Maximizing Success in School and Beyond: Academic Programs for Students and Recent College Graduates

This fall, the Academic Center at the JCC of Mid-Westchester is expanding its offerings beyond middle and high school students by adding STEAM classes for elementary school children, and job search skills workshops for recent college graduates to its portfolio of offerings for high school students – a series of classes, lectures and workshops designed to help students through the entire college application process. The Center is also adding a new skills class for high school students to help them successfully navigate through the years leading to college.

The new Job Search Strategies Workshop for recent college graduates will help recent college graduates strengthen their resume, strengthen their LinkedIn profile, develop their elevator pitch, learn networking skill and learn online job search strategies. Participants will leave with a solid understanding of how to effectively market themselves ina focused way, how to network effectively, and how to speak clearly and concisely about their accomplishments and career goals. This workshop will run on Thursday, September 22, 1:00-4:00pm. Pre-registration at www.jccmw.org is required.

The new STEAM program brings a variety of age-appropriate classes including engineering, robotics, video game creation and more classes to children in grades K-6. Children in grades 4-6 are invited to stop by the JCCs new Robotics Team on Friday, September 23 at 4:10pm at the JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road to check out this new class. The program is presented in partnership with TEKI LLC who designs and runs STEAM classes led by certified math and science teachers. Classes begin on Monday, September 19.

The College Interview Essentials workshop will teach students critical interview skills to help them in both the college interview process and beyond. According to research done by workshop leaders Kyrie Stillman and Peggy Marx, founders of College Interview Counselors, a common myth insists that college admissions interviews are simply a formality. Interviews for admission are offered and encouraged at 95% of the top 75 colleges and 88% of the top 25 universities! This workshop will run on September 25, 1:00-3:00pm.

The new Paving the Way for Success in HS: Fundamental Skills Every Student Should Have for 8th -10th graders is designed to help students identify and refine the fundamental skills to excel in high school. Participants will obtain specific fundamental skills such as how to perform a goal setting, refine time management skills, engage and utilize relevant resources, understand techniques that improve student performance while reducing stress, and learn how decisions made 8th, freshman, and sophomore year impact college planning. This class begins on Thursday, September 22, 7:30pm

The very popular PSAT Boot Camp, which teaches students how to attack the test’s critical reading, math and writing skills sections, will again be offered this year in the weeks immediately preceding the October test. The 2-session workshop will run Sundays, October 2 and 9, 8:30-10:30am.

The Annual Inside the Admissions Office, will take place on Wednesday, October 19, 7:30-9:00pm. This year’s panel (in formation) includes Bucknell University, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, the University of Chicago and the University of Richmont. University. This program is free but advance registration is REQUIRED at http://bit.ly/2ceBXax .

ACT and SAT Diagnostic Tests. One of the first steps in preparing for the college application process is deciding which college admissions test is best for a student. The best way to do this is for the student to take an actual past ACT and SAT and see how they do on each exam. Free, no obligation mock tests are offered throughout the year. A detailed schedule may be found at www.jccmw.org

"Our goal is to go beyond offering only test prep courses by providing programs for students and parents through small, well-priced classes that help students with all components of the college application process - before, during and after" said Lisa Itzkowitz, Director of the JCC Academic Center. “Towards that end, we are continually looking to add new and expanded programs to meet student needs. We are currently scheduling our Getting it Together Without Falling Apart: Effective Study and Organizational Skills Workshop for 6th & 7th graders, Speed Reading classes (scheduled for November and January), SAT Prep, ACT Prep, SAT Subject Test Prep and more.

Pre-registration is required for all Academic Center lectures and workshops. For fees and other information visit https://jccmw.org/teens/academic-center-college-prep , or contact Director, Lisa Itzkowitz at 914-472-3300, ext. 275; email: itzkowitzl@jccmw.org.

The JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, a proud beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds without regard to race.