Mainland Regional High School Freshman/Sophomore Parent Night October 10, 2013

Excellence is Not an Act, But a Habit Aristotle

Agenda  Overview of MRHS Guidance Department  Making the Most of The High School Experience  MRHS Guidance Program/ Graduation Requirements  College and Career Planning  Support Services and Resources

Role of the Counselor We help ALL students in the areas of:  Academic Achievement  Career Development  Personal/Social Development High school students have very specific developmental needs. Professional school counselors assist in their growth and prepare them for the world of work.

Guidance Department  Supervisor – Nathan Lichtenwalner  Guidance Counselors  Kathleen Heaton (A-COM)  Maureen Wixson (CON-GILL)  Holly Monihan (GILM-LEM)  Joanna Oliver (LEN-N)  Sandra Manos (O-SHOM)  Robert Roesch (SHON-Z)

Support Services  SAC- Student Assistance Counselor  Marisa McDole   Ext  EAT – Extra Academic Time  Mentoring  MRHS Ambassador Program  Contact Mr. Kevin Burns   Ext. 1002

Communication  Key Sources of Communication  MRHS/Guidance Website – Naviance Family Connection  MRHS Guidance Twitter  Teacher Websites  (Naviance)  School Messenger Phone System  Encourage students to be self-advocates/talk to teachers, coaches, counselors  Keep in constant contact with teachers and your counselor

MRHS Website

Making the Most of High School  Empower Your Child  Independence and Responsibility  Self-Advocacy  Find Balance  Prioritize – How much is too much?  Pursue Interests  Get Involved  Service and Leadership  Self-Discovery

MRHS Guidance Program  9 th Grade  Transition to High School  Self-Discovery - Conceptualize the Big Picture  10 th Grade  Career and College Awareness  Self-Discovery – Find Your Passion  11 th Grade  Post-Secondary Planning  “Finding the Right Fit”  12 th Grade  Transitioning out of High School

9 th Grade  9 th Grade Small Group Meetings – Overview/4 Year Plan  Introduction to Naviance – Learning Style Inventory, Game Plan and Explore Career Resources  Individual Meetings – Discuss Academic Progress, Extracurricular Involvement and Future Goals  Scheduling Meetings

10 th Grade  PSAT  PSAT Results in December (Follow-Up Meeting)  Naviance – Career Exploration Resources (Career Interest Profiler, Road Trip Nation Videos)  Begin the College Search  College Planning Night  Guest Speakers / College Admissions Panel  Start Exploring (MRHS Resources)

Some Advice  Encourage Extra-curricular Involvement!! (Quality over Quantity)  Importance of Writing  Support Students in Accepting Constructive Criticism to Get Improve  Encourage Reading  Support Good Habits  Organization  Study (Short Bursts)  Sleep

Some More Advice  Encourage Students to Take Advantage of Summer  Visit a College  Explore and Discuss Career Opportunities

11 th Grade  PSAT / Score Report Meeting  SAT and/or ACT  College Planning/Search Boot Camp  College Planning/Search Presentation  Guest Speakers / College Admissions Panel  College Visits to MRHS / College Fair  Visit Colleges – Find the Right Fit  ASVAB

12 th Grade  College Application Boot Camp  College Application Night  College Visits to MRHS / College Fair  Financial Aid Presentation / FAFSA Workshop  ACCC – Jump Start  ASVAB

Testing Schedule  10 th  PSAT (October)  SAT Subject Tests (Advanced Classes)  11 th  PSAT (October)  Practice SAT (November) / Practice ACT (February)  SAT (January-March) / SAT Subject Tests  ACT (April)  SAT (May-June) / SAT Subject Tests  12 th  SAT (October) / SAT Subject Tests  ACT (Fall)

College and Career Planning  Focus on Developing Good Habits  Work to Improve Reading, Writing and Math Skills  Take Course Selection Seriously  Get and Stay Involved  Begin to Explore / Research College and Career Options  Focus on Finding the Right Fit  It’s About You – Not the College  Start Big and then Narrow (Self-Discovery)  Use MRHS Resources

Graduation Requirements  Total of 120 Credits  Students can take 40 credits/year  Full Year Course – 5 Credits  Semester Course – 2.5 Credits  Health/PE – 4 Years (20 Credits)  English – 4 Years (20 Credits)  Math – 3 Years (15 Credits - Alg. I, Geom., Alg. II)  Science – 3 Years (15 Credits)  Social Studies – 3 Years (15 Credits)

Graduation Requirements  Financial Literacy – 2.5 Credits  Money Management, Economics, Business Classes  Visual and Performing Arts – 5 Credits  Art, Music, Drama Classes  World Languages – 5 Credits  21 st Century Life and Careers - 5 Credits  Technology, Industrial Arts, Family/Consumer Science, Media Classes

College Bound  4 Years of Science  4 Years of Math  3-4 Years of Same World Language  4 Years of Social Studies  4 Years of English (Graduation Requirement)  Electives in Areas of Interest  Rigor of Courses – Honors/AP  How much is too much?

Scheduling  January – April (Program of Studies – Online)  Review Program of Studies and Take Time to Consider/Discuss Options  Importance of Transcript and Course Load  Course Placements  College Prep, Honors, AP  New Opportunities  Dual / Concurrent Enrollment Programs

PowerSchool

Mainland Regional High School NAVIANCE

Welcome to Naviance  Naviance is a web-based resource for students and parents that encourages and supports post high school career and college planning  Family Connection is specific to our school Parents and Students both have separate accounts

How Can I Use It?  Career Planning  Learning Style Inventory, Interest Inventory, Personality Inventory, Resume Building  College Planning  College Search, Application Process, College Major Exploration, Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources  Success Planning  Personalized Goals and Tasks, Journal Entries, Student Planner

Getting Started  Have your personal registration code available for first time login  Go to www. mainlandregional.net  Click on School Resources  Scroll to Parent  Click on Naviance

World of Work Map

Some Final Thoughts  Goal – College and Career Awareness / Readiness  Promote Student Self-Advocacy/Responsibility  Communicate with Teachers and Counselors  Encourage Leadership and Service Experiences (Quality over Quantity)  Enjoy the Journey  Have fun beginning to discuss/explore post-secondary college and career opportunities with your child

Questions?? Thank You!!