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Freshman year in high school is a
monumental start for students and families. Students are no
longer in self-contained classes; they can walk to class on
their own and can sit where they want for lunch. Freedom and
choices for sure! We know that is why they really like high
school so much.
More importantly, freshman year is
the foundation to their life journey as a young adult. They have
visions of graduating in 2012 and going to college and other
postsecondary opportunities.
Most freshmen have not realized
why they are in high school The reality is that they are laying
the foundation for what they think they want to be--today a pilot, tomorrow a doctor, or, maybe a musician. That is a typical
response for most teenagers.
Often we put a tremendous amount
of time into being successful and doing well without teaching
that failure also develops and strengthens who we are.
Through the freshman year, we have
intentionally planned support systems that guide students to
begin to envision their future.
Please join us through encouraging, ongoing conversations using
the language from the following resources embedded in their
academic experience in the 9th grade:
Seven Habits of Highly
Effective Teens by Sean Covey (introduced through
English classes)
The Seven Habits are:
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Be Proactive
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Begin with the
End in Mind
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Put First Things First
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Think Win- Win
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Seek First to Understand
than to Be Understood
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Synergize
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Sharpen the Saw
Freshmen Homeroom
In homeroom, freshmen will experience activities that focus on
team and leadership skills and opportunity for the guidance
counselor to provide planned conversations targeting class
needs. Curriculum from Teen Leadership will be supplemented
throughout the year.
Some of the topics that
will be covered:
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Laying the Foundations:
attitude, developing relationships, introduction to making
speeches
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Looking at Ourselves:
self-concept and self-confidence, reframing, first
impressions, self-confidence for leadership and many other
enlightening topics
Freshmen are settling into their daily
routines and procedures. The midway point of the
first nine weeks and passed, and students are beginning to recognize their
areas of strengths and those that they may need help with. There
are several opportunities for students to receive academic
support.
Several ways students can receive academic support:
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The Learning Lab
opens daily at 6:30 a.m. and remains open until 3:30 p.m. Students may
come before school, during study hall, and after school.
Teachers and students from the Mu Alpha Theta math honor
society are available for math peer tutoring.
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Teacher Support
– Students are encouraged to build a working relationship
with all of their teachers, who are their to provide support.
It is our goal that students develop the skills necessary to be an
“advocate” for their success. Modeling for them how to
express their need often helps those that are not as
confident that they can.
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Tutors –
Williamson County Schools provides a list of many individuals
and agencies throughout the community.
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Ninth Grade Guidance
Counselor – Janet Wulff
is here to assist students through their classes and other
counseling needs.
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Time Management
- Students are expected to use their Bear Trackers to write
down daily and long-term assignments. Please ask your child
to share it with you.
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Organizational skills
and study skills are very significant to students
being successful. I recommend that students take one day a
week to organize their notebooks and lockers.
For Your Information
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Are you receiving the daily
BHS announcements via e-mail? If not, e-mail
the BHS webmaster, Vicki Youngman at
vickiy@wcs.edu , or access the
announcement page on
a regular basis.
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Are you a member of POGS
(Parents of Graduating Seniors 2012)? If
not, contact
Jami Hill,
jamilehh@comcast.net, , Margie Doyle,tmdoyle@comcast.net,
Carrie Poag,
carriepoag@comcast.net
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Sign up for
Parent Connection, which
is designed so you can monitor your child’s academic progress.
Contact Chris Hames at
chrish2@wcs.edu if you have questions.
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