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JPII Guidance and Counseling Staff

Peter Frein (Last Names A-E) - peterfrein@johnpauliihs.org

Brandy Gass (Last names F-K) - brandygass@johnpauliihs.org

Becky Heslep (Last Names: L-Q) - beckyheslep@johnpauliihs.org

Rhonda Ramirez (Last Names: R-Z) - rhondaramirez@johnpauliihs.org

Mickey Saloma (College Counseling) - mickeysaloma@johnpauliihs.org

Melissa Fernandez (Assistant) melissafernandez@johnpauliihs.org

Julie Furlong (Registrar) juliefurlong@johnpauliihs.org

Dr. Laura McCorkle (Learning Specialist) - lauramccorkle@johnpauliihs.org

Mike Rock (Learning Specialist) - mikerock@johnpauliihs.org

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Other Duties as Assigned

Rhonda Ramirez

Lead Counselor/Counseling Protocols

Brandy Gass and Becky Heslep

PSAT and AP Testing

Peter Frein

Dual Credit

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Our Vision

The Vision of John Paul II High School's Counseling Office is guided by our commitment to provide a safe, nurturing environment where the entire learning community addresses the unique needs of students to ensure students reach their fullest potential and successfully manage their lives as healthy, responsible, competent and productive citizens who respect themselves and others. Collaborating with students, parents, faculty and staff, we will foster the development of the entire person – mental, spiritual, academic and social.

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What Do School Counselors Do?

School Counselors help ALL students:

Apply academic achievement strategies
Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills
Plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force)

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How Do We Accomplish Those Tasks?

DEFINE:

MANAGE:

Create Vision/Mission statements
Develop SMART Goals for the year

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Based

Attend Annual Administrative Conference
Analyse our Use of Time (80%Direct/20%Indirect)
Set a Yearly Calendar (Annual/Weekly)
Conduct Needs Assessment with Stakeholders
Create a Counseling Advisory Council

PLANNING BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

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How Do We Accomplish Those Goals?

DELIVER:

Direct Services (80% of time)

Classroom Guidance Lessons

Orientation to the Counseling Program, Bullying/Cyberbullying/Harassment Prevention, Conflict Resolution, College & Career Readiness, Suicide Prevention/Mental Health Awareness, Drug Education Prevention, and 3 from Needs Assessment
Monthly through English and Theology classes

Individual Advisement (1:1)

Referral (Student, Parent/Guardian, Faculty, Peer, Gaggle)
Minute Meetings (Fall)
Choice of Subject (Spring)

Responsive or Small Group Counseling (6 sessions)

Anxiety (September-December) (January-April)
The Shade (Calming Room)
Community Resources

Children’s TeleHealth

College, Career, & Military Support

Indirect Services (20% of time)

Advocate for students’ needs with stakeholders
Provide staff training
Refer to outside resources (short- and long-term counseling)

AFTER SCHOOL ENDING

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Digital PSAT/NMSQT Testing

Wednesday, October 11th�
Half-Day Schedule (More details will be sent soon)

Total test time is 134 minutes
Students will report to their assigned testing rooms�

New Digital Format

Bluebook App - Students will be downloading to their devices on Sept. 7th during Cohorts.
Students can log in using their College Board accounts to see practice tests and questions.
Tools built into the test: calculator, reference sheet, annotation and highlight tools.
Results will be released around November 6th.�

What to Bring:

Charged laptop, charger, acceptable calculator for the Math Section & a bottle of water.

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AP Timeline

All Students in AP Classes will. . .

*Join AP Classroom–August-September 18th

*Register and Pay for AP exams in Total Registration–September � 18th-October 31st (including exams for 2nd semester � classes)--instructions will be in AP � class(es) and in school announcements/newsletters

*Take exams–May 6th-17th

*Receive exam results in Collegeboard account–July 2024

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AP Testing

Dates: May 6th-17th (the first 2 full weeks of May)

Late testing with approval May 19th-23rd

Cost per exam: $101.00–payments will be made in Total � Registration

Exam Times: AM exams–8:00 am (arrive-testing room at 7:30)

PM exams–12:00 pm (arrive-testing room at 11:30)

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AP Benefits

* Develop essential skills and self confidence needed for college success–time-management skills, study skills, problem-solving skills

*Predict college success–students who receive at least a 2 on an AP exam are ready for college work (2023 results–93.3% of our scores were a 2 or higher)

*Earn College Credit–students who receive at least a 3 on an AP exam can earn college credit for the course depending on college attending (2023 results–70% of our scores were a 3 or higher)

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Dual Credit

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Registration/Payment

Dualenroll

$75/credit–$225 per class

Payment via mail

Working on an online option

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Pros/Cons of Dual Credit

Pros

• Highly transferrable

• Utility

• Great way to challenge oneself

• Easier to earn credit than AP

Potential Cons

• Top 50 schools

• Risky if not prepared for college-

level rigor

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Admissions 101

What Are Colleges Looking For?
What Matters the Most?

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Factors in admission

Academic Record

SAT or ACT

Resume

Rec Letters

Essays/SAQs

More factors:

Interview

Institutional priorities

Demonstrated interest

Artistic supplement

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Colleges care about a combination of rigor and GPA. Did you do and try your best?
They take into account grade trends. Did you limp to the finish line?
Your story is not fully written. In some cases, fall grades will make a difference.
UT/A&M do not look at fall grades for Seniors.
6 Semester Transcripts will be sent electronically via Naviance.

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You own your test scores, as such you are always responsible for sending them.

Discuss with me what you should take and what you should send.

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SAT or ACT? SAT and ACT?

	ACT	SAT
Total Time	English – 45 minutes/75 questions Math – 60 minutes/60 questions Reading – 35 minutes/40 questions Science – 35 minutes/40 questions	Reading – 65 minutes/52 questions Writing – 35 minutes/44 questions Math NC – 25 minutes/20 questions Macth WC – 55 minutes/38 Questions
Order of Sections	English Math Reading Science Reasoning	Reading Writing & Language Math no Calculator Math with Calculator
Scoring	1-36 Scale	400-1600 Scale

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Important Facts about the PSAT, SAT & ACT Tests

	Digital PSAT Test	Paper SAT Test	Digital SAT Test	ACT Test
Sections	Reading & Writing Math (with calculator) * Adaptive test with two modules per section	Reading Writing (grammar) Math – no calculator Math with calculator	Reading & Writing Math (with calculator) * Adaptive test with two modules per section	English Math Reading Science
Section Scores	Reading & Writing 160-760 Math 160-760	Reading and Writing 200-800 Math 200-800	Reading/Writing 200-800 Math 200-800	Each Section is Scored 1-36
Composite Score	Sum of Reading & Math Sections (320-1520)	Sum English/Math Sections (400-1600)	Sum of English/Math Sections (400-1600)	Average of Section Scores (1-36)
Timing	Reading & Writing – 64m/54Qs Math – 70m/44Qs Total = 134 minutes	Reading – 65m/52Qs Writing – 35m/44Qs Math NC – 25m/20Qs Math wC – 55m/38Qs Total = 180 minutes	Reading & Writing – 64m/54Qs Math – 70m/44Qs Total = 134 minutes	English – 45m/75Qs Math – 60m/60Qs Reading – 45m/40Qs Science – 35m/40Qs Total = 175 minutes
Essay	None	None	None

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Essay

The College Essay/Personal Statement is your time to articulate your point of view! What makes you unique? Why are you the way you are? How do you learn, lead and/or collaborate?

Resume

An important nugget that provides context – what do you do when you aren’t in class?

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Demonstrating Interest

Have you visited campus?
Are they visiting JPII?
DFW Catholic School College Fair – September 12^th 7-9pm at Jesuit
Who is your Admissions Counselor? Do they know you?
Are you reading your emails?

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Navigating Naviance

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Naviance 101

Researching Colleges
Careers and Clusters Section
Scattergrams...totally deceiving

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SuperMatch College Search

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Explore Careers

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Scattergrams

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Junior Year Timeline

FALL

Test Prep!
Take SAT before the format changes!
Visit colleges
Keep your grades up!

WINTER

Test Prep!
SAT again? ACT?
Visit colleges
Keep your grades up!

SPRING

Test Prep!
SAT again? ACT again?
Visit Colleges
Keep your grades up!

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Senior Year Timeline