High School Orientation for 2022 Parents & Students

1. High School Orientation for 2022 Parents & Students February 2019

2. Welcome to Wachusett! Parents and students of the Class of 2022!

3. Administrators & Seminar Teachers Lauren Clark Head of School Counseling Mr. Costa Green House Administrator Mr. DiBenedetto White House Administrator Green House Mr. Kusy White House Mrs. Waire Administrators Freshman Seminar Teachers

4. School Counseling Staff

5. What do SchoolCounselors Do? Our School Counseling Department has 8 School Counselors, 3 School Psychologists and a School Adjustment Counselor to support our students. School Counselors typically handle: • Four-year academic planning • Schedule changes • Social-emotional support • Crisis Intervention • Classroom presentations • References to community resources, programs and counseling • Post-secondary planning, recommendations and scholarships • Counselors manage 504 Plans and work collaboratively with the Special Education Department and School Psychologists

6. How and When to Access the School Counseling Office • Before school, after school, during lunch (w/pass) • Come down during the class you have an issue • Ask to come during Freshman Seminar • Starting this year students may book their own appointments through the WRHS website! Check the School Counseling tab! • Parents may contact us to set up an appointment

7. Booking an appointment

8. WRHS School Counseling Social Media WRHS School Counselors @CounselorsWRHS

9. Wachusett Graduation Requirements

10. Making Schedule Changes • Be attentive to deadlines for changes! • See counselor for Add/Drop paperwork • Level changes must be approved by the Dept. Head with a Reconsideration form • Give the class a chance before jumping ship!

11. Importance of the Transcript • A transcript is a permanent record of courses and grades • Get off to a good start & work hard for four years! • Every year counts the same! • Play to your strengths! (choose appropriate levels but challenge yourself when you can!)

13. Grade Point Average (GPA) WRHS calculates GPA on a weighted scale. Weighted scale – What does that mean? It means you earn different point values for different levels of instruction. AP = 10 points Honors = 5 points GPA is cumulative and is calculated at the beginning of junior and senior years.

14. How to Access Extra Help • Arrange extra help with teachers (before or after school) • Peer tutoring (National Honor Society Tues/Thurs) – sign up through WRHS website • Math NHS before school on Fridays – “just show up!” • Professional tutoring (talk to your School Counselor)

15. NHS Tutoring

16. Midterm/Final Exams • First experience for many students • Midterm and final exams are each 10% percent of final grade • Keep all important notes, tests, and handouts for review • Avoid cramming!

17. Standardized Tests • June 2019 – MCAS Science • October 2019 – PSAT 10 • March & May 2020 – MCAS ELA and MCAS Math* • October 2020 – PSAT/NMSQT • Spring 2021 – SATs/ACTs • Fall 2021 – SATs/ACTs • *Students who score well on these may be eligible for Adams/KoplikScholarships for MA state universities

18. Looking ahead…Partnership Program • WPP is available to students during junior and senior years. • Students apply for priority seating in WPP in late fall of sophomore year through their Navianceaccounts. • It is designed to give students a significant experience in an area of study that interests them. • The purpose is to make students competitive with their peers when applying for jobs or post-secondary studies.

19. Partnership Majors • Auto Technology • Business/Finance • Business/Marketing • Computer Science • Criminal Justice • Early Childhood Education • Engineering Technology • Fashion and Textiles • Graphic Communications • Health Sciences • Restaurant Management

20. NAVIANCE • Four-year career & college research tool • College Readiness Survey • Learning Styles Inventory • Career Cluster Finder & Career Interest Profiler • Career Information • College Searches • Scattergrams • Resume builder • Used to send school documents including transcript and rec letters to colleges

21. Naviance Login

22. Naviance Student

23. College-Career Readiness Survey

24. Learning Styles Inventory

25. Learning Styles Report

26. Cluster Finder

27. Ranking of Clusters

28. Cluster break-down

29. Career Interest Profiler

30. Matching Occupations

31. College Information/Stats

32. Scattergrams

33. Resume Builder

34. Music, Theater, Athletics & Extracurricular Clubs • Take advantage of these opportunities! • Listen to morning announcements • Check WRHS website • Get involved in community service activities! • Take on leadership roles!

35. Things seniors wish they knew as Freshmen… • Every year “counts” the same • Get involved! Quality over quantity. • Develop relationships with peers, teachers and your school counselor • Learn time management skills & manage your time wisely • Be aware of the attendance policy • Start thinking about life after high school and figure out a plan for your high school career

36. Things seniors wish they knew as freshmen continued… • Get familiar with standardized tests • Find summer opportunities • Meet regularly with your school counselor • Get to know yourself • Enjoy it!

37. Questions?