Lee’s Summit High School Increasing Your Student’s Success in High School October 14, 2014

 Make contact with the guidance counselor early  Attend Back to School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences  Consider working with the Parent-Teacher-Student- Association (PTSA)  Show an interest in your child’s work and extracurricular activities  Help your child stay in touch with old friends and reach out to meet new people  Help your child manage the stress and pressure that comes with being a high school student

 Get Organized:  Encourage your child to use a file/folder or notebook system  Expect your child to use the planner  Help your child manage his/her time by assisting with establishing priorities and making choices  Help develop homework skills such as tackling tough assignments first, breaking large assignments down, and setting goals

 Fostering Academic Independence:  Introduce yourself to each teacher and exchange contact information  Check grades in PowerSchool on a regular basis and have your child do the same  Encourage your child to contact teachers of courses he/she is struggling with  Help your child find resources for assistance, but allow him/her to make the arrangements

ASSISTING WITH YOUR CHILD’S ACADEMIC NEEDS  If your child is struggling academically:  Make contact with the teacher, and then follow up with the guidance counselor if necessary  Monitor PowerSchool more frequently  Seek tutoring opportunities  Follow through with additional advice provided by the guidance counselor

Your Teen’s Social Life

YOUR TEEN STILL NEEDS YOU  Eat Dinner Together Regularly  Importance of Family Time  Spend Time with Your Teen  Common Interests  Lend a Listening Ear  Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak

YOUR TEEN HAS A SOCIAL LIFE  Respect Privacy  As they start to grow more independent  Encourage Independence and Responsibility  Establish necessary boundaries and limitations  Know Their Friends  Names, phone #s, addresses, reputation  Encourage Your Teen to Get Involved  Sports, music, clubs, activities

YOUR TEEN IS STILL GROWING  Healthy Diet  Model healthy eating habits and provide healthy food choices at home  Healthy Amount of Sleep  Experts recommend still 9 hours  Try to get as close to this as possible  Healthy Active Lifestyle  Exercise  Have frequent conversations about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and smoking

YOUR TEEN LOVES SOCIAL MEDIA  Be cognizant of their media accounts  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Ask.fm  Have Frequent talks about what is appropriate  Decide how closely you will monitor their sites  Limit Television and Gaming Time  No more than hours a week

WHEN IT ALL BECOMES TOO MUCH...  Steps for managing extra stress for your child:  Be more available when your child is stressed. Simplify family life in order to focus on your child’s needs  Avoid setting expectations that are too high  Seek assistance from another adult your child connects with - teachers, mentors, counselors, or relatives

WARNING SIGNS  Seek help if you notice these symptoms and they persist for your child:  Poor attendance  Marked weight loss or weight gain  Prolonged sadness or depression  A marked change in typical behavior  Stomach pains or frequent/severe headaches