FAQ's

=** Frequently Asked Questions **=

To schedule an appointment, visit the school counseling office and fill out a request form, located right inside the office entrance. Your counselor will check the appointment box throughout the day and send a pass with a date and time to see you.
 * How do I make an appointment to see my school counselor?**

School counselors welcome ongoing contact with parents and advise scheduling appointments in advance to address any issues or concerns. Please contact Ms. Costanzo at x2557 to schedule an appointment or contact your counselor by email.
 * How do parents make an appointment to see a student's counselor?**

The first thing you should do is speak with the classroom teacher to arrange for extra help, to discuss any missing assignments, or to ask for clarification on the material you do not understand. In addition, the National Honor Society has student tutors who can help you during a pre-arranged time. Contact Mrs. Bergman for NHS tutoring at kbergman@reg4.k12.ct.us and make sure to check in with your counselor for further assistance.
 * What should I do if I need help in a class?**

See Ms. Costanzo in the school counseling office for a form to fill out and return to the main office. You will be notified if you qualify.
 * I would like to receive free or reduced lunch. How do I do this?**

You can volunteer wherever you would like. Keep this information so that when you are a senior, you can include this on your resume.
 * I would like to volunteer in the community and possibly earn credit.**

See Ms. Hambor, our School-to-Career coordinator in room 423 or take note of her link on the Valley website for further information regarding career internships, job shadowing and work opportunities. She can also be reached via email at mhambor@reg4.k12.ct.us.
 * Who do I see if I want to get work study credit?**

Please see Ms. Costanzo in the counseling office. You must bring a letter of intent to hire from your prospective employer stating how many hours per week you will be employed. You must also bring your birth certificate to verify your age.
 * How do I get working papers?**

Any secretary in the main office or school counseling department can obtain this information for you. If you have an ID or password that does not work or is not allowing you access to the website, please contact Mrs. Coral Rawn at crawn@reg4.k12.ct.us for assistance.
 * I've lost my ID and password for Power School. Who do I get this information from?**

When you contact Mrs. Stoddard in the main office to let her know of your student's absence, please let her know you would like to have work collected. This is usually done for an absence of 2 or more days. Students are also encouraged to check the homework website and contact another student in the class for more information. //If a student is going to be out for an extended period of time due to illness, please contact your school counselor to discuss necessary plans.//
 * My student is sick. What is the procedure for getting missed homework/assignments?**

Please contact Mrs. Buckley in the associate principal's office at extension 2553.
 * I didn't receive a report card at home. Who should I contact?**

You should bring the form to the school counseling department and leave it with Ms.Costanzo. She will forward it to your counselor and return to you once the information is verified.
 * I have an insurance form for a good student discount. Who signs off on this?**

Send your full name, address, specific names of courses you took through the UConn Early College Experience Program and the dates you took them, high school name (Valley Regional), social security number, your signature, and the name and address of the college to which you would like the transcript sent. Mail this information to: University of Connecticut, Office of the Registrar, U Box 77T, Storrs, CT 06269. This info also appears in the back of our current program of studies.
 * I earned UConn credit for classes that I took at Valley. How do I make sure these get sent to the college I plan on attending?**

You will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly called the Clearinghouse). Go online at: https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/. If you have further questions, please contact Ms. Duffy in the school counseling department.
 * I want to participate in NCAA Division I or II athletics while in college. What do I have to do in order to be eligible?**

Most four year colleges require the SAT I or ACT scores for admission. Some may also require SAT II subject tests. Students should check specific college websites for this information. Most students should take their standardized testing starting in the spring of their junior year. Some students may start taking them earlier depending on their college plan. Please discuss this timeline with your counselor. In order to sign up, you should click on the SAT or ACT link on our website. Our school code is 070150. The SAT website is [|www.collegeboard.com] and the ACT website is [|www.actstudent.org].
 * Who should take SAT's or ACT's? How do I sign up?**

PSAT's are offered at VRHS in October of each year. They are given only once and you must sign up in advance in the school counseling department. Students should check the message board for deadlines. PSAT's are a practice SAT and are usually taken after a student completes Geometry. Juniors who take the PSAT are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program depending on the scores they achieve.
 * When are the PSAT's offered?**

Any student applying for financial aid must register for a pin number at [|www.pin.ed.gov] and have parents/guardians fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form which can be accessed at [|www.fafsa.ed.gov]. The FAFSA may be completed starting at the beginning of January during the student's senior year. You may register for a pin number before the FAFSA becomes available in January. The school counseling department offers a seminar on financial aid in December for parents of seniors in the VRHS Auditorium. Check the yearly school calendar for date and time.
 * How do I get information about financial aid for college?**
 * Males 18 years of age must register with the selective service to be eligible for federal financial aid.**

The school counseling resource room has a book of scholarships that you can check throughout the year. Two great websites are [|www.finaid.org] and [|www.fastweb.com]. In addition, the school counseling office puts together a packet of local scholarships that will be given out in March, and also posted under "scholarship information" on this website. Do not overlook any of these great resources.
 * How do I apply for scholarships?**