Guidance

Education: B.A. Political Science, Virginia Tech
                   M.A. Counselor Education, Virginia Tech
                   Education Certification: 6-12 Social Studies Education
                   Education Certification: Pre K-12 Guidance Counselor

Other staff include...

Curd, Linda - lcurd@rcs.k12.va.us
Guidance Secretary

Education: G.S. Radford University, 1996

Extra Curricular Activities: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sponsor

Kier, Prestonia - pkier@rcs.k12.va.us
Student Assistant Program (SAP) Coordinator

Education: B.S. Sociology and Social Work, Hollins University, 2000
M.S.W. Social Work, Radford University, 2004

Student Assistant Program (SAP)

The Student Assistance Program or SAP at Northside High School (NHS) offers individual and group counseling to students with a variety of issues and needs. The main purpose of this service is to provide support and intervene with social, emotional, and behavioral issues that are interfering with a student's success at Northside. Please note that all services are confidential, voluntary and require parent or guardian permission.

SAP goals at NHS are to assist in promoting student wellness through individual counseling and group support with a focus on teaching skills that will help students cope with problems and stressors and manage their emotions and behaviors more effectively.

SAP at Northside High School

All groups utilize research and /or SAP approved curriculum. All groups are kept small (no more than 6 students) and are confidential. Please contact the SAP Coordinator if you have any further questions about groups.

Life Skills

This group curriculum (Youth Connection or Life Skills Training) is for students referred to SAP with difficulties in developing healthy relationships or healthy coping skills. Students learn about a broad range of topics including communication skills, assertiveness, self-image, decision-making skills, social skills, coping with anxiety, and facts and dangers pertaining to alcohol and other drugs.

Conflict Resolution

This group curriculum (Too Good For Violence or Aggressors, Victims and Bystanders) is for students referred to SAP

Whom to See for What???

General College and Career Information - Ms. Rhonda Kay, Career Center Manager

DMV Forms, Work Permits, Transcripts - Mrs. Linda Curd, Guidance Secretary

Specific College and Career Information - Your Counselor

Individual Counseling - Your Counselor

Guidance News

Information appearing in this section is as accurate and current as possible as of the dates shown. It does not supersede other daily announcements and/or publication of materials.

Desirable Testing Calendar

· Grade 10 – PSAT in October is recommended for students who have completed or are enrolled in Geometry.

· Grade 11 – PSAT in October

· Juniors planning Early Decision applications should begin taking SAT’s in Grade 11. If their school of choice requires the SAT II, they can be taken in the fall of their senior year.

· SAT – taken after the PSAT. Twice in grade 11 is recommended – usually 2^nd semester.

· Grade 12 – SAT in October or November

· SAT II – (Subject Tests) in December or January if required by your college. Are not required by all colleges. Check the requirements of your college of choice.

· ACT – Consists of four subject tests: English, Math, Reading and Science. The ACT is curriculum-based and is universally accepted for college admission. Some students prefer taking the ACT; you may take either the SAT, ACT or both.

Make plans for testing EARLY and register online. Pick up the forms in the guidance office or the career center.

2011-2012 Test Dates

SAT /SAT ll Test Date Reg. Deadline Late Reg. Testing Sites

Oct. 1 Sept. 9 Sept. 21 HVHS & PHHS
North Cross

Nov. 5 Oct. 7 Oct 21 PHHS & CSHS

Dec. 3 Nov. 8 Nov. 20 PHHS

2012 Jan. 28 Dec. 30 Jan. 13 PHHS

Mar. 10 Feb. 10 Feb. 24 HVHS & PHHS

May 5 Apr. 6 April 20 HVHS & PHHS
North Cross

June 2 May 8 May 22 CSHS & HVHS

ACT Sept. 10 Aug. 12 Aug. 13-26 CSHS

Oct. 22 Sept. 16 Sept 17-30 HVHS
North Cross

Dec. 10 Nov. 4 Nov. 5-18 No RKE locations

2012 Feb. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 14-20 HVHS

Apr. 14 Mar. 9 Mar. 10-23 North Cross

The CEEB/School Code for SAT and ACT is 471-942.

Fees for 2011-2012

SAT - $49 SAT II - $21 (Basic Registration; additional fees per test)
Late Fee - $25

ACT - $34 ACT/Writing - $49.50 Late Fee-$21

PAY YOUR FEES BY THE REGULAR DEADLINE AND AVOID THE ADDITIONAL LATE FEES.

****Visit www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org for more testing information and to take practice tests.

WORDS OF CAUTION!! Juniors, seniors and families are often contacted by people and organizations who will offer special services for a fee. Be Cautious! Counselors do not provide information to these groups. Final decisions are those of the parent and student but rarely do they provide more than can be found with a little individual research.

College Applications

Early Decision applications need to be sent to the college by November 1 Check the college websites and the College Handbook for regular deadlines.

All applications for regular admission must be in turned in to the Guidance Center no later than the first week of December.

Rolling admission applications will be processed throughout the year.

Completed applications are turned in to Mrs. Curd, Guidance Secretary, or your counselor. A two week notice before a given deadline is needed for the guidance office to process applications.

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE A CHECK FOR THE APPLICATION FEE.

Mrs. Curd will mail the application with your transcript & required recommendations.

If you are applying online, remember to print out the counselor/secondary report page and turn it in to your counselor.

Transcript Release Forms

A transcript is sent with each college application as well as most scholarship applications. If you apply online, you must still notify your counselor and fill out a form. The form must be signed by a parent if you are under the age of 18. Forms are available in the guidance office.

College Representatives

Colleges and universities are represented throughout the year to give students an opportunity to ask questions and make application if desired. The dates and times are announced, posted on the bulletin board by the Career Center and on the Northside High School website.

Students should listen carefully to the afternoon and morning announcements so that important upcoming events will not be missed.

Military Recruiters

Military recruiters are in the cafeteria during all three lunch periods throughout the school year.

*Reminder to all young men 18 or who might be approaching your 18^th birthday: It is the law that you register with the selective service within 30 days of turning 18. See Mrs. Curd in the guidance office.

Career Center

The Career Center is equipped with computers, college catalogs, reference books, and scholarship/financial aid information. The center is designed to serve the needs of students in their postsecondary educational choices and career pursuits.

Websites of Interest

Websites for general college information. These include tips on choosing and applying, resources on financial aid, college essays, etc.

www.kaplan.com – Links to colleges and provides information about college interviews and admissions
www.vawizard.org - A NEW online resource from Virginia's Community Colleges. The Wizard's guide, Jenny, walks students down a path towards college and careers, beginning with an interest inventory that connects personal interests and skills to a career. There is information on the education and training it takes to reach a career goal, how to transfer to a four year college, and projections of college costs. The Wizard also guides users through the application process for financial aid.
www.thecollegeplace.com – Planning & preparing for college; information for students with disabilities; general information on financial aid

Looking for links to home pages for specific types of colleges?

www.vaview.com – Provides information on College & Career planning in Virginia
www.explorevirginiacolleges.com – A one-stop shop for information about student loans, federal programs, scholarship services and more
www.vamentor.org – Provides information on colleges in Virginia
www.blackexcel.org – Links to historically black, African-American colleges
www.hbcuconnect.com – Another link to historically black colleges
www.questbridge.org- Connects low income students with admission and full four year scholarships to top rated colleges and universities.

Scholarship/Financial Aid Websites

· www.fastweb.com – The internet’s largest FREE scholarship search available to students and parents that is personalized and UPDATED DAILY. Register TODAY!

· www.collegeanswer.com – Are you tall? Left-handed? A customer of cablevision? Adopted? This site is worth a try. Fill out a questionnaire and a free database will offer scholarships for just about everyone.

· www.scholarshiphelp.org – This site offers great information on the total scholarship application process: applying, writing an essay, letters of recommendation, understanding hoe the awards are distributed and how to avoid scholarship scams

Career and Job information. If you aren’t ready for a two or four year degree right after high school of if you want to check out careers that interest you before you leave for college, consider some of these websites!

· www.ajb.dni.us – The America’s Job Bank. Offers the largest pool of active job opportunities anywhere and nationwide exposure for their resumes.

· www.careermag.com – Career Magazine – It provides Job Openings Database, The Resume Bank, Employer Profiles, Products and Services to help you manage your career.

· www.careermosaic.com – Leading employment site on the web. Information is available for resume and cover letter writing, relocation resources and wage & salary information.

· www.careers.org – Career Net – An index of career related web sites. Links to Career Gems, Job Posted Now and other valuable tools

· www.vaemploy.com – The Virginia Employment Commission’s service for individuals seeking jobs in the state of Virginia

Scholarship Information

Scholarship opportunities arrive continuously throughout the school year with a larger influx starting in January. Listings are updated frequently and are posted on the bulletin board next to the Career Center and on the NHS website. Students can also access this and other information on the Student Edition of Blackboard under Guidance.

Many applications are available online and the site is listed with the requirements of eligibility of the individual scholarships. Paper applications are available in the Career Center.

READ CAREFULLY! Most scholarship applications have several different parts. In addition to the application, recommendations and transcripts are often required.

RECOMMENDATIONS – If recommendations are required, make sure that you provide everyone you ask with the necessary forms and stamped envelopes well before their due date. Please be considerate and allow AT LEAST 2 WEEKS for your recommendations to be written. Please remember that it is the student’s responsibility to follow up and make sure that they are mailed on time.

TRANSCRIPTS – If a transcript is required, see Mrs. Curd or your counselor. A Transcript Release Form is required before it can be mailed. If you have applied to any colleges, the scholarship can be added to the original signed release form. Bring an envelope addressed to the scholarship committee with YOUR NAME written on the flap. (We need to know whose transcript we are mailing.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!