Sophomore Class News

Sophomore Newsletter - May 7, 2008

Sophomore News - March 3, 2008
News for Parents and Students
from Mrs. Becky Varlas, Counselor for the Class of 2010
This newsletter is also available online at
http://www.ccps.org/ehs/home/index.html.

.       Upcoming Events:
o       Pre-Registration for 2008-2009:  February 25 through March 7 in
classes/groups. Expect students to come home with:  2008-2009 Student
Education Planning Guide; Registration Sheet for 11th Grade; a letter
inviting parents to the pre-registration meeting; lists of courses with
prerequisites,  fees, and summer assignments;  copy of the credit check
sheet;  copy of the six-year plan;  and an application for Advanced
Placement courses (if applicable).  The registration sheet, six-year plan,
and AP application must be signed by parents and returned (after the March
13 meeting).
o       March 13 - Parent Pre-registration meeting, 6:30 p.m. Please bring
your copy of the Student Education Planning Guide.
o       March 14 through March 28:  Brief individual appointments with each
student to complete the registration process.
o       End of marking period:  April 3. Report cards issued:  April 14. 4th
interim ends:  April 30. Interims issued:  May 7.
.       Summer College/Programs - New Information:
o       University of Maryland Young Scholars Program - July 13 through
August 1. Earn 3 college credits! For complete program information, visit
www.summer.umd.edu/ysp1 or e-mail summer@umd.edu, or call 301-405-6551.
o       Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students - courses
available in fine and performing arts, law and government, robot design, and
environmental studies. For more information and applications, go to
www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters, or call Stephanie Zenker at
410-767-0821. Applications must be postmarked by April 15.
o       GEMS:  Girls Explorations in Mathematics and Science - Delaware
State University - July 13 through August 2. Must have completed Algebra II
and Biology, and maintain a B average. For more information and
applications, go to http://gems.desu.edu or call Mazen Shahin at
302-857-7869.
o       University of Delaware Upward Bound Math/Science Program - for
talented math/science students who have completed Algebra I or IB and meet
income guidelines or are the first generation of college-bound students in
your family. Sign up with your counselor to attend a presentation at EHS on
March 5.

Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002

Parent newsletters and other class news will be posted here periodically.
This page was last updated on May 10, 2008 .

Parents:
        This was given to students with report cards last Thursday.

.       Upcoming Events:
o       February 1 & 5 - Cecil County School of Technology counselors and
instructors will visit EHS to talk to all 10th grade students about CCST
programs. Application forms will be given to interested students. For more
information, see the 12/10/07 newsletter on the website.
o       February 15 - Completed CCST applications are due to Mrs. Varlas.
o       February 16 - Historically Black Colleges & Universities College
Festival for high school students. For more information, see Mr. Cephas. For
registration, go to www.asbchbcu.org.
o       February 18 - University of Maryland, College Park, Sophomore &
Junior Visit Day. For more information and to reserve a space, go to
www.uga.umd.edu/visit.
o       February 21 - Interim period ends. EHS Conference Night - 5 - 7 p.m.
o       February 25 - March 12 - Pre-registration for courses for the
2008-2009 school year.
o       February 28 - Interim reports issued.
o       March 13 - Parent Pre-registration meeting, 6:30 p.m.
.       Summer College/Programs - New Information:
o       University of Delaware Summer College - go to
www.udel.edu/summercollege  information. Dates: 7/12-8/16.
o       Virginia Tech - Computers & Technology for HS Girls -
www.ctech2.eng.vt.edu. Dates:  6/29-7/12.
o       Pratt Institute (arts) Pre College - www.pratt.edu/ccps-precollege.
Dates:  7/7-8/1.

Sophomore News - December 10, 2007
News for Parents and Students
from Mrs. Becky Varlas, Counselor for the Class of 2010
This newsletter is also available online at
http://www.ccps.org/ehs/home/index.html.

.       Career Cluster Class Visits - I have visited all first semester
cluster classes to present information on the following topics:
o       The Self-Directed Search - Students completed this inventory which
matches personality traits to careers. Students were given the results to
bring home.
o       Career Pathways - Students received an information sheet on the
jobs, pathway options, and completer programs for the career pathways for
their cluster.
o       Completer Programs - Students received an information sheet giving
detailed information on the completer programs for their cluster.
I will be visiting second semester cluster classes with the same
presentations beginning the last week of January and running through
February.
.       Six-Year Education Plans - During the weeks following visits to
Cluster Classes, I met with students individually to update/revise Six-Year
Plans. A copy of the plan was sent home to parents for signatures. Please
feel free to contact me with questions. I will keep a copy of the plan to
give to students when they register for 11th grade classes in March.
.       Grades to GO - Parents:  If you haven't already registered, stop by
the Guidance Office to sign up for this program. You and your child can
access grades online. It's a great way to stay on track.
.       Speaking of Grades. - These newsletters are being distributed to
students with second marking period interim reports. The second marking
period ends on January 18. Report cards will be issued to students on
January 31. The third marking period interim period ends on February 21.
Third marking period interims will be issued on February 28. Be sure to do
all assignments and study for tests and quizzes!
.       HSA's and Final Exams - The week of January 7 will be High School
Assessment (HSA) week. All students who are completing classes in Algebra
I-B, Government, English 10, and Biology during the first semester will be
taking HSA's, along with any students who previously completed those courses
but did not pass the test. The week of January 14 will be exam week. Exams
count as 20% of the final grade in each course. All classes have reviews and
study guides for exams. It is important for students to study (really study)
for exams! Also, get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast on exam
days. Parents:  I will e-mail you the exam schedule when I have it. Please
contact teachers if you have questions about exams and how students can best
prepare. All teachers' e-mail addresses are available on the EHS website.
.       PSAT - The PSAT was given to 10th grade students on October 17.
Results of the PSAT were shared with parents in a meeting on December 4. For
those who could not attend this meeting, results were given to students on
Friday, December 7. For students planning to attend college, these results
can be very helpful. Take the time to review them carefully. On the score
report, each student has an access code for My College QuickStartT on
www.collegeboard.com. This free service can help students explore careers,
colleges, college majors, and develop an individual study plan for the
SAT's.  Take advantage of this valuable resource.
.       Cecil County School of Technology (CCST) - On Friday, February 1,
all 10th grade students will attend a presentation given by the counselors
at CCST. On the following Tuesday, 10th graders will visit with CCST
instructors in our cafeteria to find out more  about the programs there. At
that time, students will have an opportunity to apply to CCST. EHS students
will compete against students from all Cecil County High Schools for
placement in programs. Criteria for acceptance will include:  grades and
attendance for the first 3 semesters in high school, teacher recommendations
(students will be responsible for asking two teachers to complete
recommendation forms), and an essay concerning future plans and how CCST can
help students to reach their goals. Students will be informed of their
acceptance to programs in March or early April, and will be scheduled to
attend CCST in the second semester of grade 11 and first semester of grade
12 (except for Cosmetology students who will also attend CCST in the first
semester of grade 11). CCST programs provide opportunities for national and
state certification and licensing. Programs offered are:  Allied Health,
Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Computer/Electronic Technology,
Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Electrical Trades, Fire Science/Emergency
Medical Services, HVAC & Plumbing, Industrial Maintenance, Natural
Resources, Visual Imaging & Print Technology, Webmaster Technology, and
Welding & Metals Technology. For more information about CCST programs, visit
www.ccps.org and download the Student Education Planning Guide. Course
information can be found beginning on page 38.
.       Summer College - If you are interested in an educational summer
experience that could help you gain admission to college, check out summer
college programs. Typically, programs run from one to five weeks, and many
include college credits. Some are expensive, but most have financial aid
available for those in need. We keep a file in the Guidance Office with
information sent to us by these programs. So far, I've received information
from the University of Delaware (www.udel.edu/summercollege), Phillips
Exeter Academy (www.exeter.edu/summer), Carnegie Mellon University
(www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college), and The School of Communications at
American University (www.soc.american.edu/highschool.html). If interested,
check out the websites!
.       Save the Date - Thursday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. in our auditorium - We
will be holding our annual pre-registration meeting to explain courses and
programs available to students for the 2008-2009 school year. Don't miss
this important event!
Happy Holidays!

Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002

Sophomore News - September 27, 2007
News for Parents and Students
from Mrs. Becky Varlas, Counselor for the Class of 2010
 This newsletter is also available online at
http://www.ccps.org/ehs/home/index.html.

.       Career Cluster Class Visits - I am visiting all cluster classes to
present information on the following topics:
o       The Self-Directed Search - Students complete this inventory which
matches personality traits to careers. Students are given the results to
bring home.
o       Career Pathways - Students will receive an information sheet on the
jobs, pathway options, and completer programs for the career pathways for
their cluster.
o       Completer Programs - Students will receive an information sheet
giving detailed information on the completer programs for their cluster.
Parents:  look for this information to come home with your child when they
have cluster class. The visit schedule for first semester cluster classes is
as follows:
o       Arts & Communications:  Mrs. Webb - Sept. 19 & 21, Mr. McCullough -
Sept. 27 & 28.
o       Business, Finance & Marketing:  tentatively scheduled for the week
of October 1.
o       Health & Human Services:  tentatively scheduled for the month of
October.
o       Science, Engineering & Technology:  tentatively scheduled for the
month of November.
.       Six-Year Education Plans - During the week following visits to
Cluster Classes, I will be meeting with those students individually to
update/revise Six-Year Plans. The plan will come home to parents for
signatures. Please feel free to contact me with questions. I will keep a
copy of the plan to give to students when they register for 11th grade
classes in March.
.       Grades to GO - Parents:  If you haven't already registered, stop by
the Guidance Office to sign up for this program. You and your child can
access grades online. It's a great way to stay on track.
.       Speaking of Grades. - These newsletters are being distributed to
students with first marking period interim reports. The first marking period
ends on October 30. Report cards will be issued to students on November 12.
The second marking period interim period ends on December 3. Second marking
period interims will be issued on December 10. Be sure to do all assignments
and study for tests and quizzes!
.       Thinking of College? - The annual Cecil County College Fair will be
held on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Perryville
High School. Over 70 college representatives will be in attendance, and
workshops will be offered on Financial Aid, NCAA Eligibility, and College
Search and Application. This is an annual event.
.       And More about College. - Mark your calendar for Thursday, October
11. The EHS Guidance Department will present "So You Want to Go to College"
at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. You will learn what you need to do at each
grade level if you are planning to attend college after graduation. Don't
miss it!
.       And More:  the PSAT - The PSAT will be given to all 10th grade
students on Wednesday, October 17, at 8:00 a.m. This is a practice test for
the SAT (College Admissions Test) and will also tell students how they
compare to other college-bound 10th graders in the areas of reading,
writing, and math. Students will have another opportunity to take the PSAT
in October of grade 11. All 10th graders received a practice and information
booklet during an assembly last week. Results of the PSAT will be
distributed in mid-December. On the day of the test, students should bring
number two pencils and a calculator. Students will not be admitted to
testing after 8:00 a.m. and there is no make-up date. For more information
and practice for the PSAT, go to www.collegeboard.com.
.       Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar (HOBY) - Would you like to
develop your leadership skills? Do you have a desire to make your school and
your community a better place? One tenth grade student will be selected to
attend the Maryland HOBY Seminar at Mount St. Mary's University in
Emmitsburg, Maryland, from May 23 through May 25, 2008. This student's
registration fees will be paid by the EHS National Honor Society, so there
is no cost to the student (other than transportation to and from the event).
Our representative should have:  outstanding oral and/or written
communication skills, strong decision-making skills, sensitivity to the
needs of others, creative thinking and problem-solving skills, participation
in community service activities, and the courage to speak out for your
beliefs. If you are interested in applying for this honor, see Mrs. Varlas
in the Guidance Office for an application. Applications are due to Mrs.
Varlas by Friday, October 5. A committee of teachers will make the final
selection. An alternate will be chosen in case, for some reason, our
candidate cannot attend the program. For more information about HOBY, go to
www.hoby.org. 
.       Cecil County School of Technology (CCST) Open House - On Tuesday,
November 13, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity
for you to find out lots of information about their programs. 10th graders
will be able to apply to CCST in April to attend programs in grades 11 and
12. EHS students will be competing against students from all other Cecil
County High Schools for placement in programs, so keeping up your attendance
and doing your best in classes are important! CCST programs provide
opportunities for national and state certification and licensing. Programs
offered are:  Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Carpentry,
Computer/Electronic Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Electrical
Trades, Fire Science/Emergency Medical Services, HVAC & Plumbing, Industrial
Maintenance, Natural Resources, Visual Imaging & Print Technology, Webmaster
Technology, and Welding & Metals Technology. For more information about CCST
programs, visit www.ccps.org and download the Student Education Planning
Guide. Course information can be found beginning on page 38.
Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002

_____________________________________________

Dear Parents,
        Today we had a Sophomore Class Meeting so that I could talk to
students about the PSAT. All students received a Student Guide to the PSAT
that contains information about the test, test tips, and a full-length
practice test. Here is the information I shared with the students:

The PSAT/NMSQT
The Practice SAT (for Grades 10 & 11)
And
The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (for Grade 11)

Why take the PSAT?
§       To practice for the SAT.
§       To help you to start thinking about college and the skills you will
need to be accepted and to succeed.

What does the PSAT measure?
§       The skills that are important for success in college:
§       Critical reading
§       Math problem solving
§       Writing skills
§       Your PSAT results can also tell us your chances of being successful
in an Advanced Placement course.

What is the test like?
§       Five timed sections
§       Two 25-minute critical reading sections:  48 selected response
questions, 13 Sentence completions, 35 passage-based reading questions
§       Two 25-minute math sections:  28 selected response questions, 10
student-produced responses, or “grid-ins;” Contains algebra and geometry;
Calculators are permitted
§       One 30-minute writing skills section:  20 selected response
questions about improving sentences, 14 selected response questions about
identifying sentence errors, 5 selected response questions about improving
paragraphs

How can I prepare for the test?
§       Read the Student Guide.
§       Pay attention to the test tips.
§       Take the practice test!!
§       Visit www.collegeboard.com for more practice.

When is the test?
§       Wednesday, October 17, 8:00 a.m.
§       Bring number two pencils and a calculator.
§       There is no make-up date!
§       Students cannot be admitted once the testing has begun. Be on time!

When will I get my results?
§       Mid-December
§       Score report:  Your answers and correct answers
§       Test booklets are returned
§       Includes tips on improving skills

Do you want to attend college directly after high school?
YES? 
THEN TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!

If your child did not receive a practice booklet and student guide, ask them
to stop by my office and pick one up. If you have any questions about the
PSAT, please let me know. Thanks!

Becky Varlas


Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002
____________________________________________________

Parents and Students:
        All students will receive copies of their schedules in their alpha
homerooms on Monday. Some of the room numbers have been changed, so students
should go by their new schedules and not the ones they picked up on
Wednesday evening. And if you couldn't make it Wednesday evening....

Parents and Students:
        If you were unable to make the 10th Grade Orientation Program on
Wednesday, August 22, (or you were so awed by the beauty of the new
auditorium that you couldn't focus!) here is a synopsis of what I said:

The Big Three
        There are three goals for school guidance programs nationwide:
Academic Development, Career Development, and Personal/Social Development.
In the high school, we focus more on the first two goals:  Academics and
Careers.

The Six Year Plan
Each year, our primary task as counselors is to assist students in
developing and updating their "Six Year Plan." (Six years:  grades 9-12 +
the first two years after graduation.) In approaching this task, we guide
students in answering three questions about themselves: 
1)  Where am I going? (Career Development);
2)  How will I get there? (Academic Development); and
3)  How will I deal with the obstacles along the way? (Personal/Social
Development) 
With Personal/Social Development, we assist students with short-term issues.
If students need help with long-term issues, we refer them and their parents
to therapeutic counselors.

How Will We Meet?
        Most of my work with students will be done on an individual basis
because every student and every situation is unique. I will utilize Cluster
Classes and small groups to do activities and disseminate information that
applies to all students. Students may also feel free to contact me by e-mail
with questions and concerns.
        I will communicate with parents through conferences, phone calls,
and e-mails. There will also be evening programs for parents in October and
March (dates to be announced). The October program will be titled: "So You
Want To Go To College." and will be an overview of steps that students need
to take each year they are in high school in order to prepare for college.
The March program will be education planning for grade eleven.
        In addition, I will prepare a quarterly newsletter for students and
parents containing Guidance-related information. This newsletter will be
distributed to students with their interim reports, e-mailed to anyone on my
e-mail list, and posted on the EHS website. If I have news to share between
newsletters, I will make intercom announcements to students, send an e-mail,
and post the information on the website. If you are not on my e-mail list
and would like to be, please let me know.
       
Tenth Grade Highlights
        The PSAT will be given to all 10th grade students free of charge.
The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. The SAT is a required test for
consideration for admission to most four-year colleges. The PSAT results
give us and you valuable information about how your reading, math and
writing skills compare to other college-bound high school students in the
nation. Before the test, I will be going over some testing strategies with
students. Results will come back to us in early December, and will provide
each student with recommendations for improving reading, writing and math
skills. The test date this year is Wednesday, October 17th, from 8:00 a.m.
until about 11:00 a.m. In grade 11, students will have an opportunity to
retake the PSAT - for a fee of about $13. At that time, they will not only
be practicing for the SAT, but also competing for National Merit
Scholarships.
        The Self-Directed Search will be administered to all students in
Cluster courses (Communicating Through the Arts; Intro to Business
Management, Finance & Marketing; Intro to Public Service; Intro to Science,
Engineering & Technology). In this survey, students will answer questions
about their interests, skills, and abilities. Their scores will result in a
personality code that matches careers.
        Students will have an opportunity to learn about the Cecil County
School of Technology and its 14 Career Technology Completer Programs this
year. There will be an orientation program here at EHS in March. Students
may apply in April, and notifications of acceptance will arrive in May. Our
students compete with other Cecil County high school students for a limited
number of spots in the programs at CCST. Preference is given to students
with good attendance and good grades. There will be an evening Open House at
CCST sometime during the fall. I will let you know that date when I find
out.

Choosing a Career Pathway
        All tenth graders have been scheduled into one of four Cluster
courses this year. Their next task is to choose a pathway in one of the
clusters. Once students choose a pathway, they must take a pathway course
and five pathway options. These seven credits (Cluster course, pathway
course, 5 pathway options) are graduation requirements. I will be working
with students in cluster classes and individually to let them know what
their options are, and to help them to make these decisions.

Choosing a Completer Program
        In order to graduate from high school, all students must have a
Completer Program. There are 24 Completer Programs offered by Cecil County
Public Schools. They include:  the programs offered at CCST, 2 credits of
the same foreign language, 2 credits of advanced technology, and the
following Career Technology programs offered here at EHS:   Finance &
Accounting, Office Administration, Oracle Academy (computer programming),
Project Lead the Way (engineering), Pro Start (food service), Teacher
Academy, and Vocational-Industrial Cooperative. We hope that many of our
students will finish high school with two completers:  foreign language and
one of the CTE programs. They all must have at least one completer.

The Three A's
        There are three keys to success at EHS: 
.       Attendance - you must be present to learn! Yes, you can miss five
days each quarter and still pass your classes. But don't make the mistake of
thinking of those 5 days as "vacation" days for you. Most adults will tell
you that if they miss 20 days of work each year, they probably will be
looking for another job.
.       Average - Grade Point Average (GPA) that is. Do your best. Your GPA
can open doors for you. Most scholarships and most four-year colleges
require a minimum GPA of 3.0.
.       Activities - Get involved! Whether it's here at EHS or in the
community - play a sport, join a club, get a job, or volunteer. You will
benefit physically, mentally, socially, and even academically!

Schedule Changes
        We discourage schedule changes at this point. Since you chose
classes in March, and have had five months to change your mind, I'm hoping
that all issues have been taken care of. But, reality tells me that some of
you will have concerns. There is a schedule change request form that must be
completed and signed by parents. Those are available in the Guidance Office
or can be downloaded from the EHS website. The absolute last day for
schedule change requests for semester one and year-long classes is Friday,
August 31. We don't change classes because you want to be in with your
friends, you don't like your lunch shift, you don't want P.E. in the morning
because you'll get sweaty, or your cousin's-neighbor's-girlfriend had that
teacher and didn't like her. Also, keep in mind that most classes are full
at this point. You may have a good reason for a change, but I may not be
able to make it for you.

Contact Information
        My e-mail address is bvarlas@ccps.org. I am the Counselor for the
Class of 2010, which means I will be with you until graduation! Have a great
year!

Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002

Dear Parents and Students,
        Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year! As most of you know, I will be
communicating information to you through newsletters that are issued with
each interim report. These newsletters are given to students and e-mailed to
anyone on my e-mail list. They are also posted on the Guidance section of
the EHS website. If I have information to share between interim times, it
will be shared with students through our daily intercom announcements, and I
will e-mail it to my list and post it on the web. Please feel free to e-mail
(or phone) me with questions, concerns, etc. I will get back to you as soon
as possible.
        Our first tenth grade activity for the school year will be the Open
House on Wednesday, August 22, from 6:45 until 7:45 p.m. Hopefully, you
received a mailing about this event. We will begin the evening in our brand
new auditorium! Students will receive their schedules at this meeting and
will have an opportunity to tour the building and find classes. I will also
give you an overview of tenth grade Guidance-related activities.
        If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm looking forward
to another good year with you/your children.

Becky Varlas
Counselor for the Class of 2010
Elkton High School
110 James Street
Elkton, Maryland  21921
410-996-5002