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Counselors have now met with all members of the Class of 2001 to finalize plans for a schedule of courses for "Senior Year". Hopefully your "senior-to-be" has already shared a copy of his/her schedule with you and we encourage you to call the appropriate counselor if you have any questions or concerns (668-3813). Counselors are still available on selected evenings to meet with parents and assist in the college search process that all juniors should have now started. To make an appointment, day or evening, simply call the guidance office. Members of the Class of 2002 will begin meeting with counselors on Monday, March 20^th to build their schedule for next year.

The Guidance departments at Conard and Hall High Schools invite Suffield High School parents and students to attend two upcoming programs dealing with present trends in college admissions. Both programs will be held in the Hall High School Auditorium.

"THE COLLEGE ESSAY"

"THE COLLEGE INTERVIEW"

BOSTON COLLEGE
DUKE

MOUNT HOLYOKE

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY

UNION COLLEGE

"PRESENT TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS"

A video tape of our College Planning Seminar held on Thursday, March 2^nd, is now available for loan in the guidance office. An overview of the college admissions process was provided along with a very informative panel discussion of college admissions representatives. If you were unable to attend the program here's your chance to find out what you missed!

As you receive applications, you will notice that many colleges and universities require or recommend an interview. Why does this small private liberal arts college or that competitive university require an interview? Regardless of their size, institutions that require an interview will consider it an important part of your application. Chances are that whatever you communicate about yourself and how you do so during the course of that half-hour or forty-minute interview will be evaluated by those who are making the ultimate decision on your application for admission or, in some cases, for any merit-based grant or scholarship.

For those institutions that recommend an interview, the interview itself is not such an integral part of the application. This does not mean, however, that you shouldn't bother to arrange for interviews if they are "only" recommended. In my experience as an admissions officer at a highly selective private liberal arts college that recommends interviews, those students who took the time to arrange for and had a successful interview gained more "points" in the eyes of admissions officers than those who didn't bother at all.

Interviewing at institutions that recommend an interview is a great opportunity for you to distinguish yourself even further from other applicants. If, for example, you know that 15 other students from your high school are applying to the same college or university, that successful interview could lead to a more positive or stronger evaluation of your application as admissions officers read that flood of applications from your school.

Even if that college or university that recommends an interview is a "safety" or "backup" school, make sure to have an interview, especially if the institution is located within your region. Your decision not to interview at an institution within easy reach can be interpreted as lack of interest even if you have submitted a complete application. Interviews can only enhance your chances for admission, never ruin them (unless you are an awful interviewee).

Congratulations to Nicole Augusto, daughter of Victor and Olga Augusto of Suffield, on being chosen as Suffield High School Rotary Student of the Month for March! Nicole is a member of the National Honor Society and is involved in numerous school and Student Government activities. Congratulations to Nicole!

The English Department is offering a CAPT Preparation Program in March for sophomores. Three after school sessions will focus on the skills identified in the January Response to Literature Simulation. Each session will address specific skills:

• Session 1 (March 16) - literary judgment
• Session 2 (March 23) - connection to life
• Session 3 (March 29) - test taking skills

Students must sign up in advance in the main office by March 9. Mrs. Gloria Roy, English Department Coordinator will be happy to answer any questions you may have (668-3810). The sessions will run from 2:45 - 3:45.

The guidance department is currently offering a "March Madness" stress management group on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 - 3:30 through March 29^th. Strategies for coping with stress will be discussed with lots of opportunity for casual group discussion. Pizza and soda will be provided. Interested students should sign up with Ms. Skowron in guidance.

In the moments after Ben Flaim opened the oh-so-thin letter from Dartmouth College that told him he had not been accepted, he remembers being hit with a second disappointment.

"The first thing my mom said was, 'Don't worry it's not the end of the world" says Flaim. "To me, it was a big deal, a very big deal, and here she was discounting my feelings."

Flaim is now a very happy junior at Boston University. That he remembers his mother's words three years later highlights a developmental need that often escapes parents: A child who experiences disappointment can't get past it unless she has the chance to face it. Our first job is to acknowledge the loss, not try to cheer her up.

"When you don't validate feelings, you negate them. It comes across as a lack of understanding: 'Mom doesn't get it,' "says developmental psychologist John Dacey of Boston College.

This is true for any age child, for any disappointment, but the advice is especially relevant for parents of high school seniors. With some time yet before college envelopes arrive, Harvard developmental psychologist Janine Bempechat urges parents to set the stage for the possibility of disappointment.

It's not that you need to be a pessimist - "I don't think you're going to get in" - because a child hears that as, "Dad doesn't believe in me.' But, says Bempechat, "You could say, 'This is a great thing to try for but you'll still be the same great person even if it doesn't work out.

That reality dose is as important for parents as children.

"Sometimes the problem for the child isn't her own disappointment, but the parent's" says Karen Levin Coburn, assistant vice chancellor for students at Washington University in St. Louis. She urges parents not to be overly invested in any one college, or for that matter, in anything a child strives for, from private school to a slot on a sports team.

"It's a terrible burden when a child thinks he has failed you," says Coburn. She is author of "Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years" (Harper Perennial).

For a teen, rejection from your first choice is more than a horrible disappointment. "He truly thinks his life is ruined," says psychologist Frances K. Grossman of Boston University. Dacey says, "He feels like a nonperson, a nobody."

Our first instinct is to take that pain away and let them know they are still a somebody. That's an important message, but not just yet, says Grossman.

Starting when they are young we tend to shield them from disappointment. We distract them, we make something not happen. That's a disservice," says Grossman. "It doesn't give them the coping skills they need for life's daily disappointments."

For Ben Flaim, two things helped him almost immediately. After he read his rejection letter, he took the train from his home in Queens, N.Y., back to school in Manhattan to tell his guidance counselor . "The hour alone on the train gave me time to think," he says. Once there, the guidance counselor called Dartmouth to ask what had been his downfall. It was his SAT's.

"Having a concrete reason helped," Flaim says.

Dacey endorses calling the school. "Let's say you learn enrollment is up 25 percent this year, as it is at BC, and that in a different year, you might have gotten in. That can take the sting out of rejection and even give you options: Maybe you want to reapply next year," he says.

As good as things have worked out and as supportive as his parents were about BU, there's one thing that nags at Flaim: "I was worried I wouldn't get into any college, I had no idea what would happen to me, and here were my parents being really calm, saying I'd get in somewhere. That took pressure off me so it was helpful, but if they had just said, 'I understand why you're upset,' that would have made it easier."

• Nonverbal messages can be supportive: a pat on the back, a hug, a sympathetic facial expression.

• Don't take it personally if your child gets on the phone with his best friend to talk about his disappointment before he talks to you. Anything that helps him process it is valuable.

• If you have a history of being judgmental or unsympathetic, tell a child at any age: "I know last time you were disappointed, I wasn't very supportive. I hope you'll try me again next time; I'm going to try to do better.

• Relate setbacks you experienced as a child. Talk about what happened and how badly you felt but don't moralize unless your child asks you, "So what did you learn?"

• Whether you agree or disagree with your child's reaction to a setback doesn't matter; the feeling are real to him.

On March 28^th from 6:00 - 8:00 the Science Department will be holding its annual Science Night/Open House to showcase the Science program at the high school. The focus this year will be on two areas: Many students will be presenting their individual research projects ranging form bioethics to extracting medicinal penicillin from the mold itself. Other students will be demonstrating labs that are indicative of the in-depth science program at Suffield High School. We are hoping that parents and others in the Community will come and learn about our program and see the work the kids have done during this school year.

Certified Lifeguards: to work at 2 waterfronts including weekends and holidays.

WSI: Certified individuals to teach swim lessons and guard at 2 waterfronts.

Day Camp Directors: oversee all activity and staff at outdoor camp for grades 2-8

Recreation Soccer Programmers/Monitor: to assist in organizing an annual recreation soccer program for children ages 5-14. Schedules game referees, and also oversees all activity at this Saturday program. Approximate time frame for this position is May - October.

Skateboard Park Monitor: supervise activity at skateboard park, weekdays and weekends.

Arts and Crafts Specialist: to teach arts and crafts to day camp children in grades 2 - 8 Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 12:00 noon.

Members of the Suffield High School Class of 2001 (next year's seniors) have begun meeting with their counselor to finalize a schedule for next year. Please ask your son/daughter to see a copy of his/her schedule or remind them to come in and make an appointment if they haven't already done so. Counselors are reminding all "future seniors" to register for the May 6^th Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) to be given here at the high school. Registration forms must be postmarked by March 31^st. We are also stressing the importance of starting the college/career search now so as to prepare for visits to schools and colleges during the April vacation. Counselors are also available to meet with students and folks during evening hours to help get you started on your college search and answer any questions you may have.

On Wednesday, February 16^th, Suffield High School's Debate Team ended its season on a triumphant note. Winners of round 11 debates were Erik Shankman and Mike Rinaldi, while Geetha Mathews Jeff Fahrenholz, Elizabeth O'Connor and Kristy Goulding won both round 11 and round 12 debates. In addition the team is proud to announce that Geetha Mathews received a trophy for best speaker. Geetha placed third out of approximately 60 negative team speakers who were judged on the debating skills of analysis reasoning, evidence, organization, refutation and delivery.

Congratulations to Geetha and to every member of the SHS debate team for a successful season.

The college search needn't be that overwhelming- not if you start early, plan ahead, and take things one-step at a time.

No question, you're facing a big change in your family's life. So how do you find a compass? How do you begin to sort through all the information and begin to make some choices that make sense for you and your child?

There are a couple of first steps. One is to take a self-inventory. You and your child should ask yourselves realistic, sometimes tough, person-centered questions about interests, skills, values and aspirations. Soon it will be appropriate to begin thinking about externally-oriented issues like college size, location, and cost. And it's okay to admit that trepidation and uncertainty exist, even among "veteran" families.

Alongside the self-inventory is the gathering of objective information about colleges themselves- the kind of details that will make you narrow that list from 3,500 to perhaps a handful. This can be daunting. One of the overwhelming aspects of the college search is that there's so much information available. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between what is and what isn't valuable.

One of the resources that too often is not used properly is your school's counseling office. Nearly everything you need to start doing some preliminary sorting is here- an experienced counseling staff, publications from colleges, guidebooks of all kinds, and electronic databases.

Along with the experiences of friends- student and adult- your own child's instincts are also resources to draw on. These anecdotal resources should not drive the search process, but you should feel free to start the preliminary list of colleges with some sentimental favorites.

As a goal begins to come into focus, sometimes working backward from that goal makes great sense. If your goal is to get to a small, liberal arts college in the Northeast, for example, start with a group of schools and work backward, applying increasingly personal, student oriented questions to make distinctions and winnow the list.

It's important that the student take the lead in thinking critically to get down to the short list. Ultimately a student who's been spoon-fed is the one who's going to be disappointed in college when he or she discovers that other people's interests and values drove the college search.

One of your best strategies is to ask questions, keep your eyes open, and evaluate information and impressions. In the end, it's a question and answer process between family and college, parent and child.

Determining the fit between student and college depends on how you want to define the outcome of your child's college education. If you want to define it vocationally, you might look purely at statistics. To the extent that cost will be a factor, you will need to research tuition prices and/or financial aid policies. And if you want to define it as an academic, intellectual, personal, and cultural experience- and you are attuned to those values and clues that give you insights into a college's character- then your child's college years will be all the richer for that.

Know what to expect from a school that offers you federal student financial aid.

Read any school enrollment contract carefully before you sign it. The contract explains what the school will give you for your money.

If a representative of the school promises you things that are not in the contract, such as help finding a job, ask that the promise be written into the contract and that it be signed and dated. A promise usually is not enforceable in court unless it is in writing.

If you're enrolling in a community college or a four-year college, you will probably get a tuition and fee bill before each term (semester or quarter) begins; a portion of your federal financial aid will be paid each term.

If you're enrolling at a vocational school, you usually will be charged tuition and fees for the entire educational program at the beginning. However, your federal financial aid will usually be divided into at least two payments. The first payment is made at the beginning of the program, and the second payments is made after you've finished half of the program.

Most schools use your financial aid to pay your tuition and fees. If there's any left over, the school must give it to you to help pay for living expenses.

Even if you qualify for a full Federal Pell Grant (gift aid), your cost of attendance might not be covered. If other gift aid and work-study aren't available, check with your school about the types of loans you can get. Before you borrow, think about how you will afford to pay the money back. Either the school or the lender must give you a repayment schedule that explains how much your loan payments will be and when you have to start making the payments.

Remember that you must pay back a loan, even if you drop out of school or don't find a job after you graduate.

It's important to find out whether you can get a refund from the school if you drop out before you get your degree or certificate. Every school that uses federal financial aid must have a written refund policy, and it must give you a copy of that policy if you request it.

If financial aid is used to pay your costs at the school, at least part of your refund will probably go to the federal aid program it came from. If you took out a loan, some money might go to your lender, reducing the amount of the loan that you have to repay. Any remaining refund goes to you.

Be sure to let the school know exactly when you plan to withdraw - it may reduce your debt.

For further consumer information, contact the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 (TTY: 1-800-730-8913)

Friday, March 3, 2000 is the mid-point of our third quarter marking period! Interim progress reports will be mailed home the following week. The progress reports are designed to inform students and patents of academic progress and alert them to any concerns. Parents should look for these interim reports to arrive in the mail by Friday, March 10^th. If folks have questions about their student's progress, they should contact teachers directly by calling the main office at 668-3810, or by calling the guidance office at 668-3813. Parent conferences are always available to allow parents to meet with all teachers at one time and discuss progress and suggestions for improvement, etc. All of us at Suffield High School strive to keep parents as informed as possible of their student's progress, but please don't wait for us to contact you if you have concerns! Call the guidance office and we will assist you in getting the information your need!

Suffield High School is proud to announce the names of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the graduating Class of 2000. This years Valediction is Crystal Tholany, the daughter of Thomas and Rosana Tholany of Quail Run Road in Suffield. This years Salutatorian is Hilary Evans, the daughter of Christopher and Ruth Evans of Ratley Road in West Suffield. We are extremely proud to have two such fine young people address their classmates on graduation day! Congratulations to Crystal, Hilary, and their families!

Congratulations also to Amy Modzelesky and Sarah Nicholson who were recently chosen for the All Connecticut Music Festival! Both Amy and Sarah completed a rigorous audition in November and were selected form a strong group of candidates from across the entire state. Amy is the daughter of Thomas and Celeste Modzelesky of Somerwynd Lane in Suffield. A French horn player, Amy was one of very few sophomores to make All State, she will perform with the All Connecticut Orchestra. Sarah is the daughter of Donald and Cynthia Nicholson of Newgate Road in West Suffield. A Flute player, Sarah is a senior who will perform with the All State Band. Both Amy and Sarah will stay at the Hilton Hotel where they will rehearse from 3/29 - 4/1 for a performance at the Bushnell on Saturday, April 1^st. Congratulations to both Amy and Sarah on their selection as All State performers!

A couple of years ago, I witnessed courage that ran chills up and down my spine.

At a high school assembly, I had spoken about picking on people and how each of us has the ability to stand up for people instead of putting them down. Afterwards, we had a time when anyone could come out of the bleachers and speak into the microphone. Students could say thank you to someone who had helped them, and some people came up and did just that. A girl thanked some friends who had helped her through family troubles. A boy spoke of some people who had supported him during an emotionally difficult time.

Then a senior girl stood up. She stepped over to the microphone, pointed to the sophomores section and challenged her whole school. "Let's stop picking on that boy. Sure, he's different from us, but we are in this thing together. On the inside he's no different form us and needs our acceptance, love, compassion and approval. He needs a friend. Why do we continually brutalize him and put him down? I'm challenging this entire school to lighten up on him and give him a chance!"

All the time she shared, I had my back to the section where that boy say, and I had no idea who he was. But obviously the school knew. I felt almost afraid to look at this section, thinking the boy must be red in the face, want to crawl under his seat and hide from the world. But as I glanced back, I saw a boy smiling from ear to ear. His whole body bounced up and down, and he raised one fist in the air. His body language said, "Thank you, thank you. Keep telling them. You saved my life today!"

March 2^nd College Planning Seminar for Sophomores, Juniors and their parents.

SHS Auditorium

March 7^th ASVAB Test administration at Suffield High School.

March 8^th Interim Progress Reports mailed home.

March 12^th National College Fair at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

(12:00 - 4:00PM)

All Juniors should consider taking the SAT I at this time!

As we head toward spring, now is the time for members of the junior class to begin planning for continued education after Suffield High School. Soon, counselors will be meeting with all juniors during study halls to remind them about the following:

March 12^th, a Sunday afternoon, from 12:00 - 4:00 pm, the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield will host a National College Fair with over 200 college representatives in attendance to answer questions and provide information.

March 31^st, all juniors should have mailed in their registration for the May 6^th SAT I administration here at Suffield High School. Virtually all four year colleges require students to take this college admissions test or its counterpart the ACT. Even students who are unsure about college should take the SAT at this time!

Before March 31^st, all juniors should visit the College/Career Center to complete a customized college search using our computer programs. Counselors have given juniors a college search worksheet to help them identify factors important to them in narrowing down their list of schools. It is critical that juniors begin this task now so they will be in a position to visit colleges and attend college fairs in the next few months. The sooner students identity prospective colleges the sooner they can begin planning which admissions tests they'll need to take and when to take them. IN fact, the SAT I registration asks students to identify four potential colleges to receive their scores!

April 14^th, from 6:30 - 9:00 pm another National College Fair will be held at the CT Expo Center in Hartford. The Hartford Fair typically draws a wide number of top rate colleges from around the country so it is another great opportunity for juniors and parents to explore potential options for the future!

The upcoming April Vacation (4/17-4/21) is an excellent opportunity for juniors and their parents to visit colleges! A phone call now to make arrangements through the admissions office is recommended. Whenever possible it's best to have students sit in on a class in their intended major area and even have them stay overnight in a dorm to get a true measure of how good a "fit" that school might be! A "Friends On Campus" file listing Suffield High School alumni at various colleges is available to students looking for a familiar face to stay with when visiting.

Why the rush? There are more then 3000 college programs available across the country! Finding the "right" ones for you takes time, effort, and more than a little soul searching. By starting now juniors will be in a position to visit colleges this spring, know which admissions tests to plan for, and begin writing those college application essays this summer instead of at the last minute next fall. Need a little help getting started? That's why we're here! Give us a call (668-3813) to seat up an appointment to sit down together and develop a specific timetable.

Congratulations to Tom McCabe, a 1999 Suffield High School Graduate, who has been named to the Syracuse University Athletic Directors Honor Roll for the Fall semester. The Honor Roll was established at Syracuse in 1995 to honor student-athletes who achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the semester. A member of both the Cross-Country and Track and Field Teams at Syracuse, Tom is the son of Thomas and Susan McCabe of Lebria Road in West Suffield.

Parents of sophomores and juniors are reminded to save Thursday, March 2^nd, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM, to attend our College Planning Seminar in the Suffield High School Auditorium. Representatives from four different colleges will be here to explain admissions procedures and answer questions about the college application process. All Suffield High School 10^th and 11^th graders and their parents are encouraged to attend!!

To know them is to avoid them

Making a mistake on the FAFSA can delay the processing of your application by up to three weeks. Think it couldn't happen to you? Think again. Historically, one in seven FAFSA forms are returned due to errors of some sort.

Avoid the most common mistake:

The number one mistake students make is leaving a field blank. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, write in a zero. If you leave a question blank, the processor will assume that you forgot to answer.

Use the 1040 Federal tax return for income reporting and reporting taxes paid. Many parents and students mistakenly use their W-2 form.

Don't forget to report all required sources of untaxed income. These include Social Security, child support and Aid to Dependent Children (ADC).

Report your correct marital status. IF you plan to file as a married student, you must be married on or before the date that you sign your FAFSA.

Make sure to include your stepparent's information.

Include yourself in the household size. Even if you didn't live there during the previous year, you should always include yourself as part of your parent's household.

Don't forget to sign the application. IF you're filing as a dependent, both you and your parents must sign. (If you file electronically, make sure you return the certification page.)

Remember to file on time. Priority for programs with limited funds is often given to students who file the FAFSA early.

As with all forms and applications, make sure you read all instructions and questions carefully. IF you're unclear about a question or are having trouble filling out the FAFSA, Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3242).

Source: FASTWEB Educator Newsletter January/2000

WRONG. No one can guarantee to get you a grant or scholarship. Remember, too, that school guarantees often have conditions or strings attached. Get school refund policies in writing.

"You Can't get this information anywhere else."

UNLIKELY. Many free lists of scholarships are available. Check with your school counselor or librarian for free information about current scholarships before you pay someone for the same or similar information. For more information about paying for college, visit the U.S. Department of Education's web site for students at http://gov/studetntaid

NO WAY. IT may be a setup for an unauthorized withdrawal from your account. Don't give out your or your parents' credit card or bank account number on the phone without first getting all the information in writing.

DON'T BE FOOLED. There's no way around it. You must apply for scholarships or grants yourself.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. Free money shouldn't cost a thing. Don't pay anyone who claims to have access to a scholarship for you.

BE CAREFUL. Before you send money to apply for a scholarship, check it out. Make sure the foundation or program is legitimate. Some places imitate legitimate foundations, federal agencies, and corporations. They might even have official sounding names, using such words as "National," "Federal," "Division", and "Foundation" to fool students and parents into thinking they are legitimate enterprises.

To find out how to spot, stop, and report a scholarship scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue., NW, Consumer Response Center, Washington, DC 20580.

Web site: http//www.ftc.gov

Telephone (National Fraud Information Center): 1-877-FTC-HELP (TTY: 1-202-326-2502).