a U.S. Department of Education grant for more than $2 million for its Degrees That Work project. Read more

Dear students and parents of the Class of 2025,

Schreiber school counselors are eager to begin junior planning conferences next week. This is a kind reminder for students to submit their planning documents to their counselor's Google classroom at least five days before your meeting. This gives your counselor sufficient time to read through your documents and consider appropriate options prior to your conference. Students, if you haven't joined your counselor's Google classroom, QR codes are posted on the Guidance bulletin board for you to scan. Counselors have all shared their appointment calendars with students, but if you have any questions, please come to Guidance and Counseling.

Documents can also be found on the website by clicking here.

Juniors, if you or your families were unable to attend the meeting on Dec. 13th to discuss the post-secondary process at Schreiber, click here to watch a recording of the presentation.

Juniors! Have you checked out the college planning guide that was released last month? Click the link below for everything you wanted to know about applying to college. It's a great resource you'll use over and over again as you prepare for life after Schreiber. Be sure to read it prior to your junior conference, and come prepared with questions to ask. Bookmark this link, because you'll be using this over and over again over the coming months.

Once again, Schreiber Counselors will present this important workshop designed to help juniors jump start their college essays. Listen to morning announcements beginning next week for details on how to sign up.

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

Schreiber Twilight alternative high school is our new partnership with Nassau BOCES. Twilight 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. Our counseling and administrative team meet regularly with students and parents 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.

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.

See the attached flyer for information on a lifeguard job fair at Manorhaven pool

The Summer Program is for high school students and adult volunteers motivated to further biodiversity, climate resilience, and food security in our community.

We believe in “learning while doing” involving hands-on projects through dirt, sweat, and toil, leaving participants with newfound knowledge and a sense of accomplishment.

The program is offered in two locations:

• The Cow Neck Chapter of ReWild Long Island offers the program in the Town of North Hempstead with locations centered around Port Washington, NY. This program has been offered since summer 2020.

• Click the link below for more information.

The Roosevelt School Leadership Program is a unique opportunity for high school students to learn about leadership: in the U.S. and the world. Immerse yourself in the American political system and how local government and Congress work. On the international level, learn about global leaders and issues in 2024 and the diverse organizations that impact the world. In both weeks participate in simulations where you will draft resolutions, deliver statements, and navigate key negotiations. Visit the link below for more information.

This summer, F&M will offer more than 60 courses in a variety of subjects. For the first time ever, we are inviting high school juniors and seniors to participate in F&M Summer Sessions!

We believe this is a great opportunity for your students to experience an authentic college course at a premier liberal arts institution, earn college credit, and bolster their college applications. With many online options, including a wide range of introductory courses, your students can learn wherever they are — alongside current F&M students — and get a taste for the high-quality teaching and learning F&M is known for.

In person and online options are available. Click the link below for more information.

Colorado College Summer Session invites rising juniors and seniors to join the CC community during the summer. Enroll in one of our dynamic for-credit courses offered on subjects ranging from environmental science and the study of epidemics, to marketing and entrepreneurship, to cross-genre writing. CC's summer session provides students with a rich opportunity to explore challenging academics, get inspired by the wondrous Rocky Mountain Region, and be supported by faculty that are invested in your success.

High School students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rhythm of the Block Plan and experience living on Colorado College's campus during our Pre-College Block, which is specially designed for ambitious high school students.

Are you a sophomore, junior, or senior looking for a summer job? Pierce Country Day Camp is looking for camp counselors and lifeguards. See the flyers below for more information and to apply.

Fordham University School of Professional and Continuing Studies has announced its 2024 Summer Reading Skills programs. Classes will be held once per week in either Fresh Meadows, Queens, or Garden City. For more information, click here.

See below for information:

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!

The Year That Broke College Admissions

By Daniel Currell

Mr. Currell, a lawyer and consultant, was deputy under secretary and senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Education from 2018 to 2021. He is a trustee of Gustavus Adolphus College.

• May 1, 2024

Selective college admissions have been a vortex of anxiety and stress for what seems like forever, inducing panic in more top high school seniors each year. But the 2023-2024 admissions season was not just an incremental increase in the frantic posturing and high-pressure guesswork that make this annual ritual seem like academic Hunger Games. This year was different. A number of factors — some widely discussed, some little noticed — combined to push the process into a new realm in which the old rules didn’t apply and even the gatekeepers seemed not to know what the new rules were.

It happened, as these things often do, first gradually and then all at once.

It started with a precipitous rise in the number of people clamoring to get in. The so-called Ivy-Plus schools — the eight members of the Ivy League plus M.I.T., Duke, Chicago and Stanford — collectively received about 175,000 applications in 2002. In 2022, the most recent year for which totals are available, they got more than 590,000, with only a few thousand more available spots.

The quality of the applicants has risen also. In 2002, the nation produced 134 perfect ACT scores; in 2023 there were 2,542. Over the same period, the United States — and beyond it, the world — welcomed a great many more families into the ranks of the wealthy, who are by far the most likely to attend an elite college. Something had to give.

The first cracks appeared around the rules that had long governed the process and kept it civilized, obligating colleges to operate on the same calendar and to give students time to consider all offers before committing. A legal challenge swept the rules away, freeing the most powerful schools to do pretty much whatever they wanted.

One clear result was a drastic escalation in the formerly niche admissions practice known as Early Decision. Then Covid swept through, forcing colleges to let students apply without standardized test scores — which, as the university consultant Ben Kennedy says, “tripled the number of kids who said to themselves, ‘Hey, I’ve got a shot at admission there.’” More applications, more market power for the schools, and for the students, an ever smaller chance of getting in.

Last year the Supreme Court’s historic decision ending race-based affirmative action left colleges scrambling for new ways to preserve diversity, and students groping in the dark to figure out what schools wanted.

Finally, this year the whole financial aid system exploded into spectacular disarray. Now, a month after most schools sent out the final round of acceptances, many students still don’t have the information they need to determine if they can afford college. Some will delay attending, and some will forgo it entirely, an outcome that would have lasting implications for them and, down the line, for the economy as a whole.

These disparate changes had one crucial thing in common: Almost all of them strengthened the hand of highly selective colleges, allowing them to push applicants into more constricted choices with less information and less leverage. The result is that elite admissions offices, which have always tried to reduce the uncertainty in each new year’s decisions, are now using their market power to all but eliminate it. This means taking no chances in pursuit of a high “yield,” the status-bestowing percentage of admitted students who enroll. But low uncertainty for elite colleges means the opposite for applicants — especially if they can’t pay the full tuition rate.

Canh Oxelson, executive director of college counseling at the Horace Mann School in New York, says: “This is as much uncertainty as we’ve ever seen. Affirmative action, the FAFSA debacle, test-optionality — it has shown itself in this one particular year. Colleges want certainty, and they are getting more. Families want certainty and they are getting less.”

In 2024, the only applicants who could be certain of an advantage were those whose parents had taken the wise precaution of being rich.