Counseling
Archbishop Stepinac School and College counselors are committed to meet the needs of our students in one-on-one and group settings that address their educational, social and emotional needs.
School & College Counseling Services Resources
- College Counseling Services: Grades 9-12
- College Counseling Services
- Academic Support
- College Acceptances
College Counseling Services: Grades 9-12
In addition, the students will become familiar with the process needed to identify and exercise their post-secondary options. Ultimately, the Counselors will guide students and their families through the procedures and skills needed for the college process.
The Counseling Department also hosts a number of informational meetings for parents, emphasizing the college process including bi-annual college fairs and financial aid information sessions.
Listed below are some specific topics and issues that are presented by the School and College Counselors in each of the four years and a pdf Social and Emotional Resources.
Freshman Year:
- Time management and organizational skills
- Techniques to improve study skills
- Social and emotional adjustment to High School
- Mid-term and final exam preparation skills
- How to use the Naviance program
Sophomore Year:
- Updating the Naviance program
- Exploring career interests
- PSAT EXAM: Using results to determine areas of strength and concern.
- Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities
- Maintain strong academic progress
- SAT Subject Tests overviews
Junior Year:
Juniors begin a more deliberate approach to the college selection process.
- Researching college programs associated with career interests
- Determining the requirements needed to attend the school that matches their career interests
- Importance of PSAT, SAT, SAT IIs, ACT
- Resume writing for college admissions and employment
- Interest inventory as it relates to career discovery
- Personality assessment for career and academic selection
- The college search
- College visits
- The student athlete – NCAA
- A look at college applications
Senior Year:
- Continue Counseling Services from prior years
- Continue one-on-one college meetings begun in Junior Year
- Host College Planning Information Sessions
- Host Financial AId sessions
- Assist seniors and their families through each stage of the college application process
College Counseling Services
The counseling and student services department assists Stepinac in providing a holistic approach to the well-being and education of the entire student. In a collaborative model including students, teachers, coaches, counselors and parents, the counseling department works to provide a framework for students' success.
Dedicated Freshman counselor(s) hold classes and one on one counseling to assist freshmen in transition, academic and study skills, time management, personal issues, handling social media and peer pressure. They discover who they are, how they fit into the world, as well as work with resilience and mindfulness.
Academic advisement, college and career exploration and classes that include assisting students in identifying learning styles continue into sophomore, junior and senior years. The college search and application process is comprehensive: counselors work with students and their families through every step of the process to ensure that the students, upon leaving Stepinac, have the best options for their post high school education.
The counseling department, which includes a social worker, provides counseling for students whose personal, emotional or life situations negatively impact their academic success.
Academic resource services assists in identifying students with learning differences and works with local school districts to organize evaluations and committee meetings. The learning specialist also works in the school building and with standardized test companies to gain accommodations and modifications as per the individual student plans. He also works exclusively with these students using executive function workshops, as well as other strategies for academic success.
Academic Support
Office of Academic Support
The Office of Academic Support ensures all students are part of the Stepinac family. We are committed to empowering students to reach their full academic potential in an equitable and inclusive environment.
Mrs. Lisa Cappiello
Counselor for Students with IEP's/504's
914-946-4800 ext. 359
lcappiello@stepinac.org
Mrs. Bernadette Fogarty
Learning Specialist
914-946-4800 ext. 524
bfogarty@stepinac.org
Mrs. Sylvia Simmons
Testing Accommodations Coordinator
914-946-4800 ext. 522
ssimmons@stepinac.org
Overview
Special in School Services
- Serve as an academic support contact through senior year
- Partners with counselors, communications with teachers, families
- We support students emotionally, socially, and academically
- Provide transition services to colleges/universities
- Apply for accommodations for standardized testing SAT/ACT
District Advocate
- Work closely with all school districts to provide a seamless transition of services
- Arrange evaluations and services in the school
- Serve as an advocate to local school districts on behalf of students
Types of Programs
IEP - District Level:
- District learning plan
- We will handle all annual reviews and re-evaluations together
504 Plan - Building Level:
- Specific to Stepinac High School
- Services based on recommendations of evaluators
- Formalized plan for transition to college
Approved Accommodations & Modifications
Testing Accommodations:
- Extended time
- Separate location
- Computer use during exams
Classroom Modifications:
- Preferential seating
- Copy of class notes
- Refocus/Redirection
- Check for understanding
- Others as documented
Executive Functioning Skills Group
Help students with skills that are essential to learning
- Time management
- Planning
- Organization
- Self-regulation
- Working memory
Academic Learning Center (ALC)
- Primary focus is to provide students with learning strategies, study techniques, and organizational skills that address their IEP goals and objectives.
- ALC will be used to review, reinforce and reteach content area subjects.
- Services include remediation and reinforcement of academic subjects, organization and work completion
- The goal of the ALC is to provide students with the tools necessary to become independent, successful, self-directed learners.
College Acceptances
Our graduates have been accepted to the following post-secondary institutions:
| Adelphi University Amherst College American University Auburn University Assumption College Bard College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Brown University Bucknell University Buffalo State College Butler University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University The Catholic University of America The Citadel City University of New York, CUNY Clarkson University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Colorado State University College of Mount Saint Vincent College of the Holy Cross Columbia University Concordia College Cornell University Culinary Institute of America CUNY — Baruch College CUNY — Brooklyn College CUNY — John Jay College CUNY — Lehman College Curry College University of Dayton Delaware State University DePaul University Drexel University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emerson College Emory University Endicott College Fairfield University Fairleigh Dickinson University Felician University Fordham University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gonzaga University Harvard University Hampton University Hobart William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard University Hunter College, CUNY Indiana University Iona College Ithaca College |
James Madison University Johnson and Wales University Johns Hopkins University Lafayette University LaSalle University Lawrence College Lehigh University Long Island University Loyola College — Maryland Loyola University — New Orleans Manhattan College Manhattanville College Marquette University Marist College Marymount Manhattan College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mercy College Merrimack College Miami University Oxford Michigan State University Morehouse College Mount Saint Mary College Muhlenberg College New England Art Institute New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University North Carolina State Northeastern University Northwestern University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pratt Institute Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Rutgers University Sacred Heart University San Diego State University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art & Design Seton Hall University Siena College Southern Connecticut State University St. Bonaventure University St. Joseph University St. John's University St. Leo University St. Thomas Aquinas College Stevens Institute of Technology Stonehill College SUNY Cortland SUNY Farmingdale SUNY Geneseo SUNY Maritime SUNY New Paltz |
SUNY Oneonta SUNY Oswego College SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Purchase SUNY Stony Brook SUNY Westchester Community College Syracuse University Temple University Towson College Trinity College Tulane University Union College United States Air Force Academy United States Military Academy — West Point United States Naval Academy United States Merchant Marine Academy University of Alabama University of Arizona University at Albany, SUNY University at Binghamton SUNY University at Buffalo, SUNY University of California University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Florida University of Hartford University of Illinois University of Maine University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of New Haven University of North Carolina University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Scranton University of South Carolina University of Tampa University of the Sciences University of Washington Utica College Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute Western Connecticut State University Western New England College Wilkes University Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Yale University |
Meet our Staff
Ms. Maria Buda
Titles: Director of College Counseling, M.Ed. - Fordham University M.Ed. – Stonybrook University
Ms. Lisa Cappiello
Titles: Guidance Counselor, Students with IEP's and 504 Learning Accommodation Plans, B.S. – Fordham University M.S Ed. – Fordham University
Ms. Desiree Ellis
Titles: Guidance Counselor, M.S. - Mercy College M.B.A. - Long Island University B.B.A. - Pace Universit
Mr. Matthew Giannettino
Titles: Guidance Counselor, B.S. - Marist College M.S Ed. – St. John's University
Mr. Casey Helber
Titles: School Social Worker, B.S. - SUNY Purchase M.S.W. - Fordham University Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ms. Jillian Valdovinos
Titles: Guidance Counselor, B.A. - Manhattanville College M.Ed. - Long Island University