High School 101

How to Make the Most of Your Time at Olympia High School

Who are the Counselors?

Danise Ackelson A-C Amanda Hall D-Hi Kim Reykdal Hj-Ma

Who are the Counselors?

Dave Forrester Mb-R Brian Wentz S-Z

What your Counselor can do for You!

• Academic advising and graduation planning • Career planning (what do you want to be when you grow up?) • Personal counseling • Post-high school options: exploration and help with planning & getting enrolled Come to the Counseling Center to make an appointment.

More people in the Counseling Center

Ms. Cathy Williams - Career Center Ms. Vicki Ames - Registrar Ms. Patty West - Counseling Secretary

How do I meet with the Career Specialist?

• Mrs. Williams is available in the Career Center Monday-Thursday.

– Feel free to come in to the Career Center if you just have a question or to make an appointment to talk with Mrs. Williams.

• Mrs. Dale is available in the Career Center on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

What are the minimum graduation requirements?

• All students must earn 22 credits, or pass 44 semester classes.

– 3 years of English – 2 years of Math (Starting with Algebra 1; Pre Algebra does not count) – 3 years of Social Studies + WA state history if not taken in MS – 2 years of Science – 1 year of Occupational Education – 2 years of Health and Fitness • .5 Health + 1.5 Fitness/PE – 1 year of Fine Arts • All students must also meet standard on Reading, Writing, & Math on the state assessment and successfully complete a Culminating Project and the High School & Beyond plan in Homeroom.

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High School & Beyond Plan

• Completion of the folder is a graduation requirement and is done in Homeroom. – Lessons include annual goals, grade and credit checks, learning styles, and a career interest inventory – Student Led Conferences will take place in April with your Homeroom Teacher (1 • Go over grades and credits st period) • Share folder documents from this year – Annual goals, learning style, career interests • Talk about class selection for next year • Can include sample works, awards, attendance and any other documents that illustrate your progress - A resume and cover letter will be taught in OHS occupational education classes

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Culminating Project

• A final research based project completed during your senior (or junior) year.

– Can be done as part of a class or as an independent study with a teacher.

Post High School Options

• Go directly into the workforce after graduation (on-the-job training) • Military (enlist, ROTC, Academy) • Apprenticeships (work while learning a trade) • Specialty/Technical College (2-year college program in a specific trade/career area) • Community College (Get an AA degree and go to work or transfer to a university) [38%OHS] • 4-year College (Bachelor’s degree or more) [57%OHS]

FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

NEW College Distribution Requirements (CADR) are for Class of 2012 and beyond 4 English 3 Math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 are minimums) Math during senior year in a quantitative course such as statistics, applied math or appropriate career and technical course; Seniors must take a meaningful math their senior year 2 Science Laboratory science including one credit of Algebra-based Biology, Chemistry or Physics (most colleges want Chemistry or Physics) 3 Social Studies 2 World Languages 1 Fine, Visual, or Performing Art Students must take a minimum of three credits of CADR (core) courses each year of high school, including the senior year.

2-Year College Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required for entrance into any of the 34 Washington State Community Colleges.

Students need to take more than the minimum credits in math, science and English to be “college ready”.

Remedial college classes cost money, high school is free!

Even a little education can make a big difference

• Fast food clerk: HS diploma or GED, on the job training, makes $7.51/hr or $15,590/ yr.

• Chef: HS diploma, 2-4 years in culinary program, makes $15.38/hr or $32,040/yr.

– The chef will make more than twice as much money with a little bit of training.

Skilled jobs and Education/Training

• Home Health Care Aide: HS diploma, 3-6 months training, makes $9-12/hr. or $28,000/yr.

• Liscensed Practical Nurse or Specialist: HS diploma, training and on-the-job training, makes $ 16-25/hr. or $35,000/yr.

• Registered Nurse/Dietician : Bachelor’s degree w/internship, makes $25-35/hr. or $50,000/yr.

• Physician: Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree/Medical Doctor, makes well over $150,000/yr.

The Power of Education

from CC, makes about $13.42/hr or • Dental Hygienist: Needs at least 2 years of training from a CC, makes $27.27/hr or level DDS in dentistry, makes $64.11/hr or

Industries With the Most New Jobs for Your Future

• Health Services, Nursing & Hospitals • Eating and Drinking Places • Social Services • Computer and Data Services • Special Trade Contractors • Federal Government

Jobs with Limited Preparation

• Food preparation and food service; concession workers • Cashiers; stock clerks • Retail salespersons • Waiters and waitresses • Child care workers • Office clerks • Maids and housekeepers • Laborers and movers • Janitors • Teacher assistants

Jobs with Short Preparation ( One/two years of schooling) • Farming, fishing and forestry workers • Sales representatives • Secretaries • Truck drivers and bus drivers • Customer service representatives • Painters, construction and maintenance • Medical assistants • Dental assistants

Jobs with Middle-Level Preparation (Two or more years of schooling or college) • Registered Nurses • Carpenters • Supervisors • Hairstylists • Automotive service technicians and mechanics • Chefs • Medical secretaries • Real estate sales agents

Jobs with Long Preparation

(Four or more years of college) • Teachers • Business operations specialists • Accountants and auditors • Insurance sales agents • Physician and surgeons • Computer programmers • Education administrators • Securities and financial service sales agents • Computer software engineers

Making the Most of your Time in High School

• Your freshmen year matters! • High School is the foundation for your future career . . . typically, the more you learn, the more you can earn.

• Explore your options (take AP/Honors, music/drama/art, & vocational electives).

• Keep as many doors open as possible.

– Plan for your future and be purposeful!

– Maintain rigor through all 4 years.

Freshmen Survival Skills 101

• Now that I know what I need to do to prepare for my future, how do I increase my chances of success?

• Let us share our top ten tips for making the most of your freshmen year.

#1 Respect yourself and others

• Always give your best effort.

• Be honest and trustworthy.

• Be tolerant of others.

• Be kind.

#2 Choose your attitude

• You can decide how you want your day to go. • Be positive!

• More energy is wasted on being angry or critical.

#3 Develop decision making skills

• How can I solve my problem?

• What is the best solution? Look at all your options.

• Choose an approach/strategy and work through it.

#4 Be resilient

• The world can be a hard place. • Keep trying even if you fail.

– You’ll never make any of the “shots” you don’t take.

• Get up when you get knocked down.

#5 Learn to Communicate

• Ask for help when needed (friend, family, teacher, counselor, etc.).

• Avoid the “drama” with your classmates.

– Check with the source rather than just believing the rumor!

• Be bold - tell people what you need.

#6 Choose your friends wisely

• Are your friendships healthy?

• Do your friends support you in positive ways?

• Do you have the same goals, values, and ethics?

• Avoid peer pressure that encourages you to do things that you don’t believe are right or good for you.

#7 Develop good work ethic

• Complete assignments on time.

• Study for tests.

• Work with your friends when you can.

• Plan ahead to keep up with workload.

• Do your best.

#8 Attend School

• Be present in both body and mind.

• Remember that’s it can feel overwhelming to get caught up after you’re gone. • Check the website for work you’re missing while you’re gone.

• See your teachers as soon as you get back from an absence to turn in the work you missed.

#9 Take advantage of opportunities

• Get involved, be a part of something.

• Run for class officer positions.

• Join a Club or Athletic Team.

• Volunteer – In the community, through KEY Club or National Honor Society, or help with class projects.

These are all great ways to meet people!

#10 Get organized

• Learn how to manage your time.

• Learn how to prioritize tasks.

• Do the hard stuff first and save the easy stuff for later.

• Being organized equals less stress in the end and you get more done.

ADVICE FOR HIGH

important.

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SCHOOL

• Take most rigorous courses YOU can.

• Select course programs with YOUR interests. • Maintain highest grades possible. GPA is • Get involved in athletics or activities.

• Devote some time to meaningful community • Develop clear goals for future.

your Ask for help. Make an appointment to talk with counselor sometime this year.

Letter to your Counselor

• We want to get to know you! Write us a letter that includes the following: – What do you want us to know about you? Please include your dreams/goals.

– What are the main differences that you’ve experienced so far between middle school and high school? How have you handled them?

– What other helpful information do you wish you were told about high school before you got to Olympia?

Yes, we really do read these! Please answer all 3 questions. Thank you!

Thank you for your time and attention!

• Come by and see your counselor if you have questions or want help with your 4-year planning of your credits for graduation and for college/career readiness and planning!

We’re here to help you!