Youth Empowerment Seminar

1. Youth Empowerment Seminar Michael Johnson Assistant Principal South Cobb High School

2. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • What are some of the problems that students encounter while in high school • 8th Graders • Peer Pressure • Lack of Support (Parents, role models) • Weak academic skills (Reading, Math) • Lack of school support (tutoring, enrichment)

3. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • How Can You Turn This Around? • Ask for assistance, especially if you already know that you are weak academically • Look in the school for resources (media center hours before and after school, study groups, extra curricular activities) • Choose friends who have high standards and goals • Where do you find such friends? In clubs, in the media center, in front of the class, at the teachers’ door before class

4. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • Parent Roles for Middle School Students: • Get involved in your school, become a class parent, visit unannounced, volunteer and supervise with activities • Meet the Principal and Assistant Principals/attendance clerk, Guidance Counselor, and school secretary • Purchase and keep an accurate academic calendar ( mark all important meetings, holidays, breaks, etc.)

5. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • Ask about tutoring, extra credit, ask for a syllabus, use the internet system to track your child’s progress and attendance • Keep all records, including health records and report cards in a file or strongbox • Attend all open houses, know the PTA/PTSA president, exchange contact with other volunteer parents (email?) • Meet the Principal and Assistant Principals/attendance clerk, Guidance Counselor, and school secretary

6. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • Parent Roles – Middle School Student • Set Study hours – no excuses • Check for homework, make sure it is accurate and turned in the next day (keep a copy) • Schedule a conference at the first reporting period – Make Time for this – IT IS CRITICAL • Students and parents must continually follow up – do not accept more than 48 hours without a response from a request for information!!

7. Student Responsibilities – 8th Grade Must Do’s: • Establish a study time each day • Get organized and keep up with your assignments • Get and use a planner and calendar (enter quiz and test dates) • Keep up with the school website information • Talk with your parent(s) about your day, assignments and other items coming up. Tell your parents well in advance when you need money for school issues/events

8. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • Questions?

9. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR High School Mistakes to Avoid • Assuming you know something/listening to your friends who assume too • Choosing the wrong classes-taking a class that you have already passed, taking no rigorous courses • Waiting until you are failing before you ask for help • Studying only when it’s test time

10. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR Things To Do • Explore the web for great sites for help such as ACTstudent.org, collegeboard.com (for the SAT), gacollege411.org • Learn to read and write very well • Practice studying in more than one way (listening, hands on, reading, memorizing) • Take Good Notes – go over these at night • Study daily – it’s like putting money in the bank

11. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR Tips for parents of high school students • Always meet the principal and all teaches at each semester, and especially when report cards are issued • Attend all parent meetings, events (open house), read all parent information issued and fully understand all school policies • Stay in touch with those in touch with your child -phone, email, school/district websites- submit any changes in address, phone, etc. ASAP

12. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR • How to get the most scholarships • Know your child’s grade point average (GPA) at all times • Make sure that your child takes the following examinations : ACT/SAT/ASVAB/PSAT/Advanced Placement

13. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR