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?

“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...

social and emotional well-being

academic goals

college and career goals

...helping students feel successful about themselves

and school

build self-esteem, identity, and autonomy

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

create and maintain healthy relationships

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 plansResponsive 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?

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.

http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong/

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

More advice on helping your teen

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

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

Congratulations…

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

student!

grade # students 2011-12

# students 2012-

13(projected)

9 158 170

10 161 160

11 157 160

12 126 160

SAS Pudong High School

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?

First, some vocabulary:

Freshmen Grade 9

Sophomores Grade 10

Juniors Grade 11

Seniors Grade 12

SAS High School Graduation

Requirements

Subject Credit

English 4

Math 3

Science 3

Social Studies

3

Foreign Language

2

PE/Health 2

Fine/Performing

Arts2

Electives 5

TOTAL 24

IB = International Baccalaureate

a two-year rigorous academic program offered to Juniors and Seniors

AP = Advanced Placement

college-level courses offered to high school students

Both are strong college-preparatory programs but not of immediate concern for Grade 9 students.

IB and AP

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

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:

Art1: Foundations

Introduction to Drama

Band Intermediate

Orchestra Intermediate

Choir Intermediate

Dance

Fine/Performing Arts Electives:

counselor meetings/Naviance

time to meet with teachers

MAP Assessments

Supervised Study Flex

ESOL Flex

productive study time

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

1. Ask your child for the course selection sheet he/she will receive this Friday, February 24.

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 Friday, March 9 to student’s advisory teacher: first come, first served

What can YOU do now?

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

http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong

student meeting with HS counselors and teachers on Friday, February 24 about course selection

A Day in the Life of a High School Student: Nuts and Bolts held June 1 for students.

What do WE do now?

Thank you!

Thank you for coming out tonight to learn more about high school.

You and your student WILL make it through this transition!

We are here to help!