Oh Canada, Oh Canada

When parents come in to meet with guidance counselors and their high school students, a discussion about post-secondary plans is sure to take place. In order to draw some parameters around the college search process, families usually pick some geographic boundaries.  Some put restrictions on flying, some put restrictions on the type of school, some put limitations on how far they are willing to drive. Oftentimes, we hear parents come up with a six hour drive limitation, or as far as Philadelphia.

If families are willing to drive as far south as Philadelphia, it would make sense to also look to our neighboring country in the North. Canada offers some of the strongest institutes of higher education at a fraction of the cost. Luckily, a Canadian College Fair is basically coming to your doorstep at the Newton Marriott in September. Take the time to think outside of the box; it may be the key to uncovering your child's dream school.

More details can be found at the following link:

http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/document.jsp?did=159166

The Life Changing Greeting Card

Do you ever shop at Trader Joe's? Have you ever taken the time to glance through the greeting card section?  Not only are the cards fabulous, but they are all 99 cents. About two years ago, there was a greeting card with a picture of a pickup truck with a surf board sticking out of the bed of the truck. The caption read, When is the last time you did something for the first time? I bought every single one of those cards. Every person I sent it to always took the time to either text, call, or email about how much they loved that card.  It made me realize that not only did it have a life altering impact on me, but on everyone who encountered it.

When I think about the start of the school year, I think about this card.  It will be the first time I have a first day in the Canton Public Schools. For thousands of Canton middle school and high school students, it will be the first time they meet their teachers, the first time they became an upperclassman, a high school student, or a seventh grade student. Some will drive for the first time this year, apply to college for the first time, join a sports team for the first time, and play an instrument for the first time.  Our students are constantly doing things for the first time every day of their lives. With that in mind, it is important we support them and take the time to acknowledge them for their bravery. If we recognize and praise them for these accomplishments, it will not only boost their self-esteem, it will remind them of how truly resilient and flexible they are.

Remembering Goodnight Moon

Can you remember when your children were young? Maybe you can recall reading Goodnight Moon or their favorite bedtime story. With two young boys, I am quite familiar with the nighttime routine that children crave: dinner, bath, books, bed. Every now and then we can alter the routine and make an exception for a special circumstance.  Yet, if it is done too often, the result is grouchy children and grouchy parents.  As children grow older, the routine seems less mandatory, less important.  Summer is a time for fun, enjoying those additional hours of daylight, and letting your children stay up late.  This is normal and actually quite wonderful.

However when we make the switch and start school without a transitional period, the result is undesirable.  Middle school and high school students hit snooze on their alarms time and time again. Parents get frustrated because they can't rouse their sleepy students and get to work on time. They come to school not quite feeling like themselves and may struggle to learn that first block of the day.  It doesn't have to be this way though.  Take these next two weeks and slowly encourage your children to wind down earlier, go to bed earlier, and wake earlier.  Set an evening routine and every three days make it fifteen minutes earlier. It seems like a silly thing to do, but isn't it often that the littlest things make the biggest differences?

Essay Questions Anyone?

Writing assignments for school take time. However, over the years, students slowly learn shortcuts, effective pre-writing strategies, and how to really edit a paper. Although these skills are essential to master, writing an essay for college differs from writing a research paper for history class. It must be genuine; it must be personal; it must inform the admissions representative about who you are. Yet, try not to stress out. Each person is unique and because of that each person is inherently interesting. Breathe and take time to think. Reach out to the guidance department, garner feedback, and then begin.  It will get done.  It always gets done; but, it should get done purposefully, thoroughly, and thoughtfully.




Below is the list of essay options for the Common Application this year. 


1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
 
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
 
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
 
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
 
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Common Application 2015-2016 Ready for Completion

Attention Seniors! The Common Application has been updated and is now available for you to complete on the website www.commonapp.org. You will first be prompted to create a login and password.  We strongly suggest you save your login and password on your cell phone or in your assignment notebook. Even though you may think you will never forget it, sometimes it can get confused with your information for your SAT or ACT accounts.  The essay question options have been revised for this year, so make sure you take a sneak peak at those. Senior year can be a very busy time; take advantage of these last weeks of summer and complete the Common Application!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Canton Guidance Blog! Here, you will find the latest news related to guidance at both Galvin Middle School and Canton High School! We are very excited you have come to visit and we hope you will take advantage of the ability to follow the blog and receive emails when we update it! As we populate the blog with information, please do not hesitate to reach out if you wish there was something here that isn't!