High School 101 Tips for Surviving Freshman Year
Purpose
l Provide information so that parents can best support their child as they transition from middle school to high school.
l Survive!
Housekeeping
l Bathrooms l Cienega T-shirts sold by Student
Council l Snacks l Food Trucks l Agenda for the Day l Athletics Session
Who is going to take care of my student? l The Freshman Academy Team:
• Dean Nourse- AP of the Freshman Academy
• Giannie Wanaka- Freshman Academy Secretary
• Pat Nugent- Freshman Interventions • Counselors • Teachers
Who are you and what have you done with my sweet child?
Who are you and what have you done with my sweet child? l Social changes… who do I fit in with?
l Personal changes… who am I and how do I feel about _____?
l Academic changes… what kind of student am I?
l Physical changes… what is happening and how do I feel about it?
14/15 year olds simply can’t do it alone. l It is very possible that your child will be a
very different student next year.
l Although your kiddo seems more independent, they may need you now more than ever.
l We are a team!
The Freshman Academy
l The bridge between middle school and high school.
l School within a school.
l More interventions for success.
l We are a work in progress, refining our vision… always J
The Freshman Academy – Link Crew l Transitional program. l Junior and senior mentors. l Help freshmen feel comfortable and
apart of the school culture. l Orientation, monthly contacts, social
events. – Freshman Fiesta, Freshman Tailgate,
Halloween, Turkey Trot, Coco-N-Cram
The Freshman Academy – Responsibility Teaching Classroom l Responsibility Teaching Classroom. l Teachers may send a student to the
300 office for disrupting class. l Student will answer self-reflecting
questions. l Return to class. l Teacher will talk to the student. l Student fully participates in class.
The Freshman Academy – Assemblies, Recognitions, & Activities
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5% GRADE INCREASE ONQUIZ OR TEST
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3 ENTRIES INTO A DRAWING
5 MINUTES EARLY TO LUNCH
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DURING PAWS
5% GRADE INCREASE ONQUIZ OR TEST
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Q2
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the first 3 weeks. • Lunch extended the first few days. • After the first week, no lines inside the
cafeteria for the last 10-15 minutes of the lunch period.
Common Misunderstandings - Teachers “My teacher doesn’t like me.” • Content Specialists vs Kid Specialists.
• Contact teacher first. • Contact counselor. • Contact me.
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
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
Communication
l Bobcat Buzz l Letter from Principal l Facebook
• Daily Announcements l Schoology l Phone Calls l Email
1st Day of School
l Drop-Off & Pick-Up
l School Supplies l Busses
l Lunch
Questions
Thank you for trusting us with your kids!