May Message from Guidance

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Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

Now is the time to take a close look at your academics. Please review your classes to see if you are missing any assignments. Create a plan to complete and submit all of your missing work in a timely manner. All of your teachers offer office hours where you can interact face-to-face and receive their assistance with assigned work. It is always a good idea to reach out to your teacher to let them know you will be joining the meeting and explain what you are having difficulty understanding.

The Guidance Department would like to share a resource with you to help you unwind from the current climate. The PositivePulse tab on the Guidance homepage will give you access to live cameras across the globe for animal watching, virtual tours of museums, zoos, national parks, concerts and roller coaster rides. In addition, you can choose from relaxing music, guided meditation or visual relaxation. We hope these tools give you easy access for ways to relax without leaving your home.

Check out our ​Wellness Wednesday​ message in the Blue Box on the Distance Learning Page.

Be safe and well,

Mrs. Kelleher Mr. Manta
Mrs. Prete
Mrs. Schillinger

Senior Mandatory Graduation Survey

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April 7, 2020

Dear Students and Parent(s)/ Guardian(s):

As the end of the year approaches, the Guidance Department must gather information specific to seniors and their postsecondary education plan. In order to assist our seniors, we have assigned a mandatory ​Graduation Survey​. This information is necessary in order for the guidance office to send the final transcript as proof of graduation to the college your child will attend.

The ​Graduation Survey​ must be completed by Friday, May 1st, 2020 as a requirement for graduation.

The survey can be found on the homepage of ​Naviance Student​. ​https://student.naviance.com/holycrosshi

*Please note that if you have not updated your Naviance Student password since January 2020, you may need to do so now. Simply follow the regular log in procedures (remember that you must use your Holy Cross Gmail account to log in). If you have difficulty logging in, please select “forgot password” and you will receive an email with a temporary password and instructions to reset your password. Please make sure to check your spam folder if you do not see it in your Gmail inbox.

  1. Just select the tab that says, ​Complete Graduation Survey​ that is listed on the home page in the ​What’s New section​.
  2. Indicate your post high school plan (4 year college, 2 year college, trade/career school, gap year).
  3. Update the admission decision for all colleges listed (Example: accepted, denied, waitlisted, deferred). If you applied to any other colleges not already listed, please add them and indicate the admission decision.
  4. Select the college you plan to attend and indicate your intended major and make sure to select the ​UPDATE button to the right to save your selection.
  5. List all scholarships received from the College/University and enter the ​total dollar amount awarded for the four years​. (Make sure to enter without commas, decimal points or dollar signs-Example: enter $3,000 as 3000). If you received other scholarships or grants, select “Add Scholarship” and enter the name of the award. ​*Please email copies of all scholarship award letters to your counselor.

If your child’s college choice changes after he/she submitted the graduation survey, please have your child make the change in Naviance Student and inform his/her counselor immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. If you should have any questions, please call the Guidance Office at (718) 886-7250, extension 571.

Sincerely,
Mary Anne Kelleher
Director of Guidance

Seniors Check In and Other Important Reminders – 3/25/20

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March 25, 2020

Dear Seniors and Parents/ Guardians,
I hope that you are all safe and healthy as we all make the transition to distance learning.

I want to touch base with you on a few items. First, the Guidance Department is available to you through Holy Cross gmail. Please reach out to your counselor with any questions or concerns.
Also, the College Process is ongoing as we are here to assist you and will be preparing to send out your final transcript, after the fourth quarter, to your college choice. We have sent and verified college receipt of all requested initial transcripts as well as forwarded your teacher letter(s) of recommendation and school profile. If necessary, please verify that the colleges have received your standardized test scores (​www.collegeboard.org​ and/or​ ​www.act.org​).

Many of you have shared the news of your college acceptances and we have all enjoyed being a part of celebrating your successes. ​It is important to update your Naviance account to reflect your acceptances. We understand that current circumstances present obstacles in making your college decision. Colleges are trying to help you with your decisions by providing virtual tours and website resources such as fact sheets. You can contact the College Admissions Office to get the answers to all your questions. You are advised to check the individual college website for additional information and to verify whether the deposit deadline has been extended. Please continue to check your emails daily for important college updates.

As a service to students and families, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) developed an online tool as a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. https://www.nacacnet.org/news–publications/newsroom/college-admission-status-coronavirus/

I know that your senior year has taken a very unexpected turn and that learning from home may not be what you envisioned. I would like for all of you to look at distance learning as an opportunity to grow as an independent learner. The college environment is very different from high school and much of your education will be supplemented with online instruction. This is the right time for you to practice your time-management skills in order to complete quality assignments and submit on time. Ironically, this process may help you to meet the challenges of the future as a college student.

I believe that all of you can succeed with distance learning. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your counselor through Holy Cross gmail.

Be safe and healthy,
Mrs. Mary Anne Kelleher
Director of Guidance
Holy Cross High School

Tips for online remote learning from Guidance – 3/20/20

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Guidance Tips for Distance Learning

  1. Set a daily alarm to wake up at least 30 minutes before your first period class.
  2. Designate an area that is quiet, free of distractions and comfortable for learning.
  3. Keep social media and gaming systems out of sight to limit distractions.
  4. Have your tools accessible such as chromebook, notebooks, textbooks, pens, paper, calculator, etc.
  5. Sit at a table with a comfortable chair.
  6. Sign in to the Holy Cross website to access Distance Learning.
  7. Click on Daily Attendance to complete the attendance form each day.  This will ensure that Holy Cross knows you are engaging in distance learning and have access to school resources such as; Announcements, Daily Prayer, and Links and Resources (Google Classroom, Powerschool and Naviance)
  8. Access your Google Classroom and start with your period 1 class.  Once you complete and submit your Period 1 assignment(s) then move on to your period 2 through period 9 classes and do the same. Take your time as you have the whole day ahead of you.  
  9. Plan your time wisely and follow the same schedule as if you were in school.
  10. Do some quick stretches in between “switching classes”.
  11. Keep checking your emails and Google Classroom.
  12. If you have questions, email your teacher, counselor, and/or an administrator.
  13. Communicate with your classmates if you have questions or need additional help.
  14. Have good self-discipline to complete your assignments.
  15. Actively take notes, such as writing down important details.
  16. Actively ask questions and participate.

Healthy tips for dealing with anxiety and stress

  1. Get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
  2. Eat a healthy balanced diet (fruits, proteins, vegetables, limit sugars).
  3. Practice positive self-talk.
  4. List all your good and positive qualities; write in a daily gratitude journal.
  5. Talk to a trusted peer, friend, sibling, parent/guardian, or trusted adult.
  6. Take deep breaths, count to 10 slowly, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth.
  7. Reminisce about happy times or places, view pictures/videos from those times.
  8. Watch your favorite movie/show or listen to your favorite song.
  9. Limit excessive or repetitive exposure to the news.
  10.  Find a quiet spot in your home to take a breather.
  11.  Practice, “Grounding” exercises which help you control your surroundings: Look around you, find 5 things you can SEE, 4 things you can TOUCH, 3 things you can HEAR, 2 things you can SMELL, and 1 thing you can TASTE. 
  12. Make a list of things you can control vs. cannot control and focus on the control list.
  13. Unplug from social media and read a book, write a poem or story, and/or color or draw.
  14. Look for opportunities in life’s challenges and identify and set goals for yourself.
  15. Spend quality time with loved ones. 
  16. Identify and try out a new hobby.

Apps. to download for relaxation

  1. CALM
  2. Headspace: Meditation & Sleep
  3. Simple  Habit      
  4. MindShift

Podcast recommendations

  1. Mindfulness Minis        
  2. Practicing Human       
  3. The Happiness Lab

Junior SAT Update and Other Important Information – 3/17/20

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March 17, 2020

Dear Juniors and Parents/Guardians,

Good morning,

The College Process remains unchanged for our junior class. At this point, all juniors should have joined the Guidance Classroom. The invite to join the Guidance Classroom was sent by Mr. Manta and is in your Gmail account.

Once you have joined, you can view your assignments in ​Classwork​. As a reminder, your College Essay​ assignment is due May 1st​.

Although the College Board has announced the cancelation of its May Test Administration, you are strongly encouraged to continue to prep for this very important exam. You all have access to the ​Method Test Program (included in your Back to School packet and your College Planning Guide) and should prep daily. Although difficult, now is a good time to take advantage of the resources such as the Method Test Prep and Khan Academy to keep you sharp and ready. Below is the recent update from College Board regarding SAT Administrations.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kelleher
Director of Guidance

SAT Update from College Board (www.collegeboard.org)

March and May SAT Administrations

In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020 SAT administration. Makeup exams for the March 14 administration (scheduled for March 28) are ​also canceled. In the coming days, College Board will share additional information and details directly with registered students and test centers.

Future Testing Opportunities

College Board will provide future additional SAT testing opportunities for students as soon as possible in place of canceled administrations. We have not yet canceled the June 6, 2020 SAT administration and will continue to assess its status, with the health and safety of students and educators as our top priority.

Resources and Support

To help students keep their college readiness skills sharp when many schools are closed, College Board and Khan Academy will continue to provide free resources online, including full-length practice tests and personalized learning tools.

A message from our Guidance Department

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Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Guidance Department is committed to providing you with the necessary support and academic advisement throughout the school closing via your Holy Cross Gmail. When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease such as COVID-19, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress.

Many parents are wondering how to bring up the virus in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may be. It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety (nasponline.org).

It is important to frame school closure as a positive measure in preventing the spread of the virus. Establishing a daily routine will help create a calm environment in which your child can be productive. This will further encourage a confidence in their ability to handle transitions and manage stressful situations.

If at any time you feel you are unable to assist your child in managing his/her anxiety, please contact your doctor and/or utilize the NYC Well website for additional online support https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us. I have attached a few helpful articles to assist you and your family during this uncertain time. It is our hope that our need for closure will be brief and that we will have a seamless transition back to the school campus.

Sincerely,

The Holy Cross Guidance Department 
Mary Anne Kelleher mkelleher@myhchs.org
Anthony Manta amanta@myhchs.org
Christine Prete cprete@myhchs.org
Maryanne Schillinger mschillinger@myhchs.org

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/healt h-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov

Schoolwide Guidance Message – 3/16/20

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March 16, 2020

Good morning,

The Guidance Department is available to you throughout your time working remotely from home. You may contact your counselor with any questions or concerns using Holy Cross Gmail.

We understand that this is all new for you and we are here to assist you. It is very important that you are good with your time and that you create a daily work schedule in order to stay up to date with all of your assignments. Please be consistent with your work and submit according to your teacher’s deadlines. This will ensure your academic success.

Again, we are here for you and hope that our need for school closure is brief and that we will have a seamless transition back to the school campus.

Your Counselors,
Mrs. Kelleher, mkelleher@myhchs.org
Mr. Manta, amanta@myhchs.org
Mrs. Prete, cprete@myhchs.org