Balancing classwork, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs and filling out college applications, seniors may not have enough time to plan for life after graduation, but at East Rockaway High School, a program called Future Fridays is helping students manage those demands.
Now in its third year, the initiative brings guidance counselors into English classrooms for 40-minute sessions each Friday from the second week of September through Oct. 30, giving all 89 seniors dedicated time during the school day to complete college applications, work on essays, and explore career opportunities while preparing for life after graduation.
John Madden, the high school’s director of guidance, developed the program, drawing inspiration from a student presentation he attended while working in another school district. Students there had surveyed their classmates about the college application process and its impact on their mental health, highlighting the challenges of juggling coursework, athletics, jobs and other responsibilities.
Madden recalled that some students were busy from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and had little time for homework.
"The whole point of the project was them pleading with the previous school for time," Madden said. "Adults need time, students need time, too."
When Madden first arrived at the East Rockaway School District in October 2023, he worked with the seniors’ English teachers and the counseling department to develop Future Fridays, building that time directly into students' schedules.
What began as a primarily college-focused initiative has since expanded to address a wider range of post-graduation plans.
College-bound students can work on applications, essays and financial aid paperwork, while those interested in trade schools, military service or employment can research opportunities, prepare resumes and receive individualized guidance.
"We celebrate students getting into Harvard, but we also celebrate a student saying they want to join the carpenters’ union and not go to college," Madden said. "We praise whatever decision they make as long as it's best for them."
This year, the program has become more structured, with specific goals and activities planned for each session. The district also has developed additional sessions throughout the school year, including a mid-year check-in in the winter and another in the spring before students make their final college decisions.
The classroom setting also makes counseling more approachable, allowing students to ask questions and learn from their classmates' experiences.
Thomas Weissman-Canale, an English teacher who has worked in the district since 2015, said seniors often share similar concerns about the application process.
In addition to Weissman-Canale, the other English teachers helping seniors navigate their post-graduation plans during Future Fridays include Melinda Best, Francesca Ciullo and Dawn O'Shea, along with guidance counselors Jennifer Melecio and Rebecca Mantle.
"They know that if they ask a question, it's something they talked about as a group of friends so they can get the answer out to a lot of people quickly," Weissman-Canale said.
The collaboration between teachers and counselors also has made it easier to provide individualized support.
Weissman-Canale said Madden and his team surveyed seniors about their application deadlines and shared that information with teachers, allowing him to prioritize essay feedback based on when students need to submit their materials.
Previously, students often approached him for help around the same time, creating a rush as deadlines approached. Now, he can organize his workload around students applying in October, November, or through rolling admissions.
"I really feel like students are taking more ownership of their process, communicating their deadlines and getting that collaborative approach for something usually independent," Weissman-Canale said.
Meeting those deadlines also can make a financial difference for families.
Madden explained that students in New York face a compressed application timeline because the school year begins in September, while some colleges have deadlines as early as Oct. 15.
The program encourages students to complete applications in time to take advantage of free application periods offered by SUNY, CUNY and some private colleges. Weissman-Canale recalled that one student learned she could submit an application for free rather than pay the usual $85 fee.
"This program supports student mental health, helps them meet deadlines, give them support, and not waste money," Madden said.
Weissman-Canale also has structured the first unit of his English 12 course around personal narratives, encouraging students to develop writing skills that extend beyond college admissions.
Rather than requiring every student to write specifically for an admissions officer, he approaches the assignment as a personal essay, reducing some of the pressure associated with the process.
"It's less nerve-racking when it's for me, and I make sure the language I use is personal essay," Weissman-Canale said.
Future Fridays complements the district's broader counseling efforts, which begin with individualized meetings for juniors and their families. Students also receive a roughly 80-page resource booklet covering application timelines, financial aid and alternative post-graduation options.
Madden said the initiative has made individual counseling meetings more productive, since routine application tasks can be handled during classroom sessions, leaving more time to discuss students' goals.
Although measuring the program's impact through college acceptance rates can be difficult, Madden said he has noticed students becoming more proactive. Last year, every East Rockaway senior who applied to a four-year college was accepted to at least one, he said.
Still, he emphasized that success is not determined solely by college admissions, but by whether students feel supported and prepared for whatever comes next.
"The post-secondary process is tedious, time consuming and stressful,” Madden said. “But it doesn't have to be as stressful or complicated as it is."
