1. Welcome to Sophomore Parent Night 2018

2. Breakout Groups Auditorium A- B Williams Room 209 C- Duffy Gregorowicz
Room Duggan – Harden Keaney
Room Harrigan- Melanson Meunier/Pindara
Library Melchionda- Rosh Kennedy
Room Rotstein-Z Hagopian

3. The Role of the Guidance Department

4. Social/ Emotional Counseling Academic Advising
IEP mtgs
Student Support Team meetings
Complete college admissions planning
Research alternatives
Explore career options
Monitor academic performance
Course selection
Graduation requirements
Provide short term counseling
Assist with referrals
Collaborate with outside professionals
Hospital re-entry
Social/ Emotional Counseling
Academic Advising
Collaborate Parents, teachers administration
College and Career Planning

5. Freshman Year Developmental Guidance Model Sophomore Year Senior Year
Transitioning to High School
Getting to know Guidance
Getting Involved in activities
Exploring Interests
Goal Setting and Reflection
Sophomore Year
Focus on future academic goals
Exploring careers
Career Interest Inventory
Planning for Junior and Senior Year
Junior Year
Begin Post High School Planning
Research colleges and discuss admissions requirements
Senior Year
How to apply to college and research alternatives to colleges
Alumni Panel
Developmental Guidance Model

6. Pressures of High School
High school years are increasingly more stressful and challenging than in previous years
Higher expectations for academics, social pressures, extra curricular activities
Social media – helpful/ harmful
Pressures to succeed can impact a teenagers mental health
Pressures of High School

7. How to help your sophomore
Encourage child to…..
Challenge themselves while maintaining a balanced schedule
Further explore interests, quality vs quantity
Self advocate and take responsibility
Explore Naviance
Research Summer Opportunities
How to help your sophomore

8. Graduation Requirements
English semesters
Math semesters
Science semesters
History semesters
Foreign Language semesters
Fine Art semesters
Business and Technology 2 semesters
Wellness semesters
Intro to Health semester
Jr. Health semester
MCAS
90 Credits

9. Transcript

10. Sophomore Year

11. Keep graduation and college admissions requirements in mind when selecting courses for junior and senior year
Think about a two year plan
Counselors will meet with students to talk about options
Take the advice of the teachers
Choose a challenging yet balanced schedule
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 24 credits a year
Parent responsibility: log on to the portal to sign off on course recommendations Feb 8-12th.
Goal: In order to balance classes for next year, students will receive a list of confirmed classes enrolled in by end of the school year. No elective/level changes after this time.
Course Selection

12. Encourage student to speak directly to teacher and attend after school help with teachers
Contact teacher to discuss concerns
Contact guidance counselor after talking with teacher
Wednesday Flex block
Academic Issues

13. Standardized Tests PSAT: Sophomore and Junior Year
SAT: Spring Junior Year and Fall Senior Year
SAT II: End of freshman and sophomore year for high level science students, end of junior and beginning of senior year for all other subjects.
ACT: Spring Junior Year and/or Fall Senior Year
SAT Prep Options
Standardized Tests

14. Naviance
Assists students and parents in helping make decisions about colleges and careers.
Naviance is a Web-based program designed for students and parents.
Provides admission statistics from RMHS students
Counselors can update students and parents about up-coming meetings, news, events, and other Web resources for college and career information.
Explore career profiles by different methods of sorting such as by career clusters, by interest, by personality type
Provides you with career information such as education requirements, specific job responsibilities, average salaries, and jobs within each career field.
Allows you to take a personality test and career interest profiler to help you find a career that matches your interests.

15. What Next? Junior Year October: PSAT’s, sign up in guidance office
October: College Fair
January/February: Junior Dev Guidance classes, Junior Parent Night
February – May: Individual Guidance meetings
March, May, June: SAT’s and ACT’s
Summer: College visits, draft essay, start applications

16. What Next?
Senior Year
September: Senior Parent Night and Financial Aid Night
October/November: Retake SAT’s/ACT’s
October-February: applications deadlines
December: early application decisions
Spring: regular admission decisions
June: Graduation!

17. Stay Connected