Guidance Department
Ms. Legere and Ms. Pitkin are here to support the students and parents of MBA. Please contact guidance if you have questions about academics, college planning, careers, or available social supports.
Belinda Legere, Guidance Counselor
(for students with last names beginning with the letters A-L)​
(475)220-7727 | belinda.legere@new-haven.k12.ct.us
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Heidi Pitkin, Guidance Counselor
(for students with last names beginning with the letters M-Z)
(475)220-7729 | heidi.pitkin@new-haven.k12.ct.us
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Elizabeth Potenziani, Intern
elizabeth.potenziani@new-haven.k12.ct.us
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Samantha Stowe, Intern
samantha.stowe@new-haven.k12.ct.us
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Guidance Fax Number: (475)220-7705
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02/18/2021 Hello Juniors! The Guidance interns created this Junior Newsletter to inform you of important due dates and upcoming events. Please review it, as some things are time sensitive.
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03/30/2020
Some of you have reached out to me worried about the college admission process next year. Please do not worry. Everyone around the world is having the same issue with this virus and colleges are very aware that this admissions class of 2021 will be unusual! Ms. Pitkin and I have been getting e-mails from hundreds of colleges and they are saying many of the same things.
Ms. Pitkin and I sent out a letter to your parents in March regarding the exciting steps you are about to take when applying to your future college, trade school, military, etc. Please know that we will be here with you virtually all the way! Ms. Pitkin and I will be either doing a video of our usual Junior Planning Night or a live webinar of it so we can answer your questions as we speak. This will answer many of your questions. For now, here are some of the things you can be doing along with your online classrooms:
1) SAT - As you know, the SAT School Day has been cancelled. Some of the colleges you will be applying to may waive the SAT, but others (usually more competitive ones) feel that you will have enough time to take the SAT before the admissions deadlines next year. The SAT is offered on Saturdays, nearly every month. You will all be receiving SAT fee waivers for 2 tests. We will talk more about this later in the school year. DO NOT WORRY! Just continue to study on Khan Academy (satpractice.org). Questions?, e-mail us!
2) College Exploration - As you know, the College Fair has been cancelled. That is okay! There are many ways to search for colleges and do virtual tours on the college websites. Once this craziness is over, you can visit colleges in the summer or with us next year. For now, go to bigfuture.com and you can put in filters to help you to find the right school for you (Do you want your college to be big or small, city or country, football, art department, etc). Then you can visit each website of the schools on your list and take tours and learn more about them.
3) Understanding the College Process - As I said above, we will be doing a webinar or video about this called "Rising Juniors: Get Ready!" date and time to be determined. We will discuss personal essays, letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselors, filling out applications, etc. You will be working on your personal statement (college essay) with Mrs. Pacelli in English 3. If you are in AP English, reach out to guidance or Mrs. Pacelli (anne.pacelli@new-haven.k12.ct.us) for resources. You can also google college essays!
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We are right here with you. E-mail us with any questions:
(Last names beginning with the letters A-L) belinda.legere@new-haven.k12.ct.us
(Last names beginning with the letters M-Z) heidi.pitkin@new-haven.k12.ct.us
Ms. Pitkin and I talk everyday! We are so sad we cannot be with you, but we are with you in spirit and we will get through this together! Go MBA!
Sincerely,
Ms. Legere and Ms. Pitkin
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01/13/2020 Hello! Just a few reminders to all of you who have applied or are applying to college:
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1) Make sure you give your counselor and teachers at least two weeks notice for your letters of recommendation!
2) Remember to let your counselor know if you have submitted your common app. We really prefer it if you do it with us so we can look it over before you submit.
3) Remember that you have to send your SAT scores through collegeboard.org to schools that require SAT scores. Simply putting your scores in your commonapp is not enough. It takes from 2-4 weeks for collegeboard to get your scores to your colleges.
4) Make sure you have completed your FAFSA. If you are having any problems, see us in guidance so we can help you or tell you where you can get help.
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Thank you!
Mrs. Legere and Ms. Pitkin
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12/2/2019 - IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE YOUR FAFSA AND NEED HELP, PLEASE SIGN UP AND ATTEND ONE OF THESE FAFSA WORKSHIOPS AT GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Here’s a reminder that the series of FAFSA workshops includes an event hosted at Gateway Community College (20 Church Street) this Wednesday, beginning at 5 pm. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation dispersing more than $120 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds annually to more than 13 million students paying for college or career school.
Financial aid professionals will be on hand to help students and families navigate the process of need-based federal aid. Students can sign up at https://newhavenpromise.wufoo.com/forms/fafsa-days-for-class-of-2020/. (You may need to copy this address and put it into the address bar if you can't click directly on it). Those who sign up will receive a checklist of items that they will need to bring to successfully complete the process.
CLASS OF 2020 FAFSA DAYS
Wed., Dec. 4 — at Gateway Community College (20 Church Street), 5 pm to 8 pm
••• hosted by Gateway Community College
Sat., Dec. 14 — at New Haven City Hall (200 Orange Street), 10 am to 1 pm
••• hosted by New Haven Promise
Mon., Jan. 20 — at Wexler Grant School (55 Foote Street), 9 am to 2 pm
••• hosted by Higher Heights Youth Empowerment
Wed., Jan. 29 — at New Haven City Hall (200 Orange Street), 5:30 pm to 7 pm
••• hosted by Higher Heights Youth Empowerment & New Haven Promise
​Seniors: It is time to start thinking about what you're going to do after high school. Will you be applying to a trade school, 2 or 4 year college, the military, hair dressing school? Make an appointment with your School Counselor in order to explore your options, fill out your applications, get tips on filling out the FAFSA, etc. We will be taking appointments starting on the 30th of September. You can also e-mail us with questions.
belinda.legere@new-haven.k12.ct.us
heidi.pitkin@new-haven.k12.ct.us
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Seniors: Reminder that New Haven Scholarship Fund Interviews will be held in the bubble 4/23 and 4/24. Please come dressed to impress! Remember no cell phones should be used and to use good eye contact when speaking with the interviewer! Good Luck!
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Junior Planning Night will be on Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The Guidance Department will hold a Junior Planning Night called "Rising Seniors: Get Ready" on Wednesday, April 24th from 5:30-7pm in the library. This program will discuss everything you need to know about the college process from now until your students enter college. There will be a raffle and a bake sale. We hope to see all of you there!
El departamento de orientación está planificando un evento con los estudiantes del 11 grado. Prepárese para el miércoles 24 de abril de 5:30 a 7:00 en la biblioteca de MBA. Este día hablaremos sobre todo lo que necesita saber en cuanto al proceso de entrar al colegio. Habrá rifa, y venta de postres. Esperamos verles pronto.
Pathway Presentation for freshmen will take place Thursday, March 21 during Advisory. Course Selection Sheets are due Friday, March 22, 2019.
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Happy New Year Seniors! January 3, 2019
Many of you are hearing back from colleges and trade schools! Congratulations! If you have not applied to a post high program, please see your School Counselor asap to make a plan.
For those of you who are applying or have applied to a 4 year university or college, don't forget the following:
1) Do not forget to send your SAT Scores through Collegeboard. This is the only way they are official. If you need help, see us!
2) You must let us know that you have applied so we can send your supplemental materials
3) Make sure you have completed your FAFSA. Each college has a deadline!
4) Tell us where you have been accepted! We want to celebrate with you and we need to know!
Thanks!
Guidance Department!
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Juniors will take the SAT on Tuesday, April 24, 2018
On Tuesday, April 24th all juniors will take the SAT. Cell phones are not allowed during testing. Please encourage your child to leave their cell phones home. If this is not an option, all cell phones will be turned off, placed in your child's backpack, and placed in the back of the testing room throughout testing. Please call if you have any questions. Thank you.
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Atención padres de estudiantes del 11 grado. Mañana martes 24 de abril sus hijos estarán tomando el examen SAT. Le estamos llamando porque necesitamos su ayuda recordarle a su hijo(a) que no se permitirá el uso de celulares mientras tomen el examen. De ellos traer su celulares a escuela se les va requerir que durante el examen lo guarden en sus mochilas. Si tiene alguna pregunta al respecto puede llamarnos a las oficinas.
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