Host Families Needed
The requirements for the host families are that they provide transportation to and from school, three daily meals, and that they help their guest student with cultural adjustments. The adults in the household will need to go through the CSSU Volunteer Criminal Records Check if they have not done so previously.
Check out the OE website www.odsherredsefterskole.dk to learn more about our sister school in Denmark. Just click on “Translate this page." If you are interested in hosting one of our Danish guest students, please contact Katherine Riley, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, at [email protected] or by phone at 482-7151.
Direction Center
Direction Center website
Much of the information posted in announcements by the Direction Center can be found on our website, including:
• class pages with tips for each grade level (9th/10th/11th/12th)
• dates, time, place, of activities of interest: college rep visits, college fair, job fair, deadlines, SAT/ACT schedule, scholarship info, etc.
• future planning services including college planning, discovering career interests, GAP year resources, links to information about opportunities with the military;
• information about multiple pathways including DUAL enrollment, CVU’s GOAL independent study, Virtual High School online courses, etc.
• Naviance tutorials
• Community Learning opportunities including internships, volunteering, workshops
Seniors
College Representative Visits are scheduled. Be sure to check the Daily Announcements in Advisory and Naviance for information on which college representatives will be visiting with students in the Direction Center.
SAT and ACT deadlines approach quickly. College testing requirements vary widely, so students should doublecheck which tests are required by each college to which they will apply. Students register for the test directly with the testing companies through their websites (collegeboard.com for SAT and act.org for ACT). Register early to ensure a spot in the testing location you prefer. CVU’s CEEB (testing) code is 460-175. Please remember that colleges require official test scores. Be sure to request that your scores be sent directly to the college by the testing company. See www.collegeboard.com for SAT dates and www.act.org for ACT dates.
BEWARE of FAFSA scams!
Several students have reported to us that they have paid money to file their FAFSA (on fafsa.com). Please note that filing the FAFSA is free; you should never pay money to file this financial aid form. Watch out for companies that offer to file this form for a fee! The correct FAFSA website is: www.fafsa.ed.gov
Grad Challenge
Schedule of upcoming deadlines for Grad Challenge are:
December 5: Mid-Year Report signed by the Community Consultant
December 5: Photo submission for Grad Challenge (1-5 photos emailed as jpg.to Coordinator MaryAnne Gatos)
February 11-17: Sign up for presentation times
March 6: Draft of Grad Challenge paper due to your Advisor
April 3 Final copy of Grad Challenge paper due with signed Community Consultant Verification form. Learning hours are completed. Tangible Product completed. Signed Tangible Product Critique form
April 7 and 8: Faculty Reading Days
May 21: Tangible Product Fair
May 22: Grad Challenge Presentation Day
Mark your calendars now for May 22nd, Grad Challenge Presentation Day. We all look forward to seeing and hearing about what our seniors learned.
Juniors
Join us on 10/29 at 6:30 P.M. for a session about junior year. We will answer these questions for you:
- important tasks and dates on the junior calendar
- steps to plan for college
- how to find a summer part-time job
- where to find information on the DC website
- the value and purpose of Naviance and how to use it
- reason to meet with college reps at CVU (which college reps are visiting and when)
Although it seems that 2015 is far away, we have already scheduled our popular Junior College Night. This program, open to both parents and students, offers valuable information from a panel of college admissions counselors. Mark your calendar for Thursday, January 7, at 6:00 PM.
Sophomores
Mark your calendars for December 9 at 6:30 PM. for our Sophomore Night. CVU counselors will review with students/families how to interpret the PLAN results as well as introduce Naviance, an interactive and informative future planning program. We look forward to seeing you! Counselors will be visiting MOMW/ENG10 classes in December to review PLAN scores with sophomores.
Freshmen
Before we know it, counselors will be meeting with 9th graders to discuss academic plans for next year. One option that is open to all rising 10th graders is the Pre-Technical Education Program at Center for Technology, in Essex. Pre-tech is a one-year, six-period program for sophomores who prefer project-oriented learning experiences that emphasize applied academics. Students are involved in a wide variety of cutting-edge technical activities where they learn science, mathematics, social studies, and communication skills while building personal development assets. Many students find this program a refreshing alternative to conventional classroom instruction.
Entrance Prerequisites
Applicants must have a ninth grade transcript that shows an award of five full credits including:
• 1 math
• 1 English
• 1 Social Studies
• 1 Science
• 1 Elective
Curriculum Components
Students select one of two of four curricular areas to focus on throughout the year. All four curriculum tracks are representative of the programs the center offers. The four areas include:
• Information Technology & Digital Media
• Natural Resources and Engineering
• Building Technology and Automotive
• Health and Human Services (includes: Medical Related Fields, Professional Foods, Child Education and Cosmetology)
High School Credits Awarded:
One integrated credit each in:
• English
• Math
• Science
• Fine Arts
• Physical Education
• Elective
Students succeeding in this program are invited to apply for another career and technical education program in their junior year. Sound interesting? You can talk with Marie Eddy in the Direction Center or your child’s House Counselor.
Dual Enrollment Opportunities
Attention Juniors and Seniors!
Don’t miss the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school! Juniors and Seniors can enroll in college courses, online or on campus, during the academic year or during the summer. The programs available are:
- Dual Enrollment Program, which is through the state of Vermont and allows students to take two tuition- free college courses. CCV, Champlain, UVM, and Burlington College all have Dual enrollment programs.
- The Academically Talented program, through the University of Vermont, offers VT high school students the chance to take courses at 50% reduced tuition until they graduate. Some restrictions apply, and you do need to be approved by your guidance counselor.
New Course!
This year, students have a new option for Practical Arts: Pathfinder. The purpose of Pathfinder is to assist students in setting goals for their future and in developing an educational plan that will prepare them to be successful. Students will explore current and projected career information and career options utilizing web and community-based resources. Students will learn strategies to prepare for their identified careers. Each student will develop a portfolio that will include education and training plans, information for conducting a job search, and the documentation necessary for applying for a job. This semester-long course is team-taught by Marie Eddy and Colleen Wedge. There are still spots available for Semester 2, and this is an ideal course for sophomores to take, but is open to all.