FRESHMEN PARENTS’ FRESHMEN PARENTS’ BREAKFASTBREAKFAST

September 16, 2009September 16, 2009

Welcome to a Welcome to a

New Chapter in New Chapter in

Your Child’s LifeYour Child’s Life

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Provide informationProvide information Introduce key people in the transitionIntroduce key people in the transition Increase comfort Increase comfort

KEY PEOPLEKEY PEOPLE

AdministratorsAdministrators Neil SullivanNeil Sullivan Scott DunnScott Dunn Eileen Eustis Eileen Eustis Steve PatrinaSteve Patrina Kevin DakinKevin Dakin

InternsInterns Sarah MillerSarah Miller Deb SchwagerDeb Schwager Laura TruncaliLaura Truncali

CounselorsCounselors Sally AmesSally Ames Donna CannonDonna Cannon Tor FiskeTor Fiske Paula GarzaPaula Garza Joan RamsayJoan Ramsay Pam SickingerPam Sickinger Greg StillmanGreg Stillman Sandy VollaroSandy Vollaro

NEIL SULLIVANNEIL SULLIVAN

PrincipalPrincipal

GRADING PORTALGRADING PORTAL

Starting in OctoberStarting in October View your child’s gradesView your child’s grades Updated every 3 weeksUpdated every 3 weeks Discuss performance with your child Discuss performance with your child

firstfirst Contact teachers Contact teachers

REPORT CARDSREPORT CARDS

End of quarters End of quarters November 5November 5 January 22January 22 April 1April 1 June 16June 16

Expect report Expect report card within two card within two weeks after the weeks after the end of quarterend of quarter

Only final grades Only final grades appear on appear on transcripttranscript

HONOR ROLLHONOR ROLL

High Honors - 1 B and all AsHigh Honors - 1 B and all As General Honors - 1 C and all As & BsGeneral Honors - 1 C and all As & Bs All courses - including PE and HealthAll courses - including PE and Health Posted a few weeks after the quarter endsPosted a few weeks after the quarter ends

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (PLC)COMMUNITIES (PLC)

Professional staff in like subjects meets Professional staff in like subjects meets weekly regarding teaching and learningweekly regarding teaching and learning

Monitors student achievementMonitors student achievement Determines strategies to improve student Determines strategies to improve student

learninglearning

SCOTT DUNNSCOTT DUNN

Phelps House PrincipalPhelps House Principal

PHELPS HOUSE CONNECTIONPHELPS HOUSE CONNECTION

Rationale for separate freshmen houseRationale for separate freshmen house Continual support so all students experience Continual support so all students experience

successsuccess Partnership between parent, student, SHSPartnership between parent, student, SHS Focus: responsibility, resiliency, maturityFocus: responsibility, resiliency, maturity

HONOR CODEHONOR CODE

Impressive way to demonstrate characterImpressive way to demonstrate character Honor, Respect, ResponsibilityHonor, Respect, Responsibility Part 1 was due to Phelps House yesterdayPart 1 was due to Phelps House yesterday Making sound choices throughout the yearMaking sound choices throughout the year

HONOR CODEHONOR CODE

Part 2 of application due mid MayPart 2 of application due mid May Honor Council reviews applicationsHonor Council reviews applications Distinction on high school transcriptDistinction on high school transcript Every year another opportunity to pledge Every year another opportunity to pledge

the Honor Codethe Honor Code

KEVIN DAKINKEVIN DAKIN

Dean of StudentsDean of Students

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER (SAC)CENTER (SAC)

Provides support for struggling studentsProvides support for struggling students Teachers assist students with classroom Teachers assist students with classroom

assignmentsassignments Structured and caring environmentStructured and caring environment

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIESCO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

““What’s Happening” bookletWhat’s Happening” booklet Balance timeBalance time Colleges prefer in-depth involvementColleges prefer in-depth involvement

DR. CATHY SULLIVANDR. CATHY SULLIVAN

School PsychologistSchool Psychologist

SUPPORT SERVICESSUPPORT SERVICES

Psychologists - Kim Lawlor, Cathy SullivanPsychologists - Kim Lawlor, Cathy Sullivan Social Worker - Maureen DavisSocial Worker - Maureen Davis Health Services Director - Sue BeardsleyHealth Services Director - Sue Beardsley Nurses - Deb Schmetterling, Eileen ZaldonisNurses - Deb Schmetterling, Eileen Zaldonis Student Resource Officer –Liz MaherStudent Resource Officer –Liz Maher Choice Students Support – Sylena EllisonChoice Students Support – Sylena Ellison

SHS CONNECTSHS CONNECT

Freshmen assigned to faculty advisorFreshmen assigned to faculty advisor Meet weekly for 25 minutesMeet weekly for 25 minutes Help with transition to high schoolHelp with transition to high school Another adult to connect withAnother adult to connect with Personalizes a large school experiencePersonalizes a large school experience

RICH CURTISSRICH CURTISS

Social Studies Department Social Studies Department SupervisorSupervisor

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

2 1/2 - 5 hours per subject per week2 1/2 - 5 hours per subject per week Too little or too much signals a concernToo little or too much signals a concern Deadline to drop course - September 22Deadline to drop course - September 22 Level changes –first week in October orLevel changes –first week in October or

at end of first marking periodat end of first marking period

ABILITY GROUPINGSABILITY GROUPINGS

Based on teacher recommendationBased on teacher recommendation All levels are college preparatoryAll levels are college preparatory Email or call teachers/counselors if Email or call teachers/counselors if

concerns developconcerns develop Example - Example - rcurtiss@simsbury.k12.ct.usrcurtiss@simsbury.k12.ct.us

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSGRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

22.00 credits22.00 credits 4 English, 3 mathematics, 4 English, 3 mathematics,

3.5 social studies, 3 science, 3.5 social studies, 3 science,

1 practical or fine art, 1 practical or fine art,

1 credit physical education & 1 credit physical education &

.5 credit of health .5 credit of health Basic skills in reading, writing & Basic skills in reading, writing &

mathematicsmathematics

BRENDA GOFFBRENDA GOFF

Reading & Study Skills Reading & Study Skills TeacherTeacher

TUTORINGTUTORING

Always go to teachers for help firstAlways go to teachers for help first Students in National Honor SocietyStudents in National Honor Society Parent volunteersParent volunteers Private tutors in the communityPrivate tutors in the community Math labMath lab English Resource CenterEnglish Resource Center World Language labWorld Language lab Final exam study skillsFinal exam study skills

TESTING FOR CLASS OF 2013TESTING FOR CLASS OF 2013

CAPT - March 2011CAPT - March 2011 PSAT - October 2010 & 2011PSAT - October 2010 & 2011 SAT - Spring & Fall 2012SAT - Spring & Fall 2012 AP - May 2011, 2012 & 2013AP - May 2011, 2012 & 2013

JOAN RAMSAYJOAN RAMSAY

Director of GuidanceDirector of Guidance

GUIDANCEGUIDANCE

Complement direction… Complement direction…

support… support…

playfulness..playfulness.. ProactiveProactive AdvocatesAdvocates

POST SECONDARY POST SECONDARY REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

Most challenging program Most challenging program In-depth involvementIn-depth involvement Passion or serious interestsPassion or serious interests Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores Guidance Department proactiveGuidance Department proactive

SCHOOL PROFILESCHOOL PROFILE

Sent with transcripts to collegesSent with transcripts to colleges Updated each yearUpdated each year Keeps colleges informed about Keeps colleges informed about

Simsbury High SchoolSimsbury High School

GRADE POINT AVERAGEGRADE POINT AVERAGE

Weighted 4.00 GPA scaleWeighted 4.00 GPA scale No class rankNo class rank Bar graph shows GPA comparison to Bar graph shows GPA comparison to

classmatesclassmates

IN CLOSINGIN CLOSING

Teenage years challengingTeenage years challenging Keep events in perspectiveKeep events in perspective Focus on important things –Focus on important things –

family, time with each otherfamily, time with each other Model behaviors you want Model behaviors you want

in your childin your child

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Thank you for comingThank you for coming Questions???Questions???

Breakfasts/FroshParentsBreakfast09Breakfasts/FroshParentsBreakfast09