Oh, The Places You'll Go

A couple of seniors came to see me to talk about putting up a post-secondary planning bulletin board in the hallway.  They wanted a way to mark their exit out of Canton High School and their entrance into adulthood.  I absolutely loved our conversation and having an opportunity to reflect on their thought process and how we could make this bulletin board inclusive of everyone's plans.

During our conversation, we remembered the Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You'll Go. I see Canton High School as the place where we not only expand their worldviews and challenge their minds, but a place where we provide springboards for the big world. Their entire high school careers are the foundation for their plans as they walk out of our doors for the last time.

In these final moments of March, where seniors hear back from their last remaining colleges, and juniors prepare for the SAT, half of our student body is preparing for life after CHS. Juniors (and some sophomores) will fill our school buses next Thursday, April 4th, headed to Boston University, Tufts University, University of New Hampshire, and University of UMASS Amherst. Seniors will begin their last visits to their accepted schools and select the one that is the best fit.

The spring months in guidance bring a new beginning, a preparation for what lies ahead.  As such, please make sure to check your email for your child's course verification sheet sent this morning. I hope that this spring brings you down new roads to new places, because Dr. Seuss was right, the world out there is a very exciting place.

Balance

Course selection for the 2019-2020 school year is upon us.  We started off the process at the end of January, presenting the 2019-2020 Program of Studies to School Committee. Then we progressed into our Grade Level Meetings (grades 9-11) with CHS Guidance Counselors and Course Selection Night Events for Parents.  For those who could not make it in the evening, we offered a Coffee with Counselors.

To take care of our rising ninth graders, the Canton High School Guidance Staff visited the Galvin Middle School for a day and helped all of the eighth grade students understand how the process works. This week and next week at Canton High School, students are meeting with their counselors individually to talk about their courses and graduation requirements.

The course selection process is one that requires balance and reflection. Every single student in our schools is unique.  Every single student has a special set of gifts, areas of growths, and passions and interests.  The courses and levels selected should reflect the very unique attributes of that student. Reflecting on outside commitments, stress levels, and intellectual interests is of utmost importance.

So before you sit down with your child, take a moment and reflect on the day to day life of your child. The schedule should be challenging and rigorous but not over zealous.  The schedule should be exciting and interesting, not daunting and intimidating.  The schedule should be something the child cannot wait to start in September, not one that is hoped will go by quickly.  Growing up and balancing all these different responsibilities and commitments is exactly what  they should be learning how to do right now.  Please do not hesitate to let us help you and your child achieve exactly that.