The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year. Please contact your school counselor if you have any questions.
The grades your child receives in 9th grade will be reported on their high school transcript.
Last Half of Middle School
- Encourage your child to meet with the school counselor to talk about career options and appropriate course work.
- Encourage your child to actively listen and participate in the school scheduling/course selection workshop.
- Attend the scheduling fair with your child to learn more about the courses offered at the high school.
- Talk to your child about the classes they choose. Make sure to sign off on their course selection sheet.
- Help your child explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations.
- Attend the Freshman Orientation in August.
Fall
- If your child begins an elective class and determines that it is not a good fit, they must meet with their school counselor within the first two weeks of school.
- Encourage your child to meet with the school counselor during the first quarter. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about post secondary options. Learn more about the high school counselor's role.
- Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
- Make a plan to check PowerSchool regularly.
- If you do not know your PowerSchool logon, call your child's school counselor.
- Keeping up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, allows you to celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
- Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Post secondary schools often encourage active involvement in extracurricular activities. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.
Winter
- Start thinking about post secondary funding options. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover costs. Start by reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid.
- Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.
- Encourage your child to talk with their school counselor about their career path to determine the most beneficial classes to take.
Spring
- Some 10th grade classes allow students to earn college credits for a small fee while doing the regular classwork. Please visit this link for a list of eligible classes and costs associated. Contact your school counselor if you have additional questions.
- Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
- See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
- Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.
- Encourage your child to discuss possible summer camps with their school counselor and visit our website for summer camps.