The Guidance and Counseling Office helps students plan their education and future, as well as helps them navigate the day-to-day challenges of high school.

As high school graduation nears, students and parents have many questions and concerns. It is extremely important for students and parents to work with their counselor. Please don’t hesitate to call the Guidance Office to make an appointment. More information for seniors and their parents.

The Naviance Family Connection is a comprehensive tool to assist students and parents with career and college planning. Learn more about Naviance

Student schedules on ESD portal starting at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 23

Dear Parent/Guardian and Students:

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. Student schedules will be available on the ESD portal
Monday, August 23rd at 3:30 p.m.

A great deal of time and effort has been focused on ensuring that students are scheduled for the
courses that are required for graduation and the elective choices they made by as best as possible.
Students were placed in core courses by their teachers at the beginning of the scheduling process.
Each schedule was reviewed with students and parents during meetings with counselors last
spring. For these reasons, we will only review change requests that impact graduation
requirements. Requests for changes to elective courses, teacher preferences, etc. will not be
addressed.

Upon receiving your schedule, please check to see that it includes all core courses, such as
English, Social Studies, Science, Math and Physical Education, as well as your Foreign
Language course, if applicable. If any of these core classes are missing from your schedule, you
must complete the Schedule Change Form which can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

Schedule Change Form

Juniors and seniors who are interested in applying for Early Leave or Late Arrival can print and
fill out the form attached to this email and return it to their counselor to process. Course changes
will not be made for the purpose of accommodating Early Leave and Late Arrival requests.
Counselors will be addressing all schedule change requests in the order they receive them and as
quickly as possible. I thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.

Sincerely,
Mary M. Fox
Director of Guidance & School Counseling

Work Permit Directions

College and career planning

Decision Day at WVHS!

What do you want to do after high school? Here are some resources to help you decide and plan:

• The Post Graduate Planning Guide offers great tips and information to help with your decision-making and keep you organized. The Guide includes sections on important tests, the college visit, and college application information.
• This College Planning Checklist will help you keep track of tasks, events and deadlines.
• The College Kick-Off: A Parent’s Playbook page is a great resource for helpful information.
• The Admission Game is a blog geared toward those planning to go to college and is helpful to juniors, seniors and their parents as you gear up for life after high school.
• A career doesn’t always mean completing a four-year college degree. Part of a successful career-planning strategy is to understand what excites and motivates you. Visit Career Corner to learn more.
• Go! CollegeNY takes you through the step-by-step journey to college. 

Scholarships and awards 

There are scores of local and regional scholarships and awards available to Warwick Valley seniors, and you can learn more about what’s available and how to apply on our Scholarships and Awards page.

Naviance: A College & Career Planning Resource

Naviance is a comprehensive website that students use as a tool in planning for their future. 

Beginning in grade 9, students are introduced to the Naviance suite by Counselors through lessons provided monthly in their classrooms. Students in grade 9 will typically receive an overview of the program and its capabilities, and complete some assessments that are designed to help them get to know themselves better.  

As students move through their high school career, they will complete additional assessments such as the Learning Styles Inventory, Strengths Explorer, Career Interest Surveys and many more that will help them to explore options and make a plan that is unique to their strengths, goals and aspirations.  

Historically, it is our juniors and seniors who spend the most time with this tool, because of its helpful college search and resources. Particularly for our seniors, Naviance is a critical component of the college application and scholarship process.

Naviance allows students to manage and track their applications, and works in collaboration with the Common App™ and other college application programs.

Access your Naviance account through the launchpad. Sign in using your WVCSD Google account.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Each Advanced Placement (AP) course has a corresponding exam that is administered at our school in May. The exam is a course requirement and necessary to receive an AP score from the College Board for possible college credit. Please read this important information if your student is enrolled in an AP course.

Financial Aid Night and the Financial Aid application process

• SUNY’s “Navigating the Financial Aid Process” – Scroll to bottom of page, and look under “Presentations” for “Navigating the Financial Aid Process” which includes valuable information presented during Financial Aid Night at WVHS.
• Marist College gave an informative presentation about the Financial Aid Process during Financial Aid Night at WVHS. View a summary of this presentation.
• Visit the FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov/ 

Opportunities for student-athletes

The NCAA is a nonprofit association committed to providing opportunity for more than 460,000 student-athletes who compete annually in college sports. A commitment to academics and student-athlete success in the classroom is a vital part of the NCAA’s mission to integrate athletics into higher education.

Colleges, universities athletic conferences and other affiliated organizations are NCAA members. The NCAA national office staff in Indianapolis supports the members. 

Visit the NCAA Eligibility Center website

Resources for parents of students with disabilities

All students should leave high school prepared for living, working and future learning. In New York, there are more ways than ever for students to leave school with a meaningful credential that represents how much they’ve accomplished.

ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation assists students with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living. Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) starts with the presumption that all individuals with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services, and should have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities. 

Prepping for standardized test

The battery of standardized tests – including the PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, ACT and AP exams – require preparation.

All WVHS students in grades 10-12 have access to a free online study guide for the SAT and ACT. “PrepMe” can be accessed via a link on the student’s Naviance homepage.

Although the WVCSD does not offer test preparation courses there are many available, including:

• Kaplan Educational Services Center, Inc.
• Princeton Review
• Number2.com
• College Board
• Educational Services Center, Inc.
• Score Prep; 1-800-PREP182