9th Grade Group Meetings

Counselors meet with small groups of 9th grade students to get to know them and to establish a relationship that will continue throughout high school.  They also have an opportunity to hear about any student concerns and answer questions. 

PSAT Presentations

Counselors visit every 10th and 11th grade English class to discuss the PSAT, the standardized preliminary test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. Students view a PowerPoint presentation explaining the components of the exam, sample questions and some test taking strategies.  Counselors will re-visit these classes after test scores are received to explain and interpret the results. 

10th Grade Family Connection Presentations

Family Connection is a web-based program designed to assist students and their families in the college search process. It can be used to access information about colleges, learn about scholarship opportunities, and view how other Eastchester students have fared in their application to particular colleges. All 10th grade students will meet with a counselor in small groups during the spring to learn how to use this helpful program and set up personal accounts.

Course Selection Meetings

Each spring students in 9th, 10th and 11th grade will meet with a counselor in small groups to review course requirements, course offerings and select their courses for the following year. Counselors work with each student to ensure that all graduation requirements are being met and that each student is taking an appropriate schedule of courses.

 

College Planning

College Application Process

HS Counselors work with all 12th grade students on an ongoing basis throughout the entire college application process. Counselors provide assistance at all steps of the process, from helping to research colleges to reviewing essays and applications.

Visits by Colleges

College representatives visit the High School to provide students with an overview of their academic programs and admissions process.  The dates of the visits are posted on the wall outside the guidance office, on TCCI and are read on the morning announcements each day. Attending these meetings with college representatives allows students to develop an important connection with admissions personnel.  Juniors are also encouraged to attend.

Individual Post-High School Planning Meetings

Meetings with juniors and their parents will begin in January to plan for college and other post-high school technical school or career opportunities.

Scholarships

Scholarships can be awarded from the college directly as well as from private organizations. Additional applications are often required for scholarships. Eastchester High School nwill dustribute information on local scholarships to 12th grade students each spring. The counseling department also updates information on private scholarships through TCCi-Family Connection.

Special Programs:

• Ninth Grade Parent Orientation-

  This evening presentation is for parents of ninth grade students.  Topics to be discussed include transition to high school, graduation requirements and grades and transcripts. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet and speak with our guidance counselors.

• Financial Aid Night - Annual meeting on financing college will be held on Nov. 13th at 7 PM. Heather McDonnell of Sarah Lawrence College will give the presentation.  Parents of all high school students are encouraged to attend.

• College Night - A panel of Deans of Admission from several colleges will be here to provide insight and advice about the college application process.  This presentation will be in April 2009 and is intended for all high school students and parents.

• Alumni Presentation - The HS Guidance Department and the PTA annually invite alumni to come back to share their college experiences.  This is an excellent opportunity to hear directly from students on topics such as the college application process and transition to college.  This meeting will be held in January.  Parents and students are encouraged to attend this enlightening meeting.

• Career Café- This program is designed to help students explore various careers in a unique format. A series of lunches take place throughout the school year, each focusing on a different career cluster. Some of the different careers represented during the last school year were business, law, healthcare and engineering/architecture. Structuring this program as a "business lunch" gives students the opportunity to learn about skills that are important for all careers, such as etiquette, interviewing skills, and writing skills through the use of thank you notes for each visiting career professional. Careers that are represented may vary by year depending on different interests that our students express.