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Welcome, Mariner Parents!

Sophomore Parent Meeting Sept. 21, 2017

7:00PM – 8:00PM

Prayer:

p  Lord, we pray, please enlighten our minds with truth, inflame our hearts with love, inspire our will with courage, and enrich our lives with service. Teach us to follow You most faithfully, remind us to focus on your great love, and countless blessings in our life. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN…. St. Monica, Pray for us!

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AGENDA p  Prayer p  Introductions:

n  Msgr. Torgerson, Pastor; Mr. Gasper, President; Mr. Spellman, Principal, Ms. Martinez, Vice President/Vice Principal

p  School-Wide Announcements n  Contact Mrs. Carrie Boutros for ways to GIVE!! n  Ms. Clingingsmith – Confirmation Program

p  Sophomore Class Announcements p  Counseling Department Announcements p  PRESENTATION: COLLEGE COUNSELING AT THE

SOPHOMORE LEVEL

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SOPHOMORE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS p Sophomore Class Moderator:

n  Mr. Pedro Oliveros: poliveros@stmonicafaculty.net

n  Need Sophomore Parent Volunteer

n  COMING UP!! SOPHOMORE BAKE SALE p  Sunday, January 7, 2018 p  Parent volunteers needed!

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COUNSELING DEPT. ANNOUNCEMENTS p  PSAT– Dr. McNeal p  Imagine Math & STAR TESTING –

Ms. Martinez p NORTHWEST COLLEGE TOUR – Spring

Break – Take a flyer and contact Mr. Mayer

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PSAT Testing: Dr. McNeal p  Wednesday, October 11th (Noon Dismissal) p  All Sophomores will take the PSAT. p  Serves as great practice for the actual SAT. p  Students will receive their scores on their college

board account within a month or so after test date.

p  Counselors will review scores with students in January

p  REMINDER: 10th Students set up their own college board account last year so all sophomores should have a college board account.

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Imagine Math: Ms. Martinez ImagineMath(formerlyThinkThroughMath)p  Featuresp UsedinalllevelsofAlgebraI&Geometryp  Purposes:

n  Supplementaln  Remediateorextendlearningn  RealCmestudentachievementdatan  PrescripCveworkcapabiliCes

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STAR Testing: Ms. Martinez p Brief Introduction to STAR Enterprise

Testing n  SMCHS participation n  What it is n  What it tests: math & reading n  Why we are doing it n  When it will occur: September, January, April n  What you & your son/ daughter will receive

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Spring Break College Tour: PACIFIC NORTHWEST COLLEGE TOUR Fee: $2,454 total p  Group Leader: Mr. Blake Mayer p  When: Easter break p  Tour Number: Register:

www.efexploreamerica.com p  1-888-333-9756 p  ALL information on Guidance Department

Webpage! p  Take an informational flyer home with you! 9

PRESENTATION – Dr. McNeal & Mrs. Rakowski

COLLEGE COUNSELING AT THE SOPHOMORE GRADE LEVEL

CRITICAL QUESTION:

WHAT DOES COLLEGE COUNSELING LOOK LIKE

AT THE SOPHOMORE GRADE LEVEL?

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WHAT DOES SOPHOMORE COLLEGE COUNSELING LOOK LIKE?

p Might be difficult to recognize p Sophomores, in general, are in an

awkward position – not the “youngest” class, yet not “upperclassmen” either

p But students are doing critical “foundational, behind-the-scenes” work

p Mrs. Rakowski & Dr. McNeal encourage students to lay an important foundation for a successful college application process

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TAKING A STEP BACK~ p  Let’s review what Guidance Counselors did last

year when students were Freshmen that is College Counseling: n  Encouraged students to get involved in school life n  Monitored student involvement in community service n  Administered their 1st college-readiness test (PSAT) n  Transferred PSAT scores to Khan Academy to improve

test-taking skills in reading and math n  Created a 4-year Academic Plan n  Advised students to pass college-prep / Honors classes n  Introduced Naviance – Navigation & Set-up

p  Began creating resume p  Began building college list

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HOW IS THIS COLLEGE COUNSELING? p  The college-application process (JOURNEY)

begins on the first day of high school p What students do every day in school

creates the foundation for a great, competitive college application

p Students are creating the substance that will soon become itemized in a (hopefully!) highly competitive college application

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HOW IS THIS COLLEGE COUNSELING? p  4-year plan – like planning a long-distance

trip; must be prepared for final destination; make adjustments as needed

p Naviance – keeping all information organized in one location n  College list (Colleges I’m Thinking About) n  Update resume n  Add documents

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HOW IS THIS COLLEGE COUNSELING? p  Involvement in student life and Christian service:

builds character AND leadership skills (provides substance for personal essays)

p  Earn the best possible grades / taking most rigorous classes: the #1 consideration for college admissions counselors

p  Taking PSAT and consistently working on score improvements through Khan Academy personalized drills: the “other” #1 consideration for college admissions counselors (esp. CSU)

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PSAT – Mrs. Susan Levenson p How the PSAT prepares students for

college

p Kaplan Representative: Mrs. Susan Levenson

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WHAT’S NEW AT THE SOPHOMORE LEVEL? p NAVIANCE

n  CAREER INTEREST & SEARCH p  Myers-Briggs personality inventory p  Career match p  College majors

n  NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH p  INTERNSHIPS & PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS p ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS & COLLEGE

TOURS

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LOOKING FORWARD MR. BLAKE MAYER, COLLEGE COUNSELOR for 11th Grade Spring semester and 12th Grade p  Finalize college list on Naviance p Narrow down career to make appropriate

choice of college major p Making sure the college choices reflect

student goals p Boot camps for application completion

(UC’s, Common App, CSU, FAFSA, etc.) 18

Important Reminders:

We have mentioned this in previous parent meeting, but it is worth repeating.

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College Counseling @ the Sophomore Level: p  ALL students MUST apply to a 4-yr. college

n  SMCHS Graduation Requirement to make sure all students apply!!! Some try to slip by!!

p  Naviance Succeed (promotes college/career readiness)

p  Recommend visiting local colleges or go on college tours during vacation time.

p  Internships/Volunteer (Strengthens application/field of study)

p  Keep grades up…take challenging courses! p  Get involved! (Clubs, Sports, Class Council,

Leadership roles…) p  Prepare and study for Standardized Tests. p  Take trips to visit college campuses! p  College fairs!

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Foundations for Student Success:

“Success Starts with a Plan” p  Challenging Academics p  Organization p  Time-Management p  Communication with Teachers/Peers p  Preparation for Testing and College Application p  “Student” Time

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Challenging Academics: College Prep/Honors/AP

p  Encourage your child to enroll in Honors/AP courses if he/she feels they are not being challenged enough with their academic schedule.

p  Why AP/Honors classes? n  Better prepares them for college. n  Makes your child more competitive with other college

applicants.

p  Who qualifies for honors? n  Students who receive “A” both semesters of college prep

courses. n  Students who receive a 80% in current AP/Honors courses. n  Students who pass the Qualifying Exam.

REMINDER: Any grade BELOW a C- (at semester) requires remediation in Summer School.

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Communication: Teacher-Student

p  Communication is key….absent?, need tutoring…? p  Assignments must be turned in on the assigned DUE

date. p  Students who are absent MUST communicate to the

teacher to request the assignments they missed. p  Any grade below a C- MUST be made-up to advance to

the next grade level (math, science, foreign language). p  Please email/meet with your child’s teacher to discuss

assignments/make-up/questions about grading. p  ALL courses taken off-campus MUST be approved by Ms.

Tammy Martinez (VP: Dean of Studies). p  REMINDER: We have a zero tolerance policy with

cheating and plagiarism….When students are under pressure they may feel the need to copy another sources work, therefore, please discuss the importance of academic integrity with your child.

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Naviance Succeed: Organization/Time Management/College Readiness

p  Naviance helps promote college and career readiness… goals/resume/planner.

p  Naviance helps to increase organization in planning their school work, college planning, and daily life schedules.

p  Students have a personalized and action-oriented plan for achieving his or her goals (4-yr Plan).

p  Counselors, teachers and parents have the linking tools to effectively monitor students toward their college academic success, plan, and future goals.

p  Access “Naviance” on schools webpage…log-in. p  Students meet with counselor to get username

and password.

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Student Time: Character Building & Leadership

p  The Student NOW…important to build confidence, relationships, character, and leadership.

p  Clubs: We offer a variety of clubs at SMCHS p  Sports: Fall: Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, Volleyball &

Football; Winter: Basketball & Soccer; Spring: Golf, Softball, Tennis, Baseball & Track & Field.

p  Performing Arts: Choirs, Fall Play & Spring Musical. p  Student Leadership: Class Councils, ASB, Campus

Ministry, Cheer & Club Leadership p  Community Volunteering: Christian Service is

mandatory for graduation. p  Internships: Summer work (intended major).

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Thank you for your attendance!

Next Sophomore Meeting…

January 30th, 2018

Drive home safely!