College & Careers
What's Next For Me
What's Next For Me
The “What’s Next For Me” Program is NFA’s approach to the college and career exploration process. This program offers a series of events, classroom lessons, and self-guided opportunities to assist all students, grades 9-12, in exploring, planning, and making sound decisions for their college and career plans after NFA. This program is supported by the College & Career Center, and the School Counseling Department, which includes the Post-Secondary Success Counselor, a position unique to NFA.
Depending on their grade level, students are encouraged to center their exploration around guiding questions and themes. This exploration is delivered through and supported by a series of School Counseling classroom lessons, interest inventories, individual and group meetings, and multiple opt-in events. As students move through the grades, the themes and exploration deepens as they narrow down the options that best fit their interests and future goals.
What's Next For Me: Student Timeline
9th Grade: Exploration
- Who am I? (Interests, Values, Skills)
- What Career Clusters (industries) are out there?
- What courses should I take that align with my interests?
- What clubs can I join that might help expose me to new opportunities?
- Programming includes: Career Expo (mid January), Career Cluster Classroom Lesson, Individual Counseling Meetings, and Exploring Opportunities
10th Grade: Research
- What careers are available within a cluster?
- What do people in these careers do?
- What pathways are available at NFA to help me explore?
- What education/training do I need?
- How can I get involved more on campus in activities that align with my chosen career interests?
- Programming includes: Whose Career Is It Anyway Series, Career Interest Profiler Classroom Lesson, Group Counseling Meetings, and Exploring Opportunities
11th Grade: Options
- How can I find out what a day in that career is like? What type of work will I do?
- What type of work-based experiences can I have?
- Job Shadow, Volunteer, Intern, Part-time job Informational Interview
- What college or training program is best for me?
- Programming Includes: Coffee, Careers, & Conversations Series, Personality Exploration Classroom Lesson, Group and Individual Counseling Meetings, and Exploring Opportunities
12th Grade: Preparation
- What steps should I take to move ahead with my plan after NFA?
- How can I use my work-based experiences to get a job and/or get into my top college picks?
- What connections can I make to help me beyond high school?
- Programming includes: Senior Exploration Event (late October), Financial Aid Support, Individual Counseling Meetings, and Decision Day Celebration
Portrait of a Graduate
Our Portrait of a Graduate is a promise. It’s what we strive for – representing our vision and ensuring students will graduate from Norwich Free Academy with skills to help them create a path of continual progress.
To create this vision, we sought input from students, faculty, staff, families and community leaders. This approach brought forward ideas focused on ensuring our students graduate with the skills necessary to achieve post-secondary success. Our Portrait of a Graduate guides instruction and demands that each NFA student has equitable access to programs that will help them graduate and be ready to make their mark on the world.
Compassionate Leaders
Wildcats lead, inspire and empower others through effective communication and, when necessary, conflict resolution. They collaborate with honest discussion and actions while owning all outcomes focused on the greater good.
Responsible Citizens
Wildcats are respectful of differences and value the opinions of others. They are socially and emotionally engaged members of our community who demonstrate empathy toward others, take an active role in their own experience and embrace the differences of those around them.
Critical Thinkers
Wildcats are guided by rationalization, analysis and open-mindedness. They reach decision points by being quizzical, disciplined and informed by evidence, even if it's contrary to what they believe.
Resilient Risk Takers
Wildcats have a growth mindset and are guided by perseverance and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment. They continue to utilize sound judgment to make steadfast, informed decisions.
Creative Problem Solvers
Wildcats combine original thought with collaborative techniques to create new, meaningful interpretations and reflect on solutions. They are self directed, ethical and adaptable to change and challenges while embracing new technology.
School Counseling & Support Services
School Counseling
The mission of the Norwich Free Academy School Counseling Department is to provide a comprehensive program that assists all students in acquiring the tools and skills necessary to become responsible citizens, successful in their personal and professional lives, and as lifelong learners. We strive to produce graduates who are self-directed, realistic, and contributing members of our diverse community. We will achieve our mission through advocacy, collaboration with students, families, school personnel, and community stakeholders, and delivery of a comprehensive school counseling program.
Our School Counseling Team Believes:
- All students benefit from a comprehensive school counseling program
- All students will leave NFA prepared for postsecondary opportunities
- Collaboration with teachers, families, and community stakeholders empowers students to succeed
- Diversity is an integral part of student development
- Every student will have access to an education that meets their unique needs
- All students can achieve
In addition, the School Counseling Department is committed to ensuring that all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to implement their post-high school plan. NFA's school counselors provide comprehensive, developmental guidance services to support all students academically, emotionally, and socially.
In collaboration with teachers, administrators, school personnel, parents, community services, and other educational institutions, school counselors aid students as they navigate their high school experience and prepare for the challenges of the future.
Each student, in cooperation with parents and school counselor, creates a four-year Student Success Plan (SSP). The four-year plan is reviewed annually in small groups and individually to consider past performance, plan for the future, and oversee the steps necessary to form and achieve each student’s personal goals.
Support Services
In addition to the school counselors, students and families have access to a grade-level social worker and school psychologist. The Norwich Free Academy Student Support Services Department is here to support the academic, social, and emotional well-being of all students, helping them to persevere through challenging times and achieve their goals. All support team members are available to students and families via email and/or phone. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the NFA Student Support Services Department at any time.
Connecticut offers a wide variety of supports for students and/or families that may be struggling. Please see the resources listed below or reach out to your student’s support team with any questions or concerns.
Mental Health Resources:
Find Help Now!
Dial or Text 988 - Suicide & Crisis Hotline: The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
Dial 211 - Mental Health Crisis Intervention in CT: Mental health crisis intervention services are provided by teams of mental health workers (psychiatrists, RN’s, MSW’s, psychologists, psychiatric technicians) who intervene in situations where an individual’s mental or emotional condition results in behavior which constitutes an imminent danger to him or herself or to another
Dial 211 - Community Support Services: Get help paying bills, finding food, and locating other resources near you. Call 211 now for confidential help from a caring expert.
Substance Abuse
Emergency Substance Abuse HotLine: For substance abuse treatment and mental health referrals, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Resources:
Sexual Abuse & Dating Violence
Safe Futures - If you or someone you know needs help, please call our Safe Futures 24/7 Confidential Hotline at (860) 701-6001 or text CT Safe Connect at (888) 774-2900.
SACCEC- The Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut is a private non-profit agency that offers free, confidential, and comprehensive services to victims of sexual assault and abuse. SACCEC is a member of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the statewide coalition of sexual assault crisis agencies. tel: 8604562789- 24-hour hotline.
Love146 - An organization that serves child trafficking survivors. To make referrals to our Connecticut Survivor Care, email survivorcare@love146.org or call 203-361-7899: Call the US Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888