To:
From:
Lisa Lemieux
Re:
Brainstorming transition for FA
Date:
Below
is the brainstorming list I developed with the
Helping Freshmen Adjust
TA difference 12 to 9 grade – grade 9 students are not
organized, they don’t understand how the
school functions, keeping track of assignments, they are turned loose and
really have no idea how this building operates.
Begin during middle of grade 8. Time management, calendar, assignments.
Eligibility
standards for sports, cultural differences transition, organization, the
freedom that they have, they need to understand responsibility
Behavioral expectations? Is the expectations different in each of the sending
schools. Is this a sending school issue?
Gross lack of emotional issues. We don’t provide enough support service for
those students. Group counseling with
each team, to identify students in need
Beh. Expectations meeting with all freshman
in the beginning of the school year.
Chris
and Tom will be working on beh. Exp. – Cooperation, Respect, Responsibility
Consistency
is key.
After
school expectations,
which may be built in to the schedule. It will take priority.
Need
a system of some sort, if they are staying after.
Math
department does the afterschool thing well.
All departments should do the same.
Assignments books provided. Student planners.
Linda M. is working on it. You can
customize the first 15 pages, put the school rules on
these pages. Tom will build it into the
budget.
Teachers
need to teach students how to use the assignment book.*Counselors thought the
assignment book should be a priority.
Before the opening of
School/During previous school year
More
detailed background on lower level students – Phil Briere – given to teachers, that impacts on the classroom, contributes to classroom
climate. How do we flag them?
Counselors already get some
info on students, however, we have developed a way to
get more information. They will be able
to share info with teams in the fall.
Examples
of student work. Only see one piece. A wider range of student work.
Current grade 9 going to
speak to grade 8 students to discuss the first year. Academic, social, what would have made it better. Have all levels of students.
Begin school one day later, for grades 10-12-maybe
more. FO first day of
school.
Have former students participate in Step Up Night to discuss their freshman year. Have different levels of students speak to
parents/kids.*****
Counselors felt this was a great idea
Lots
of discussion about beginning early, TA involvement, ropes
course, involve NHS, upper class mentors
Freshman Orientation
Welcome package, hats or t-shirt to write on,
assign. book, pencils, pens, markers,
water bottles
Include
seniors in freshman orientation.
Orientation Committee instead of it being all on me(Lisa). Linda will
help a lot
Counselors
felt we could do a lot better with Orientation.
This is something worth pursuing.
Survey
during eighth grade to find out what their interests are and have clubs
available, extra-curricular
fair.
Hiking
with freshman class – MB Wilhelm, then did an overnight as a senior, same
mountain.
Concerns/Other
Counselors spent a great
deal of time dealing with spec. ed. Issues.
There is a great need for those students to have everything set by the
end of the school year. We will be spending
more time with the middle school CT’s
Social promotion of grade 8
students. Habits come with
students
General
practices at middle school, what do tests look like, grades
Website
– donorschoice.org to
request money, we make an appeal and a donor gives the money. MB Wilhelm
Keep
focus throughout the school year. Sustain
some activities thoughout the year.
Winter Carnival competition between classes.
Town
meeting model. Showcase student
achievement once a month. TA talent show
week.
Freshman
monthly forum – U32 has a program like this
Parent teacher conferences earlier in the semester for
freshman. Both semesters.
Parent
communication for certain students is missing or doesn’t occur. Sharing info with other teachers Info on how to deal with certain parents,
difficult ones.
Alternative
options programs for students. Alternatives programs department is needed. To discuss alternative placement, settings,
APL, mythos,
Counselor Expertise
More info on how to deal
with depression, cutting, - mini workshops provided by School Counselors.
Counselors
can deliver needed info within their teams.
Parenting teens, workshops Parenting
your child through high school. Sneak it
into half time of Harlem Rockets etc.
If there is interest we could pursue this.