Class of 2017 Announcement

WestfordCAT - Graduation Ceremony
Each year WestfordCAT records the entire graduation ceremony and makes personalized keepsake copies available on either DVD and Blu-ray discs for $15 each.  Families can order their copy by calling the station at 978-692-7152 or through their website at: http://www.westfordcat.org/services/dvd-order-form-2/

Class of 2018

Job Shadow Day
The WA Guidance Department hope that you enjoyed your Job Shadow day and had a worthwhile experience learning about a possible future career.

A few things to remember:

You are now required to complete a short survey which can be found under the About Me tab in your Naviance, under "Post Job Shadow Reflection". Hold on to your resume  - that information will be useful when building a resume for college applications.

Complete and send a thank you note directly to your site mentor. FYI a large number of job shadows experiences turn into senior internships. Make sure you keep a positive connection and show your appreciation to those who gave up their valuable time in helping you explore careers of interest. Attached is a thank you note template that will be helpful to you. Thank you notes should be sent ASAP.

Upcoming SAT/ACT Test Dates:
SAT is June 3 - currently in late registration (www.collegeboard.org)
ACT is June 10 - currently in late registration (www.actstudent.org)

Syracuse University It Girls Overnight Retreat
October 22 - 23, 2017
What do we look for in an It Girl?

•    Girls that are enthusiastic, curious, and engaged about technology, innovation, data, or other related technology fields
•    High-achieving, college-bound female juniors and seniors (as of fall 2017)
•    Have a GPA of 3.2 or better (unweighted)
•    A well-written 250 word essay on their interest in becoming a 2017 It Girl
Girls will:
Take an iSchool class, participate in hands-on workshops that mirror the iSchool curriculum, collaborate on a technology project, and attend a sleepover party.

Past events have included presentations from current iSchool students, iSchool faculty and staff, Syracuse University admissions staff and inspiring alumni from companies like Yahoo!, Splunk, IBM, and more!

2017 Details:
•    Admissions decisions are made at periodic intervals throughout the summer and fall
•    If accepted, girls are required to pay a $15 non-refundable registration fee to hold their spot in the program
•    There will be iSchool chartered transportation from select northeast cities:
•    New York City; Boston; Washington D.C.; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Albany; and Springfield, MA
•    $15 per seat (for It Girl student participants only)
•    The updated schedule will be posted on the It Girls website: itgirls.ischool.syr.edu

NACAC Video Essay Contest - sponsored by zeemee

Video Essay Contest - sponsored by zeemee

Are you an 11th or 12th grader in the Boston area? Or are you a Massachusetts community college student? Then you’re eligible to participate in a video essay contest sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and its Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee. As an association of nearly 16,000 members dedicated to helping students consider all their options after high school, NACAC holds the contest each year to showcase the talents of students in our conference city and help ease students’ financial transition to higher education.

$20,000 in scholarships will be awarded, with $5,000 for the top-place submission. The winners will be recognized at NACAC’s 73rd National Conference, Sept.14-16, 2017, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The deadline to submit your video is June 1.

You only need a camera phone (or camera) and your creativity to enter!


How to Enter

1. Create a video in response to the following prompt: Why is continuing your education after high school important to you?
   
2. Video entries must include the following at some point: "My name is ___________ and I'm ______________ (junior or senior) from _____________ (high school) in ___________ (town).” OR  "My name is ___________ and I'm a student at_____________ (community college) in ___________ (town).”
   
3. Video entries should be no more than 2 minutes in length.
   
4. Video entries must be created by an individual student. No joint entries (video created by two or more students) will be considered.
   
5. Submissions are limited to one video per student, and all videos must be submitted via ZeeMee.
   
6. To submit your video your must do two things. First, create a free account at www.zeemee.com. Include your first and last name so we know who you are, and then upload your video entry in the Meet Me Video section of your ZeeMee page. Student accounts should be set to private.
   
   Then, after you upload your video to ZeeMee, fill out our submission form. You must complete both steps in order to be eligible for the contest.
   
7. All videos must be uploaded to ZeeMee on or before June 1.

Submissions
Students from all backgrounds and academic preparation are encouraged to apply. Your submission should be well-thought out and prepared—similar to the preparation that would go into writing a school paper—with the freedom to showcase your voice and talents. Be yourself, show your creative side!
 
Additional Tips

• If you use your cell phone, be sure to film in landscape. If you film in portrait, your video will be sideways and people will have to tilt their heads to watch.
• Don’t speak too fast. You want us to understand what you are saying.
• Speak clearly and confidently. This is your time to shine. Engage us!
• Have fun! Although this is a contest, it should be an enjoyable experience for you as well.
• If you're looking for music in the background, check out Jamendo for royalty free tunes

Awards
$20,000 in scholarships to be awarded, with $5,000 for the top-place submission.

Video Evaluation Criteria
Videos will be evaluated on the following criteria and given a mark on a scale of 0-5 (0 being absent and 5 being extraordinary).
Criteria )

1. Ideas Development (5 points) - Did you answer the question? Are your ideas well explained?
2. Thoughtfulness (5 points) - Do we get a sense of who you are, a window to your world? Do you demonstrate self-awareness and awareness of others?
3. Clarity/Effectiveness (5 points) - Can we see how your ideas are connected? Can we understand the thoughts you are trying to convey?
4. Quality (5 points) - Submission is well-thought out and prepared.
5. Creativity (5 points) - Are your ideas presented in an interesting, creative, or otherwise appropriate way?

For more information, contact us.

Abbott and Fenner Business Consultants Scholarship

Abbott and Fenner Business Consultants

 Scholarship Deadline June 12, 2017

There is still time for students to apply.  Visit our website at http://www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm to learn more about this opportunity.

If you have any questions, please contact scholarships@abbottandfenner.com

NEACAC College Fair at Merrimack College and other opportunities

Tuesday, May 23rd
6:00-8:00 PM
Lawler Rink within the Merrimack Athletics Complex

Highlights of the event include:
More than 150 college and university representatives on-site
Access to financial aid & scholarship resources
Find more information at: https://www.merrimack.edu/admission/visiting/neacac.php

Whitman College, along with 40+ other Colleges that Change Lives, will be in Boston on Saturday, May 20, and we'd love to meet you! Join us for a free college fair in your area, and discover more about what these colleges have to offer!

Program Details:
Saturday, May 20, 2017
10:00 AM
Boston Marriott Copley Place (Salons A-F)
110 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA, MA  02116

The program begins promptly at 10:00 AM with a 30-minute information session. A college fair follows immediately afterwards, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. This program is offered to the public free of charge. No pre-registration is required.

Class of 2017: Scholarship Opportunities

**More scholarships can ALWAYS be found on Naviance under "Scholarship List"

Mulberrys Garment Care Scholarship: Available to high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall.

Mulberrys Garment Care is committed to helping guide the next generation of entrepreneurs. We want to promote education as a way to provide the necessary tools to succeed in the business world. That’s why we’re offering a $1,000 scholarship for a highly motivated student with entrepreneurial aspirations who can tell us about their business goals and how their education will benefit them.

For complete details about how to enter and eligibility requirements, see our scholarship page: https://www.mulberryscleaners.com/mulberrys-entrepreneur-scholarship/

Collegexpress.com Scholarship Snapshot
$1,500 Scholarship: Easy Scholarship: Post a Note to Brighten Someone's Day!
Due Date: May 15

$500 Scholarship: Courage to Grow Scholarship
Due Date: May 31

$1,000 Scholarship: Crown & Caliber Entrepreneur's Scholarship
Due Date: May 31

$1,000 Scholarship: CenturyLinkQuote Scholarship
Due Date: June 14

$10,000 Scholarship: Upvote Scholarship
Due Date: June 30

Updates for Class of 2018

Elmira College Junior Open House
May 13 - 9am - 1pm
Register at: http://www.elmira.edu/admissions-aid/Visit/Spring.Open.House.html?scid=

Public Health Summer Immersion at MCPHS August 14-16 - no overnight accommodations provided Application deadline: June 1 Questions? Email admissions@mcphs.edu or call 617.879.5964 Apply at www.mcphs.edu/SummerImmersion Rochester Institute of Technology College & Careers July 21-22 or August 4-5 Registration is available in June For more information, visit admissions.rit.edu/careers

Northeastern Accelerate Pre-college Summer Programs  BioE Summer Immersion – Students will learn the basics of bioengineering and engineering design principles from our world-renowned research faculty July 30 - August 12, 2017 •    Program Tuition: $5,125 (Includes housing, meals, labs, and activities) •    Application Deadline: May 15, 2017  Experiential Entrepreneurship – Immersive business incubator "bootcamp" program providing hands-on experience in a world-class environment for entrepreneurs July 17 - August 11, 2017 Program Tuition - $5,995 (Includes room and board) Application Deadline: May 15, 2017   The Accelerate team is happy to answer any questions you may have about these programs.  Please feel free to email them at precollegeprograms@northeastern.edu.

Penn Summer Prep Program The Penn Summer Prep Program offers the challenge of college-level academics within an exploratory, non-credit environment. Students enroll in two immersive modules from across disciplines while benefiting from the rich educational resources of the university, experiencing college life on Penn’s historic campus and exploring the vibrant city of Philadelphia. Session A: July 10 – July 22, 2017 Session B: July 24 – August 5, 2017 Available course modules include: Conservation Biology Political Voice and Political Action Writing the College Essay Practical Approaches to the New SAT Think Like a Scientist: Genetics and the Scientific Method and more... Application deadline is May 15. Apply for Penn Summer Prep today or contact us for more information. Penn English Language Programs Penn English Language Programs offers the opportunity to take "Writing the University Application Essay." This 5 week on-line course offers international students a meaningful step-by-step process to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to write an effective and memorable personal statement. Course dates: Jul 1 - Aug 5, 2017 Application deadline: Jun 2, 2017 Course cost: $995

UT is the perfect example of the motto, "Everything is bigger in Texas" and is a pioneer of innovative student learning within a pre-college model which provides once in a lifetime, hands-on opportunities for students to learn about a variety of subjects. Don't miss out on your chance to participate in one of UT's summer institutes. Programming and Smart Technology Institute (5 spots) Sport Management Institute (10 spots) Criminal Justice Institute Engineering Institute Law Institute Sports Medicine Institute Fashion Institute Global Entrepreneurship Institute Interested? Apply now or email us at info@summerdiscovery.com.

Georgetown University (Jul 2-21) Business & Entrepreneurship Academy Law Academies Global Leadership Academy Enrichment Program (pick 2 courses) UCLA (various program dates) Technology Business Innovation Program Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports Program Digital Marketing & Social Media Program Acting and Auditioning for Film, TV, & Stage Sports Business Program Collegewise Admissions Prep Computer Programming Program UCLA Bruin Leadership Program Enrichment Program (pick 2 courses) Penn State University (Jul 16-29) Enrichment Courses (pick 2 courses) Business & Entrepreneurship Institute Psychology Institute Skills for College Success Institute Cambridge University (Jul 8-29) Global Business & Economics Digital Photography Introduction to Psychology Browse full course list here Emerson College Boston (Jul 3-15 and Jul 17-29) Marketing and Advertising Institute Psychology, Magazine Writing and more Don't see what you're looking for? Learn more about our summer programs at UCSB, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Michigan, Pace University NYC, Yale University, and City University London. And learn more about our middle school programs including Jr. Discovery and Renzulli Discovery Programs for gifted and talented students. Interested? Apply now or email us at info@summerdiscovery.com.

Take advantage of the opportunity to study at Johns Hopkins, a top 10 university. Summer pre-college programs and courses are still available. Available courses include: Physiology & Disease: Brain, Muscle, and Cardiopulmonary The Psychology of Police Deadly Force Encounters Introduction to Lab Research   The Hospital Medicine, Sports, and Culture For a complete list of courses visit the JHU Summer Courses page. Apply now or contact us for more information.

Free Official SAT Practice

Are your students taking the SAT soon? They can get ready with Official SAT Practice, a free, personalized study tool created by Khan Academy and the College Board, the maker of the SAT.

Visit Official SAT Practice: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

Research shows students who prepare for the SAT using Official SAT Practice see substantial improvement in their scores. Twenty hours of Official SAT Practice is associated with an average 115-point increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT, nearly double the average gain compared to students who don’t use Official SAT Practice.

The data also show we’re making promising progress toward creating a more level playing field for students. Score gains persist across various genders, races, ethnicities, and parental education levels. And, like all Khan Academy resources, Official SAT Practice is absolutely free.

Clueless Adults And Glamorized Pain: ‘13 Reasons Why’ Should Start The Conversation About Suicide

April 27, 2017

By Nancy Rappaport

Like what you read here? Sign up for our twice-weekly newsletter.

---

Editor's note: This post contains spoilers for the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why."

---

Full disclosure: It’s my job to save Hannah Baker’s life.

Not the character Hannah, of course — but students like her. If you watched Netflix’s powerful new series "13 Reasons Why," then you know the main character kills herself after a spate of traumatic events, including bullying and rape. I work in a school-based health center caring for "high-risk" students who are struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, poor decision-making and/or impulsive behavior. My own mother died by suicide when I was 4.

Because this series is particularly popular with teenagers, I watched it with much trepidation. I know how difficult it is to portray a delicate topic like suicide. In writing my memoir about my mother’s suicide, I wrestled against idealizing her and telling a story that both educates and engages the reader.

In "13 Reasons Why," the adults, unfortunately, are clueless and ineffectual.

I worry that "13 Reasons Why" discourages students at risk for suicide from seeking help, and inadvertently glamorizes suicide for vulnerable teenagers. That’s why this is a critical cultural moment to speak with young people about suicide.

Throughout the series, Hannah was in so much pain and yet was incredibly private about her isolation. Her solution was to escape what she perceived as intolerable pain, leaving us with the sense that this was an inevitable tragedy. Viewers can see that her parents and Clay, a friend, adored her. But she couldn't. She was in a place where she magnified those who were cruel to her and allowed their views to define her self-worth.

Remembering that this is fiction, we can see this as an opportunity to talk to teenagers who are confronted with some of the same stresses as Hannah. We can encourage them to seek help.

In "13 Reasons Why," the adults, unfortunately, are clueless and ineffectual. When adults at school talk with Hannah, they are distracted and ineffective; they allow Hannah to be devastated by her treatment at the hands of other students, and they don't hold the other kids accountable. After Hannah dies, Clay's parents suggest that he take a medication (I assume an antidepressant) but cannot talk to him about his distress. So we're left thinking this fictional world has a "Lord of the Flies" mentality where cruelty and shaming are accepted. If teenagers don't feel safe, and don't know that there is a responsive adult nearby, they are less likely to ask for help.

Guidelines by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention say that news stories with sensational headlines or images, repeated coverage and death glamorization increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. So whenever suicide hits the news — both with the show, and with the news of former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez's suicide — I encourage talking about the stigma of mental illness and the silence that often surrounds suicide. Below is my cheat sheet for parents to talk about suicide, using "13 Reasons Why" as a springboard:

Know the signs

A completed suicide is often referred to as the “tip of the iceberg” — and if you peel back the layers, there are often inward signs of misery including increased isolation, prior suicide attempts, academic failure, sense of being a burden, agitation and difficulty sleeping. One of the risk factors for teenage suicide is “interpersonal loss" — or the loss of a close relationship with another person. One crucial study on teen suicide revealed that most teens who die by suicide had a mental illness. It’s important to educate students on the symptoms of mental illness, and to let them know their condition is treatable.

Encourage talking about suicide

Many suicides occur with little planning during a short-term acute crisis, although research by psychologist Thomas Joiner suggests that most people who die by suicide have thought about it for a long time even when it appears to be an impulsive act. This leads to two clear intervention points: arming students with a suicide prevention lifeline, and encouraging teenagers who are worried about the safety of a friend to let an adult know. Countless times over the years that I've practiced in a school-based health center, a life has been saved because a teenager was brave enough to tell an administrator that they had suicidal thoughts.

Whenever suicide hits the news ... I encourage talking about the stigma of mental illness and the silence that often surrounds suicide.

Limit access to guns

While Hannah kills herself by slicing her wrists, that method is only effective five percent of the time. Adolescents are twice as likely to kill themselves when there is a gun in the house. Parents should reduce easy access to guns and keep small quantities of alcohol at home to avoid the toxic combination of alcohol, guns, and suicidal ideation.

Sensitive topics like suicide, depression and sex are often hard to broach with young people — but the key is to look for opportunities to listen and show interest in having those difficult conversations. I’ve often heard parents and invested adults like teachers say they’re afraid to ask if a young person is suicidal, as if it might plant the idea. But questioning is essential. The QPR Institute offers three steps — Question, Persuade, Refer — as a scaffolding for life-saving efforts.

Know the resources

Losing someone to suicide is brutal and we all want to take the necessary steps to prevent this loss. We can make a difference by communicating to teenagers that suicide is not inevitable and encouraging them to share their despair so that they can get appropriate support. There are people out there ready to help — the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Samaritans and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) to name a few — you just have to have the courage to ask.

Class of 2018

SAT/ACT

Registration deadline for the June 3 SAT is TUESDAY MAY 9

Registration deadline for the June 10 ACT test is FRIDAY MAY 5

Open Houses

Washington University in St. Louis Summer Visit Days
Pre-Medicine - Thursday June 22 or Thursday July 20
Engineering - Thursday June 29 or Thursday July 27
Liberal Arts - Friday, June 30
Art & Architecture - Thursday, July 13
Business - Thursday July 13
Academic Exploration - Friday July 14 or Friday July 21
RSVP Required (two weeks advanced notice)
To register online, go to visit.wustl.edu

Nashua Community College Spring Open House
Wednesday, May 10
4 - 7pm
nashuacc.edu/openhouse or 603.578.8908

Norwich University Future Leader Camp
Future Leader Camp (FLC) is a two-week summer program that develops leadership potential in high school students. FLC is a challenging, meaningful adventure camp that builds understanding of small-group leadership techniques, leadership ethics, teamwork, problem solving, and communication. Participants will encounter challenge, excitement and fun.
2017 Session Dates

• Session I: July 2 to July 15
• Session II: July 23 to August 5

Each session costs $1,975, which includes: uniforms, dorm room, meals, and all activities
If you have questions or need more information, please contact us: 802.485.253 or flc@norwich.edu