Transitioning into High School: Changes that Shape your Child’s Success in School

8th graders are often excited about going to high school…

High school offers:

More freedom and more choices.

The opportunity to participate in more activities.

The opportunity to develop friendships.

but 8th graders also have a lot of worries. They are often concerned about:

Older students teasing them and getting lost in a bigger school.

Making bad grades.

Teachers giving them much more and much harder work.

What students find out…

The school doesn’t seem nearly as large or difficult to get around in as they often fear. They really did not have problems getting lost.

However, high school is definitely more difficult.

While students like being able to choose

their classes and extracurricular activities,

high school seems much more difficult

and demanding than middle school.

Graduation RequirementsCredits + Keystone Exams = Standards Based High

School Diploma

Successfully complete 21 credits (students typically earn 6.5 credits per year). Specific credit requirements are:

(1 credit = 1 full school year)4 credits English4 credits Social Studies3 credits Science3 credits Math2 credits PE/Health5 credits Electives

Overview of High School Special Education Programs

• Learning Support, Emotional Support, Autistic Support classes

• Itinerant Emotional and Autistic Support Services and related services: Speech/Language, OT, PT, Vision, Hearing, Adolescent Counseling

Learning how to study and how to

manage time continue to be major concerns once students make the transition into high school.

Resource Room/Study Skills Class

• Neshaminy SD offers study a skills program to assist in meeting student academic needs and develop individual skills

• Offered as 3 day or 6 day course

• Grades are given

• Counts as an elective credit

• Not listed in Course of Study Booklet

Resource Room/Study Skills Class• Supports students in their 'Core Classes'

including Math, Science, English, Social Studies and Language.

• Help students develop 'Study Skills' through interactive weekly mini-lessons and independent lessons based on the content of their 'core classes'.

• Guide students in developing 'real life' skills and a plan for after High School!

this class is not……..

meant to take the place of studying and doing

homework at home.

meant to provide an individual tutor or “study buddy”

meant to take the place of before or after school tutoring

a Study Hall

This class is meant to…….

assist students in developing specific study strategies which they can use in their content area classes.

provide students with the opportunity to complete homework, review material and reinforce skills learned in core academic courses.

make available a location in which to utilize accommodations outlined in their IEP.

(Ex. extended time on tests and quizzes)

Before/After School Academic Help

Located in NHS Library

Monday through Thursday

6:45 – 7:10 am and 2:30 – 4:00 pm

Friday

6:45 – 7:10 am

Important high school decisions start in 8th grade

• Transition planning is required to begin at age 14 as part of the IEP process

• Talk with your child about future goals. Do these goals require a college education or specialized training? Do you your and your child’s goals match?

• If your child keeps clear goals in mind, school will seem more important.

• Students who are planning to go to college or specialized training will benefit from taking higher level math and English classes.

• Transition resources on HS Special Ed Department webpagehttp://www.neshaminy.org/Page/26828

Planning for the Future Checklist

Students can use this checklist to get ready for life after high school. This checklist helps them to talk about their progress and how best to plan for their future.

Neshaminy High School Course of Study

Course of Study Booklet located on the ACADEMIC SCHEDULING & STUDENT RECORDS

OFFICE page

(www.neshaminy.org/domain/78)

Click on NHS Course of Study Booklet

listed on left side, last bullet

Neshaminy High SchoolParent and Student Course Selection Night:

Thursday, February 16, 2017

6:00 - 6:30 PM: Self-Guided Departmental Tour of NHS

6:30 - 7:15 PM: Course Selection Presentation in Auditorium

7:15 - 8:00 PM: Continue Self-Guided Departmental Tour of NHS

Participation in school activities is important

Encourage your children to think about what sports, clubs, or organizations they may want to become involved with next year. Some activities include:

ArtDramaEnvironmental Action ClubFuture Business Leaders of AmericaInteractScience ClubService Learning ClubSPECTRUMUltimate FrisbeeWorld AffairsWorld LanguageAthleticsBand/Orchestra/ChoirStudent CouncilYearbook

Stay involved at school

Attend parent/teacher conferences, IEP meetings and your child’s school activities.

Contact the teacher, IEP case manager or school counselor when you have questions about any of the following:

– A class, scheduling, or attendance.

– Changes in behavior or attitude.

– Questions about graduation credits.

Monitor your child’s progress on

Home Access

Contact Information

Tadd Fox

Special Education Department Chairperson

tfox@neshaminy.org

Lorraine Johnson

High School Special Education Supervisor

ljohnson@neshaminy.org

John Iannacone

Middle School Special Education Supervisor

jiannacone@neshaminy.org

Brian McPeake

Special Education Teacher

bmcpeake@neshaminy.org

Robert Mueller

Assistant Principal

rmueller@neshaminy.org

Comments/Questions