Welcome to the Adirondack Senior High School Counseling Center |
 Frederick N. Lampert, A - K Shannon E. Gracey, L - Z Theresa Owens, Guidance Secretary |
 
Mr. Frederick N. Lampert, Guidance Counselor, A - K Mrs. Shannon Gracey, Guidance Counselor, L - Z |
May - June 2010 DATES TO KEEP ON YOUR CALENDARÞ The deadline to register for the June 5, 2010, SAT is Wed., May 5th. Þ AP Tests are given on May 6, 7, and 10 Þ Regents Exams are June 15 - 23. Þ The BOCES awards ceremony is at South Lewis HS on Wed., June 9th
United State Military Academy Attention Juniors: If you have an interest in the United States Military Academy at West Point, please stop down to the guidance office to learn about a summer leaders seminar in June 2010 at West Point. Mystery babies "B" and "V" want to remind all seniors that time goes FAST and you need to apply for financial aid (do your FAFSA!), if you haven't done so already.
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The Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class 2010 are Amanda Marsh and Megan O'Brien, two quality young ladies who are outstanding examples of academic achievement. Congratulations to both their families on their childrens' achievements. |
The Adirondack High School Guidance Office is pleased to announce that Carin Kent was selected by the ACS Faculty and the senior class to receive the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award . Criteria for selection were dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. An award of up to $3000 is possible. Congratulations to Carin from the faculty, staff, and administration of ACS. |
TEEN ALL-STARS (from the Utica O-D Teen All-Star special, June 2010) For 18-year-old Amanda Marsh, setting a good example comes with the territory of being an older sister. Helping people and riding horses - it's a perfect combination for Justine Hutchins of Boonville. |
NYS 2009 Series Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Samantha Gilbert, daughter of Ms. Andrea Shaffer of Boonville, NY: Total Scholarship of $6,000 ($1,500 per year renewable for up to four years)  |
CLARKSON SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
The Adirondack Senior High School Guidance Department is pleased to announce that Eric A. Swiecki has been selected for the Clarkson University Achievement Award. Eric is the son of Ed and Celeste Swiecki of Boonville. Eric has excelled in his high school studies and is active in several school-related activities including National Honor Society, Student Association Class of 2011 Representative, Chorus, Band and our musical productions. Eric has participated throughout his high school career in soccer, basketball and track. He is also active in community activities including being a volunteer for the Boilermaker road race. Eric was also nominated for Boys State. The scholarship is $36,000 ($9,000 per year for four years). Congratulations to Eric and his family from the faculty, staff, and administration of ACS.   The Adirondack Senior High School Guidance Department is pleased to announce that Kevin J. Petrie, Jr. has been selected for the Clarkson University Leadership Award. Kevin is the son of Kevin and Maureen Petrie of Boonville. Kevin has excelled in his high school studies and is active in school-related activities including National Honor Society and Boys Athletic Association. Kevin is a valuable member of our football, basketball and baseball teams. He is also active in community service and he holds a part time job in the summers. The Clarkson scholarship is $44,000 ($11,000 per year for four years). Congratulations to Kevin and his family from the faculty, staff, and administration of ACS.
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"Leaders of Tomorrow" Lottery Scholarship Winner Kate Zeigler has been selected for the New York State Lottery Scholarship. Kate will receive a scholarship in the amount of $4000. Her selection was based upon academic achievement, involvement in activities, and an essay she wrote. Congratulations to Kate and her family. (NOTE: NYS did not award this scholarship to any students for the 2009-2010 school year).
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New York State ROBERT C. BYRD Honors Scholarships The student below has been nominated for a scholarship worth $1500 per year. NYS will select the winner(s) of any of these scholarship, pending state funds and in competetion with other nominated students from this area. Amanda D. Marsh , daughter of Doreen Marsh of Taberg, NY.  |
Rochester Institute of Technology Scholarship
The Adirondack High School Guidance Department is pleased to announce that Kenneth E. Pfendler has been nominated for the RIT scholarship. Kenny is the son of Susan Pfendler of Boonville, and Edward Pfendler of Boonville. Congratulations to Kenny and his family from the faculty, staff, and administration of ACS.
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The Adirondack High School Guidance Office is pleased to announce that James D. Everest, the son of Paul Everest of Boonville, has been nominated for the prestigious University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Science Award. James is a member of the Math Honor Society and the Varsity Soccer Team. James is taking a rigorous course load in his Junior year, including Pre-Calculus, Physics, French 3, Honors English 11, and AP US History. James's selection for this award was based upon the rigor of courses taken in Science, his grades in these Science classes, his PSAT score, and his over-all academic record. The scholarship is $30,000 ($7,500 per year for four years). The faculty, staff, and administration of ACS congratulate Justine on this outstanding achievement.  |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal and Scholarship Timothy LaForest has been selected for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal and Scholarship. Timothy is the son of Clayton and Jill LaForest of Lee Center. Timothy, an honors student in the class of 2011, has been actively involved in school activities. The scholarship is $60,000 [$15,000 per year for four years]. Congratulations to Timothy and his family from the faculty, staff, and administration of ACS.
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BOCES Sophomore Presentations
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WORKFORCE 2020 On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, members of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Education Committee hosted a career awareness event for North Country high school students at Jefferson County Community College. Twenty one Adirondack High School students were among the hundreds of students who attended this event.
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BOCES Graduation, June 2010 Congratulations to all the graduates! |
SAT Course Available, Utica If you would like to take an SAT preparation course, Sylvan Leaning Center in Utica offers one that will start this Spring in March (preparing you to take the May SAT). They also offer another course starting in April (preparing you to take the June SAT). Please contact 315-732-1652 or e-mail Edie Weintraub at edie@uticasylvan.com for more information. Their website is http://www.educate.com/. |
Statewide Financial Aid Days, SUNY Register online to attend any Financial Aid Day program at www.suny.edu/studentevents or by calling 1-800-342-3811 Local colleges include SUNYIT and Jefferson CC. |
COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES The following is a list of dates and times that Colleges and Military Organizations will have Admissions Representatives here at the High School:
TBD for Fall 2010 |
SUNY College NightsHigh school seniors and their families are invited to join SUNY campus representatives for an evening program filled with information to assist students in the college search process. Go to the below website for more informtion. |
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR CAREER EXPLORATION
www.careerkey.org/english
www.collegeview.com/career
www.collegeboard.com/planning
www.nycareerzone.org
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SUMMER CAMPS, 2010 Do you know a student ages 9 - 12 who might want to learn about building Lego robots using NXT mircoprocessor bricks? Or how about a middle school student who wants to design, build, and program autonomous robots? Or perhaps a high school student who wants to learn about solar energy, engineering, or cybersecurity? If you do, please have them visit www.summeriteens.sunyit.edu for more information. Camps run sessions between the end of June and the middle of August.
The deadline for discount applications is May 14, 2010. Enrollment is limited and competitive. Questions can be directed to Elizabeth Rossi at 792-7383, or e-mail summeriteens@sunyit.edu . |
Note: The extension of the safety net for students with disabilities applies to students who enter grade 9 through 2009. The safety net allows students who do not pass a required Regents exam to pass the corresponding Regents Competency Test (RCT) to meet the local diploma requirements. In order to earn a Regents Diploma with Honors or a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors, a student must earn a 90.0 average on all core Regents exams. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New York State recently changed graduation requirements for the class of 2010. All students must pass at least three (3) Regents exams with a 65 or better to graduate with a Local diploma. Students must still pass other two (2) with a 55 or better to obtain a LOCAL diploma. Students still need to pass five (5) Regents exams with a 65 or better for a Regents diploma and pass eight (8) exams with a 65 or better to obtain an Advanced Regents diploma Students classified with a disability still have the 55 or RCT safety net . |
All students for the class of 2011 must pass at least four (4) Regents exams with a 65 or better to graduate with a Local diploma. Students must still pass other one (1) with a 55 or better to obtain a LOCAL diploma. Students still need to pass five (5) Regents exams with a 65 or better for a Regents diploma and pass eight (8) exams with a 65 or better to obtain an Advanced Regents diploma Students classified with a disability still have the 55 or RCT safety net . Students in the class of 2012 and beyond must pass all five (5) Regents exams with a 65 or better. The local diploma option is no longer available for students, with the exception of special education students.
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Snag a discount on college tuition Use our techniques for slashing those astronomical college-tuition costs From CONSUMER REPORTS on-line at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/personal-finance/news/august-2006/snag-a-discount-on-college-tuition-8-06/overview/0608_snag-a-discount-on-college-tuition_ov.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=college%20tuition Everyone knows that sending a kid to college today takes not just pots but tubs of money. Yet many parents don't know that the outrageous "list" prices may sometimes be irrelevant. If a school wants your child, there's a good chance it will slash its price by handing him a merit award. "All this merit money makes a college's official sticker price meaningless," insists Rick Darvis, a principal at College Funding in Plentywood, Mont., and the author of "College Solution: A Roadmap to Selecting Your Best Strategy to Fund College and Retirement ... Without Going Broke" (Stone People Publishing, 2005). For the 2005-2006 school year, according to the College Board, the average tuition reduction at private universities and colleges from merit and need-based grants and tax benefits was an astounding 45 percent. And there's more good news: Your child doesn't have to be a class valedictorian or even an "A" student to snag some of this cash. What follows is insider advice that college-planning strategists swear by. Focus on standardized tests. To pocket merit awards, your child should apply to schools where his SAT or ACT scores will hoist him into the top 25 percent of the freshman class. You can locate an institution's scores at the College Board's Web site http://www.collegeboard.com . For each school, the site posts the middle 50 percent range of scores generated by attending students. At Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., for example, the middle range for math SATs is 570 to 670 (a perfect score is 800). The verbal SATs range from 550 to 660. That puts the combined math and verbal scores as high as 1,330. If your child did better than that, he probably has a shot at some cash. This strategy worked for a family from Austin, who assumed that their child would attend the University of Texas because the in-state tuition, about $7,000 a year, was so affordable. But Bryant Ward, a college admissions expert, told them they could consider other excellent schools without facing bigger bills. "We knew that Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore looks out of its region, and the student fit its profile really well," recalls Ward, a certified college planning specialist (CCPS) and principal of the College Authority in Austin. Johns Hopkins was indeed interested in the student, who had scored 1,450 on his SATs; it offered him $23,000 a year. Avoid schools where merit money is scarce. If you can't afford an expensive school without a merit scholarship, you may want to steer clear of places that hand out very few. Ivy League schools don't give any merit awards; they reserve their cash bonanzas for students who could not attend without need-based financial aid. Public institutions also award little merit money except to the most stellar applicants. You can gauge a school's generosity by, again, checking the College Board Web site. After you've called up a school's profile, click on Cost and Financial Aid to find out its average merit-based award package. The College Board characterizes this money as "average non-need-based aid." Don't go overboard. Don't make your kid crank out two dozen college applications, even if he's willing. That's a great way to booby-trap his admission chances. Colleges may pass on students who have circulated so many applications that they don't appear serious about any one school. Schools get that information from the Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA), which families fill out for need-based financial aid, or from the common application. Ideally, your child should apply to no more than eight schools. Even parents who won't qualify for aid should complete the document because some schools won't award merit scholarships or grants without it. Check for empty seats. Schools experience their own rejections when students they accept for their incoming freshmen class enroll elsewhere. You can turn their disappointment to your advantage by searching for solid schools with lower enrollment yields. A school that accepts 2,000 applicants, for instance, but enrolls only 500 of them has an enrollment yield of 25 percent, which is low. Higher yields are in the 50 to 60 percent range. "Schools with more seats to fill are more motivated to entice a kid to attend," says Deborah Fox, the founder of Fox College Funding in San Diego, which specializes in college planning. To find out a school's yield rate, go to Peterson's Web site http://www.petersons.com find the school profile, click on More and then School Details. Vanderbilt University, a highly regarded private school in Nashville, Tenn., for example, received 11,663 applications from high school seniors for the 2005-2006 school year. Only 4,115 were admitted, but of them, just 1,622 chose to attend. That's a rather modest enrollment yield of 39 percent, one that may yield room for your child. Create a buzz. A family will boost its chances of merit money if it creates competition among schools that share the same athletic conference. Your child does not have to be an Olympic athlete to try this strategy. Here's why: Schools that compete on the football field, on the basketball court, and in the swimming pool don't like to see their competition stealing away top prospects, whether a child is an actor, a computer whiz, or just a wonderful student. So, if your child is eager to attend Oberlin College in Ohio, consider also applying to Kenyon College or another institution that competes in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Consider another time zone. By accepting students who live far away, a school boosts its geographic and cultural diversity. An application from a Virginia teenager will catch the eye of an admissions officer from a college in, say, Arizona. Schools in the upper Midwest are eager to receive queries from good students in the Deep South. And "California kids are in hot demand everywhere in the U.S. except the West," Darvis says. Gary Carpenter of College Planning Services in Syracuse, N.Y., is executive director of the National Institute of Certified College Planners (NICCP). He played the geography card with his own son, having him apply to several out-of-state colleges and an in-state public school. That's because private schools are typically more willing to pass out merit cash if they know that a competing school is a cheaper alternative. Carpenter's son snagged merit awards at all the private schools on his list. Consult an expert. A small but growing number of financial professionals are entering the college-advising niche. One source of advisers is the NICCP, which provides training and certification for investment professionals. Applicants, many of them CPAs or financial planners, must take three online courses about paying and saving for college to become certified. The NICCP provides a list of those who have earned the CCPS designation on its Web site http://www.niccp.com Dont' give up. If your child didn't receive as much money as you had hoped, you can appeal. Tears and emotional pleas won't work. Instead, send the college a letter or make an appointment at the financial aid office so that you can present your case for a bigger package. Be specific about how much you want. And most important, let the school know if you've been offered an award from another school. |
SAT LINKS This link will allow you to register for the SAT. You can also purchase review materials here. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6732411 Tips on studyng for the SAT from National Public Radio |
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6894556 NPR: Helping Teens Make Peace with Sleep by Allison Aubrey Morning Edition, January 18, 2007 · Sleep deprivation is common among teenagers, but simple changes can help promote better sleep. Sari Meltzer of Rockville, Md., coaxes herself out of bed at 6:45 a.m. each school day. "I'd rather turn over" and stay in bed, she says. The classic teenage struggle is mostly due to a shift in the sleep-wake schedule that turns many teens into night owls. In the evenings, Sari is connected to many friends via the phone, e-mail, instant messaging and online networks. "Last night, I e-mailed my camp friends, and I was talking online and going on Facebook.com," and with all of that going on, she says, it's easy to lose track of time. Sari is much more mindful of sleep these days. Two years ago, when she began having trouble falling asleep before midnight or 1 a.m., her mother took her see to sleep physician Helene Emsellem. "My practice taking care of teens increased mostly as my own children became teenagers and I became more enlightened about the problems," Emsellem says. "We've also learned a lot more about what regulates the sleep-wake schedule." Genes, exposure to light and dark, personal behavior and the secretion of melatonin all play a role in regulating sleep. Research studies have documented that two-thirds of teenagers experience a shifting of the internal clock toward much later sleep times. Emsellem says our society's 24/7 culture makes things worse. "As we have more and more ways to stay connected at night, we've seen an exaggeration of the night-owlism in teenagers," Emsellem says. To fight back, Emsellem urges parents to take televisions and computers out of teens' bedrooms - which is easier said than done. And she encourages a strict turn-off time, with the exception of music-playing devices. "I encourage teens to listen to music at night, and make a playlist that's soothing," Emsellem says. When the volume is low, and the room is dark, the environment promotes sleep. Emsellem also recommends: - Remove clutter from your teens' bedrooms. - Paint walls calm colors, such as soft blues and greens, tan, light yellow or peach. - Schedule early dinners; big meals close to bedtime require digestive processes that can keep you awake. - Have your teen shower at night and set clothes out in the evening, too, so he or she can get a few more minutes of sleep in the morning. - Encourage more exercise if your teen is not participating in a sport. - Limit caffeinated drinks. - Help your teen set a regular sleep-wake routine that won't vary by more than two hours on the weekends. Teens may only adopt these changes once they believe there is really something to be gained from sleeping more. To this end, Emsellem tells her patients that optimal amounts of sleep, which for teens is 9.25 hours, is almost a form of studying. "After you've learned things during the day - without ever opening a book again - you'll score better on a test of new material than you did at the end of the lecture," she says. This is because your brain replays the information and consolidates it into memories as you sleep. Light Therapy and Melatonin For teenage patients who try the lifestyle adjustments but still need extra help getting more sleep, Emsellem sometimes recommends light therapy and melatonin pills. "Exaggerating light in the morning in order to reinforce the circadian signal of light to the brain is a very powerful tool," Emsellem says. Sari Melzter wears a visor with two bright lights built into the brim for about 20 minutes every morning as she's getting ready for school. The visor, made by Physician Engineered Products, is called a "Feel Bright Light." "My mind feels more awake after it," Sari says. Then, in order to power-down after the school day is over, Emsellem has advised Sari to take an over-the-counter melatonin pill. "I have an alarm on my watch, so it beeps and I take [the pill]," says Sari. Melatonin, which signals the brain to turn off alertness, can be helpful, Emsellem says. But clinical research trials have turned out mixed results about its efficacy. There is some evidence to suggest that melatonin is effective in treating delayed sleep-phase syndrome with short-term use. Emsellem recommends a small dose six hours before bed. The Challenge of Weekends Teens who adopt better sleep habits sometimes lapse during weekends when typical teen life involves staying up well past midnight. This puts the parents of teens in a bind. "You really almost feel like a criminal if you wake them up before 11," says Emsellem. Parents know their teens are exhausted. But if teens don't stick to within two hours of their weekday wake schedule, they'll get so far out of sync that Monday mornings, says Emsellem, will be very tough. ********************************** Books to Sleep On Top sleep experts give their recommendations on books that explain why we need to take sleep seriously and how to make good sleep happen: The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explores the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night's Sleep, by William C. Dement and Christopher Vaughn Dr. William Dement is widely considered "The Father of Sleep" and his book is known as "The Sleep Bible." Now head of Stanford University's Sleep Disorders Clinic, Dement was one of the first to show the connection between poor sleep and poor health. "What he gets right is how insomnia, sleep apnea, or problems with sleep deprivation affect mood and health," says Terry Young, a sleep epidemiologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. "In our society now, we're really concerned about people not getting enough sleep; research more and more shows that inadequate sleep can cause serious health problems." A Woman's Guide to Sleep: Guaranteed Solutions for a Good Night's Rest, by Joyce Walsleben and Rita Baron-Faust The hormonal changes women may face in their lives, including pregnancy, breast-feeding and menopause, can pose unique sleep challenges. Walsleben, director of NYU's Sleep Disorders Center, provides a "wonderful" guide for navigating those transitions, says Terry Young. Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep: The All-in-One Resource for Solving Sleep Problems in Kids and Teens, by Judith Owens and Jodi Mindell "We teach kids in school about the food pyramid and wearing seat belts, but we teach them nothing about what they spend one-third of their lives doing," says Dr. Judith Owen, associate professor of pediatrics at Brown Medical School. Her book helps parents and kid establish healthy sleep patterns, in part by warning them about several major sleep enemies: TV, computers and caffeine. Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep by Jodi Mindell For parents of newborns and toddlers, Owens and the National Sleep Foundation both give Sleeping through the Night a thumbs up. "It's very practical advice and really takes parents step-by-step in terms of how to address bedtime struggles and night wakings," says Owens. Mindell is affiliated with the Sleep Disorders Center at Philadelphia's Children's Hospital. |
COLLEGE VISITS Throughout the Fall we have many colleges come to visit our school. Sign-ups to speak with the college representatives are available in the Guidance office. |
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