Stress is the way your body responds to a challenge or difficult situation. When you feel you can cope with the challenge, "good stress" gets you energized and motivated to do your best work. Good stress is short-term. "Bad stress" occurs when your coping mechanisms are overwhelmed by the stress and you do not function at your best. We all experience stress, and there's nothing wrong with your teenagers if they're stressed. But if your teens have more stress than they can cope with, it can interfere with sleep, thinking and learning. Signs of stress in teenagers can show up in their behavior, emotions, body, and thinking.

Click the link below to learn more about stress and how to support your teen.

Jesuit students, as teenagers, are in a stage of human development called Identity vs. Role Confusion, through which they are working to develop a sense of self. This means they are forming their identities and actively pursuing their independence. They will naturally question and analyze much of what they have been taught. This is normal! 

Their peers will also start to play a larger role. Get to know your student's friends and make sure they get to know you. Your student's friend group will have influence, so it's important to be familiar with one another.

Slow down and enjoy this journey. As parents of teenagers, we are naturally in the business of preparing our children for the next stage of their lives – adulthood. Often, a ton of energy is given to this, so much that we sometimes struggle being present. Appreciate and savor the time you have with your student right now. This is a special time. Enjoy the ride, and enjoy who they are and who they are becoming.

In response to the pandemic, colleges have radically adjusted their admission testing policies. Hear from the experts at Compass Education Group and JHS counselors as they lead a thoughtful and pragmatic discussion of college admission testing and the recent outcomes of the test optional movement on November 17 at 6:00 pm.

Presentation topics will include:

• Making sense of the subtlety and variety of testing policies
• Making an informed choice between the ACT and SAT
• Optimal timing and smart approaches to test preparation and testing

Jesuit families of all grade levels are invited to attend.

Jesuit High School hosted a virtual College Financial Aid Night in partnership with Gonzaga University's Financial Aid Office in September.

ECMC/The College Place Oregon hosted two webinars on financial aid (one in English and one in Spanish) in September. View the recordings below:

The pandemic forced many college admissions offices to turn to virtual tours. As a result, prospective students now have access to a treasure trove of timely and interactive online college planning resources.

A representative sampling of such resources includes:

• University of Oregon
• Reed College
• University of Chicago

If these resources are intriguing to you, check out the virtual resources and programming offered by your priority colleges. A wealth of information is only a click away!  

Mark your calendars! The next Freshman Parent Workshop will take place on Wednesday, December 8. JHS College Advisor Reggie Collins (formerly Assistant Dean of Admissions at Lewis & Clark College) will provide insight into college admission factors and the role of a parent/guardian in the college search and application process, as well as other related information and advice for parents. The Zoom webinar will include a live Q&A session. Look for more information in the Weekly Roundup as the date approaches.

What We're Reading

• The Price You Pay For College (by Ron Lieber)
• Your Turn: How to Be an Adult (by Julie Lythcott-Haims)
• Georgia Tech's Admissions Blog
• The Truth About College Admissions (by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark)
• Who Gets In and Why (by Jeffrey Selingo)
• To Raise a Boy (by Emma Brown)

On-Demand Presentations

• National Catholic College Admission Association and Jesuit Excellence Tour Fall Virtual Programs

Jesuit Resources

• College Exploration Tools
• JHS Counseling Twitter
• Daily Bulletin