A Message from
Jill A. Vogel
Director of Guidance

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the guidance portion of the Valley Stream CHSD website. We have tried to include the information you need on graduation requirements, course offerings, the college admissions process, pertinent links for internet, and help lines.

Of course nothing will substitute for a personal relationship with your counselor.

Take that extra step of meeting with your student’s counselor to find out important academic information or to share concerns.

The student/counselor relationship plays an important role in the student’s school life. During a series of conferences spanning the junior and senior high school years, counselors help youngsters to adjust to school and to plan the course of study that will best meet their future goals. Parents are asked to join in some of these
meetings.

In order to plan a comprehensive, individualized program of guidance, the department maintains or arranges:

• individual and group guidance sessions
• academic monitoring
• crisis intervention
• records of each student for use in applications or recommendations to employers or colleges
• access to extensive computerized information on careers, two and four-year colleges and scholarships
• periodic visits to the school by representatives of leading colleges, technical and business schools
• Evening parent/student informational meetings, including;
• seventh grade orientation
• four years and beyond
• early college information night
• college nights
• financial aid nights
• sophomore post high school planning night
• junior and senior college information night
• NCAA night
• SAT Information night.

Students wishing to discuss their programs are encouraged to make additional appointments with their counselor. Parents are also welcome to avail themselves of information from the Guidance Department and to make an appointment whenever they feel it is needed.

I began my career in education in the Valley Stream CHSD as a guidance counselor at North High School, where I remained for eight terrific years. Prior to that I worked in Human Resources at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and as a Vice-President of Human Resources at Shearson, American Express on Wall Street. I decided to change careers to have work hours that mirrored my daughter. In order to accomplish this I returned to graduate school and became a licensed School Counselor. I hold an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, a Masters from Hofstra in Counselor Education, a Professional Diploma from Hofstra in Counselor Education, and a second Professional Diploma in Educational Administration and Leadership from CW Post. I left Valley Stream for three years for Baldwin High School, where I was an Assistant Principal. I returned happily to Valley Stream July 2001 as the District Director of Guidance.

My goals for the guidance department for the Valley Stream CHSD are to increase parental awareness and participation, to pinpoint where students need to achieve a better level of success, and work with the counselors towards developing programs and approaches that will help in those areas.

I would enjoy input from you on our website, and on any aspect of the guidance program that you wish to share. The Valley Stream Guidance staff is looking forward to meeting with each of you and helping make this school district the best possible for your child. I can be reached on 872-5625 or by email to vogelj@vschsd.org or by FAX to 516 872 5630.