Freshman Parent Night

How to Help Your Student Succeed in High School

Welcome

What do you hope to get out of this presentation

Purpose of this meeting1. Introduce GHS school counselors and explain their role in

your teen’s high school career

2. Discuss information pertinent to you as your teen moves through high school

3. Discuss the upcoming course registration process

4. Answer questions you have in regard to your teen’s secondary and postsecondary education

Meet the GHS School Counseling Department...

Counselor Assignments*Nikki Donnelly (A-G)

*Interim Counselor = Amanda Schulteis

Rosalyn Isbell (H-N)Chris Hanley (O-Z)

RegistrarKelly Rieck

What does my child’s counselor do? Adolescence can be a stressful time in even the best of situations…

...we’re here to help!

Your Teen & the GHS School Counseling Program...

Freshman Year:

- Counseling Program Intro- Academic & Career Planning

(ACP) Unit (week-long)- Health Class Presentation - Individual Freshman Conference

Sophomore Year:

- ACP Unit (2 days)- No Soph conf, but always willing to meet!

Junior Year:

- Individual Junior Conference- ACP Unit (2 day)- College Information Night

Senior Year:

- All class meeting - Individual/Small Group Senior Conference

- Financial Aid Meeting and Help Session

Testing Program Overview9th grade:

Spring ACT ASPIRE

10th grade:

Fall PSAT (optional)

Forward Exam in Spring (Soc Studies)

Spring ACT ASPIRE

Spring AP Exams

11th grade:

Fall PSAT (optional)

ASVAB (optional)

Spring ACT Plus Writing & ACT

WorkKeys

Spring AP Exams

12th grade:(ACT retake - must

schedule on your own)

ASVAB (optional)

Spring AP Exams

Freshman Academic & Career

Planning (ACP) Conference

Personal & Social

Academic

Career

Some things that will be discussed…

● Graduation Requirements/Credits Earned

● Cumulative GPA/Class Rank

● 10th Grade Registration

● Review of sophomore classes

● Post-Secondary Plans

● Area of Study/Career Interest

● Employment

● Extra-Curricular Activities

● Interests/Hobbies

● Volunteer Activities

Why does my teen need an ACP? “The evidence indicates that students who become more

competent in self-exploration, career exploration, and career planning and management are

more motivated to attend school, become confident

learners, actively set goals, and record better grades.”

A web-based college/career resource to help students plan for their future!

Career Planning College Planning Success Planning

Learning Style Inventory

Interest Inventory

Personality Inventory

Resume Building

College Search

Application Process

College Major Exploration

Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources

Personalized Goals

To-Do Lists

Task List

Journal Entries

NAVIANCE: Family Connection

CHECK OUT THE ROADTRIP NATION INTERVIEW ARCHIVE UNDER THE CAREERS TAB!!!

VIDEO ARCHIVE

Encourage your son/daughter to register for the most rigorous curriculum in which he/she is comfortable, keeping in mind their future goals.

Registration Procedure

● Registration forms will be distributed to freshmen in their English classes on Feb 2nd after an in-house ELECTIVE EXPLORATION ACTIVITY on Feb 1st.

● Students will register for classes online through “Family Access” but will also be asked to complete a paper registration form to assist in the process

Registration Procedure (cont...)

● Students will have the following week to modify course requests on “Family Access”

● Signed paper registration forms should be turned in on or before Feb 8th, at which time the ability to modify courses on “Family Access” is no longer available

● Please be aware that the student login/password must be used for course registration (not parent’s)

Sophomore Course OptionsRequired

● American Lit/Comp

● US History/AP US History

● Science (various options available)

● Math (various options available)

● P.E. (various options available)

Electives● World Language

● Business

● Computer Science

● Family/Consumer Science

● Art

● Music

● Tech/Engineering

New Course OfferingsScience

Accelerated Chemistry (1.0)

Space Sciences (0.5)

Geology & Earth Systems (0.5)

Business

Game and Mobile App Design (0.5)

Music

Jazz Ensemble (0.5) - before school

Symphonic Band (1.0)

For a list of ALL course descriptions go to: ghs.grafton.k12.wi.us > Counseling > Course Description Book

DUAL CREDIT OFFERING IN TECH/ENGINEERING

Applied Interdisciplinary Math (AIM)

● For each class taken in the Tech & Engineering, a student has the potential to earn 0.25 math credit, up to 1.0 credit

● Student must commit to dual credit option at the beginning of semester

● Math credit option requires additional math-based assignments/tests & a separate math specific exam

GHS Graduation Requirements

4.0 credits of English3.0 credits of Social Studies3.0 credits of Math 3.0 credits of Science0.5 credit of Health1.5 credits of P.E. 7.0 elective credits____________________22 total credits required for graduation

NEW!!

Weighted Grades for AP Courses

Repeating a failed course● Required courses from freshman year must be repeated if failed

○ Lit/Comp 9, American Government, Biology, Health

○ elective courses do not need to be repeated, but may be required to continue in an elective content area

● How to make up:

○ GHS summer school (English and Social Studies offered yearly; math offered on an as needed basis)

○ Retake in sophomore year

○ Other options - please talk to your child’s school counselor

Foreign Language ● UW-Madison requires a minimum of 2 years, but recommends 3-4

● UW-Eau Claire recommends it, but does not require it

● At UW-LaCrosse, the average freshman has 3 years

● UW-Platteville, Parkside and Milwaukee require either 2 years in high school or 1 year in college to receive a diploma

● Marquette recommends 2 or more

● Not required for technical college

Global EducationAchievement Certification

“We need students who are knowledgeable about the world and who have an understanding of how other cultures work and how other people think.”

-Tony Evers, PhD, WI State Superintendent

NEW!

Requirements: ● 4 years of a foreign language in high school (B or better)

● 4 additional credits with international emphasis (B or better)

● Participation in service or international extracurricular activities provided in the community with a global emphasis

● 8 cultural reflections and 20 hours of global/cross cultural community service

So your teen wants to go to college?

Course Selection & Post-Secondary Planning...

Two Year/ Four Year College…

Select *rigorous courses throughout high school

Go above and beyond the minimal college admissions requirements

When selecting courses, encourage your teen to keep in mind his/her future goals!

Technical/Vocational College…

Select *rigorous courses for certain “college parallel” programs

For technical programs, align high school courses to particular area of

interest

*ENCOURAGE YOUR TEEN TO TRY A POST-SECONDARY COURSE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL!

College Prep Tips for Freshmen

- Take appropriate courses

- Talk to your counselor about

colleges/career goals

- Get off to a good start with grades

- Get involved in extracurricular

activities

- Gain volunteer experience

- Tour nearby colleges

What do 4-year colleges look for?

Of primary consideration in the admission decision are academic factors:

Course Rigor

Class Rank

GPA

ACT/SAT Score

Trend in Grades

Work Based Learning

Ozaukee Youth Apprenticeship

Program

CNA

Other Opportunities...

Part Time Employment Full Time Employment

Manufacturing

Finance...and more!

restaurant manager

Tips to Help Your Child SucceedHigh school students need their parents to be interested and involved in their academic

progress. The following are tips to help your child succeed in school…

Provide a good place to study

Help your child set academic goals

Use rewards and consequences

Attend parent programs when available

Insist on daily attendance

Regularly check ‘Family Access’ Help with time management

Deal effectively with homework

Encourage independent problem solvingListen

Encourage nightly studyingMonitor activities and jobs

Encourage a healthy lifestyle Be aware and be informed Set limits and boundaries

Be a good role model

Work with Grafton High School

Support and work with administrators, teachers, counselors and other staff at your school. Remember that we share a common goal of wanting your child to have a

great high school experience!

Support Grafton High School

Communicate with Grafton High School

Work with GHS to resolve problems

and...

Make the most of parent-teacher conferences

Academic Supports and Resources

● Teachers: meet with teachers before/after school/BHT

● School Counselors: talk to counselors about academic concerns

● Peer Tutoring: sign up through school counseling office

● Student Staffings: round table discussion with parents/teachers/school counselor/student (after school)

● Family Access: check grades regularly

● LAWS: for students struggling with reading/writing

● Student Success Center (SSC): supported study hall

● Outside Tutors: see counselor for options

Parent-Teacher Conference Discussion Topics/Questions (March 2nd & 3rd)

● HomeworkIs my child’s homework completed thoroughly, accurately, on time?

● Class ParticipationDoes my child ask questions, volunteer answers, participate in discussions?

● OrganizationDoes my child seem organized? Does he/she come to class prepared?

● Academic SuccessHow is my child performing in your class? Do you think my child is working up to his/her potential?

● Classroom Time ManagementDoes my child use class time wisely?

● Attendance and Punctuality Is my child in class every day? Does he/she come to class on time?

● FocusDoes my child pay attention in class?

● Social AdjustmentIs my child respectful and courteous to teachers and classmates? Does my child appear to get along with other students?

● Strengths and Weaknesses What do you see as my child’s strengths? What does he/she need to work on?

● Additional Comments Do you have any advice or suggestions for me or my child? What is the best way for me to contact you if I have questions or concerns in the future?

Thank you for coming

Last minute notes…

→ Sophomore scheduling

(STARTS THIS WEEK)

→ Freshman Conference

to review ACP (March)