Download - The grade-8-parent-presentation-2-23-11
Welcome to High School:
Meeting the
Changes and Challenges
Introduction to counselors
Grade-level information
High school counseling
Changes and Challenges
How can I help my child transition to
high school?
counselorfamily last name
Patrick Stenger A-Ha
Cynthia Nordmeyer He-Lit
Jennifer Melton Liu-S
Kristi Cooper T-Z
Counseling Assignments
Counselors will stay with students throughout HS until student or counselor leaves
Counselors will serve siblings
grade # students 2010-11
# students 2011-
12(projected)
9 145 133
10 160 130
11 130 153
12 115 123
SAS Pudong 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 school
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 plansResponsive 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 and counselors and know what is going on at school through the teacher and high school blogs.
Help monitor sleep (average of 9 hours), diet, and exercise
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
IB = International Baccalaureate
a two-year rigorous academic program offered to Juniors and Seniors
AP = Advanced Placement
college-level courses offered to high school students
Both are strong college-preparatory programs but not of immediate concern for Grade 9 students.
IB and AP
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?
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
ESOL – per testing and MS ESOL teacher recommendation
Foreign Languages:
Art Foundations
Introduction to Drama
Band Intermediate
Orchestra Intermediate
Choir Intermediate
Dance 1
Fine/Performing Arts Electives:
counselor meetings/Naviance
time to meet with teachers
Supervised Study Flex
ESOL Flex
productive study time
Students have 7 academic blocks -- the 8th block is FLEX
SAS High School Graduation
Requirements
Subject Credit
English 4
Math 3
Science 3
Social Studies
3
Foreign Language
2
PE/Health 2
Fine/Performing
Arts2
Electives 5
TOTAL 24
1. Ask your child for the course selection sheet he/she will receive on Friday, March 4th
2. Check out the course description catalog at the high school blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong/
3. Contact your child’s counselor for questions
4. Discuss course choices with your child
5. Submit the selection sheet by March 16th to student’s advisory teacher: first come, first served
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
course signup info session for 8th graders on March 3rd in advisory
meeting with HS counselors on Friday, March 4th about course selection
A Day in the Life of a High School Student: Nuts and Bolts
What do WE do now?