Informational Breakfast Held In Career Center To Help Parents

By Laurie Borst

In the United States, there are more than 6,000 institutes of higher learning offering hundreds of degree programs. Colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools. They all require applications, essays, recommendations, SAT, ACT, portfolios. How does one begin to find the appropriate school? And get everything in on time?

The Career Center in the Guidance Department at Newtown High School is a great place to start. On the morning of September 28, the Career Center held an open house for parents. Between the hours of 7 and 9 am, approximately 75 parents stopped by to learn about all the resources available, and they could grab a bite to eat, too.

Most of the parents who attended were interested in the new software available to help with college searches. The program allows students to fill in their criteria for school size, location, major, urban/rural, etc and provides a list of colleges that fit.

Alice Diluoffo, the mother of a sophomore, said, “It’s a little early, but, I want to make sure we are on the right track.”

For some parents, it has been a few years since their last child went through the college application process. They were curious about changes, particularly with online applications.

Many parents commented on how “terrific” the morning info session was, noting that the atmosphere was friendly, the staff members approachable and knowledgeable.

Staff members on hand were Susan Miles, School to Career Coordinator Peg Ragaini, College/Career Center Coordinator Kitty Latowicki, and Director of Guidance Neil Culhane.

Besides search software, the Career Center has a library of college catalogs, viewbooks and videos; scholarship and financial aid information; and career interest inventories. The center facilitates a career shadowing program, senior project program, internship opportunities, along with posting volunteer opportunities, job openings, and summer program information.

The Career Center is open from 7:30 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. It can be reached by phone at 426-1915, or visited on the web, newtown.k12.ct.us/~nhs/career/index.htm