Welcome to Sophomore Parent Night Class of 2014 March 12, 2012

Maryann Grimaldi- Department Head Peter Ettlinger- Counselor Larry Leone- Counselor Kaitlin Sullivan-Freimuth- Counselor Christine Smith- Counseling Secretary Gina Voytek- Counseling Secretary School Counseling Department

Topics  PSAT  SAT / ACT  CAPT  Naviance  Career Expo  College Fair  Course Scheduling  Getting Involved  Community Service  Working Papers  Getting Connected  Important Websites  Staying Connected

PSAT Administered to all 10 th grade students on October 12, The next test will be on October 10, 2012 where 11 th grade students can qualify for National Merit Scholarship. Valuable, free practice for the SAT. Personalized major/college matches. Enhanced on-line score report and SAT prep.

SAT / ACT Ideally students will try both in spring of junior year SAT  Math- Fundamentals through Geometry and some Algebra 2  Reading- Sentence completion and comprehension  Writing- Grammar, usage, word choice, essay  Test Dates  January 26, 2013  March 9, 2013  May 4, 2013  June 1, 2013 ACT  Math- Up to trigonometry  English- Mechanics and rhetoric  Reading- Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science  Science- Charts, graphs, data interpretation  Writing- “Optional” essay (strongly encouraged)  Test Dates  February 9, 2013  April 13, 2013  June 8, 2013

CAPT Connecticut Academic Performance Test – Mathematics, Science, Reading Across the Disciplines and Writing Across the Disciplines – Scores are scaled and fall within five levels – Level 1 - Below Basic – Level 2 - Basic – Level 3 - Proficient – Level 4 - Goal – Level 5 - Advanced – Students must reach level 3 in all areas for graduation

CAPT – Juniors are required to retake the sections that they did not score a 3 or higher on as a sophomore. – Alternate Route – details can be found on page 4 of The Opportunities Book. – Juniors may be encouraged to retake certain sections in order to try and obtain CAPT Scholar status. – HKHS CAPT Scholar: Level 4 or higher in all areas. – HKHS Advanced CAPT Scholar: Level 5 in all areas. – CAPT Scores are mailed out in late summer and arrive at HKHS in the fall.

Naviance Comprehensive online program that fosters college and career readiness Students and parents will each have individual login access. – Personality Type Inventory called “Do What You Are” Used to identify possible career choices that will be explored at the Career Expo held at Wesleyan University in April. – Career Interest Profiler Helpful in exploring interests. – College Matches/Search Engine Easy way to start researching and exploring the college process.

Career Expo Annual event at Wesleyan University, exclusively held for schools who belong to the Middlesex Consortium. April 26, 2012, HKHS will attend from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Presenters represent nearly 100 careers from around the state. – (i.e.) teacher, baker, police, park ranger, accountant, politician, lawyer, engineer, and many more All Sophomores are expected to attend (permission slips have been sent home and are required). Students will select at least three different presenters to meet with based on their interests from Naviance’s “Do What You Are”.

College Fair HKHS 3 rd Annual College Fair April 11, 2012 – 110 presenters 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Students will meet in small groups with their counselor beforehand to identify appropriate schools to visit during the fair. All students will attend during their designated time. Parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Course Scheduling Counselors will meet with each student individually to review schedule and course choices, as they move towards graduation requirements and establish future plans. Sophomores are scheduled second, after the current juniors. More opportunities for electives. Schedules must include:  English, Math, History, Science Schedules should include:  World Language and a variety of electives

Getting Involved Now is the time to build your resume! Colleges and employers like to see experiences linked to potential areas of interest. Colleges are looking to see how productively students spend their time outside of the traditional academic setting. Community service and employment can aid in scholarship applications.

Working Papers Students can obtain Working Papers from the Counseling Office -- See Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Voytek. Student must have a “Promise to Employ” letter from their employer. Student must appear in person to obtain Working Papers. All students must complete 30 hours for graduation. In order to obtain any available parking spaces, Juniors must have documented 20 hours of community service, and Seniors must have documented the full 30 hours. Community Service

Getting Connected Athletics - annual physical required Field Hockey Swimming and Diving Volleyball Soccer Football Cheerleading Basketball Indoor & Outdoor Track Cross Country Wrestling Baseball Softball Tennis Golf Lacrosse

Getting Connected Sample of Co-Curricular Activities Computer Club (Technology Student Organization) Cougar Chronicle French Honor Society Gay, Lesbian and Straight Students (GLASS) Geocaching Club HK Players High School Bowl Human Relations Club (HRC) International Cultures Club Math League National Art Honor Society National Honor Society OPTICON Yearbook Peer Advocates Pep Band Reflections Spanish Honor Society Student Council Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

Important Websites HKHS: PSAT: (personalized access codes are found on the PSAT results) SAT: ACT: Naviance: College Navigator:

Staying Connected Communication and collaboration are key for student success! Remember counselors and teachers are only an or phone call away.