Subject: Important Information from the College Counseling Office regarding Winter Break and Policy - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL
From: "Patrick Gallagher" <[email-masked]>
To: "''" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2018 21:13:18 +0000

Dear Parents of the Class of 2019,

The College Counseling Office  hopes that you are enjoying the holiday season. Here are a few reminders about the College Counseling Office's policies over winter break.

*        The College Counseling Office will not be checking emails on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as from December 28, 2018 - January 7, 2019.

*        Students have until Thursday, December 27, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. to make changes to their college list by emailing their college counselor.

*        In regards to essay review, students were reminded repeatedly to submit all essays by last Wednesday for a January 1/15 deadline. We thank those students who abided by the well communicated deadlines.

Additionally, the College Counseling Office is enacting new policies that will take effect immediately.

*        The College Counseling Office will not answer phones calls from blocked numbers.

*        The College Counseling Office will not open any mail without a recognizable return address.

*        Any conversation (whether in person or over the phone) is not permitted to be recorded.

*        Scheduled drop-in days are for students only.

*        The College Counseling Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Appointments occur during these hours only and are scheduled by contacting Ms. Jackie Morillas at [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]> or by calling 202-537-8167. While I often arrive at the office well before 8:00 a.m., that does not mean a parent should ever be waiting for me in the vestibule, parking lot, or outside my office door.

*        Any appointments that are following a college decision will be scheduled for two school days following their release - not first thing the next day.

*        If a parent "has been selected" to speak on "behalf for other mothers/fathers/parents," they are to name those other mothers/fathers/parents' names proceeding the comment.

*        If a parent ever feels the need to inform me or my colleagues regarding the actions of a child that is not their own  - I will ask you to leave my office or end the phone conversation.

As a young man I conducted a 30 day retreat and the following quote hung in my guest room. It is often attributed to several people - Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and Confucius:
As this is my 52nd year on this earth and my third year at a Quaker Friends School, the following quote truly resonates with Quaker Tenets.

[Image result for quaker quotes]
Have happy and meaningful holidays.

Patrick Gallagher
Sidwell Friends College Counseling Office

[http://www.sidwell.edu/documents/graphicstds/Sidwell_logo_194open%20text.jpg]