Saving Some Trees

It is no secret that most companies are going paperless.  Most colleges now process an entire admissions application without printing a single piece of paper. The guidance office no longer prints transcripts for colleges; everything is sent electronically. Parents receive term grades through email.  Student schedules are emailed. The program of studies is posted on the webpage. These efforts not only save time, but they save trees, and they reduce waste.

So often we are trying to get students off their phones, off their tablets, and engaged with the world.  At the same time, we strive to teach these students how to use this same technology to further their education, organize themselves, and manage their time. This year, we take it one step further: electronic course selection for high school students.

This year students can find the program of studies online on the high school webpage under news. Immediately underneath the program of studies, there will be links to the course grade level course offerings.  Students can find their transcripts on Edline if they would like to use it for reference. All of these items will be posted on Monday, February 29th.

Currently, the eighth grade students will continue to do register by paper and pen.  Next year, the eighth grade will join the high school and go paperless.  Listed below are the events to help our families through the course selection process.

For Eighth Grade Parents:
Friday, March 4th, 7:30 am at Galvin Middle School:
                              Coffee with Counselors: Eighth Grade Course Selection Overview
Monday, March 7th, 7:00 pm at Canton High School:
                              Eighth Grade Course Selection Overview
Eighth Grade Parents Need Attend Only One of these Two Events
For High School Parents:
Monday, March 7th, 8 pm at Canton High School:
                              Course Selection for High School Parents

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Sometimes it feels like college admissions changes as fast as the speed of light. This year welcomed a new SAT, an overhaul of the ACT Writing section, continued revision of AP Exams, a call to action by Harvard University with the Turning the Tide report, and the upcoming introduction of an alternate application by the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success.

With all of these changes in mind, please remember the guidance department is here to help. Attending the following two events will help you get a jump start on tackling this process.


Tonight: Thursday, January 28th, 6-8:30 pm College Admissions Night

The event starts out with a mini college fair followed by an admissions panel and standardized test prep information. Senior parents will be in the computer labs, receiving assistance with filling out the FAFSA (pre-registration was required for this portion of tonight's activities).

Army
Marines
Beacon College
Massachusetts College of Art
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Tech.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Boston University
Massachusetts Community College
Bridgewater State University
Mitchell College
Cape Cod Community College
New England Institute of Tech
Coast Guard Academy
Olin College of Engineering
Curry College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Emerson College
Salem State University
Emmanuel College
Savannah College of Art & Design
Endicott College
Suffolk University
Hampton University
Wentworth Institute of Tech
Howard University
Westfield State University
Ithaca College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Landmark College
Stonehill College

Thursday, February 4th, 7:30 am Naviance Tutorial 

This coffee with counselors is open to all high school parents.  It is a BYOD event (bring your own device). We will have Google Chrome Books for those who need them. You will need to get your child's Naviance log-in from him/her prior to the event.

When Life Hands You Lemons.....

                 "When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye." Cathy Guisewhite
                       “When life gives you lemons, chunk it right back.” Bill Watterson
                       "When life gives you lemons, you don't make lemonade. You use the seeds to plant a whole                                  orchard." Anton St. Maarten
                        "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

Life continually challenges us.  It brings us down, it presents obstacles, it refuses to relent when we need a break the most. As parents and guardians, we try to shelter children from these hardships and give them the upbringing of our dreams.  Yet, in all of our efforts to shelter the children from the lemons of life, we fail to give them the opportunity to learn how to deal with life. Sometimes, the best teaching occurs when we let them falter, and prove to themselves they can in fact get up. They need to learn that skill, because as adults, we wouldn't survive without it. 

News:
Please join us on Thursday, January 28th from 6-8:15 for College Admissions Night Open to ALL Canton High School Families, Students and Parents Should Attend Together

Building from the Ground Up

Under the leadership of Danny Ainge, Celtic fans have grown accustom to the explanation that the team's record is reflective of the team rebuilding process. Similar to the Celtics, the 6-12 Guidance Department is in the middle of a rebuilding exercise. Unlike the Celtics, parents already benefit from the effects of our rebuilding process.

This year, the Canton Guidance Department (CGD) implemented coffees with counselors at both CHS and GMS.
These coffees, once per term, give parents an additional opportunity to attend workshops on various topics.  CHS evolved the former junior parent night into college admissions night, open to all high school parents, taking place on January 28th.  A brand new college fair for special interest groups kicks off the evening before the new college admissions panel discussion.

During district wide guidance department meetings, the middle school counselors team up with the high school counselors to write a comprehensive 6-12 guidance curriculum based on ASCA (American School Counseling Association) standards.  The curriculum focuses on three main units: social/emotional, academic, and college and career. The entire curriculum is written in UBD (Understanding by Design), and all three units reflect the overarching theme reflective of the Growth Mindset.  This curriculum will go live in front of students in the fall of 2016.

Many more initiatives are in the works, and as we have the details finalized, we will share them with you. As always, we welcome feedback, and thank you for entrusting us with your children. Being in their lives is the greatest gift, and why we love coming to work everyday.

Coffee with Counselors

Families come in all different forms and so do their schedules and responsibilities. The Guidance Department within the Canton Public School Community strives to provide opportunities for families to come together and receive support in various forms on a breadth of topics. In addition to evening events, the middle and high school guidance departments will now offer a "Coffee with Counselors" once a term. These coffees aim to provide information on a relevant topic, but also to provide a time for families to come together. We often learn so much from the questions of others and the insights of our peers. We sincerely hope this advance notice will give you time to attend one of our programs.

Galvin Middle School: 7:30-8:30 am in the library

                  January 7th: Parent Support for Homework Habits and Successful Study Skills
                  March 4th: Coping Skills for the High School Transition and Course Selection
                  May 4th: Productive Summer Activities for Middle School Students    

Canton High School: 7:30-8:30 am in the library

                  December 18th: Reading Your Child's new PSAT results & SAT/ACT Preparation
                  February 4th: Naviance Tutorial (Bring Your Own Device if Able)
                  May 20th: Time Management, Stress Reduction, and Anxiety



                  

When I was in High School.....

Have you ever noticed how teenagers' eyes roll when an adult starts a sentence with, "When I went to high school....." They cannot picture how any adult in their world could possibly understand or relate to what they are going through.  To some degree, they couldn't be more right.  Even students one generation older did not have the constant barrage of information today's teenager faces. Previous generations prepped themselves for seven hours of school, paying close attention to hair and clothes, making sure to act and talk in a way deemed appropriate by their peers. But, it ended with the school day.  Students came home and let go.  Their need to impress those around them ended. Students went home, put on comfy sweats, did some homework, ran around outside unsupervised, ate dinner as a family, and watched television.  Students did not have Facebook or Instagram, and cell phones were used only to talk. Families could tune out the outside world and tune in to one another.

That is not the life of today's teenager.  The cell phone beeps constantly, with texts, with Instagram updates, providing students with an insatiable demand for their attention.  What if they don't respond to the text? What if they don't triple check social media to make sure nothing is being said about them? What if a friend needs help on a problem for the math test tomorrow? For some teenagers, they can walk away and say, enough is enough; it will be there tomorrow.  For others, fear paralyzes their ability to tune the world out.

As the adults in their world, we need to teach them boundaries with technology.  We need to help them separate from their devices. We need them to not feed into the anxiety of the unknown. Require phones and other devices to be charged and stored in the kitchen at night. You can also take the battery out of the phone every night and give it back every morning. Keep the phone with you while your student studies for a test or finish up their homework. Most importantly, model these limitations so they see you practicing what you preach.


Save the Date

Tuesday, December 1st, 6:30 pm, Stonehill College Financial Aid Seminar
Wednesday, December 2nd, CHS, 8th Grade Parent Night for an Introduction to Canton High School

Attention! Attention! Attention!

We have all been in situations where our attention is being requested, but our ability to stay on task is challenged. The discussion topic fails to peak our interest, the room is hot, the lighting is bad, the chair is uncomfortable....We have reasons why sometimes we feel unable to attend to the task at hand.  For some, this is a constant challenge; for others, it is rarity. This applies to both children and adults.

Sometimes, children are so hyperactive, it seems they never sit still. Sometimes, children are so excited about life they jump too quickly from one topic to another and find it hard to stay on task. Sometimes, they act before they think, and their inhibition reflex fails to kick. Sometimes, all of these factors result in the perfect formula for success.

There are endless resources to help support our children who struggle with some form of ADHD both online and in book form. The following links may be of use to you:

Managing ADHD behavior in the home environment:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/adhd-and-your-child/adhd-behavior-management-strategies/

Study Strategies for ADHD students:

http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support_students/attention_deficit_disorder_handbook/index.html

Discussion about the relationship between diet and ADHD:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Diet-and-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder

We have a choice to view ADHD in a positive or negative light.  We have a choice to play to the strengths of ADHD, and utilize the differences as keys to success. After all, Justin Timberlake, Howie Mandel, Michael Jordan, Jim Carrey, and Will Smith (all who have ADHD) found a way to make it work, just to name a few.....

Upcoming Important Dates:

Registration Deadline for the December 12th ACT: Friday, November 6th

On the Spot Decision Days (students receive immediate application decision): 

Massasoit: 11/12 at 12 pm

Johnson and Wales: 11/24 at 11 am

Sign Up in guidance with Anne Murray at least 3 days prior