Grade 9 (in progress)

 

For freshmen, the guidance curriculum is focused on “transition”.  Moving from a middle to high school learning environment is a massive change for many students and requires a big adjustment in student responsibilities/learning expectations.  As such, the Guidance Dept. is primarily focused on providing incoming students with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively navigate through their often confusing and challenging 1st year in high school and meet with high levels of both academic and personal success.

Even prior to the start of their freshmen year, the School Counseling Dept. is also involved in the Freshmen Orientation Program, which occurs during the summer prior.  In addition to taking tours, meeting administration & connecting to important online resources, counselors also present to students on a range of important topics such as self-management, academic skills, and the importance of school involvement through a PowerPoint presentation entitled Pathway to Success. 

In addition to a school-wide assembly for freshmen at the beginning of the school year, the Guidance Dept. traditionally begins meeting with freshmen individually from mid-November until the end of January.  During these meetings, counselors:

1.   ask students a series of questions designed to get to know them better

2. review graduation requirements

3. provide information on extracurricular activities

4. try to address any academic or personal concerns students

may have encountered during their first few months.

In addition to individual meetings, freshmen also meet with their school counselors at a variety of other points throughout the school year.  One of these times is after taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT's 8/9) Grade 8/9, newly introduced to freshmen during the 2018-2019 school year.  Counselors come into classes to distribute & explain student score reports, as well as to help student connect to important SAT practice resources like Khan Academy.  This information is contained in a PSAT Information Sheet.

Below is an overview of the 9th Grade Developmental Guidance Curriculum as it relates to each of the three core counselor realms:

ACADEMIC

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

POST-SECONDARY

Warning letters for failing students

PSAT Review/College Board linking session

Attend to the personal/emotional needs of all students including issues with other students, challenges in the classroom, and concerns at home

Learning Styles Inventory

PSAT Review/College Board linking session

Learning Styles Inventory