Counseling Department

Juniors and seniors interested in playing NCAA sports at a Division I or II school must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: www.eligibilitycenter.org. The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or II institution.

For more information, see the NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, in the Publications section of the NCAA website.

Graduating seniors: The NCAA Eligibility Center needs your ACT/SAT scores and your official high school transcript to complete your certification.  All test scores must be sent directly to the NCAA by either the ACT or the College Board. Be sure to notify the School Counseling Department by completing your transcript request in Naviance in order for your transcript to be submitted to the eligibility center. Contact Sheehan's School Counseling Clerk, Ms. Jaime Smith, at 203-294-5915, or jasmith@wallingfordschools.org if you have any questions.

How to Request Recommendations

How To Request a FERPA Waiver

How to Request a Transcript

All students must complete thirty (30) hours of voluntary community service in order to qualify for graduation. These hours may be attained through service to a variety of non-profit groups, community organizations, and/or school activities. To be considered for community service hours, activities must in no way be related to assignments in any credit bearing courses. In addition, students will not be able to use volunteer hours that are required by an outside organization.

The school must review and approve all community service activities to determine if the experience meets the criteria of the graduation requirement. Students are asked to complete a community service form (see link given below) and have it signed by a member of the school counseling department or the administration before participating in a community service activity. Once the activity is completed, the student must have the community service form signed by an appropriate official of the sponsoring group or activity, who must in no way be related to the student. Completed forms are to be submitted to the school counseling office.

The thirty hours of community service may be accrued anytime after graduation from eighth grade. Community service hours must be completed prior to graduation in order to meet this graduation requirement. Students transferring to Sheehan High School will have the amount of community service hours pro-rated. For example, a student entering Sheehan in grade 11 would only have to complete fifteen (15) hours of volunteer time, instead of thirty (30).

Community Service Form

For a list of organizations seeking volunteers, please click on the following link: Community Service Resources. In addition, a list of volunteer opportunities available thru the United Way can be accessed at www.volunteeringsolutions.org.

The mission of the Wallingford School Counseling Department is to support the academic, personal/social, emotional, college and career development for all students in collaboration with parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and the community in order for students to achieve their personal best.

This guide is a "go to" resource for students and families as they begin thinking of and planning for life after high school. It covers everything from employment to militaty to attending college!

We give a hard copy of this resource to students in their Junior Meeting. Updates are made annually to this published link.

DIRECTIONS 

Figuring out how to pay for college takes a great deal of effort. Costs are high and financial aid is limited so it’s important to start early and investigate all your options—remembering that the more time you spend searching for financial aid, the more aid you are likely to find.

The financial aid system works on one basic principle: Parents and students contribute to the cost of college to the extent they are able. If they are unable to contribute the entire cost, financial aid is available.

Scholarships are another way to help pay for college - money you don't need to pay back! There are scholarships you can apply for each year of high school, although most are for seniors. We post our scholarships on Naviance. You can search for scholarships on your own, too. There are online searches and sometimes there are even scholarships that are offered through your parents' employers or local agencies. Just be aware of scams -- NEVER pay to apply for a scholarship!

Here are some online resources regarding financial aid and scholarships you may find helpful:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/checklists -- Provides checklists of what students and families can be doing in elementary school, middle school, grade 9, grade 10, grade 11, and grade 12 to save for post-secondary education.

www.fafsa.ed.gov -- The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required of all applicants for college financial aid. This site answers frequently asked questions, allows users to file the FAFSA online, or check the status of a previously submitted FAFSA. Now available October 1.

https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile -- This site provides information on completing the CSS Profile and also allows you to complete the form online

https://studentaid.ed.gov -- Financial aid information from the U.S. Department of Education

www.fastweb.com -- Largest online data base for scholarships. Also provides excellent information on all aspects of the college process

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ -- Compares the cost of attendance vs. average salary from graduates

http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/ -- A website that discusses the option of taking college courses online. This guide explains key features, money saving tips as well as financial aid, and FAFSA resources. (These are online colleges and we ask that you do your due diligence in researching if this is a good option for you)

http://www.college-scholarships.com - lists and links to more than 70 no-cost college scholarship search sites which match students to available scholarships. Also provides college search information, a loan repayment calculator, a GPA calculator, and post-secondary planning resources for students with special needs.

http://oedb.org/scholarships/ - Open Education Database with links to over 20,000 scholarships and organizations for grant monies. The scholarship tab will direct you to explore each scholarship individually to confirm eligibility, while the Financial Aid tab will help you explore specialty and subject-based grants.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-sea... - Welcome to the College Board's Scholarship Search. Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs. Enter as much information as possible to find the most matches. Scholarship information is based on the College Board's Annual Survey of Financial Aid Programs.

Appropriate placement in courses is one factor that contributes to academic success. Course level recommendations are based on a variety of criteria: ability, previous academic performance, social and emotional development, etc. Although not foolproof, teacher recommendations have proven to be the most accurate predictor of student success. Placement in certain courses from 8th to 9th grade is determined by strict criteria. 

In the event you do not agree with your child’s course level recommendation, we encourage you to communicate directly with the current teacher to address concerns and/or questions. After speaking with the teacher, you may then request a conference with the appropriate department chairperson/liaison, instructional leader or administrator if you continue to disagree with the recommendation. If you would still like to pursue a course level change, please complete the form linked here and return it to your current school counseling office."

If this is an override for an incoming ninth grade student to Sheehan, please use the form provided to you from your current middle school.

LOGIN TO NAVIANCE

Please use CLEVER to log in to Naviance Student. 

*****Student user name and password is the same as the network user name and password.*****

The School Counseling Department is often asked to recommend programs to help prepare students for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Many of our students have had success by participating in a preparatory course, while others have participated and did not experience significant results.

The School Counseling Department can provide information to assist you in making your family’s decision. Our experience suggests that the two most significant factors in a decision about enrolling in an SAT program are:

1. The student’s measured ability in relation to their SAT scores. We have found that students with superior ability and average results in the SAT profit from a preparatory course.

2. The student’s willingness to make a significant commitment to the preparatory course. This suggests that the students treat the course as an additional academic class with a daily prescribed routine to improve vocabulary, reading and math skills.

Professional SAT prep courses make many claims concerning their ability to raise scores. There are great variances in cost, length of courses, and backgrounds of the instructors. Be careful and thorough in your search. We suggest speaking with another student who has taken the prep course.

In the table below are contact names and information (when available and subject to change) representing organizations which have been shared with us.

SAT and ACT Prep Classes and Tutors

School Profile

From the CT State Department of Education Public Act No. 11-135, Section 2(j)

"For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall create a student success plan for each student enrolled in a public school, beginning in grade six. Such student success plan shall include a student’s career and academic choices in grades six to twelve, inclusive."

In Wallingford, The Student Success Plan (SSP) is a comprehensive, individualized student centered plan that addresses each student’s personal needs and interests supported by school counselors, teachers, staff, parents, administration and the community. 

Working Papers are issued in the School Counseling office. Employers require working papers for students under the age of 18. Please bring to the office your Promise to Employ letter (also proof of birth if you do not attend Sheehan).  Please contact Jaime Smith in the School Counseling Office for more information.  203-294-5915 or at jasmith@wallingfordschools.org 

Working Papers - Information for Parents/Guardians