Welcome to High School:

Meeting the

Changes and Challenges

• High school counseling

• Changes and challenges

• Grade-level information

• How can I help my child

transition to high school?

Tonight we will share with you some valuable information as you and your 8th grader prepare for this transition to high school. We’ll review common language, the process for grade 9 course selection, graduation requirements, what to expect and how you as a parent can help your son/daughter, and a brief overview of the counseling program.

“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...

As students change and develop, so does the role of the counselor in high school. Ultimately, our goal is to help students and families grow in independence, self reflect on strengths and interests, and prepare for life after secondary school.

• social and emotional well-being

• academic goals

• college and career goals

...helping students feel successful about themselves and chool

• build self-esteem, identity, and autonomy

• learn strategies and skills to make good choices (academic, social, emotional, college/career)

• create and maintain healthy

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 plans

• Responsive 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?

Parenting a teenager can be challenging. Each teen has different needs and thus what might work for one child, might not work for another. Parenting teenagers is about finding the right balance between offering them structure and support.

• 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. Be aware of and engaged in what is going on at school. Follow the HS Blog and HS Counselors’ blog.

• Help monitor sleep (average of 9 hours), diet, and exercise, laptop use.

More advice on helping your teen

Try not to compare your son/daughter to others. Students at this age are experiencing a tremendous amount of growth and change and all children develop at different rates. High School Counseling blog often includes articles, announcements about presentations, etc. that you will find useful. Access this through the HS Blog

Teenagers are just people trying to learn how to make it among the

adults in the world, who are probably not so sure themselves.

We have an valuable article for you tonight that focuses on the importance of “failure.” Teenagers will often try new things, explore boundaries, and try to figure out who they are and where they “fit” in. Inevitably, there will be high’s and low’s throughout this process.

Congratulations…

In six months, you will be the parent of a high school

student!

We promise...you will make it through the next few years and beyond!

First, some vocabulary:

Freshmen Grade 9

Sophomores Grade 10

Juniors Grade 11

Seniors Grade 12

In high school, you’ll often hear these terms used interchangebly.

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?

SAS High School Graduation Requirements

Subject Credit

English 4

Math 3

Science 3

Social Studies

3

Foreign Language

2

PE/Health 2

Fine/Performing

Arts

2

Electives 5

TOTAL 24

Meeting these graduation requirements is generally not a problem for our students as most students can earn up to a maximum 28 credits by the time they graduate. Ideally, we strongly encourage students to exceed these minimum requirements by earning 4 credits each in math, science, and social studies. Many universities also prefer to see students challenged themselves with 3 or 4 years of a language.

• 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

But, before students have to make those choices, we have a core program for students that allows them to gain a strong and well-rounded educational foundation that will prepare and provide students with the prerequisite course requirements for AP and IB courses later in high school. All grade 9 students will take English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, PE & Health, Fine Arts, and a Flex.

French – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

Spanish – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

Chinese – per 8th grade teacher recommendation

EAL – per testing and MS EAL teacher recommendation

Foreign Languages:

• Art Foundations

• Introduction to Drama

• Band Intermediate/Advanced

• Orchestra Intermediate/Advanced

• Choir Intermediate/Advanced

• Dance

Fine/Performing Arts Electives:

• counselor meetings/Naviance

• time to meet with teachers

• MAP Assessments

• Supervised Study Flex

• EAL Flex

• productive study time

Students have 7 academic blocks -- the 8th block is FLEX

All high school students have a Flex class. In grade 9 and 10, Flex is supervised time where students can study, work on homework, consult teachers, make up assignments, etc. This is also an ideal time for counselors to meet with students.

1. Ask your child for the course selection sheet he/she will receive on March 4.

2. Check out the course description catalog at the high school blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong/

3. Contact your child’s current teacher if you have questions about a specific subject area.

4. Tell us about your child! Naviance parent survey.

5. Discuss fine arts choices with your child.

6. Submit the selection sheet by March 9 to student’s advisory teacher.

What can YOU do now?

Tonight, you have received information on how to access your account in Naviance. Please take some time int he next few weeks to complete survey and share more about your son/daughter.

Keep up on high school news by checking the Dr. Borden’s high school blog at:

http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong

You’ll want to bookmark this website. Each week, Dr. Borden posts a message to the community. This site also allows you and students to access upcoming events, exam schedules, our course catalogue, and a variety of other information you’ll find helpful. Links to each teacher’s blog (including the counseling blog) can also be accessed via this site.

• meeting with HS counselors and teachers on Monday, March 4 about course selection

• grade 9 students will talk to grade 8 students about course selection during advisory on Friday, March 8th

• A Day in the Life of a High School Student: Nuts and Bolts held on Friday, May 31st, for students.

What next?

Later this week, we will be meeting with your 8th graders to talk more about the course selection process. Students will bring home a course selection sheet for you to sign as well. Later this Spring before summer vacation, counselors and high school Eagles Ambassadors will offer a program for 8th graders to provide them with an opportunity to learn more about high school.