1. Tips for Surviving Freshman Year
High School 101
Tips for Surviving Freshman Year

2. Purpose
Provide information so that parents can best support their child as they transition from middle school to high school.
Survive!

3. Housekeeping Bathrooms Water, stickers, Cienega T-shirts Snacks
Agenda for the Day
Athletics Session

4. Who is going to take care of my student?
The Freshman Academy Team:
Dean Nourse- AP of the Freshman Academy
Giannie Wanaka- Freshman Academy Secretary
Pat Nugent- Freshman Interventions
Counselors
Teachers

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

6. Who are you and what have you done with my sweet child?
Social changes… who do I fit in with?
Personal changes… who am I and how do I feel about _____?
Academic changes… what kind of student am I?
Physical changes… what is happening and how do I feel about it?

7. 14/15 year olds simply can’t do it alone.
It is very possible that your child will be a very different student next year.
Although your kiddo seems more independent, they may need you now more than ever.
We are a team!
They don’t know this… they don’t like this… but it’s true 

8. The Freshman Academy The bridge between middle school and high school.
School within a school.
More interventions for success.
We are a work in progress, refining our vision… always 

9. The Freshman Academy – Link Crew
Transitional program.
Junior and senior mentors.
Help freshmen feel comfortable and apart of the school culture.  
Orientation, monthly contacts, social events.
Freshman Fiesta, Freshman Tailgate, Halloween, Turkey Trot, Coco-N-Cram

10. The Freshman Academy – Assemblies, Recognitions, & Activities

11. The Freshman Academy – Acadmic Reward Program

12. The Freshman Academy – Responsibility Teaching Classroom
Teachers may send a student to the 300 office for disrupting class.
Student will answer self-reflecting questions.
Return to class.
Teacher will talk to the student.
Student fully participates in class.

13. 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.
Planners, Calendars, Alerts

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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 1st Quarter.
Lunch extended the first few days.
After the first week, no lines inside the cafeteria for the last minutes of the lunch period.

19. 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
Talk about tech help.

20. Common Misunderstandings - Teachers
“My teacher doesn’t like me.”
Content Specialists vs Kid Specialists.
Contact teacher first.
Contact counselor.
Contact me.
We don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “How can I get Johnny in trouble today.”
Student do not like a stern tone or to be redirected.

21. 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
Student should talk to their teacher. Chronic tardies are a problem.

22. Communication Cat-Chat Letter from Principal Facebook Schoology
Daily Announcements
Schoology
Phone Calls

23. 1st Day of School
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Busses
Lunch
School Supplies

24. Questions

25. Thank you for trusting us with your kids!