Happy Holidays from Guidance!

We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!  Get some rest over vacation. Take some time to wrap up your college applications and catch up on any missing work. 

Boys State

What is Boys State?

For more than 70 years, American Legion Boys State programs throughout the country have produced senators, congressmen, governors, leaders of businesses and industry of all disciplines, and even a United States President. Coupled with academic achievement, Boys State can be an attractive component to a dynamic student profile.

What Happens at Boys State?

Four hundred students from all corners of the Commonwealth take up residence on a college campus for a week, grouped into “cities” and “towns”. Over the course of the week, each municipality is provided with a basic working knowledge of local government and given challenges to overcome. Boys State citizens then build themselves into a working government, establishing budgets, enacting local legislation, and solve problems facing the local citizenry.

In addition, each student is a member of a political party. Parties build platforms and elect state officers and legislators a slate of statewide candidates, all to the final goal of establishing a Massachusetts Boys State government.

How Do You Get to Boys State?

With the recommendation of your school and sponsorship of the American Legion, a student is prepared to attend Boys State. Tuition to Boys State is, in most cases, paid by the American Legion Post sponsor or other community-minded organization such as the Massachusetts Boys State and Girls State Foundation, Inc., a non-profit group that supports the American Legion with its program.

Eligibility To Attend Boys State

·        Only males who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and have at least on more semester of high school remaining are to be considered as citizens of Boys State.

·        Any boy who has previously attended a Boys State is not eligible to attend a second session.

·        Only boys with outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty and service to their schools should be considered for Boys State.

·        Massachusetts Boys State does require a medical/parental consent certificate signed by both a parent and a family physician.

For more information visit us at http://www.maboysstate.org/

Or contact us at

Massachusetts Boys State Foundation

Email: tcrowley@maboysstate.org

Phone: 617-599-9378

Girls State

What is Girls State?

The program epitomizes the American Legion Auxiliary’s (ALA) mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women become knowledgeable of the democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the state and national levels. ALA Girls State has empowered hundreds of thousands of accomplished young women to aspire and achieve stellar accomplishments grounded in their leadership skills enhanced at ALA Girls State. Past participants of ALA Girls State include members of presidential cabinets, mayors, governors, state representatives, company CEOs, national journalists and military officers.

Each summer, approximately 20,000 young women participate in weeklong ALA Girls State programs across the nation. Every ALA Girls State program operates with the same patriotic values through a nonpartisan curriculum where students assume the roles of government leaders, campaigning as “Federalists” and “Nationalists” to become mayors and county and state officials of their ALA Girls State. The program is a weeklong immersive learning experience held on a college campus where girls live in “cities” within the dormitory.

Program Objectives

·        Develops leadership and pride in American citizens.

·        Educates citizens about our system of government.

·        Instills a greater understanding of American traditions.

·        Stimulates a desire to maintain our democratic government processes within our republic

Selection Criteria

High school female students eligible to participate must:

      ·        Have completed their junior year in high school.

      ·        Be keenly interested in government and current events.

      ·        Have high moral character.

      ·        Show strong leadership abilities.

     

ALA Girls State Selection Process:

Delegates to an ALA Girls State program are selected by American Legion Auxiliary units, which work with local high school educators to select young women demonstrating leadership qualities.

For more information on ALA Girls State visit www.ALAforVeterans.org

AP Testing 2012

Today, all students taking an AP class were given an information packet titled, "Bulletin for AP Students and Parents 2011-2012."  This packet, offered by the College Board outlines what to expect throughout the AP testing process. To access the document electronically, please use the following link.  AP Bulletin 2012

2012 AP Testing Schedule:

May 7, 2012 - 12 Noon, Psychology
May 9, 2012 - 8 A.M., Calculus AB
May 10, 2012 - 8 A.M., English Literature and Composition
May 11, 2012 - 8 A.M., United States History
May 11, 2012 - 8 A.M., Studio Art
May 14, 2012 - 8 A.M., Biology
May 14, 2012 - 12 Noon, Physics B
May 16, 2012 - 8 A.M., English Language and Composition
May 16, 2012 - 12 Noon, Statistics
May 17, 2012 - 8 A.M., World History

If you have any questions about AP testing, please contact the guidance office at 413-436-5508.

Additional Scholarships

Please see below for new scholarships that have come in.

Applications for the following scholarships can be found by going to: Scholarship Link

NHS Scholarship Program - $10,000 (Deadline: January 20, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

1.      Students who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their chapters to compete in the NHS Scholarship Program.

Davidson Fellow Scholarships - $50,000 (Deadline: February 1, 2012)

The Davidson Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000. To be eligible:

1.      You must be 18 or younger as of October 4.

2.      You must be a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S. or a Permanent Resident of the U.S. residing in the U.S.

The Grand Scholarship - $10,000 (Deadline: March 1, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

1.      Participants are judged based on their initial application, on-site debates and participation during the week. Multiple students receive scholarships in the first round and the total number of students selected dictates how much each student will receive.

Odenza Marketing Scholarship - $500 (Deadline: March 30, 2012)

To be considered eligible for the Odenza Marketing Scholarship you must:

1.      Be between the ages of 16 and 25 on March 30, 2012.

2.      Submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page.

Vancouver Restaurant Scholarship - $500 (Deadline: May 30, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

1.      Be between the ages of 15-21, as of the May 30, 2012 deadline.

2.      Be a full time student in 2012 in either high school or college/university.

3.      Answer the essay question found on the application page.

Healthy Lifestyles Scholarship - $5,000 (Deadline: May 30, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

1.      As of May 30, 2012 deadline, be under 25 years of age.

2.      Be currently a senior in high school or in your first year of university or college.

Big Dig Scholarship - $3,000 (Deadline: June 1, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

1.      Be currently in Grade 12 and entering your first year of college/university in 2012 or be currently in your first or second year.

2.      Submit an essay that is under 1000 words by the stated deadline.

Man Mac Automatic Scholarship - $500 (Deadline: June 15, 2012)

To be considered eligible for the Man Mac Automatic Transmission Scholarship a student must meet the following criteria:

1.      Be enrolled or expected to be enrolled in an undergraduate program by the fall of 2012. The school you attend must be located within Canada or the United States.

Additional Scholarships

Please see below for additional scholarships available to Quaboag students.

Red Pine Scholarship: is designed to support students through tuition assistance, mentoring, and other flexible financial supports. They are dedicated to making college affordable for Massachusetts families and helping students to reach their full potential. The deadline is February 21^st.  Stop by the guidance office and pick up an application.

Massachusetts JCI Senate: is offering two $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are available online and you can pick up an information sheet outside of guidance.  The deadline for this application is January 10, 2012.  Scholarship Application

Scholarships

Scholarships are starting to arrive in the Guidance Department.  Below you will find a with information for each scholarship that we currently have.  Throughout the year additional posts will be made when new scholarships are available.  All seniors can pick up the application for the scholarship they wish to apply for.

1.  Yawkey Scholars Program: This is a 4 year, renewable award to cover tuition and fees, maximum scholarship is $20,000 per year.  Last years awards averaged $9,500.  This scholarship is looking for the following qualities: from a  low-income family with unmet financial need, engaged in a meaningful mentoring program or have a close relationship with an adult role model, strong academic record, community involvement.  The deadline for this award is February 15, 2012.  If you would like to access a copy of this application online, please use the following link
Scholarship Application

2.  Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation: This award is based on financial need and for students that have made a difference in their communities and/or show leadership in school.  This award is offered in the memory of Mark Bavis, who passed away on September 11, 2001.  The deadline for this award that ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 is due by March 15, 2012.

3.  Big Y Scholarship: All Big Y scholarships recognize academic merit and achievement.  They are awarded to the most academically outstanding students in the Bug Y market area.  Complete applications are due by February 1, 2012.

4.  Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce: All applicants are asked to complete an essay for the following question: What role should business play in your community?  This award is valued at $750.  All applications are due by February 1, 2012.

5.  Hood Scholarship:  Hood is awarding $5,000 to student athletes with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 and have been active leaders in the community.  This scholarship is awarded to 18 applicants.  All applications are complete online at, http://www.hood.com/promo/scholarship/  Applications are due by 3PM on February 1, 2012.

If you have any additional questions about these scholarships, please contact the guidance office.

Virtual High School

Virtual High School is an opportunity for students to take courses online that count for high school credit.  Students enroll in these classes in the guidance office and work closely with Ms. Mellen in the library to stay on track to complete course work.  As students complete assignments, Quaboag is notified of the progress made.  These courses are offered free of charge.  Students that are often most successful in these classes are able to manage time well in order to to stay on track as there is less structure then a traditional high school course. 

Check out the link below to learn more about VHS and the courses that are offered!

http://www.govhs.org/

College Essay Writing Tips

Here are some tips for working on your college essay:

1.  Review all the essay topics for all schools you are applying to.  Many schools will have topics that will overlap, you may be able to use the same essay for multiple schools.
2.  Decide what you want to write about.  The topic you choose is important but overall admission offices are looking to see the quality of your writing.
3.  Create an outline.
4.  Complete your first draft with your ideas from your outline.  Keep in mind most essays have a limit of 500 words.

5.  Share the draft of your essay with your someone.  You want to get some good feedback to improve.  Some great resources are your guidance counselor, teacher and parents.  Some students also find success with peers.

6.  Allow yourself enough time to revise your draft a minimum of 2 times before your deadline.  

For many students applying to college, the college essay can be the hardest part.  Allow for enough time to plan, outline, write and edit.  Don't add additional stress to the application process by putting the essay off until the last minute.

Remember, Ms. Goldthwaite and Mrs. Paschenko are available during the day or after school on Wednesdays until 3PM for students that need help with college essay writing.

First Quarter Grades

Report cards for the first quarter went out last week.  Are you happy with what you earned?  If not there are some steps you can take to get better grades for Quarter 2. 

For any class you feel you did poorly in complete the following:

-Ask your teacher what you can do to improve.  Are you struggling with homework? Are you having trouble with tests?

-Schedule a time to get extra help with your teacher after school
-Find a quiet place to study at home
-Use an agenda to plan for all assignments
-Ask your peers if you have questions in a class
-Make your school work a priority!

If you are failing a class please get extra help and remember the graduation requirements from Quaboag.  Students must earn 24 credits and the amount of credits below to earn a high school diploma.

Math - 3 credits (4 credits starting with the Class of 2015)
Science - 2 credits (3 credits starting with the Class of 2013)
Social Studies - 3 credits
English - 4 credits
Computer Applications - .5 credit
Electives - Minimum of 5 credits
Physical Education and Health - 1.5 credits
Foreign Language - 2 credits starting with the Class of 2017.  Students are encouraged to take 2 years of the same foreign language as most colleges will require these classes for admission.

Remember, you can control your success in class.  Take positive steps to reach your goals!

Your Plan for College

What is your plan for the future? This year Quaboag Regional Middle/High School will be working with a new college and career program. Your Plan for College is a great site, provided to our school by MEFA. MEFA is an excellent source for families to discuss college planning and making college affordable. Students and families will be able to access this site from home at the end of December.

Yourplanforcollege.org has many activities that can help students navigate the college and career process. Not sure what you want to do for a career? Complete the interest survey. Upon completion of the survey, students will be provided with a list of jobs that are a good fit based on the student's personality, strengths and interests. Each career highlighted offers beneficial information such as education needed, job description, salary range and how many of the specific job are available in the state. Check out this site to research colleges, create a resume and much more!

College Admissions

This is a very busy time of year for the Class of 2012. Ms. Goldthwaite and Mrs. Paschenko have been meeting with all seniors to create a plan for after graduation. Many students will be applying to college while others plan to serve our country or enter the workforce. For those applying to college, it is time to get those applications completed!


College admissions deadlines vary from late fall through the winter. At this point most seniors know where they are applying, when to apply by and have made progress completing the application. Students are encouraged to stop by the guidance office with any questions about the college admissions process. In addition to stopping by during the school day, the counselors are available after school on Wednesdays until 3PM for additional help with the applications and essay writing.

Welcome to the Quaboag Guidance Blog!

To continue communicating well with the Quaboag community, the guidance department has created a blog. This blog will be used to cover a variety of topics that include: college admissions, financial aid, career development, course selection and study tips for student success. Please feel free to check back for more updates.