Spring is in the air...
Well...maybe not quite yet, as we look outside at the mounds of snow still left over from the brutal winter. Still, with only two weeks left in third quarter, no doubt the birds will begin to sing a bit more, the sun will feel warmer, and the excitement that accompanies the imminent summer will arrive. Along with the changing seasons, a number of exciting changes await our seniors, as they approach graduation and next steps, be those steps a gap year, college, or entering the workforce. We are here to support them along the way.
Class Meetings
All Grades: Counselors met with students in each grade (9-11) in the month of January to discuss course planning. During these meetings, counselors discussed the following:
- Credit requirements for graduation (students need 47 credits, with specific requirements for English, math, science, social studies, art, and integrated wellness). To read more about these requirements, check out our website.
- Examined new courses, including yoga, lifeguarding, advanced strength training, color theory, altered media, and painting and drawing.
- Discussed typical schedules by grade, including required core classes.
- Met with students individually to look at their initial course selections.
While registration is complete, actual course scheduling does not occur until the summer, and students do not receive their course schedules until Forms and Fees day sometime in August. A few reminders regarding scheduling:
- Students cannot pick specific hours, nor can they pick specific teachers.
- Course conflicts sometimes occur; given that SHS is a small high school, some courses are inevitably offered at the same time as other courses.
- Counselors try to balance schedules and class sizes as best they can, but sometimes, conflicts are inevitable given the structure of the day.
Students should see their counselor early should they wish to change their schedules. All schedule changes should be thoughtfully deliberated upon and discussed with parents/guardians.
Seniors: Counselors continue to meet with individual students to follow-up on acceptance letters from colleges, financial aid offers, scholarship searches, and any other assistance we can offer to ease the transition to college and work.
Also, we want seniors to come in and add their pictures to our college board, as soon as they find out where they will be attending next year! We look forward to May 1st, National College Decision Day and hearing all of the exciting news!
Juniors: Counselors will meet with second semester "Lifetime Wellness" students to discuss:
- The college search through Naviance. Students list criteria they want in a college (size, major, location, etc.), and the search tool matches them with various colleges throughout the country. Feel free to login with your child to examine these results.
- Resume building. Students create a resume to give to teachers in May, so that teachers can write strong letters of recommendation for college.
- Signs of Suicide. Counselors will be presenting on the warning signs of suicide. To read more about the program, check out this website from WI DPI.
- Letters of recommendation via a whole class assembly in early May. Juniors should request these letters from teachers in May, by providing their resumes to teachers and requesting them on Naviance as soon as the teacher agrees to write the letter.
Sophomores: Counselors will meet with second semester "Team Concepts" students to discuss:
- Career interests. Students take a career interest survey based on John Holland's research. They are then matched with various careers based on their personal preferences.
- Academic and person goals that are reevaluated.
Freshmen: Counselors will meet with freshmen this spring to discuss:
- Issues of stress and coping mechanisms. We will also look at academic planning.
Counselors continue to meet with students of concern, those failing classes or dealing with emotional problems. Don't hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor with any concerns outside of school as well.
Testing Updates
ACT Aspire
All Shorewood High School 9th and 10th graders will be participating in the ACT Aspire assessment. The ACT Aspire assesses each student’s college readiness in reading, math, writing, science, and English, and it provides each family with a predicted score range for their student on the ACT. Test results provide each family with a detailed report regarding each student’s performance. All freshman and sophomores will complete this assessment during two half days of testing: Tuesday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 17th. Freshmen will complete ACT Aspire on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. Sophomores will complete he ACT Aspire on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
If you are interested in learning more, here is a link to sample questions:
Important test day information will be sent via message center in the coming weeks.
Forward Testing
This will occur through Social Studies classes for all 10th grades students. This test is completed online and looks at students' knowledge of social studies content information; it will occur on April 4th and 5th. To learn more about this mandated test, please see this website.
AP Testing
AP testing will occur at SHS from May 6-16. The schedule is below:
REFUND POLICY: We understand that on rare occasions students must cancel an exam. Here is our refund policy:
Students who cancel an exam by Sunday, May 5 are entitled to a refund of the exam fee minus a cancellation fee of $15 (per exam cancelled). After May 5, there will be no refunds.
If you have any questions regarding AP Exam Registration, please see your counselor or call the Student Support Services Office at 414-963-6942.
Students--What to bring on exam day:
-Several sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers) for completing multiple-choice answer sheets (not mechanical)
-Pens, with black or dark blue ink only, for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free response questions in most exams.
-Up to two calculators with the necessary capabilities if you are taking an AP Biology, Calculus, Physics, or Statistics exams. VISIT https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse to see appropriate calculators.
-A watch if desired (cannot have an alarm or connect to the Internet).
-A ruler if you are taking an AP Physics exam (protractors are not allowed).
THE ABOVE LIST IS ALL YOU SHOULD NEED TO BRING TO THE TEST.
AS A REMINDER, WHAT NOT TO BRING:
-ANY electronic equipment (cell phones, smart watch, i-pods, cameras, etc.).
-Books, compasses, mechanical pencils, correction fluid, notes, dictionaries, colored pencils, etc.
-Scratch paper
-Reference guides, computers, keyboard maps
-Watches that beep or have an alarm
-Food or drink (students may not consume these during testing, but they may have a snack during breaks).
-Clothing with subject-related informationEar plugs
In addition, students can prepare for the tests by visiting the AP website.
In the News
Below is an article concerning college rankings. We have published this before, but it is worthwhile to once again state that most of the research shows that college rankings matter little in terms of long term student outcomes:
From the article:
"A new study from researchers at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education examines all of the evidence about rankings and comes to this conclusion: the best way to find a college that is a “good fit” is to ignore the rankings."
Inside Higher Education: To Find the Best Fit, Ignore the Rankings
Another article from Forbes explores the importance of creating time to discuss money with future college students.
From the article:
"Parents need to be open and honest about what they have saved and what they plan to spend on their child's college. This includes what a parent will pay for tuition, room, board, books, supplies, and fun."
Finally, a good article about helping students deal with college rejections:
From the article:
"Alvord suggests parents spend less time saving their children from pending failure or discomfort and more time engaging them in becoming responsible members of their family. “Even a toddler can help push a recycling container,” Alvord says.
Alvord has witnessed the fallout from well-meaning parents who coddle their children through high school. “They edit their work. They remind them of deadlines. Then all that scaffolding disappears in college,” she said. For many, it begins unraveling when they open the email from their first-choice college and learn they’ve been rejected."
For Juniors, this article provides a pretty comprehensive checklist for college planning. Spring and summer are great for visiting colleges and solidifying a college list:
Forbes: College Planning: Junior Year Checklist
Wellness
As we meet with students throughout the year, we continue to stress that students proactively tackle stressors in their lives. High school can be a chaotic and stressful time for students. Along with balancing various activities and academics, students are also beginning to form their identities, deal with social pressures, and consider their future. All of these potential stressors can deeply impact students in negative ways; however, students can also be resilient, learning ways to effectively manage stress. At a minimum, students should:
-eat a well balanced diet
-get enough sleep-8-9 hours for most teenagers
-exercise regularly
-limit technology use
-engage in social relationships and activities that are affirming
-consider utilizing relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation
Here is a good website from Cleveland Clinic regarding stress:
Stress: Coping With Life's Stressors
Don't forget to check out Pam Miller's Monday Night Meditation. It occurs every Monday from 7-8 PM at 2700 E. Shorewood BLVD.
In addition, RedGen has a number of events coming up, all of which highlight the importance of youth mental health:
http://www.redgen.org/new-events
Finally, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been publishing an ongoing series on youth mental health. Feel free to check out some of the articles associated with this series:
Summer Opportunities
We encourage all students to get involved in some form of summer activity, including:
-sports
-paid jobs
-camps
-Shorewood Recreation Department offerings
For students interested in pre-college programs, we have a number of mailings in our office that students can peruse.
Finally, we wish everyone a happy and healthy spring and summer! To the seniors that are nearing graduation, we wish you all the best as you pursue life's next big adventure.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
Scott Brown
Molly Norris
Jennifer Hoffman
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