South Mecklenburg High School November 13, 2013

1. Helping HandsDay 2 South Mecklenburg High School November 13, 2013

2. WhatDidwelearnyesterday? • Administration? • How to contact counselors and teachers? • Navigating the South Meck Website? • School sports and clubs? • Rules?

3. ParentInvolvement • Parent involvement has been consistently shown to help students succeed in school • Studies show that parents have more influence on a student’s success in school than any other factor

4. Work Shops • Day 1 – About South Meck • Day 2 – Graduation Requirements • Day 3 – Beyond High School

5. Ground Rules • Confidentiality. • Honesty. • Punctuality. • Thisseminarisaboutthe BIG picture. (No personal cases.)

6. What are sometoolsyouneed in ordertoensureyourstudentgraduates?

7. Overview of Tonight’s Session • Understand the role of a counselor. • Registering for Classes. • PowerSchool • Graduation Requirements • Graduation Project • College Planning

8. Have you ever had a parent-teacher conference? A conference with the guidance counselor?

9. Successful parent teacher Conference • Whatisthepurpose of a parent-teacherconference? • What are some of thebarriersthatyouencounter in thistype of meeting? • Whatyou can do: • Bring a wirttenlist of questions. • Mentiontopics of concern. • Take notes. • Tellyourchildtheresults of theconference.

10. Counselor CaseLoads • Counselors • Abbasi – Andreasenand Ch – Gi  Naples • Andrew – AzuaandGl – K  Faccone • Babb – Belk and  L – O  Strickland • Bell – Boukedes and P – SM Preacher • Bounphasayol – ByunandSn – Z  Jurusik • Caballero – Cervantes Gordon       • How to make an appointment: • Call the school at 980.343.3600 OR go to the South Meck Website to contact counselors via email. • Please no drop-ins.

11. Meetings with the Guidance Counselor • Parents, encourage your child to ask for help from their school guidance counselors. • They can help in areas such as personal and social growth, and educational and career planning. • They WANT to help you!!

12. Counselors • The role of a Counselor: • Use resources to guide students towards their educational goals. • Encourage students to achieve their goals. • Help students determine courses of study. • Understand what the student's motivations and skills are. • Understand student's needs and struggles.

13. Counselors • Counselors continued: • What to communicate about: • Academics • Attendance • Discipline • Bullying • Family Emergencies • Health issues • What NOT to communicate about: • Behavior at home (unless it affects other students at school)

14. Counselors • Helpful Questions to ask: • 1. What are the required and recommended courses—for graduation and for college prep? • 2. Which elective courses do you recommend? • 3. What options are there for higher education for a student like me? • 4. How can I qualify for work study in college? Scholarships? Grants? • 5. What kind of groups are in the school that I can get involved with? • 6. Do you have any information to help me start exploring my interest and related careers?

15. About South Meck • Power School Parent • How to log on • How to check grades and attendance • South Meck Website • What is on it. • How does it benefit you?

16. About South Meck • Credits Required for Graduation • 24 Credits • a . 9th to 10th Grade: Students must earn six (6) credits during the 9th grade . Credits may be earned in any courses . • b . 10th to 11th Grade: Students must have earned a cumulative total of 12 credits (which must include English I, English II and Algebra I) . • c . 11th to 12th Grade: Students must have earned a cumulative total of 18 credits .

17. Graduation • Graduation Project: • Junior Exit Paper • Written either fall or spring semester of Junior Year. • Senior Exit Project • Presented either fall or spring semester of Senior Year.

18. About South Meck • Courses offered • AP - 2 quality points • AP classes are offered in every core subject (Math, Science, Social Studies, English and World Languages) • Honors – 1 quality point • Standard • CTE – Career Technology Education

19. How to register for classes • Students will receive a form in February that they will take home. • Students are responsible for picking their classes and returning the forms to their counselors. • How classes should be chosen: • A. Communication with current and former teachers. • B. Choose classes that go in the correct sequence. • C. Family discussion and what is best. • D. Consider the level: standard, Honors, AP • Take work ethic into consideration.

20. Exams • North Carolina requires that students take certain tests each year: • EOC = End Of Course (grades 9-12) • Math I, English II, Biology. • Common exams – In most subjects. • CTE EOC’s. • PSAT – 10 th 11th Grade • PLAN – 10th Grade • ACT – 11th Grade

21. GPA • The GPA is an average score and measures the student’s performance • It is used to decide 1) if the student will be admitted to a certain college and 2) if the student qualifies for scholarships • What is your child’s GPA?

22. GPA • Every 9 weeks, schools generally send home report cards • GPA = Grade Point Average: 1-4 • Add 1 point for “Honors” and 2 points for “AP” or “IB”

23. ….AND GABE? • Remember Gabe? • In his first semester of 9th grade, he received the following grades • English 90 • Algebra 71 • PE 90 • Art 88 • He began second semester with a GPA of 2.6

25. Getting ready for college • Check List for College • Transcripts • Recommendation letters • Brag Sheet • Application

26. About South Meck • Networking! • Parents United! Get the phone number of someone else so that together you can always keep abreast of what is happening at school.

27. The Road to Higher Education is Close!