Hi Everyone,

We want to share some information with you about what’s happening in the counseling office throughout the year. Our plan is to send a monthly newsletter in addition to regular announcements and updates that we share with you and the students. 

If you need anything, please reach out to any one of us in the counseling and social work office.

• Meet the Team

  • Mrs. Bricklemyer - [email protected] - Mrs. Bricklemyer is the new secretary in the counseling office and she is still also working with attendance

  • Mrs. Erin Yeager - [email protected] - Counselor for students with last names that begin with A-G

  • Ms. Karen Maple - [email protected] - Counselor for students with last names that begin with H-O

  • Mr. Mike Kilcoyne - [email protected] - Counselor for students with last names that begin with P-Z

  • Mrs. Michelle Lander - [email protected] - School social worker who is able to work with all of the students in the high school 

• General Information

  • Schedule change window has closed - we are not able to change any classes except for second semester electives

  • Upcoming Dates:

    • October 13, 2021 - PSAT, SAT, and ASVAB in school - or career activity for seniors

      • 9-11th graders will take the PSAT during the school day

      • Seniors may take SAT, the ASVAB, or participate in another career activity like a college visit or job shadow

      • The ASVAB is recommended for students considering a career in the military. Interested students should see Mr. Kilcoyne to sign up.

    • Financial Aid Night - October 25th - 6:00 p.m. TJHS Auditorium

  • Keep up with grades on Skyward, Canvas, and working with teachers during PLT

• College and Career Information

  • Senior Meetings - Counselors will be meeting with seniors one on one to discuss progress towards graduation and post-secondary plans

  • Applying to College - Here’s what we’ve shared with kids about the process. We use Naviance to send transcripts.

    • TJHS Applying to College Steps

  • Career Planning Days- Students are able to visit colleges on their own and have the day excused as a career planning day. Steps to do this are 1) Email counselor or attendance secretary before the visit to let them know the day and location of the visit 2) Attend the visit 3) Complete a survey on Naviance about the visit (Longer version here)

  • PLT Offerings 

    • College Visits at TJ - Click here to see the calendar - Updated as visits are added or changed. Representatives from different colleges come to the school to talk with students. Oftentimes students will be able to get an application fee waiver if they attend visits with an admissions representative

    • Application Workshops - throughout the week, we’ll have several opportunities for students to work on college applications with counselors available to answer questions, review essays, and walk students through the process

  • Naviance is a resource your students have access to help with career planning. Here is a quick overview (~3 minutes) to understand what’s available to them. You can see Naviance by having them access it through the Clever Portal on their school-issued chromebook.

  • Here is a longer (15 minute) video that gives you a thorough overview: 15 Minute Naviance Student Overview

• Suicide Awareness Month - September is suicide awareness month. Here are some resources for parents and families about suicide:

  • Signs a Child Might Be Suicidal

  • What to Do if You're Worried About Suicide A parent's guide to helping a child in distress

• Anxiety is something we work with a lot in our office. Students are feeling anxious about a lot of things, including school. Here are some resources on dealing with anxiety:

  • What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious 

  • How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids Help yourself, and them, by learning techniques to manage stress in a healthy way

Parents/Guardians,

November 24th is Conference day for the West Jefferson Hills School District.  The Counseling Department would like to invite you to reach out if you would like to schedule an appointment for a virtual conference.  The following is a list of counselors and their contact information:

1.  Mrs. Erin Yeager - Students whose last names begin with A-G.

   [email protected] 412-655-8610 x6222

2.  Ms. Karen Maple - Students whose last names begin with H-O

   [email protected] - 412-655-8610 x6223

3.  Mr. Michael Kilcoyne - Students whose last names begin with P-Z

   [email protected] - 412-655-8610 x6224

4.  Mrs. Michelle Lander - Social Worker for all students

   [email protected] - 412-655-8610 x6230

We look forward to hearing from you for any discussion you may need to have about your son/daughter.

Sincerely,

The Counseling Department

Our test preparation partners at Goldstein Test Prep will be running several programs to help TJ students prepare for the upcoming October 14 SAT school day, including a full group course for new students and several free reviews and free practice tests for students who took the prep course in the spring.  Please see the information below, and contact program director Mike Goldstein with any questions.  Mike can be reached at 412-874-7645 or mike.goldstein@goldsteintestprep.com.  You can also learn more at www.goldsteintestprep.com.  As part of our partnership, Goldstein Test Prep will continue to offer a reduced rate for all TJ students and provide scholarships to families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. 

Free Reviews for Returning Students

If you previously participated in the Goldstein Test Prep SAT course, you are eligible to attend free reviews and practice tests.  Please follow the links below to register.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A PROCTORED PRACTICE TEST

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ONE OF OUR FREE REVIEWS 

Full Preparation Program for New Students

Please see the schedule and registration link and below for Goldstein Test Prep’s upcoming course.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER THOMAS JEFFERSON SAT COURSE SCHEDULE

Registration Link:  https://goldsteintestprep.com/#/courses/220

Use the Discount Code TJ100

• Practice exams may be rescheduled as needed. Students can make up missed tests at a later date, or we can provide students with tests to take on their own.

• Students can sit in on courses at other times and locations in the event they need to miss a class.

GOLDSTEIN TEST PREP PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

·        Accolades – Goldstein Test Prep was recently selected by CBS Local as one of the top SAT/ACT preparation programs in the region.

·        Options – Goldstein Test Prep offers group courses, private tutoring, and combination programs for both the SAT and the ACT.  Every family receives a free consultation and ongoing support to determine which tests might be best for students to pursue.  They also work with families to determine the appropriate number of hours students need to meet their goals. 

·        Elite Teachers and Mentorship – All teachers have scored in the 99th percentile of test-takers and have attended an Ivy League or equivalent undergraduate program.  Goldstein Test Prep instructors are young, ambitious, and talented.  Also, having recently and successfully traversed the college admissions process, instructors are in a unique position to serve as mentors to their students.

·        The Right Approach – Students learn how each question type is designed to test them on a very narrow set of skills, specifically step-by-step thinking processes.  By pulling back the curtain on the SAT and ACT, Goldstein Test Prep seeks to empower students.  They also review every concept that students will encounter on each test.  Students develop a clear system for each section and know exactly what to expect on test day.