Freshman Focus: How to set up your child for a successful

Transcript Freshman Focus: How to set up your child for a successful

Student Services Department Riverside Brookfield High School September 16, 2014

Share who we are and how we can provide guidance and support to you and your student 2.

Provide you with specific tips on course selection, 4-year academic plans, and post-secondary planning 3.

Introduce you to Naviance, our primary resource and planning tool used with students 4.

Provide you with suggestions on how to help your student transition to high school and have academic and personal success 2

 Director: Beth Augustine  Counselors: Melissa Carey, Jim Franko, Maggie Leiteritz, Mike Reingruber, & Renee Thomas (Gina Tauer – Sub)  Social Workers: Mari Mortensen & Chrissy Tappert  School Psychologist: Johanna Bruckner (LADSE)  Department Assistant – April Englehart  Counselor Intern: Kate O’Donnell  Social Worker Interns – Rachel Petchenik & Bridget McLaughlin  School Psych Intern: Erin Sharkey (LADSE)  Pillars Counselor: Mark Maciuszek 3

Freshman Year      August – Small Group Meetings 1 st Semester– Individual Appointments as Needed, Naviance Training (Career Profiler) Goal Setting & Develop 4-Year Plans November– Small Group Pre-Course Selections Meetings December – Individual Appointments for Course Selection for 2015-16 Spring – Small Group Meetings (Career Cluster Finder & Resume Builder ) 4

Total credits needed for graduation = 22

 English – 4.0

 Math – 3.0

 Science – 3.0

 Social Science – 3.0

    Western Civilization or AP European History - 1.0

US History – 1.0

US Government - .50

Global Area Studies A or B - .50 (or 4 years of World Lang)  Consumer Economic or Economics .50 or AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics – 1.0

 Cultural & Applied Studies – 2.0   Applied Arts, Fine Arts or World Language .50 Fine Arts Survey (or 4 years of one area of concentration within Fine Arts OR .50 of a performing arts and .50 of a visual arts)  Health Education – .50

 Physical Education – 3.50

 Additional Electives – 2.50

 16 Career Clusters – Links what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college & careers  Consider Fine Arts & Applied Arts courses.

 Focus on 21 st century workplace skills:  Inventive  Resourceful  Imaginative  Creative 7

 Art  Drawing & Painting  Photography  Digital Imaging  Ceramics  Dance  Technique  Choreography  Music  Band/Orchestra  Choir  Theater  Acting & Directing  Improvisation & Sketch Comedy 8

 Business & Technology     Computers Apps Computer Animation Graphic Arts Web Design  Family & Consumer Science   Foods & Nutrition Child Development  Industrial Technology   Automotive Construction  Technology Education   Drafting/CAD Career Drafting 9

Freshman Year 1. English 2. Math 3. Science 4. Western Civ./Reading 5. PE 6. Elective * 7. Elective *World Language Sophomore Year 1. English 2. Math 3. Science 4. PE/Health 5. Economics/Elective 6. Elective * 7. Elective *World Language Western Civ./AP Euro.

Driver’s Education 10

Junior Year 1. English 2. Math 3. Science 4. US History 5. PE/PE 6. CAP/Elective 7. Elective ** **World Language Senior Year 1. English 2. Government/Elective 3. Math (Elective) 4. Science (Elective) 5. World Language or Area Studies 6. PE/PE 7. Elective 11

     November 3rd Curriculum Guide Available

November 24 th

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– 25 th

Pre-Course Selection Meetings A PowerPoint will be available on the website.

December - Teacher Recommendations  Students/parents will have an opportunity to change a level recommendation.

December 1 st

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– 12 th

Course Selection Appointments Students should have a completed registration form with alternative classes and a parent’s signature.

April - Course verifications letters are mailed home  Only changes due to errors will be made.

 Health is offered in summer school.

 Fine Arts Survey is generally offered in the summer and we offer a proficiency exam twice a year.

 Encourage a rigorous academic schedule but one that allows for extracurricular involvement.

 Taking a study hall can be a good option.

 Suggest an elective course outside of  your student’s interest. Check college World Language requirements.

 Web-based college research and planning tool for students, parents, and school counselors.

 The site manages individual students through the entire college planning, application and decision process.

 Students can search and explore careers, take interest inventories, manage course planning and search for college and scholarships.

 Account Information:  Students – October  Parents – November 14

Students can search descriptions of classes offered at RB and add them to their interesting courses to take in the future. Students will enter their 4-year course plan while meeting with their counselors during registration appointments in January. 15

Students can view matching occupations based on their results. They can then research majors related to that career and receive a list of colleges that offer that major. 16

 Take a rigorous high school curriculum.

 Get the best grades possible. (Colleges look at freshman year more than senior year.)  Take advantage of test prep for the ACT/SAT.

 Get involved – extra curricular activities  Volunteer – Keep track of service hours.

 Balance – Use free time to read and explore.

 Colleges want interesting people who are prepared for college and will work hard. 20

 Sophomores and Parents  Tuesday, October 14 th – 7pm to 8pm  Freshmen and Parents  Tuesday, November 11 th – 7pm to 8pm  Juniors and Parents  Tuesday, March 10 th – 7pm to 8pm 21

     All Juniors have had access to take CAP – (College Admissions Prep)    4 rotations (English, Reading, Math & Science) Semester-long, Year-long 0r before or after school Scores usually improve between 2-3 points Explore  January - 8 th Grade Placement Exam PLAN  March – Freshman Year PSAT  October - Sophomore and/or Junior Year (not mandatory) ACT  Spring – Sophomore Year (Practice)   November– Junior Year (Practice) March – Junior Year (Provided by the state) 22

   Parents tend to visit school less as their children get older, but parents are needed even more.

Attend…      Meetings Sporting Events Fine Arts Events Open Houses Guest Speaker Events   Parent/Teacher Conferences Student Services College Programming Events Subscribe to the daily bulletin and mention events in your conversations with your children.

Organization is the foundation of academic success and we recommend that you assist your child with …   Backpack/book bag organization Locker use  Intervene when necessary  Daily checking of planner  Skyward, understand the system  Homework routine  When  Where  Praise the positive 24

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Electronics need sleep too!

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Texting

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I-pods

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Internet

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Social media

 Listen more and talk less.

 Share something from your day.

 Have daily schedule “face” time.

 Create security and reassurance.

 Post a family calendar.

 Celebrate all that is good.

 Know who they are; they reflect your child’s view of him/herself.

 Ask for a friend’s cell number that you can call in case of an emergency.

 Show a genuine interest in their friends.

 Be careful not to prematurely criticize peers 27

 Accept that while you cannot control their every choice, they will benefit from hearing your clear expectations.

 We are here to assist you if you have concerns about your child’s well-being. We can help with referrals to community services.

Here are several reliable resources to consider when talking with your teen about decisions regarding:  Sexuality and relationships.

 http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/teenage-health/10-tips-for-talking-to-teens-about sex.htm#page=  http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/talk-your-teen-son-about-sex  http://www.sheknows.com/love-and-sex/articles/806908/expert-tips-for-talking-to-your-daughter-about-sex  Substance abuse  http://medicineabuseproject.org/assets/documents/parent_talk_kit.pdf

 http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-parents-need-to-know/talking-to-your-kids communicating-risks  http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Intervention_Guide.pdf