Ready, Set, Graduate! How to Jump Start Your Ninth Graders!

Volusia County School Counselors:Donnette Estelhomme, Abaco Schweizer,

Teresa Snyder, & Ingrid Rivera

Rationale – Why focus on Freshman year?

Freshman Orientation Freshman Day Freshman Empowerment Packet Academic Resource Manual Study Skills Packet and How to get

Good Grades PowerPoint

Agenda

Why Focus on Freshman Year?

Gradua

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Post-

Secon

dary

Enrol

lmen

t0%

20%40%60%80%

0 Failures1 Failure2 Failures3 Failures4 or more Failures

Belfanz et. al, 2012

Occurs at the end of July to acclimate Freshmen and their parents to the school Introduce administration, school counselors,

and teachers Begin to foster school spirit Review school policies and procedures Address parent and student questions

and concerns

Freshman Orientation

Freshmen are the only students who attend school on the first day of the school year Homeroom teacher and other faculty

are assigned to each freshman homeroom

Freshman Success session: review of study skills packet

Tour of the school

Freshman Jumpstart Day

School scavenger hunt Showcase of student clubs, athletics, and student

organizations Opportunity for students to get their ID’s and

lockers Students follow their schedule in the afternoon to

find the location of their classrooms and meet their teachers

Student feedback survey administered at the end of the day

Freshman Jumpstart Day (cont’d)

Empowers students with the information they need to know to be successful their Freshman year Packet is shared with students through a

classroom guidance lesson during the first few weeks of school

Packet also empowers parents with the knowledge they need to help their Freshmen be successful Packet is shared with parents during the

Freshman Parent Night held during the first few weeks of school

Freshman Empowerment Packet

Contains contact information for administrators, school counselors, and clerical staff

Lists teachers’ tutoring schedules Provides ESE consultation teachers’ contact

information and consultation schedules Provides online resources for each academic

subject area, as well as college, career, and financial aid search information

Academic Resource Manual

Study skills are explicitly taught through classroom guidance lessons through the use of a study skills packet

Study skills packet can be used in conjunction with the “How to Get Good Grades” PowerPoint

Study Skills Focus

Thank you!

Questions?