Grade 8 parent presentation 2013

Welcome to High School:

Meeting the

Changes and Challenges

• High school counseling

• Changes and challenges

• Grade-level information

• How can I help my child

transition to high school?

“Secondary school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population.”

- from the website of ASCA (American School Counselor Association)

What is the role of the high school counselor...

• social and emotional well-being

• academic goals

• college and career goals

...helping students feel successful about themselves and chool

• build self-esteem, identity, and autonomy

• learn strategies and skills to make good choices (academic, social, emotional, college/career)

• create and maintain healthy relationships

Counselors help students...

How do we do this?

• Guidance Curriculum: delivered to students in grade-level meetings, Flex classes, individual or family meetings (as needed)

• Individual Student Planning: help students develop personal and academic goals, and future plans

• Responsive Services: meeting individual student needs that require counseling, referral, information, or intervention

• Systems Support: support from administration and teachers (team approach)

• “Perhaps the only thing more difficult than being a teenager is parenting one”

• A time of great development: physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively

Challenges and Changes

• Trying to understand who they are or who they are trying to be

• Peer group is the strongest influence

• Increased pressure from peers regarding risky behaviors: alcohol, drugs, sex

• Exploration of boundaries in relationships and behavior

Social Development

• ‘Roller Coaster Ride’ of hormones and mood swings. Often one heartbeat away from laughter or tears.

• Students are evaluating themselves and trying to understand who they are.

• With change comes uncertainty.

Emotional Development

• In tune with technology (digital natives)

• Respond well to cooperative learning, academic variety

• Increase in cognitive and reasoning ability

• Critical thinking and writing skills are emphasized across the HS curriculum

Cognitive Development

• Listen to what your child has to say and offer your support.

• Stay connected and communicate. Spend time together.

• Establish (together with your child) clear rules, specific expectations, and consequences. This sets a tone of respect, trust, and fairness. Review them regularly.

• Respect your teen’s privacy – e.g., knock before entering his/her room!

How can I help with the transition to high school?

• Understand your child is transitioning from childhood (needy, dependent) to adulthood (freedom, trust, responsibility)

• Be a parent first, not a pal. Boundaries are important -- model them.

• Stay in touch with teachers. Be aware of and engaged in what is going on at school. Follow the HS Blog and HS Counselors’ blog.

• Help monitor sleep (average of 9 hours), diet, and exercise, laptop use.

More advice on helping your teen

Teenagers are just people trying to learn how to make it among the adults in the world, who are

probably not so sure themselves.

Congratulations…

In six months, you will be the parent of a high school

student!

First, some vocabulary:

Freshmen Grade 9

Sophomores Grade 10

Juniors Grade 11

Seniors Grade 12

Day A (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A)

Day B (1B, 2B, 3B, 4B)

Homeroom: 8:05 – 8:20

Homeroom: 8:05 – 8:20

Block – 80 minutes Block – 80 minutes

Break - 20 minutes Break - 20 minutes

Block – 80 minutes Block – 80 minutes

Block – 80 minutes Block – 80 minutes

Lunch – 55 minutes Lunch – 55 minutes

Block – 80 minutes Block – 80 minutes

What

does

a

HS

day

look

like?

SAS High School Graduation Requirements

Subject Credit

English 4

Math 3

Science 3

Social Studies 3

Foreign Language

2

PE/Health 2

Fine/Performing Arts

2

Electives 5

TOTAL 24

• English 9

• Lab Science

• Asian History 9

• Math: per 8th grade teacher recommendation and placement test

• Physical Education/Health 9

Required subjects for grade 9

French – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

Spanish – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

Chinese – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

EAL – per testing and MS EAL teacher recommendation

Foreign Languages:

• Art Foundations

• Introduction to Drama

• Band Intermediate/Advanced

• Orchestra Intermediate/Advanced

• Choir Intermediate/Advanced

• Dance

Fine/Performing Arts Electives:

• counselor meetings/Naviance

• time to meet with teachers

• MAP Assessments

• Supervised Study Flex

• EAL Flex

• productive study time

Students have 7 academic blocks -- the 8th block is FLEX

1. Ask your child for the course selection sheet he/she will receive on March 4.

2. Check out the course description catalog at the high school blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong/

3. Contact your child’s current teacher if you have questions about a specific subject area.

4. Tell us about your child! Naviance parent survey.

5. Discuss fine arts choices with your child.

6. Submit the selection sheet by March 9 to student’s advisory teacher.

What can YOU do now?

Keep up on high school news by checking the Dr. Borden’s high school blog at:

http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong

• meeting with HS counselors and teachers on Monday, March 4 about course selection

• grade 9 students will talk to grade 8 students about course selection during advisory on Friday, March 8th

• A Day in the Life of a High School Student: Nuts and Bolts held on Friday, May 31st, for students.

What next?