Counseling Corner - October

The Counseling Corner

The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School

October 2011 Tishrei 5772

The Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School The Henrietta Scheck Middle School

From the College Counseling Office Dear Hillel Families, The College Counseling Office has been working non-stop to assist the seniors with their college applications and we are excited by not just their progress so far, but by the diversity of schools and programs Hillel students are interested in this year. We invite you to continue to read about important college counseling information that will help Grades 9-12, as they continue to work hard both in and out of the classroom.

FIU Dual Enrollment

Hillel and FIU proudly announced the launch of the Hillel/Florida International University Dual Enrollment Program in September. This effort provides juniors and seniors with the opportunity to take college-level courses at FIU-Biscayne Bay as a supplement to Hillel courses. These courses can be taken to satisfy Hillel’s graduation requirements and will be included in the Hillel GPA and listed as a college-level course on their transcript. We recognize the importance of such course experience and are confident that prospective colleges will also see the value to these added courses. In addition, dual-enrolled students will be able to take advantage of all of FIU’s facilities including the library. In October, all Juniors and Seniors will be visiting the FIUBiscayne Bay campus to get a tour of the school and learn more about this great opportunity.

Bright Futures In 1997, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to reward students for their academic achievements during high school by providing funding to attend postsecondary education in Florida.

All 2011-2012 graduating seniors will be required to submit a complete, error-free FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) along with their Bright Futures application in order to be considered for Bright Futures, Florida Resident Access Grant, and other awards. The following chart shows a breakdown of the academic eligibility standards for Bright Futures

Student’s High School Graduation Year

Required SAT/ACT Score to Earn FAS Award

Required SAT/ACT Score to Earn FMS Award

Initial Eligibility Year (1st academic year after high school graduation) 2012-2013

2011-2012

1270 SAT 28 ACT

980 SAT 21 ACT

2012-2013

1280 SAT 28 ACT

1020 SAT 22 ACT

2013-2014

2013-2014

1290 SAT 29 ACT

1170 SAT 26 ACT

2014-2015

Number of FAS/FMS Hours of Funding Available

Number of GSV Hours of Funding Available

Number of Years of Funding Available

100% of program of study up to 120 credit hours 100% of program of study up to 120 credit hours 100% of program of study up to 120 credit hours

100% of program of study up to 90 credit hours 100% of program of study up to 90 credit hours 100% of program of study up to 90 credit hours

Up to 5 years from high school graduation

Admission Criteria for Florida State Schools

The college counselors joined hundreds of other counselors from South Florida, September 13, at the State University Systems Admissions Director Tour. This program brought together the admission directors of the 11 Florida state universities to discuss new programs, initiatives and admission criteria. With more than 60% of Hillel students attending a Florida school, we felt it crucial to provide you with the current admission criteria for the 2011-2012 school year.

See page 3.

Up to 5 years from high school graduation Up to 5 years from high school graduation

GPA

SAT Reading

SAT Math

ACT

The New College of South Florida University of Florida

4.2 4.1

680 615

635 (1315) 635(1250)

27-30 26-31

Florida State University University of Central Florida University of South Florida Florida International University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Atlantic University University of North Florida University of West Florida Florida A&M University

3.7 3.7 3.6 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.5

595 575 565 565 520 525 560 540 455

605(1200) 605(1180) 575(1140) 575(1149) 510(1030) 495(1020) 555(1115) 520(1060) 445(900)

24-28 23-28 22-28 22-28 19-24 21-25 21-24 21-25 17-21

PSAT Information Wednesday, October 26, Hillel’s Grade 10-11 students will participate in the PSAT/NMSQT (Pre SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). This standardized test is a predictor of a student’s abilities on the SAT/ACT that he/she will take for the college application process. All Hillel students have been given a practice PSAT booklet along with a registration form. Students need to return the registration form with a $15 check to Ms. Rita Jacobson in the Guidance Office by October 11. If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Dana Ponsky at ponsky@ehillel. org or 305-931-2831 x151 Warm regards, Vanessa Donaher Director of College Counseling 305-931-2831 x132 donaher@ehillel.org

Dana Ponsky College Counselor 305-931-2831 x151 ponsky@ehillel.org

From the School Counseling Office

Hillel’s school counseling department delivers a proactive and preventive comprehensive counseling program that supports all facets of the educational environment, nurturing full academic potential by facilitating all students’ personal, social, academic and college/career development. School counselors work proactively with students, advocating for their academic needs and helping to remove barriers to learning. Through developmentally based counseling curriculum, responsive services, and individual student planning counselors work with students and families to learn skills that will empower them to manage their own personal, social and academic development.

Counselors collaborate with the department of Student Life, the Dean of Students, teachers, administrators and families to ensure that the program goals are met through all aspects of the school environment. Counseling programs strive to enrich student lives through Jewish values and character building.

Our Comprehensive Program Upper School counseling services are delivered through three components:

Upper School Guidance Curriculum (Grades 6-12)

Guidance Curriculum

Provides guidance content in a systematic way for the purpose of skill development and application of skills learned.

Individual Planning

Assists students in planning, monitoring, and managing their educational, personal/social, and college/career development goals.

Area and Activities Addressed: Topics Addressed:

Responsive Services Addresses the immediate concerns of students. The purpose is prevention, intervention and referral as needed. Help students address more serious concerns or problems.

Topics Addressed:

• Academic development • Educational development • Academic development • Attitudes and skills that contribute • Educational goals • Academics t to lifelong learning • Placement • School phobia • Transitioning • Transitional needs • Achievement and motivation • Academic goal setting • Multi-Year course plans • Test anxiety • Personal/Social Development • Accommodations • Special needs •Self-concept, self-awareness, • Interpretation and dissemination • Accommodations self-acceptance of standardized test results • Personal/Social Development • Respect • Personal/Social Development • Peer conflicts • Character Education • Setting personal goals • Separation anxiety • Interpersonal relationships • Improvement planning • Stress management • Goal Setting • College/Career Planning • Crisis management • Decision Making • Career assessments • Grief/loss/death • Problem Solving • College planning • Relationship concerns • Personal safety • Family/parental issues • College/Career Development • Abuse • Career exploration • Substance abuse • College/Career planning and goal • Mental illness s setting

Grade 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 All

Guidance Curriculum Topics

Middle School transition, organizational skill sets, self-awareness, identity, managing emotions, controlling impulses Self-respect and respect of others, relationship skills, study skills/habits High School readiness, individual learning styles, decision-making, community/cultural understanding High School Transition, peer pressure, study skills, time management, problem-solving Character education, stress management, personality and career assessments College readiness (SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT), goal setting, healthy decisions College applications, living independently, personal and Jewish identity in the post-secondary world Empathy training, drug and alcohol education, social networking training

For information about the elements of the Lower School counseling program, please be in touch with Dr. Nancy Gould, Lower School Counselor.

Meet our School Counselors

Lois Perlman, Grades 10-11

Lois Perlman is beginning her 18 year as a school counselor at Hillel.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing from Hunter College in New York, a Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling from Chapman College in Los Angeles, and is a licensed registered nurse.

Mrs. Perlman is a dedicated member of the Upper School Guidance Department, working throughout the years throughout Grades 6-12.

Prior to coming to Hillel, Mrs. Perlman worked for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Before she moved to Florida, she lived on Long Island and worked 6 as a Guidance Counselor for C.W. Post College. Her career has afforded her opportunities to work in pediatrics, teach math and science, serve as head of the Health Services Department at a Community College in Northern California, and

Linda Feigenbaum, Grades 8-9

Linda Feigenbaum is beginning her 10 year at Hillel. Linda received two undergraduate degrees - one in nursing from Corning College, and another in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has a Master’s degree in psychology, program of marriage and family therapy, from Texas Woman’s University. She is also a licensed registered nurse. Prior to coming to Hillel, Linda was the director of an Adolescent Residential Psychiatric

Treatment Program, developed and managed a behavioral health Program for the Visiting Nurse Association in Baltimore, maintained a private practice, and held various managerial positions on adolescent and adult inpatient mental health and substance abuse units. She was a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and Research Associate at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas,

teach courses in Health and Group Dynamics at the college level. She is a member of ASCA (The American School Counselor Association).

where she managed an outpatient Childhood Affective Disorders Clinic and developed national grant funded research. She has been published four times in medical journals addressing research on childhood depression and eating disorders. She received specialized training in Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Mrs. Feigenbaum is a member of ASCA (The American School Counselor Association).

Whitney Fisch, Grades 6-7

Whitney Fisch joins Hillel this year.

Whitney received her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Wooster and her Master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan.

In between her two degrees, she spent a year in Israel studying Torah, Jewish philosophy and social justice at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and served as the volunteer coordinator for the Jerusalem Open

Nancy Gould, Grades PreK-5

Nancy Gould is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and joins Hillel this year.

Dr. Gould received her undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova University. She has more than 15 years experience, providing psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, couples and families in private practice and in outpatient settings.

She has extensive experience working in schools to identify

House. Prior to coming to Hillel, Mrs. Fisch was Director of Outreach and Education for the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs, an organization working to pursue social and economic justice for Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods; she also spent several years working for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Student Life at the University of Georgia and The Hillels of Illinois.

Most recently, Mrs. Fisch was

Education Project Director for the No Place for Hate Initiative which encompasses ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute and Holocaust Education, and presented local training programs and educational anti-bias initiatives tailored to the local community.

children with learning disabilities, conducting neuropsychological and psycho-educational evaluations, and specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of reading and math disorders and ADHD. Dr. Gould has a strong background in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders and eating disorders. She developed and was a group leader of an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program for Anorexia and Bulimia.

She has given workshops and

lectures for many professional and parent groups on topics including ADHD, dyslexia, eating disorders, parent training and bullying. For the past year, Dr. Gould has served as a leadership trainer through the FIU school of Business, she serves as a Project Coordinator of a research validation study for a new test of language and literacy.

Contact Us Upper School

Rita Jacobson Registrar 305-931-2831 x108 jacobson@ehillel.org

Linda Feigenbaum Counselor, Grades 8-9 305-931-2831 x221 feigenbaum@ehillel.org

Lois Perlman Counselor, Grades 10-11 305-931-2831 x152 perlman@ehillel.org

Whitney Fisch Counselor, Grades 6-7 305-931-2831 x142 fisch@ehillel.org

Lower School

Dr. Nancy Gould Counselor, Grades K-5 gould@ehillel.org 305-931-2831 x140