Freshman Parent Breakfast

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Freshman Parent Breakfast

• September 25 and 26, 2008
• Staples Cafeteria
• SHS Guidance Department

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Welcome to Staples!

• The purpose of todays meeting is to
• Give you information to help you feel more
  comfortable about this 9th grade year
• Discuss the role of the high school counselor and
  assistant principal
• Discuss available resources

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Counselor Assignments

• 9TH Grade
• Chris Gray A Bo
• Deb Slocum Br El
• Denise Honeycutt En Gre
• Micah Lawrence Gro Kap
• Ed Huydic Kar - Ku
• Christine Talerico L - Mar
• Vicki Capozzi Mat N
• Jack Quinlan O Rob
• Elaine Schwartz Rom Ry
• P.J. Washenko S Str
• William Plunkett Su Z

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The Guidance Office

• The role of the counselor at the high school is
  to focus on the academic and emotional
  development of your child. The counselor keeps
  your child all four years.
• Appt. books are available with the secretary for
  students to sign up to make appts - emergency
  appts are always seen
• right away.

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CONFIDENTIALITY

• Everything a student says to his/her counselor is
  kept confidential EXCEPT if it involves risk of
  injury to themselves or others.

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The Assistant Principals Office

• The role of the assistant principal is to oversee
  the team working with your child and to be of
  assistance whenever needed.
• The assistant principal keeps your child all four
  years and is particularly helpful in problem
  solving.

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The 9th Grade Year

• Students enter grade 9 with varying degrees of
  maturity, coping and problem solving skills
• Everything in high school is very different than
  it was in middle school
• 9th grade is a year of incredible growth and
  increased maturity for most students
• 9th Grade Group Psychologist Meetings for parents
  are available check SHS website

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What if my child is having difficulty in a class?

• Student can make an appt. with the teacher for
  extra help either before or after school or
  during a mutually free period.
• Parent can use Blackboard or call the teacher
• Student can make an appt. to see his/her
  counselor
• Students can visit the Learning Centers
• English/ Social Studies Rm. 3051
• World Language Rm. 2055
• Math/Science Rm. 2038

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How can I keep track of my childs homework
assignments?

• Blackboard is the system used for teachers to
  post assignments as well as a way for teachers
  and parents and students to communicate via
  e-mail
• Blackboard does not completely take the place of
  the old assignment pad
• it is meant to supplement

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Blackboard

• Parents contact Jane Alix at 341-1214 if need
  assistance
• Students see Mr. Ken Wood in Room 1031 for
  assistance

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Do What You Are

• All 9th grade students participate in a Do What
  You Are personality inventory in the College
  Career Center
• Students take the survey in December during one
  of their Physical Education classes
• Do What You Are connects to possible future
  interests and careers

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Graduation Requirements

• Students must earn a minimum of 25 credits in the
  following areas
• English 4.0 (1.0 credit each year)
• Social Studies 3.5 (1.0 Western Humanities, 1.0
  U.S. History,
• .5 American Government, .5 Area Studies,
• .5 additional elective)
• Mathematics 3.0
• Science 2.0
• World Language 2.0 (any one world language in
  sequence)
• Phys. Ed/Health 3.0
• Arts 1.5
• (with a minimum of .5 in Fine Arts and .5 in
  Practical Arts/Human Arts. Remaining .5 in
  either area)
• Fine Arts (Art, Music or Theater)
• Practical Arts/Human Arts (Computer Science,
  Culinary Arts, Technology Education, Media/TV
  Production, Child Development, Child Study,
  Community Service, Senior Option, Chinese
  Culture)
• Electives 6.0

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Student Handbook

• Your child received a Student Handbook on the
  first day of school
• Please ask them to share it with you
• Handbook is also available online visit the
  Staples HS Website at
• shs.westport.k12.ct.us/staples
• Click on Handbook tab

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Does Staples have an attendance policy?

• YES! It is to ensure that all students attend
  classes. It is understood that students may be
  out for medical reasons
• Mrs. Patty McQuone is the attendance secretary
• Phone [phone]
• Mrs. Alice Addicks,
• Paraprofessional, monitors 9th grade daily
  attendance. Her phone
• is 341-1459

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Connect Ed

• If your child misses a class(es), an automated
  call will go home after 7pm that evening.

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Academic Integrity

• We encourage and teach ethical and appropriate
  behavior
• For a complete explanation of the Academic
  Integrity Policy see Student Handbook page 42

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What do you meanPeriod 1 is at 130?

• Rotating
• Each course meets 4 times per week

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SHS Daily Schedule
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IPRs

• IPRs (interim progress reports) are issued about
  halfway through each marking period. These
  reports should serve as an indication of the
  students progress to that point in the marking
  period.
• The expectation is that the parent will contact
  the teacher directly, if warranted.
• Approximate Date October 3rd
• IPRs are mailed home the goal is to eventually
  have them available on Blackboard.

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Report Cards

• Report cards are issued four times per year
  approximately four days after the end of each
  marking period.
• First marking period ends
• October 29th
• Report cards will be mailed home until they are
  available on Blackboard.

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Midterm Exams

• Midterms generally make up 10 of the final
  course grade and 20 of the semester grade.
• If no snow days or delays, exam schedule is as
  follows
• Jan 12 Exams 1 4
• Jan 13 Exams 2 3
• Jan 14 Exams 6 7
• Jan 15 Exams 5 8
• Jan. 16 Make-Up Exam day, if needed
• If a student does not have an exam, they do not
  have to report to school.
• Generally teachers give students review sheets.

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Is There Life Outside the Classroom?

• List of Clubs and Activities share with your
  child
• Clubs/Activities Fair was held on 9/18, 9/19,
  9/22, 9/23
• Encourage your child to participate in something
• Balance

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Parent Tips

• DO
• Be realistic.
• Listen more.
• Allow your child to make mistakes.

• DONT
• Climb on the rollercoaster of adolescence.
• Let academics be your only barometer of your
  childs success.
• View high school only as pre-college.

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SHS Guidance Website

• www.shs.westport.k12.ct.us/staples
• Click on Student Services
• A wealth of information about the department and
  its philosophies and programs.

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Questions?
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• Please take a moment to complete and hand in the
  evaluation form.
• Thank you for coming.

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• We love our children. If we parents let our
  children be children, find their way, and get the
  grades that truly reflect their abilities, they
  are likely to develop into moral, well-adjusted
  adults with healthy, not artificial self-esteem.
  That is the greatest gift we can give them.
• Rabbi Aaron Bergman, Farmington, CT