GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER

Let us start out with the change in the guidance department. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Jamison will be working with all grade levels from now on. Mr. Mitchell will be responsible for all the students whose last names begin with A through L. Mr. Jamison will be handling M through Z. As always please feel free to contact them with your questions pertaining to your child’s educational needs.

This year marks the first time students will have to meet the standards of the Maine Learning Results (MLR). The freshmen class of 2008 will now need to pass their regular classes required to earn a Central High School diploma in addition to the Standards set in English, Science, Social Studies and Math. Children who do not fully meet these standards cannot be awarded a high school diploma from the State. This means those children will not be eligible for Federal monies in the form of grants and low interest loans. The Staff at Central High School are dedicated to ensuring that your child has every possible opportunity to pass these standards. However, we are asking for your assistance in helping the children realize the significance of these standards and how they may impact their future educational and career needs. The method and frequency of reporting and recording these content standards will be announced at a later date. It is equally important that you attend parent teacher nights and keep in contact with your child’s teachers

ATTENDANCE COUNTS: Take Your Seat

Show how learning relates to real life. If your teen thinks a skill is useful, he’s/she’s more likely to learn it.

Tell your child not to skip a class just because he’s/she’s struggling. Tell them you’ll arrange for tutoring or other help.

Find out your school’s attendance policy. Let the school office know you’d like to be alerted if your teen skips classes.

Ask your student for their Student Handbook, which contains all the information about the Attendance Policy. Be sure to read it to your teen so he/she clearly understands the possibility of losing credit for a semester.

The State of Maine is going to pay the registration fee for any sophomore who would like to take the PSAT this year and the Great Maine Schools Grant will pay for all Juniors who would like to take the test.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test /National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be administered on October 13th from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students take the PSAT/NMSQT for the following reasons: (1) To assist in college planning– the test provides students and schools with information about the extent to which they have acquired verbal and mathematical skills needed for college courses. (2) To provide practice for the SAT– the test enables students to experience the same kind of questions under similar circumstances and to receive an estimate of the scores they can expect on required admissions tests. (3) To assist in selecting a college– the test enables students to identify colleges that offer programs at an appropriate level of challenge and to be contacted by colleges that seek qualified applicants. (4) To aid in financing a college education– the test provides entry to national competitions for scholarships, and enables them to receive financial aid information from colleges.

The New England Association for College Admission Counseling invites you to attend the twenty-seventh annual COLLEGE FAIR held at the University of Maine Field House in Orono on Tuesday, September 28th from 9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. This is a time when recruiters from all over New England and parts of the east coast gather to promote their institutions. It is a great opportunity to talk with these representatives as well as obtain literature and applications on the programs you are interested in. We will be taking a limited number of students in grades 11 and 12 on a first come, first served basis. Acceptance will be based on the return of a signed parental permission slip provided by the guidance office. The due date for permission slips returned to the guidance office is Wednesday, September 22nd. The trip is being provided by the Great Maine Schools Grant.

EVENING SESSION: Held on Monday , September 27th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a special Financial Aid Workshop, entitled “Financing Your College Education” held at the Wells Conference Center (across from the Field House) from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This meeting is important to parents of students who plan to attend a post secondary program after graduation.

The guidance department strongly encourages parents to attend this workshop on financial aid.

For any Junior or Senior who is undecided about their future career choice or wants to reinforce his/her career plans, the Armed Services Vocational Battery (ASVAB) will be offered on September 21 .

Cooperative Education students will be taking the ASVAB as part of their Coop class.

This is an excellent opportunity to receive more information about your interests and aptitudes as they pertain to the multitude of careers there are avaiable to choose from.

The College Process Workshop will be held October 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the Central High School cafeteria.

The admissions office at Husson College will host the event .Carlena Bean, assistant director of admissions, will be representing all the college admissions offices of the New England Association of Admissions Counselors.

Mrs. Bean will be discussing the admissions process, applications, letters of recommendations, student essays and the interview process. There will be a power point presentation of selecting a major, college cost and hint to survive the first year.

It is highly recommended that all parents/guardians of students in grades 9 through 12 who plan to go on to college attend this important meeting. There is always information about college that changes from year to year.