How to Survive the Ninth Grade In 16 easy steps!

Keys to Success  Stay Involved in the school  Stay Involved in your child’s life  Always be proactive

Stay Involved in the School  School Fusion Each teacher has a school fusion site Parents must register  PTSO  Website Wealth of information Everything we do is on the website

Stay Involved with your student!  Education Front  Personal

Education Front  Everything Counts Building a college resume Stress involvement Become well rounded  Study Habits Monitor study habits Help kids study Read the same book

Education Front  Get to know your child’s schedule, classes and teachers  Use our website and school fusion sites  Put on your personal calendar the report card dates  Ask specific questions Get specific answers

Personal Front  Ninth grade is a tough year  Touch base time Family dinner Drive time Make time

Personal Front  Encourage your child to try new things (clubs, sports, drama, music, etc.)  Allow them to quit, but encourage them to try something else  Get to know your child’s friends and their parents

Personal Front  Be vigilant about computer and cell phone use. Sexual predators Cyber bullying Sexting  Facebook and MySpace

What may happen in ninth grade?  Interests change – friends change  Good grades become harder to earn  Students blossom

Look For Danger Signs  Grade slippage  Change in eating and sleeping habits  Withdraw  Friend changes  Behavior changes  “I don’t care” attitude

Be Proactive  Talk to your child  Contact counseling  Contact teachers using  Use our teacher tutors  Seek outside tutoring  Don’t wait  Don’t assume – “not my child”

Our Website   Mr. Mark Smith – Assistant Principal

School Fusion  First School to use school fusion  Starting our fifth year  Cheri Hodge – Technology Resource Teacher

Thank You!  Four years will go by very quickly! 