To better prepare students for success after high-school, Churchill has created a new comprehensive four-year program where high
school guidance counselors Deborah McEntee works with 9th and 10th
graders and Erin Hugger counsels 11th and 12th graders.
In addition, head art teacher and Churchill veteran Dennis McKonkey trains 9th
and 10th graders in self-awareness and self-advocacy.
“We're very excited about this new program” Deb said in a recent interview with her and Erin at the new 6th floor guidance office.
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| Churchill high school counselors Deborah McEntee and Erin Hugger at the guidance office. |
Deb has a background in special education and
counseling and Erin used to work as college guidance counselor at Chapin School
on Manhattan’s Upper Eastside. Both Erin and Deb have Master’s degrees in
school counseling and are New York State certified school counselors. Last year
Deb worked as assistant high-school guidance counselor at Churchill.
Student
centered process
The new guidance program is student centered and
starts in 9th grade where students analyze their strengths,
weaknesses and interests, learn time management and are exposed to various career
options. In 10th grade, students are slowly introduced to start
thinking about post high-school. 10th
graders will begin to make the connection between their own work ethics and how
that translates into their career choices and life after Churchill. Students
are introduced to Naviance, a computer-based system with a multitude of resources
and data on where previous Churchill students have applied to college, been
accepted and attended college, their test scores and grades.
In junior year transition preparations become more
focused. Building on the foundation laid during the first two years, Erin works
with students to plan a path that leads to their desired future endeavors. Most
Churchill students attend four-year colleges and tend to do well. Churchill alumni
have a retention rate above 90% from college freshmen to sophomore year.
In the beginning of the second semester of 11th
grade, Erin meets with students and their families to discuss college, gap year
programs/vocational school options. Student interests and needs, high school grade
point average through the first semester of 11th grade and PSAT
scores factor in to this discussion. Spring of junior year/summer after junior
year is the time to start working on a resume, visiting colleges and begin drafting
the college essay. Students who have an essay draft at the start of 12th
grade are in good shape, Erin says. She calls the transition process “a family
affair” and recognizes the vital part parents and other support persons play and the importance of communication between them and the student.
The fall of senior year can be intense. Families
and students have follow-up meetings with Erin, finalizing their college lists,
gap year/vocational school plans. In school, students attend weekly
transitioning classes and college/career planning and preparation learning how
to handle college admissions interviews, writing personal essays and working on
other writing assignments required for admission packages.
"Start early and stay calm," Erin advises.
"Start early and stay calm," Erin advises.
Test prep
and college reps at Churchill
Erin and Deb are currently in the process of meeting
with test prep companies that have experience working with LD students to
explore the possibility of offering a SAT/ACT prep class at Churchill. At Churchill,
students are offered to take ACT/SAT at school twice a year (spring and fall).
Another new part of the process is the visits to
Churchill by college representatives selected based on their colleges’ LD
support and suitability. This fall some 20 college reps are visiting Churchill.
In addition, both guidance counselors tour colleges and evaluate alternative
post high school programs. Over the past summer Erin visited Northeastern
University, Curry College and Clark University, three schools where Churchill
alumni have enrolled.
