GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
The guidance staff returned to work during the third week of August and spent time fine tuning schedules, welcoming and registering new students, and making preparations for the new school year. This year, as a result of a staff reduction, Mrs. Millett has left the high school staff and has joined the guidance staff of the Easton Middle School. The high school staff this year includes counselors Mrs. Colleen Lutkevich, Ms. Caroline Paulino, Mr. Francis Yung, and Guidance Director, Mr. William Sullivan.
INFORMATION FOR SENIORS
Seniors planning to apply to college under Early Action or Early Decision programs will need to check application deadlines and requirements as soon as possible. Most EA and ED programs call for seniors to file their applications by November 1st. Thus, seniors who face this deadline should consider retaking the SAT Reasoning Test in October. Go to Collegeboard.com for the most up to date information on test sites, costs, etc. For seniors who still need to take SAT Subject Tests as part of their application requirements, the Oliver Ames Guidance Staff will administer both the Reasoning Test and Subject tests at OA on Saturday, November 7th. The deadline for registering for the OA test date is October 1st.
Members of the Guidance Staff will be visiting senior English classes during the second full week of school and will provide a full review of the application process and will answer all related questions.
COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT - PART II FOR PARENTS OF SENIORS
Parents of Seniors are invited to attend part two of the college planning night program on Wednesday evening, September 23rd, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the high school auditorium. Part one of this program took place last March and addressed issues surrounding college selection and the application process.
In Part II of this program, the counseling staff will review the entire process with parents of seniors and answer any questions. This can be a stressful time for seniors and their parents, and our goal is to offer you an overview of what you can expect in the coming weeks and months as your daughters or sons make their way through this process. A reminder mailing to all parents will be sent out in September.
PSAT TESTING FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS - OCTOBER 17
The Guidance Department recommends that all potentially college bound sophomores and juniors take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) on Saturday, October 17th at Oliver Ames High School. This is an excellent practice test in preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test which college bound students typically take in the spring of their junior year. Tickets for the PSAT will go on sale before and after school on September 21st through October 9th. This is a practice test, and as such the test results are not sent to any colleges.
GUIDANCE EVENING HOURS - OCTOBER THROUGH FEBRUARY
Beginning on October 13th, the guidance office will be open on the SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH FEBRUARY 9th. On these days, counselors will be available to meet with parents by appointment from three in the afternoon until seven in the evening. These dates and times coincide well with the college application period for most of our seniors. However, any parent may make an evening appointment during this time. It is not restricted to issues associated with college applications.
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Science teachers coach a number of clubs that may be of interests. The Science Team competes with area schools monthly from October to March. They compete in the areas of life science, earth science, physics, and chemistry. The Envirothon Team is an environmental group that learns about soils, aquatics, land use, forestry and agriculture through hands-on workshops. The envirothon team meets regularly throughout the school year and they test their environmental knowledge at a state-wide competition in May. The Green Team is a group of students interested in protecting the environment and helping the school to become "green". Projects of interest include initiating a recycling program in the school. If any or all of these clubs sound exciting...... check them out!
