School Counseling
- Welcome to School Counseling
- Counseling Staff
- Meeting with your Counselor
- Grade 9
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
- College Fairs & Open Houses
- College Resources
- College Representatives
- Forms
- Internship Opportunities at SHS
- Internships Outside of SHS
- Naviance Student
- Opportunities Board
- Post High School Planning
- Program of Studies & School Profile
- Scholarships
- Student Athletes/NCAA
- Standardized Testing
- Transcript Requests
- Employment Opportunities/Working Papers
Welcome to School Counseling
Welcome to the Simsbury High School Counseling Department. Simsbury High School is a unique school, rich in tradition and spirit. It is a wonderful environment in which to grow academically, personally, and socially. You will be presented with many new and exciting opportunities to explore areas of interest that will help cultivate this growth. It is the philosophy of the School Counseling Department to encourage and promote this exploration as a means of self-inquiry, and as an important tool in the development of self-awareness. We pride ourselves in understanding how individualized the developmental process is for each student and work hard to encourage choices that will help you question your assumptions, challenge your intellect, and stimulate your creativity.
The School Counseling Department is a major hub of Simsbury High School and a primary source of information throughout your high school journey. Our goal is to know our students, know our families, and know the opportunities that exist for you. We look forward to a productive partnership with you, and to providing the necessary support and encouragement through these exciting years.
Greg Stillman
Director of School Counseling
Counseling Staff
Simsbury High School COunseling Department | |
![]() |
Greg Stillman
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 9 .......ABC & Pathways Grade 10 .....ABC & Pathways Grade 11 ......ABC & Pathways Grade 12 ..... ABC & Pathways
|
Amanda Tornaquindici
|
|
Meredith St. Lawrence School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ....Cj - Ga Grade 11 .....Bs - Dr Grade 12 .....Crb - Gra
|
|
![]() |
Paula Garza School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ....Gb - Joh + GHAA Grade 11 .....Ds - H + GHAA Grade 12 .....Grb - Kna + GHAA
|
![]() |
Chris Hall School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ....Joi - Mog Grade 11 .....I - Mal Grade 12 .....Knb - Mel |
![]() |
Donna Cannon School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ...Moh - Ree Grade 11 ....Mam - Pef Grade 12 ....Mem - Ric
|
Sarah Blair School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ....Ref - Sp Grade 11 .....Peg - So Grade 12 .....Rid - Som
|
|
|
Niko Zimmitti School Counselor
Student Assignments (last name) Grade 10 ...Sq - Z Grade 11 ....Sp - Z Grade 12 ....Son - Z
|
![]() |
Jameson Tittle Administrative Assistant
Counselor Assignments Paula Garza Meredith Girardi Niko Zimmitti
|
![]() |
Jenny Belliveau Administrative Assistant
jbelliveau@simsburyschools.net Counselor Assignments Chris Hall Greg Stillman Amanda Tornaquindici
|
Meeting with your Counselor
Students should email their counselors requesting an appointment and include the following information: (email addresses can be found on the Counseling Staff Directory above this page).
- student's full name
- day/period/time he or she is available to meet (students are not allowed to miss class)
- a brief description of what will be discussed
For urgent situations, students may always come to the counseling office without making an appointment and one of the Administrative Assistants will help them.
Grade 9
Things to think about:
- What are my talents and strengths?
- Am I taking courses that lead to my post high school plans?
- In which courses am I particularly strong?
- In what areas do I need to build more skills?
Things to do:
- Become familiar with graduation requirements.
- Develop a Simsbury High School personal file, highlighting academic, extra curricular and community involvement / awards.
- Develop a relationship with your counselor and teachers.
- Maintain strong academic performance and maintain excellent attendance record.
- Keep a record of all grades including tests, homework, papers, etc. in all classes.
- Seek assistance or support when needed from teachers and counselor
- Talk with teachers, parents, and counselor about your sophomore course selections (late January).
- Become involved in an extra-curricular activity, sports, clubs, music volunteer work, etc.
- Review finalized 10th grade schedule with counselor in April.
Grade 10
Things to think about:
- In which subjects did I excel?
- Am I taking courses that lead to my post high school plans?
- Am I giving my best to sophomore courses?
- Of my unique talents and strengths, which would I most like to develop?
- Am I involved in at least one extra-curricular activity or community service?
- What potential career/post high school option have I considered?
Things to do:
- Update my personal file.
- Keep a record of all grades including tests, homework, papers, etc.
in all classes. - Seek assistance from teachers and counselors when needed.
- Take the PSAT test in October.
- Maintain strong academic performance and maintain excellent attendance record.
- Be aware of your graduation requirements.
- Talk with your teachers, parents, and counselors about course selections
for Junior year (late January). - Visit counselor to explore post high school plans and interest.
- Continue involvement in extra curricular activities.
- Review finalized Junior schedule with counselor in April.
- Consult with academic teacher and counselor concerning SAT Subject Tests (i.e., AP Biology)
Grade 11
Things to think about:
Resume:
Template 1
Template 2
- Am I taking courses that lead to my post high school plans?
- Am I giving my best to Junior course work?
- With which teachers have I established a strong rapport? (Potential college/job letters of recommendation).
- Which talents or strengths might I want to further develop through college studies or post high school plans?
- Which activities will I highlight on my college/job application?
Things to do:
- Update my personal file.
- Keep a record of all grades including tests, homework, papers, etc. in all classes.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT test in October.
- Continue extra curricular activities.
- Maintain strong academic performance and an excellent attendance record.
- Check your graduation requirements.
- Attend Simsbury High School College Fair in April.
- Talk with teachers, parents, and counselor about Senior year course selections.
- Talk with parents about college needs, interests, etc.
- Take SAT School Day in March
- Register for SAT (May or June administration).
- Attend post high school planning sessions for juniors in February.
- Meet with parents and school counselor to discuss post high school plans.
- List college choices with counselor.
- Consult academic teachers about SAT Subject tests.
- If taking an AP course, register for AP Exams (May).
- Schedule interviews and college visits for Spring, Summer and/or Fall.
- Review Senior schedule with counselor in April.
- Continue to explore career options.
Grade 12
Things to think about:
- Am I continuing to challenge myself?
- Have I written for college catalogues, applications, financial aid information, etc.?
- Am I giving my best to senior course work?
- Have I obtained enough information about the colleges of my choice and application deadlines?
- Am I meeting with my counselor regularly?
- Have I made campus visits to my top colleges?
Things to do:
- Update my personal file - finalize resume - see counselor.
- Register for SAT Reasoning* and SAT Subject Tests; *see counselor before registering.
- Maintain strong academic record and attendance.
- Check your graduation requirements.
- Seek assistance from teacher and counselors when needed.
- Continue extra curricular activities and community involvement.
- Meet with counselor to finalize post high school planning (September-November).
- Meet with college representatives during visits (September - November).
- Complete college applications (September - December).
- Be aware of deadlines including early decision and early action options.
- Complete Local Scholarships application in January.
- Attend Financial Aid meetings.
- Have parents complete the Financial Aid Form with FAFSA on the web. (Available on October 1)
- If taking an AP course, register for AP exams (February).
College Fairs & Open Houses
College Resources
College Representatives
Beginning in September 2021 we will be having in-person visits during the school day and virtual college visits after school hours. College admission counselors interested in a visit should sign up in RepVisits.
We ask that college representatives sign up by going to RepVisits in June and searching Simsbury High School.
For questions about how to register for a visit, please contact Jenny Belliveau at jbelliveau@simsburyschools.net or
860-658-0451 x436.
Forms
Frequently Requested Forms:
- Authorization Release/Obtain Records For all record requests other than Alumni Transcripts
- Instructions for Requesting Recommendation Letters Current Students Only
- College Transcript Request Form Current Students Only
- Scholarship Transcript Request Form Current Students Only
Internship Opportunities at SHS
Internships Outside of SHS
Naviance Student
Naviance Student is a web-based college and career planning resource designed especially for SHS students and parents. The Counseling Office is able to track and analyze data regarding college and career plans, so it provides up to date information specific to Simsbury High School students.
Access Naviance Student here or go to https://student.naviance.com/simsbury and follow the instructions on the screen to log into your account.
All forms needed by the students are available in Naviance under Document Resources.
Instructions for Matching Naviance with Common App
Family Connection allows students to:
- Get involved in the planning and advising process: Build a resume, complete on-line surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about college and careers.
- Research colleges: Compare GPA, standardized test scores and other statistics to actual historical data from SHS for students who have applied and been admitted in the past.
- Sign up for college visits: Find out which colleges are visiting SHS and sign up to attend those visits.
- Search for Scholarships: Use the database to look for scholarships.
- Communication: Students can also use the site to send their counselors and college admission representatives emails.
*A student's personal profile and date are confidential and are only accessible to the student, parents, and counselors. College admission offices do not have access to the information in Naviance.
Opportunities Board
Students looking for employment, volunteer, and college/career opportunities are encouraged to check the counseling office's Opportunities Board. If you are interested in providing opportunities please contact the School Counseling Office at shsschoolcounselors@simsburyschools.net
Post High School Planning
Researching Colleges
Selecting a College/Gaining Admission
Categories Regarding College Choices
Points of Caution
Your College Preferences
Factors to Consider
Kinds of Colleges/Universities
Terms
Peterson's College Search
Nat'l Association for College Admission Counseling
College Visits
Obtaining Information
Hints for College Visits
College Visit Report
Interview
The Interview
Interview Questions from Students
Interview Questions from Colleges
Resume
Creating and Uploading your Resume
Resume Template
The Application Application Process
Application Programs/Admissions Decisions
The Common Application
Admissions Decisions
FAIR TEST: Here you will find a listing of colleges and universities that do not require ACT or SAT scores.
The College Essay
College Essay
What Colleges Look For
Financial Aid
How to Pay for College
Additional Tips
IMPORTANT FAFSA INFORMATION - 9/15/16
Helpful Financial Aid Links
Information that encompasses the financial pieces of the college application process is available online.
- FAFSA
- CSS/Financial Aid Profile
- Cappex.com
- Fast Web
- SallieMae
- U.S. Department of Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- FinAid: The Smart Student's Guide to Financial Aid
- New England Board of Higher Education Regional Student Tuition Discount Program
- COLLEGEdata 1st Financial Bank USA online College Advisory Service
- www.americorps.org
- www.affordablecollegesonline.org/rotc-guide
Gap Year Options
Gap Year Fair
Conard High School
West Hartford , CT
https://www.trade-schools.net/locations/connecticut-schools-directory.asp
http://www.lincolncollegene.edu
Program of Studies & School Profile
Scholarships
Student Athletes/NCAA
You can now view the NCAA Program presentation (that took place on November 30, 2022).
For all forms and information related to NCAA eligibility requirements for Division I, II and II athletics, please visit our SHS Athletics/NCAA webpage.
Standardized Testing
ACT
(ACT) American College Test
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, GPA, and extracurricular activities. The main four tests are scored individually on a scale of 1–36, and a Composite score is provided which is the whole number average of the four scores. Note that a composite score of 32.5 rounds up to a 33.
The most current information on the ACTs (including registrations and test dates) is available at The ACT website www.actstudent.org
AP (Advanced Placement) Exams
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada, created by the College Board, which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students.
American colleges and universities often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations. The AP curriculum for each of the various subjects is created for the College Board by a panel of experts and college-level educators in that field of study. For a high school course to have the AP designation, the course must be audited by the College Board to ascertain that it satisfies the AP curriculum. If the course is approved, the school may use the AP designation and the course will be publicly listed on the AP Course Ledger. (Wikipedia.com)
ASVAB
PSAT (9th, 10th, 11th grade)
Parents of Sophomores and Juniors
Khan Academy - College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to provide free practice tests to help students improve academic skills and prepare for the SAT. The practice tests are customized using the students’ actual PSAT results. Students need to link their College Board account with their Khan Academy account if they have not already done so.
For more information about PSAT scores please click on these links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzQ_90fOxeM
If you have any questions after reviewing your student’s score report please contact the student’s school counselor. The PSAT/NMSQT® is highly relevant to your future success because it focuses on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures:
- What you learn in high school
- What you need to succeed in college
The PSAT/NMSQT measures reading, writing and language, and math skills developed over many years, both in and out of school.
The PSAT/NMSQT does not ask for facts from literature, history, or science, or recall of math formulas, because it measures your reasoning and critical thinking skills.
You don’t have to discover secret tricks or cram the night before.
There is no penalty for guessing.
The test length is 2 hours, 45 minutes.
SAT
SHS Hosting:
June 3, 2023 - Saturday administration
Test Prep Links:
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing
Transcript Requests
School Counseling Office Address:
Simsbury High School
School Counseling Office
34 Farms Village Road
Simsbury, CT 06070
860-658-0451 x310
860-658-1576 (fax)
jtittle@simsburyschools.net
For SHS Graduates:
SHS alumni requesting a transcript will need to fill out a transcript request by using this link Alumni Transcript Request
CURRENT SENIORS:
Students requesting a transcript can download the form and submit it to the School Counseling Office. Forms are also available in the School Counseling Office. Please allow two weeks for processing.
- Indicate which college you would like your transcript to be sent.
- Indicate whether or not you are using the Common Application
- Add application deadline and indicate Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, or Rolling Admission.
- Include the names of the individuals writing recommendations.
- Bring the completed form directly to your School Counselor along with the $4.00 processing fee for each transcript requested. One check is acceptable if there are multiple requests.
Students requesting a transcript be sent to a scholarship can download this form and submit it to the School Counseling Office. When possible, please provide your scholarship application so that all materials can be submitted together. This form is also available in the School Counseling Office.
Please allow two weeks for processing.
- Indicate which scholarship you would like your transcript to be sent, along with the address.
- Indicate the scholarship deadline.
- List the names of the individuals whose recommendations you'd like to include.
- Bring the completed form directly to your School Counselor.
Employment Opportunities/Working Papers
Job Postings can be found on the Opportunities Board and on the bulletin board outside of the School Counseling Office. If you would like to provide employment opportuniteis please contact the School Counseling Office at shsschoolcounselors@simsburyschools.net
Working papers are required for all 16 & 17 year old minors. Working papers are obtained in the
SHS Main Office upon presentation of a promise of employment from the employer.
Permitted Occupations/Hours of Work
- Permitted Occupations/Working Hours for 14 & 15 year olds
- Permitted Occupations/Working Hours for 16 & 17 year old minors
- Permitted Occupations/Working Hours for persons under 18 ENROLLED IN and not graduated from a secondary institution
Other information for youth/workers under the age of 18
Questions? Call the Wage & Workplace Standards Division at (860) 263-6791 or visit the Department of Labor website at www.ct.gov/dol
Don't work too long, don't work too late, stay in school, GRADUATE!
News & Events
Seniors
Please complete the Senior Survey 2023 in Naviance by clicking on the ‘About Me’ in upper
right corner and scroll down to Surveys from the School, you will see the Senior Survey. Failure to
complete this survey could result in final transcripts not being sent to the college/university you plan on
attending. Please make every attempt to complete the survey as soon as possible. Thank you!
Opportunities Board: The School Counseling Office is pleased to announce the creation of an online Opportunities Board. Students who are searching for employment, volunteer, and college/career program opportunities can now view these postings by following this link Opportunities Board.(Access is restricted: Only Simsbury School Google Accounts can access the board)