Freshman Year Counts

Presented by:Battlefield HS School

Counselors2010-2011

Workshop Agenda

Welcome Who is my counselor and how can he/she

help me? Diploma types and graduation requirements Goal-setting and 4-year Educational Plans GPA and brief look at college Study Skills, Time Management, Resources

for help Jeopardy Question & Answer

Counselors’ Responsibilities

Help students succeed academically, personally, and socially

Academic planningCollaborate with teachers,

principals, students, and parents

College and career planning

Meeting with your Counselor

How to see your counselor: Come to the Counseling Center outside of

class time to schedule an appointment with the Counseling Center secretaries – Mrs. Burchfield or Ms. Hummel.

If you have an emergency or you need immediate assistance:

Let your teacher know, get a pass, and come down right away.

Let the Counseling secretary know it is an emergency.

Ms. Julie Byrne

Director of School Counseling

Mr. Eric McCaslin

A - B

Mrs. Carol O’Donnell

C - Dr

Ms. Elizabeth Chase-Kang

Du - Hav

Ms. Jaime Iglehart

Haw - Ko

Ms. Tiffany Kaufman

Kr- Mi

Mr. Matt Sisson

Mo - Ran

Mrs. Vanessa Smith

Ras - Su

Mrs. Susan Sigmon

Sw - Z

Student Helpers

Psychologist – Mrs. LeazerSocial Worker – Mrs. RomanoResource Counselor – Mrs. Aitel-

ThompsonSchool Nurse – Mrs. FairbanksSchool Principal – Mrs. Ethridge-ContiTeachersAssistant PrincipalsSecurity Office

Career/College Counseling Center

Career Assessment - BRIDGES (Finds Career Matches through your interests and abilities.)

College Research Tools – Family Connection, Virginia Wizard, Collegeboard (MyRoad).

Test Prep for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT Tests. Financial Aid/Scholarship Info – Brochures,

Search Engines, Scholarship File. Alternative Career Paths – Military,

Apprenticeships, Trade Schools.

Diploma Types

Standard Diploma 4 English 3 Math 3 Science 3 Social Studies 2 HPE 1 Fine/Practical Art 2 Sequential Electives 4 Additional Electives 6 Verified

Credits/Passing the class and the SOL

Advanced Studies Diploma 4 English 4 Math 4 Science 4 Social Studies 2 HPE 1 Fine/Practical Art 3 Foreign Language or

2/2 2 Additional Electives 9 Verified

Credits/Passing the class and the SOL

Think Ahead

It’s very helpful to have a sense of direction for your future

It’s also helpful to know what’s required for what you want to do

It’s okay to change your mind on what you plan to do

It’s never too early to start thinking about and exploring careers

Grades

Grading ScaleA = 90 – 100----------- 4.0B+= 87 – 89------------ 3.4B = 80 – 86------------- 3.0 C+= 77 - 79------------- 2.4C = 70 – 76------------- 2.0D+= 67 – 69------------ 1.4D = 60 - 66------------ 1.0F = 59 and below------ 0.0

*Passing grades earn 1 credit for each class each year

How GPA’s work…

Student A9th grade 2.110th grade 3.311th grade 3.3

Cum GPA 2.9

Student B9th grade 3.510th grade 3.311th grade

3.3

Cum GPA 3.4

What colleges are looking for…

Challenging courses – even 9th grade!

GPATest scoresActivitiesEssays and letters

of recommendation

Colleges are getting harder to get into!

Average GPAs for college admission are going up.George Mason – 3.56 James Madison – 3.75Virginia Tech – 3.85

Most Virginia state schools are looking for a 3.0 GPA or higher

Classroom Tips

Know your learning style: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic

Participate in class discussions

Actively listen Attend school regularly

Attendance Policies & Procedures

If you are absent, you have 2 school days to turn in an excuse note

If you miss 5 or more days consecutively, you need a doctor’s note

If you know ahead of time that you will be out of school for a trip or special event, please see your Asst. Principal to get it pre-approved.

Students who miss 10 or more class periods in any one class for the year – excused or unexcused – and who have completed little or no make-up work, may fail that class for the year.

Taking Notes

Write Key PointsDate and organize notesSeek clarification from your

teacherUse outliningReview and highlight notes at

home each night

Homework

Set a schedule – do homework the night it is assigned

Eliminate distractionsTackle your hardest subject firstForm associations, look for patterns, and

create rhymes, linking, and acronymsHand in on timeProofread

Time Management

Meet deadlines and feel more in control or your life.

Use your agenda Write down assignments as soon as you get

them Keep track of what’s coming up by looking

ahead at next week or month. Put stars next to tests and other important dates.

Divide big assignments into smaller steps

Time Management (cont.’d)

Make studying/homework a routine – try to schedule it for the same time every day.

Procrastinating = time-wasting habit Break up larger projects into smaller ones Set deadlines for yourself Remind yourself how good you’ll feel when

you’re finished Promise yourself a reward (movie, snack) when

you’re finished

Test Taking

Review notes and earlier tests throughout the unit

Stay after with the teacher before the test When taking the test…

Immediately jot down facts Pace yourself Check your work Get adequate sleep the night before Read directions carefully – and clarify with teacher

if you have questions

Raising Low Grades

NHS Peer tutoring – Every Tues. and Thurs. in room 1124 from 2-3 p.m.

Stay after for extra help with the teacher – arrange with them beforehand

Extra-credit work

Establish a study group

Increase class participation

Re-evaluate priorities

Freshman Year Counts!

When a student enters high school all the doors are open.

Don’t close any of the doors this year by getting poor grades or making poor choices.

Senior year will be here before you realize

Begin planning for June of 2014 NOW!