JUNIOR Handbook Table to Contents
Welcome and Reminders…………………………………………………………………………Page 3
Junior Planning Calendar………………………………………………………………………….Page 4
Job/Career Information………….……………………………………………………………....Page 5
Types of Post Secondary Schools……………………………………………………………..Page 6
College Lingo….……………………………………………………………………………………....Page 8
Military…………………………………………………………………………………………………....Page 9
Technical Schools and Community College.………………………………………………Page 10
College Choice Factors …………….……………………………………………………….…...Page 11
Campus Visits……………………………………………………………………………………..….Page 12
Testing……………….…………………………………………………………………………………..Page 14
College Application Process……………..…………………………………………….………Page 16
Scholarships.…………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 17
Student Activity Record………………………..…………………………………………..……Page 18
Planning for your Senior year classes/Graduation…………………………………..Page 20
US News article………………………………………………………………………………………Page 22
All students attending Augusta County Public Schools may participate in education programs and activities, including but not limited to health and physical education, music, vocational and technical education. Educational programs and services will be designed to meet the varying needs of all students and will not discriminate against any individual for reasons of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or gender. Students and school personnel are protected against retaliation.
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policiesTitle IX Coordinator
Eric W. Bond
6 John Lewis Road
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 245-5107 /
Section 504 Coordinator
George Earhart
6 John Lewis Road
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 245-5107
We are an equal opportunity employer who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, or disability.
Juniors
This booklet contains employment, career and college information. Developing a career and/or college plan is a very important step in preparing for your life after high school. As Juniors, you need to develop career goals and determine further educational and occupational opportunities that will enable you to reach your goals. Choosing a career is a big decision. But you don't have to sweat it—planning for your future is not something you do once. It's a continuous process. Please read this information carefully and share it with your parents/guardians.
This handbook is filled with information that will be essential in the coming months as you plan and prepare for your life after graduation from SDHS. Please review it carefully and keep the following in mind:
o Stay focused on academics. We know you are busy with extracurricular activities and outside jobs which are important to you, but you must keep schoolwork as your first priority! Stay focused on academics. Your GPA counts!
o Keep an accurate calendar or planner. You will need to keep track of testing dates (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.) as well as other important dates.
o Complete a career inventory to help you narrow down your options and interests for after high school.
o Periodically check the scholarship board for information and conduct your own internet search. There are millions of scholarship opportunities out there too numerous for guidance to list them all.
o Make use of the many resources available to you: this handbook, the internet, the Guidance Office, etc.
o Listen to or read the announcements every day. The announcements are posted on SDHS web page.
o See your guidance counselor often!
o Have a great year!
JUNIOR PLANNING CALENDAR
September/October
o Check with your counselor about credits for graduation and make sure you are on track.
o Register for, prepare for and take the PSAT test.
o Organize a calendar with deadlines. Use your planner/agenda.
o Attend College Night on September 25th at Riverheads High School
o Begin to periodically check scholarship board and the guidance website (this should be ongoing throughout 11th and 12th grades).
November
o Develop a preliminary college/career list with parents and counselor.
o Talk with military, college, and vocational school representatives (sign up for college visits through the Guidance Office).
o Take the ASVAB (for those interested in military or career exploration).
o Visit Guidance office for career/college information.
o Register for senior classes.
December/January
o Discuss PSAT scores with counselor, begin SAT/ACT preparation.
February/March
o Continue SAT/ACT preparation.
o Register to take SAT/ACT in May or June.
o Write to colleges or other programs for brochures and admission information.
April
o Add activities, scholarships, and awards to activity sheet.
o Prepare a resume and begin looking for a summer job or volunteer program.
May
o AP exams given.
o Make appointments to visit colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools during the summer.
o Take SAT/ACT this month or next.
June
o Take SAT/ACT if you have not done so or take SAT Subject Tests if required by college you are applying to.
o Athletes need to complete paperwork for NCAA Clearinghouse (please review NCAA transcript, GPA and test score eligibility requirements at ncaaclearinghouse.com).
Job/Career Information and Resources
VIRGINIA EDUCATION WIZARD
The Wizard is a FREE career planning system that can help you choose a career, get the information you need to pursue your career, enroll in one of Virginia's community colleges, pay for college, transfer to a four-year college or university, and get answers to your questions about your future.
ASVAB
The ASVAB is an assessment offered by the U.S. Department of Defense that evaluates General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Numerical Operations, Coding Speed, Auto and Shop Information, Mathematics Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension and Electronics. It is used as an assessment tool for those planning to enlist in a branch of the military. However, it can also be used to explore personal skills and aptitudes.
Career Coach
Mrs. Wangler is on SDHS campus several days each week to provide career planning for our students. The Career Coach has the KUDER Career Planning System available and she can assist you in taking their career assessments. She is available to help students explore the many career paths that are available.
Career Assessment Center
The CAC is located at the Valley Vocational Technical Center and it can offer a comprehensive interest, skill and aptitude assessment for students free of charge. Referrals can be made through the guidance department
Magellan is an assessment designed to help students narrow choices into their top three interests. Additionally, students answer questions relating to their physical/people skills, and time and temperament preferences. These results are based on Department of Labor Standards.
Learning/Working Styles is an assessment that helps the student to identify and understand the best conditions under which they concentrate, absorb and retain new information. It is divided into the following domains: physical, social, environmental, mode of expression, and work characteristic.
Workstations give students hands on opportunity to try over 35 different career options.
Types of Post-Secondary Schools
Technical Institutes/ Professional Schools (see page 8)
These schools offer very specific programs leading to career preparation. Please be careful and check out the schools accreditation.
Community Colleges (see page 9)
Community colleges are public two-year institutions. Their objective is to offer programs that are financially and geographically accessible to the local community. Most of them offer two-year transfer programs to larger colleges and universities.
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal Arts colleges are typically smaller than universities and have smaller classes taught mostly by professors. A liberal arts education features a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences and sciences.
Universities
Universities usually have a larger enrollment and include a liberal arts college, professional colleges and graduate programs. Because of their size, universities offer a broader range of academic choices and may have more resources.
Miscellaneous
Class Rank – SDHS does not determine class rank for Juniors. We do print out a GPA based on your last two years of grades from the High School. The SIS data base calculates this GPA. The GPA that you see on your report card is not your Total GPA for two years it is the GPA for the marking period. Class rank will be calculated over the summer before your senior year.
Selective Service - All 17 and 18 year old male students who are not registered with the Selective Service must do so within 30 days of turning 18. You must register - it is a Federal law. This is not a school requirement. If you fail to register it will affect your ability to receive federal college loans and grants and student aid in most states. In addition, it will affect your ability to receive job training or gain citizenship if you are a male immigrant seeking U.S. citizenship. It will even curtail your opportunities to get many good jobs in the future. Go online at www.sss.gov or fill out a registration card at any Post Office.
Other Career Opportunities
Apprenticeships - If you like to work with your hands and your mind, you might want to consider an apprenticeship after high school. More than 850 occupations can be learned on the job through an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship prepares you for a career through a structured program of on-the-job learning with classroom instruction, while you work and earn a salary. The programs can last from one to six years and you can choose careers in areas such as telecommunications, health care, computing, business support and the arts. The most common apprenticeships are in construction and manufacturing.
Most apprenticeships are registered through the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring the program meets government standards for fairness, safety and training. If you complete a registered program, you will receive a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor which proves your qualifications for the career. Also, classroom instruction often can be used to earn a license, certification or degree.
Following are the top 10 occupations offering apprenticeships that expect to have the most job openings for new workers (2000-2010):
· cook, restaurant and cafeteria
· automotive service technician, mechanic
· licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse
· carpenter
· police officer
· electrician
· hairdresser, cosmetologist
· maintenance and repair worker
· welder, cutter, solderer and brazer
· plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter
For more information on apprenticeships, visit with your guidance counselor. You also can call America's Workforce Network toll-free at (877) US2-JOBS. (872-5672) Operators can help you find career counselors and apprenticeship programs in your area.
On the Job Training – Some students will choose not to continue with their education after high school but they too can look at their career goals. Many people have managed to work their way into higher level positions through their own initiative and establishing excellent work habits. Employers value employees that show up to work on time and who take on more than the job they were hired for. Always be on the look out for how you can cross-train while on the job. This means learning the jobs of the other people that you work with to make yourself invaluable to your employer and when a higher position opens you will be ready to apply for it.
College Lingo
Accreditation – Accreditation is recognition of a college or university by a regional or national organization which indicates the institution has met the standards prescribed by the organization. Specialized accreditation of individual programs within the college/university can also be granted by professional organizations recognizing minimum standards for training for that profession.
Affiliation – Non-profit colleges are classified as state assisted, private/independent or private/church supported. The institution’s affiliation does not guarantee quality. Affiliation with private/church-supported schools may or may not have requirements for religious life.
Articulation Agreement – Articulation agreements relate to the transfer of students and their credits between two colleges or between high school and college such as dual enrollment courses. For example, BRCC has an articulation agreement for students transferring to JMU regarding how their credits will be accepted at JMU. BRCC also has an articulation agreement with SDHS conferring college credit to students successfully completing dual enrollment courses.
Deferred Admission - This type of admission allows a student to delay enrollment in college for up to a year while still accepting an offer of admission.
Early Decision – The early decision option allows students who apply earlier to receive offers of admission earlier. Some schools made early decision a binding agreement in which the student is committed to enroll if offered admission. Typically early decision candidates are sure of the school they want to attend and closely match that school’s academic profile.
Early Action - Students apply earlier and are notified about the admissions decision earlier but are not committed to attend.
Rolling Admission – Student applications are reviewed as they are received and students are notified shortly after an admissions decision has been made. Because of this process, schools with a rolling admission will not have specific deadlines for applications or notifications.
Bachelors or baccalaureate degree - Complete a four- or five-year, full-time program of study (or its part-time equivalent) at a college. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the most common.
Associate degree -You receive an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree after completing two years of study similar to the first two years of a four-year college. Community colleges or four-year universities offer associate degrees. After earning an AA or an AS, you may transfer to a four-year college to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree. The associate of applied science (AAS) degree is awarded on completion of technological or vocation programs of study.
Certificate/Diploma - These non-degree offerings generally lead to employment in an occupational field. For example, to enter certain fields such as computer science as a computer technician or nursing as a LPN, you may first have to get a certificate or diploma.
Military Options
Military Enlistment
The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard offer job training in many fields as well as some financial assistance for college.
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
The ROTC program provides an opportunity to attend college while studying military leadership and skills. ROTC is usually a college elective that requires approximately four hours per week of your time. The first two years of the program do not require a military commitment. However, enrolling in advanced ROTC does incur a military obligation.