Port Chester High School
Guidance Department
Report to the
Board of Education
October 14, 2010
PCHS Guidance Department
Mission
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The counselors in the Guidance Department at
Port Chester High School are committed to the
social, emotional, and academic welfare of all of
our students. Counselors confer with parents
and students concerning scheduling, vocational
and educational plans, academic achievement,
and personal counseling. In collaboration with
administration, teachers, family, and community,
counselors strive to encourage all students’
individual and cultural uniqueness and create an
environment which encourages lifelong learning.
PCHS School Counselors
Denise Bonilla
Grade 9
Andrea Davis
Grade 10, 11, 12
G, H, I, J, K, L
Grade 10, 11, 12
A, B, C, F
Grade 10, 11, 12
D, E, M, N, O, P
Grade 9, 10, 11, 12
ESL/Bilingual
Grade 10, 11, 12
Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Juan Sanchez
Marta Sandoval
Maria Somers
Stacey Wolff
Issues Facing Our Students
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Transition from middle to high school
Family
Personal
Social
Post high school planning
Selected
Recent
Matriculations
Columbia University
Duke University
Manhattan College
The George Washington University
Barnard College
Pace University
Mercy College
University of Southern California
CUNY
Binghamton University
Villanova University
Manhattanville College Tufts University
The Ohio State University
Iona College
Trinity College
College of New Rochelle
New York University
University of Pennsylvania
Concordia College
Percent of Students Graduating
with a Regents Diploma
82
2004-05
87
88
2005-06
2006-07
86
88
91
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Percent of Students Pursuing
Higher Education
91 90 87 90 87 87 89 89 90
2001- 2002- 2003- 2004- 2005- 2006- 2007- 2008- 20092002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
PCHS 2010 graduates can be found at …
New York State Private Schools
Barnard College
Columbia University
Iona College
Mercy College
Utica College
Pace University
Manhattan College
Manhattanville College
Ithaca College
College of Mount Saint Vincent
St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Johns University
Hofstra University
Dominican College of Blauvelt
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Institute of Audio Research
College of Westchester
Out of State Schools
Bentley University
Trinity College
Johnson & Wales University
Becker College
Forerunner Music Academy
University of New Haven
Catholic University of America
Western Connecticut State
Quinnipiac University
Drexel University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Sacred Heart University
Suffolk University
Penn State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Andrews University
And PCHS 2010 graduates can be found at …
New York State Public Schools
SUNY
Albany
Binghamton
Buffalo
Buffalo State
Cobleskill
Cortland
Farmingdale
Morrisville
Purchase
Stony Brook
CUNY
City College
Hunter
John Jay
Lehman
Community Colleges
Jamestown
Sullivan
Westchester
“New York State of Mind”
EOP (Education Opportunity Program)
 HEOP (Higher Education Opportunity Program)
 TAP (Tuition Assistance Program)
 Strong Cultural Ties
 Family Responsibilities
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Number of College Applications
1060
862
2008
946
2009
2010
Recent Counselor College Visits
and Tours
Bentley College
Boston College
Boston University
Case Western Reserve
Colgate University
Drew University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Hamilton College
Northeastern University
The Ohio State University
Ohio University
Princeton University
Rider University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Seton Hall
Siena College
Skidmore College
Springfield College
Stevens Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
Union College
Villanova University
Williams College
Yale University
Reaching Out…
th
9
Grade
9
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th
Fall
9th Grade Orientation for parents and
freshmen
Blue/White Team approach
Academic Advisory Program
“College Bound! An Informative Overview
for Freshmen and Their Parents”
9
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th
Winter
Introduction of Naviance to 9th graders
Explore career planning
A “College Bound” focus
9
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th
Spring
Freshman Fiesta—end-of-year celebration
Transition to other counselors for current
9th grade students
Start with transition process for incoming
9th grade—information night, visits to
middle school, and individual scheduling
th
10
Grade
10
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th
Career Day at Southern Westchester
BOCES at Valhalla
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Fall
Presentations by professionals in various
career paths (doctors, lawyers, criminal
justice, etc.)
Career presentation to 10th grade classes
10
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th
Winter
Naviance Career Inventory
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Students complete assessments that provide
them with careers that match their interest
Individual log ins with customized results
10
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th
Spring
Individual Scheduling Appointments with
Students
Documented large increases in number of
students enrolled in honors, college-level,
and Advanced Placement courses
Number of Students Enrolled in and
Passing One or More Honors and/or
Advanced Placement Classes
th
11
Grade
11
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th
Fall
“GPA Game” (Classroom Admissions
Activity)
WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Program
PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Achievement
Test)
11
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th
Winter
SAT Prep
Individual scheduling including planning
out standardized testing
11
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th
Spring
“College Clinic” presentations
Junior/Parent College/Career Night
Bus secured for students and parents for
Westchester County Center College Fair
Teachers work with students on college essays
th
12
Grade
12
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th
Fall
“College Clinic Refresher”
Senior College/Career Night
Individualized meetings with students and/or
parents
Students meet with college representatives
National Scholarships are entered into Naviance
After School SAT Prep
ALL college applications are processed and
submitted by the Guidance Office
12
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th
Winter
Financial Aid Night
Mailing out of all mid-year grades to colleges
Individualized meetings with students and
parents regarding the financial aid process
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
workshops by local colleges
Finalization of the application process and
contact with colleges to advocate on behalf of
our students
12
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th
Spring
Senior Scholarship Night
Compiling college acceptances
Helping seniors decipher financial aid packages
Counseling seniors on college selection and
making sure deposit is sent before May 1
Making phone calls for wait-listed students
Programs for Our Diverse Population
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The National Hispanic College Fair (Fall and Spring)
Latin Leadership Forum hosted by Westchester Chapter of 100 Hispanic
Women (Fall)
Girls Incorporated of New York (Fall)
The Business Skills Olympic Workshop sponsored by the African
American Men of Westchester (Fall)
Monroe College “Latina Fiesta” (Fall)
Hispanic Parent Leadership Conference (Fall)
Computer classes in Spanish for our Hispanic parents (Winter and
Spring)
Partnership with Greenwich Hospital and White Plains Hospital (Spring)
St. Vincent’s Hospital recognition of Latinas in community service
(Spring)
The Black Scholars’ Recognition (Spring)
Monroe College and WCC transition with Spanish GED students upon
graduation (Spring)
Newcomers educational evening programs for parents and students
(Year-round)
The Annual Black College Fair (Spring)
Thank you!!