Counseling

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Welcome Freshmen Class!

The FWHS School Counseling Department is excited to welcome our new Freshman class.  Counselors will meet with students either individually or in small groups. During this meeting students will register and update information in Naviance Family Connection.  We encourage parents and students to access Naviance accounts using the following: Username is students first initial of first name and full last name (i.e MSmith).  The password is your student ID number.

We strongly encourage our students to be involved with clubs, activities and/or sports here at Warde.  Counselors will help students start to build a “Resume” in the “About Me” section of Naviance.  Students will be introduced to an official Warde transcript so they can begin to understand the importance of academic performance and how grades are reflected on an official document.

9th Grade Comprehensive School Counseling Programs

The goal of the 9th Grade Comprehensive School Counseling Program is to facilitate transition and growth and exploration in students.

• Throughout the year we will encourage them to experience and explore all of the opportunities available to them in school and within their community.
• Individual meeting
• Resume Building
• Career Interest Inventory Program
• Course Selection and long-term academic planning
• Academic Support
• Social/Emotional support

For the most current information, join our Google Classroom page!

The code to join for the Class of 2023: m5husue

Do What You Are

The school counseling department will be meeting with all sophomores, to administer a personality/career interest assessment. The Do What You Are survey is a personality type assessment that can reveal information about a student’s strengths and blind spots, recommended career paths and relevant college majors, as well as tips for conducting the most effective career search. Using personality type assessments helps students identify their natural tendencies. They can gain confidence and greater self-awareness as well as insights that help them make better decisions and take advantage of their innate strengths.

PSAT

When you think about the PSAT, you probably think of it as a pre-SAT.  It has actually become much more than that.  The Fairfield Public School System has adopted the PSAT as our new district assessment and the State of Connecticut has chosen the SAT as our new state assessment in place of SBAC.

While the PSAT is a great primer for the SAT (and even the ACT), it is more than just a trial run for the real thing.  The PSAT/NMSQT is an important step in your journey beyond high school.  The test offers you the opportunity to connect with colleges and universities, enter scholarship competitions, get ready for the new SAT and college, sharpen your skills with free practice on Khan Academy and learn what AP classes might coincide with your strengthens.  It is a wonderful chance for you to be recognized and rewarded for the skills and knowledge you’ve earned.

Additionally, the PSAT is a tool many colleges and universities use to identify students they think may make a good addition to their student body and who may be deserving of scholarships. These scores are a way for colleges to be more selective in their recruitment process, and having schools express interest in you and recruit you to apply can also increase confidence.

Next Steps:

• All 10^th and 11^th graders will be taking the PSAT in October during the school day.
• When your scores are available, counselors will distribute and review/ interpret scores with all students.  This is a great opportunity to discuss your individual testing plan with your school counselor.

10th Grade Comprehensive School Counseling Program

The goal of the 10th Grade Comprehensive School Counseling Program is to foster growth in students by:

• Encouraging them to experience and explore opportunities in school and within their community.  This will help to facilitate the self-awareness that is necessary for the Post HS Planning process.
• Continuing to foster student growth and resilience.  Being mindful will allow students to enjoy high school and continue their own unique growth.
• Encouraging quality involvement (not quantity) in Warde’s extra curricular offerings.

10th Grade Comprehensive School Counseling Activities:

• Review Resume and update activities
• Do What You Are
• Course Selection
• Academic Support
• Study Skills
• PSAT
• CAPT Science and PE requirements
• Student Advisor Opportunities
  • Student Advisor Job Descriptions

For the most current information, join our Google Classroom page!

The code to join for the Class of 2022: 4sjpopk

Class of 2021 Post High School Planning Guide: Post High School Planning Guide

Mustangs, Welcome to Junior Year!

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SENIOR TIMELINE

TESTING CALENDAR & INFORMATION 

C.E.E.B. Code for Fairfield Warde High School – 070186

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)

THE COLLEGE VISITS

 

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION are sent electronically through Family Connection

Letters of recommendation are the part of the application that allow college admissions officers the chance to hear from your school counselor and teachers what you are like as a student. In general, colleges will be looking for a letter from your counselor, as well as one or two from your classroom teachers. Each letter provides admissions counselors with different information about you. It is the student’s responsibility to coordinate teacher letters of recommendation to their prospective colleges. The general application requirement is one counselor and two teacher recommendations.

• At least one letter should be from a junior year teacher.
• At least one letter should be from an academic teacher.
• Pick teachers who know you the best.
• This is a two-fold process (a) speak to the teacher in person AND (b) indicate in Family

Connection on the “Colleges I’m Applying to” page who you are asking by sending an email.

• Give the teacher plenty of time to write the letter. Approximately 2-3 weeks or check with teacher.
• Make sure to write a thank you note to anyone who writes you a letter.

COLLEGE ESSAY

Most colleges are seeking complete information about you that will help them decide how happy and successful you will be on their campus. They want clues on the following:

• Your thought process and problem solving skills
• How resourceful you are
• Your reasons for choosing their college or university
• What you want to do with your education
• How accurately you express yourself
• Your values, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, aspirations, disappointments

In writing your statement, keep the following in mind:
Be pertinent: avoid hyperbole and verbiage
Be clear: answer the question
Be grammatical: use proper spelling, punctuation, etc.
Be prepared: conduct a short interview with yourself to begin the thought process.
Be thorough: include meaningful statements on involvement in hobbies, talents, work, community, vacation or travel experience, interests, books, kinds of movies, shows, concerts and games that you attend.

HOW COLLEGES REVIEW APPLICATIONS

The National Association for College Admission Counseling has been surveying institutions and the relative value of each factor in the admissions decision. According to the 2008 State of Admissions report published by NACAC, the values have remained fairly consistent over time. Listed below are the top factors in order of importance. Grades in college prep courses (which are an indication of the strength of curriculum) have remained the number one factor in the decision about whom to admit to college.

• Transcript
• Strength of schedule (AP, Honors, College Prep)
• Weighted grade point average
• Number of courses taken each year
• Grade Trend: an upward trend in grades will be noticed (but so will a downward trend)
• Senior schedule- is the student continuing to challenge him or herself
• Strength of high school
• Standardized test results- SAT, ACT (there are a growing number of colleges that list standardized testing as an optional part of the application)
• Student Essay or Writing Sample
• Demonstrated interest in the college- has the student visited? Met with the college representative when he/she visited the high school?
• Counselor Recommendation
• Teacher Recommendation
• Interview- if offered by the institution
• Advanced Placement Test(s)
• Extracurricular activities- athletics, clubs, volunteer
• SAT Subject Test(s) Scores
• State Graduation Exam Scores
• Employment

COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Complete the following:

Recommendation Questionnaire (in Family Connection > About Me)

• Parent Brag Sheet (in Family Connection > About Me)
• Transcript Release Form (Parent must sign)
• Register with Common Application (www.commonapp.org)
• “Colleges I’m Applying To” in Family Connection
• College Application Form

Schedule a full period appointment with your counselor at least 3 weeks before your earliest college deadline.
Complete “My Resume” in Family Connection/prepare your own resume.
Submit SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests, as required.

Request teachers’ recommendations and write thank you notes to teachers.
Write your college essaty.
Complete college application (s), include payment and make a copy for your records. If applicable, register with NCAA & submit transcript request form.

STUDENT & PARENT ADVICE REGARDING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

• Start looking at colleges in the spring; start your essays over the summer
• Campus visits can help you narrow your lists down
• Like your safety schools- you may need them
• Don’t just pick a school because your friends like it
• Don’t get hooked on just one school; you may not get in there
• Your ideas about what you want will change over time
• Don’t obsess about the college process; you still need to do well in school
• Ask your teachers early to write letters for you so they have time
• If you want to submit a portfolio with your applications talk to your art teachers for help
• Familiarize yourself with an application
• Think long term when scheduling your testing dates
• Register for the SAT and ACT early so you get home site
• Use the Common Application
• Send an essay even if it is not required
• Save a writing sample from your junior year
• The college process is a stressful one; try to step back and relax
• Fairfield students tend to apply to the same schools; work hard on exploring new options
• Research many schools. Focus and apply to 6-8 to guarantee quality applications
• Stay Organized
• Encourage the student to take ownership and responsibility for this process.

FINANCIAL AID

Most financial aid is distributed by the colleges to students. In order to qualify for aid students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January or February of Senior year. Some schools also require the CSS Financial Aid Profile and/or forms of their own. These forms are available in the counselor’s offices or College Career Center at the high school or online.

College Financial Aid Night Presentation

 

Mission Statement 

The Counseling Center’s mission is to provide a wide array of support services to FWHS students and their families who are experiencing difficulties that impact on their academic success.

We recognize that students’ academic achievement is impacted by a wide range of social-emotional concerns such as divorce, death, depression, peer conflict, anxiety & chemical dependency. Our purpose is to assist students and their families in developing alternative coping strategies to improve the quality of their lives and school performance.

We provide a caring atmosphere that is both respectful and affirming of culture, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

Services

• Short and Long Term Counseling
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Psycho-Educational Testing
• Crisis Intervention
• Assessment and Referral to Community Resources
• Parent Support Group

Referral Process

Students, school counselors, teachers and parents may contact the Counseling Center by telephone or in person to schedule an appointment with a staff member. Support is open to all students attending FWHS.

All contacts are confidential as outlined in the Connecticut State statues.

Phone: (203) 255-8360

Counseling Center is located in Townsend House Room T-32

Articles and Resources:

• Anxiety- A Handout for Parents 

For more information:

• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Anxiety & Depression Association of America
• Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• National Association of School Psychologists
• National Institute of Mental Health