College Awareness Week is organized by the guidance department and is designed to answer questions about college, ignite student interest in pursuing a career and attending college, and help students anticipate the road blocks that could get in their way.
During College Awareness Week:
1. College reps discuss with the 8th graders what the students need to do (as they enter high school) to get ready for college.
2. Eighth grade students were given sample college applications and
3. English teachers walked students through the process of applying and had them write a college essay.
4. In Technology class, the eighth graders researched colleges via website searches.
5. Students made college banners in art class.
6. In their math classes, they had a session on budgeting for college. College trivia and history questions were asked in their social studies class.
7. English as a Second Language (ESL) students watched a video presentation on college success for the English Language student learner (ELL).
8. Seventh graders conducted career/college research on computers during their library time.
9. All teachers were encouraged to take 5-10 minutes with each grade level to speak about their own personal college experiences, and the STAFF was asked to wear college shirts from their Alma Maters.
The COLLEGE PEP RALLY was the culminating event.
The College Pep Rally included college videos, the MS pep band playing the Notre Dame fight song, cheers by the RHS Varsity cheerleaders, presentations by the Middle School Principal, Andrea Pekar, and the High School Principal, David Zimbler, and more to encourage our Middle School students to begin to plan for their education after their high school graduation. College Trivia Questions were asked and award packets from local colleges were given out for correct answers.
There was also a panel of high school seniors. . .
The MS students asked questions of the college bound students about the process of applying to college, how to get scholarships, the importance of taking AP courses, the value of participating in sports and clubs in high school, and what the 12th graders would do differently during high school if they had it to do over again.
In answer to the question about what they would do differently in high school, one of the senior girls on the panel stated that she would have worked harder in 9th and 10th grade because "all four years of grades are looked at not just the grades in your junior and senior years. It gives you an edge if your grades are good all four years.”
“Our goal is to get our students in 7th and 8th grade thinking about their futures NOW,” noted RMS Guidance Counselor Judy Arnone. "College Knowledge week is all about helping 8th graders be open to their options, to get them excited about their futures."
In evaluating the week, one of the 8th graders wrote, “When you start thinking about college at an early age like us, you have a better chance of going to college.”
“That comment from Heather defines what we’re hoping College Awareness Week will do,” concluded Mrs. Arnone, “and from the responses we’ve received, it obviously worked!”
Source: Riverhead Central School District press release dated Jan. 24, 2011
Photos by Sandra Kolbo, courtesy Riverhead Central School District