High School 101 Tips for Surviving Freshman Year

Purpose

l Provide information so that parents can best support their child as they transition from middle school to high school.

l Survive!

Housekeeping

l Bathrooms l Cienega T-shirts sold by Student

Council l Snacks l Food Trucks l Agenda for the Day l Athletics Session

Who is going to take care of my student? l The Freshman Academy Team:

•  Dean Nourse- AP of the Freshman Academy

•  Giannie Wanaka- Freshman Academy Secretary

•  Pat Nugent- Freshman Interventions •  Counselors •  Teachers

Who are you and what have you done with my sweet child?

Who are you and what have you done with my sweet child? l  Social changes… who do I fit in with?

l  Personal changes… who am I and how do I feel about _____?

l  Academic changes… what kind of student am I?

l  Physical changes… what is happening and how do I feel about it?

14/15 year olds simply can’t do it alone. l  It is very possible that your child will be a

very different student next year.

l  Although your kiddo seems more independent, they may need you now more than ever.

l  We are a team!

The Freshman Academy

l The bridge between middle school and high school.

l School within a school.

l More interventions for success.

l We are a work in progress, refining our vision… always J

The Freshman Academy – Link Crew l Transitional program. l Junior and senior mentors. l Help freshmen feel comfortable and

apart of the school culture. l Orientation, monthly contacts, social

events. –  Freshman Fiesta, Freshman Tailgate,

Halloween, Turkey Trot, Coco-N-Cram

The Freshman Academy – Responsibility Teaching Classroom l Responsibility Teaching Classroom. l Teachers may send a student to the

300 office for disrupting class. l Student will answer self-reflecting

questions. l Return to class. l Teacher will talk to the student. l Student fully participates in class.

The Freshman Academy – Assemblies, Recognitions, & Activities

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Common Misunderstandings - Homework “I can wait until the last minute and get all of my homework done in one night.”

Or “I don’t have any homework tonight.” •  Students need to plan ahead for projects

and larger homework assignments. •  Expect up to 2 hours of homework per night.

Time management is key.

Common Misunderstandings – Late Work “I’m allowed to turn in all of my work at the end of the quarter and still pass.” •  Teachers have late policies for work. It is a

student’s responsibility to get his/her work in on time. It may be accepted late, but it will not be accepted at full credit.

•  Students who are absent (excused) will have one day for every day out to make up work.

Common Misunderstandings – Semester vs Quarter Grading “Don’t worry about my 1st quarter grade. I’ll get a clean slate after the break and then I’ll be ok.” •  It is very hard to climb out of a deep

hole. There can be up to 1000 points in a class for the semester.

Common Misunderstandings – It Counts Now “My freshman grades are not important – colleges really care about senior year and how I finish.” •  Their permanent record starts now! Their

future (college choice, scholarships, etc.) depend on the choices they make as 14 and 15 year olds.

Common Misunderstandings – Discipline “I didn’t realize how fast I could earn so many discipline points.” •  Every infraction is assigned a point value.

Students may be suspended after they accumulate 6 points.

Common Misunderstandings - Lunch “The lines are too long and I don’t have enough time to eat lunch.” •  Freshman let out 5 min early everyday

for the first 3 weeks. •  Lunch extended the first few days. •  After the first week, no lines inside the

cafeteria for the last 10-15 minutes of the lunch period.

Common Misunderstandings - Teachers “My teacher doesn’t like me.” •  Content Specialists vs Kid Specialists.

•  Contact teacher first. •  Contact counselor. •  Contact me.

Common Misunderstanding – Extra Help “No one will help me” •  Reteach •  After-school English & math tutoring •  Teachers

•  PAWS, before school, lunch, after school •  Counselors •  Security Monitors •  Assistant Principal

Common Misunderstandings – Passing Time “There is never enough time to get to class on time or go to the bathroom.” •  5 minute passing periods •  3 tardies = detention •  6 tardies = one day of in-school

suspension

Communication

l Bobcat Buzz l Letter from Principal l Facebook

•  Daily Announcements l Schoology l Phone Calls l Email

1st Day of School

l Drop-Off & Pick-Up

l School Supplies l Busses

l Lunch

Questions

Thank you for trusting us with your kids!