Guidance & Counseling Services

Program of Studies & Graduation Requirements | National Honor Society | Planning For College | District Mindfulness Program | Transcript Request | Counseling Plan & Resource Guide | Yearbook Orders | Xello

High School Guidance

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

December 2024

Saturday, December 14

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

ACT Exam

March 2025

Tuesday, March 18

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Top 20 Dinner

May 2025

Thursday, May 1

8:00 am – 2:33 pm

Decision Day

Program of Studies & Graduation Requirements

Our Program of Studies outlines three aspects for our high school students’ success: 

1. An explanation of graduation requirements as specified by the New York State Board of Regents for Regents and Advanced Regents Diplomas. 
2. Answers to commonly asked questions regarding various aspects of the high school program. 
3. A list and description of courses and sequences offered by each department.

Collaborative work among parents/guardians, students and staff is important when selecting a program of study that will provide for the tools needed to pursue the educational opportunities that are right for the students.

View the Salmon River High School Program of Studies.

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National Honor Society

The National Honor Society is a distinguished organization. Exemplary academic and social responsibility are mandated traits for all members. Members should exemplify the four pillars of National Honor Society: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Learn more about National Honor Society Guidelines.

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Planning for College

Admissions Testing Information

SAT

The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States, and was once developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS now administers the exam. Learn more about the SAT here.

ACT

The ACT is a standardized achievement examination for college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in Fall 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test. Some students who perform poorly on the SAT find that they perform better on the ACT and vice versa. 

The ACT test has historically consisted of four tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science reasoning. In February 2005, an optional writing test was added to the ACT, mirroring changes to the SAT that took place later in March of the same year. Learn more about the ACT here.

All four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. accept the ACT but different institutions place different emphases on standardized tests such as the ACT, compared to other factors of evaluation such as class rank, G.P.A., and extracurricular activities.

Financial Aid Information

If your family does not have all of the financial resources that you need to pay for college costs, you may be eligible for financial assistance to help you meet the cost of attending college. Learning about the many financial aid programs that are available will start you on your way to success.

While the student’s family is expected to pay for educational expenses to the extent they are able, the United States government has committed financial resources to assist needy students in paying for their education.

What Types of Financial Aid Are Available?

There are two basic categories of student financial aid: need-based aid and non need-based aid.

NEED-BASED AID

When students do not have sufficient financial resources to pay for their education beyond high school, they are generally considered to have “financial need.” Having financial need is the primary requirement for receiving need-based aid, although students must meet other eligibility criteria as well. Whether or not you and your family have sufficient resources to pay, the cost of sending you to college is usually determined by collecting financial data about you and your parents, and having that data analyzed. In other words, you must show that you and your family do not have enough money to pay for all of your college expenses, and that you have “need” for financial assistance.

NON NEED-BASED AID

Non need-based aid is often referred to as merit-based aid and is frequently awarded to students in recognition of special skills, talents, or academic abilities. Qualifications for non need-based aid are usually competitive in nature, and recipients are chosen because of their superiority in whatever criteria are used for selection. Non need-based aid may also be awarded based on criteria such as field of study, community service, leadership abilities, athletic ability, ethnicity, or religious background. Most merit aid does not require students to demonstrate that they have financial need.

Resources:
Federal Student Aid: How do I apply for FAFSA?
NY Higher Education Services Corporation: Applying for NYS TAP 

NCAA Eligibility Center

Registration is necessary to play Division 1 or 2 college sports. Students who are planning on playing on an intercollegiate sports team at these levels are required to register with the NCAA Clearing House.

How do I become eligible to play at the Division 1 or 2 level?

Simply, you must register with the NCAA Clearing House. They have a formula that they complete including your grading information and SAT or ACT scores. You can figure out if you will be eligible by using the resources that are available. 

What are the high school course requirements for playing in college?

The NCAA has established guidelines for the number of courses a student must pass in each academic area. The NCAA requirements DO NOT always correspond with New York State graduation requirements. In addition, the NCAA has approved which courses meet their requirements in each academic area. Students should be familiar with these requirements.

When should I register?

Students normally register with the Clearing House after their junior year. Once you have made the decision that you hope to play an intercollegiate sport at a Division 1 or Division 2 school, you need register online. Do NOT wait until you are headed to pre-season practice your freshman year of college to register!

How do I register?

It is easy.

• Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center website
• Complete the NCAA Initial-Eligibility application. Make sure to remember your PIN. You are the only one who will know your PIN and you need it to be able to check your eligibility status as you go through the process.
• At the end of your Senior year, the Counseling Office will access the school’s information online and send final transcripts for all students who registered.
• Now work hard the rest of your senior year and keep in contact with the college coaches that you are interested in playing.
• This also allows you the opportunity to check your NCAA Clearing House status.

When will I get my final eligibility approval?

You will not get the final decision until after they review your final transcript. Once the NCAA Clearing House receives your final High School transcript it normally takes between 5-14 days for them to process your paperwork.

You should check your status at the end of July/beginning of August online or call the automated system at (319) 339-3003. You will need your PIN and social security number to access your information. You can also contact the NCAA by phone at (319)337-1492. Do not wait until you are headed to pre-season practice your freshman year of college to check your status.

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Mindfulness Room and District Mindfulness & Wellness Program

Sometimes life gets challenging or overwhelming. At Salmon River Central School District, we have a Virtual Mindfulness Room to help students, staff and families explore strategies to deal with those challenges. When you are out in the world and there isn’t a calming room, here are some resources to help you find new ways to manage life and emotions.

In 2022, NBC Nightly News featured the Salmon River Central School District’s wellness initiative during a two-part series related to mindfulness in schools. The story focused on efforts to implement mindfulness programming in our region, including at the St. Regis Mohawk School. It also explored the positive impacts of mindfulness.

During their visit, the NBC News team spoke with Mindfulness Staff Member Reese Jacobs and Principal Alison Benedict, who are both featured in the series. The news crew also interviewed students Devilynn Lazore and Iesennakwenienstha Thomas. The crew also recorded video in Mrs. Bradley’s Kindergarten classroom.

Watch the NBC News video.

For more information about the Mindfulness Room and Mindfulness & Wellness Program at Salmon River CSD, contact Mary Terrance with the Holistic Life Foundation: hlfgrants@hlfinc.org.

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