Course Selection

As we are just shy of two weeks before February break, it is important to remember that we are embarking on course selection time! Starting February 10th, the 6-12 Canton Guidance Department will be working collaboratively to assist students and families with picking a balanced and sound educational program for every student.  

How will we go about doing this? Starting on February 10th, we will be meeting with students in seminar in grades 10 and 11, meeting with freshmen in larger group presentations, and will finish up with eighth grade workshops in their sciences classes the beginning of March. There will be a parent evening event on February 10th.  Eighth grade parents will come to the GMS cafeteria at 6:30 pm, and parents and guardians of grades 9, 10, and 11 will come to the CHS cafeteria at 6:00 pm.  If that night doesn't work for you, we will have a Coffee with Counselors the following morning, February 11th, at 7:45 am in the CHS library (you do not need to attend both, just one or the other).  Lastly, you will also be able to watch the presentations from the comfort of your home when I host a webinar later in the week of February 10th.  More details on the webinar will follow.

We are hoping with all of these options, you will be able to participate in your child's course selection.  It is so important that we partner together to make sure that our students are challenged but not overwhelmed and are thinking how their educational choices impact their long term goals. We look forward to partnering with you in this endeavor. 

Important Implications of the Early Decision Trends

In looking at some early data on Early Decision trends, it is vitally important that I take a minute and describe what I am seeing and the implications I am hypothesizing. For those who do not know, Early Decision is an application type that allows students to apply "early" and receive a decision early.  However, Early Decision differs in the fact that if students are accepted, they must attend.  This becomes particularly tricky because of cost.  Early Decision applications require a signed "contract" with parent, student, and guidance counselor acknowledging that they understand the implications even if the financial aid package is not what the family desires. In other words, families that are not full pay applicants, have to exude extreme caution when thinking about using Early Decision as a method of applying.

What has become a widely spread trend is colleges and universities filling more and more of their class with early decision applicants.  For example, this year, Duke and Brown filled approximately 50% of their class with early decision applicants.  This in turn makes the regular decision applicant at a huge disadvantage because there are so many applicants vying for so few spots. Boston College added Early Decision this year, but two rounds of it.  In other words, there are two different dates to apply Early Decision to Boston College.  If they accept as many students in Early Decision 2, as they did Early Decision 1, then Boston College will also fill over 50% of the class before they even look at a regular decision applicant. 

I will be spending the next 9-12 months doing a deep dive into the world of early decision.  The implications for this pattern are widespread.  Students who may have had a realistic shot at attaining acceptance at many selective schools with a regular decision application, now need to view these colleges and universities as reaches.

This is also why it is vital to apply to range of schools: confident, realistic, and reach. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor at any time. I am always hear to help as well.

Standardized Tests

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As we enter the winter season, we focus on practice test review and future test registration.  If your sophomore student took the Pre-ACT this past October, the results were mailed home two weeks ago.  If for some reason you have not received it, please come to CHS Guidance and we can photocopy the result report we have on file. In addition, on Monday, November 25th, we passed out Pre-ACT booklets to students in their US1 History classes.  If for some reason your student was absent that day, come pick up the test booklet in our office.

Now that you have the results, and you have the actual test booklet back, what do you do with it?

First, start a binder that is going to contain all of your college preparation materials.  Put it somewhere in your home where both student and parent/guardian can access it easily.  Next, spend some time going over the questions that were marked incorrect using the answer key in the test result booklet.  Even though questions change, student performance will not improve unless they learn from the questions they got wrong.  Once that is complete, watch the video below.  It gives you step by step directions on how to use your Pre-ACT scores in ACT Academy so that it produces a practice program to prepare the student for the ACT in junior year.

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Lastly, on Thursday, December 12th, at 7:45 am in the library, the CHS Guidance Counselors will be hosting a Coffee with Counselors to discuss PSAT and Pre-ACT results.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Please also note that PSAT score reports have not been sent back to CHS from College Board yet. As soon as they are here, we will put them in the mail to you.

Post Secondary Planning Night

Testing Day Details

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Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16th, Canton High School will be administering the Pre-ACT for sophomores, the PSAT for juniors, and the SAT for a small portion of seniors.  It is important that the students have the following materials for testing day: sharpened #2 pencils (not mechanical), the calculator students use in school for their math classes, water/snack, and a silent reading book.

The best way to prepare for these exams is to eat a well balanced dinner, get 8 hours of sleep, and eat breakfast tomorrow morning.  The Pre-ACT and PSAT are practice.  These practice tests give students the opportunity to experience what these tests are like, how the questions are formatted and asked, and how they need to pace themselves through a standardized test for college admissions. 

This is not an exercise to get them stressed out or to panic if they do not well.  These tests provide students information on their strengths and areas of growth, and what materials they should focus on before they take the actual SAT and ACT in junior and senior year.

For the seniors, the best way to prepare is the same as outlined in paragraph 2 above.  Positive self-affirmations go a long way in doing your best on the SAT.  Parents and guardians, give the best pep talks of your lives tonight and tomorrow morning.  Tell your teenagers you believe in them, you trust them, and you know that they will do their best because they are ready. That will have the biggest impact on them and you.

At the End of the Day

At the end of the day, when you feel like you need someone to hold your hand, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you cannot figure out the next step, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you do not know how to balance your priorities and what to do first, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you have no idea where to get the answer to your question, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you really aren't sure about that college essay, we are here.
At the end of  the day, when you have no idea how else to help your kid, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you feel like no understands how you feel, we are here.
At the end of the day, we are ALWAYS here.

I took this picture this weekend on Martha's Vineyard at The Trustees of Reservations Long Point Beach.  The summer beach access road is now closed; the winding road is nonsensical. It made me think about life a lot.  It made me think about the life of our students a lot.
The high school years are filled with nonsensical roads.  But always remember, they do lead somewhere.  And always know, we are here to help you find it when it seems impassable.

A Marathon, Not A Sprint

The start of the school year often feels like a sprint.  After having weeks of sunshine, flexibility, and spontaneous activities, those first days of school can feel like an all out sprint. Making lunches, coordinating after school activities, and assisting with the organization of homework can collectively feel overwhelming.  What we need to remember is that we have all done this before.  We have advised, we have guided, we have supported, and we have comforted.

The important thing to remember is that a school year is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  It is 180 days of learning, growing, expanding, and discovering.  Change is not easy and often complicated, but without change, there is no growth.

As you are starting the 2019-2020 academic year, know that it is normal for your student to have an adjustment period.  Often this period is longer than one expects.  The first part of the transition revolves around adjusting to the school schedule.  The second part is adjusting to the workload once it really starts to get going.  Here are a few pointers.

1) Remind your child to breathe.  For that matter, remind yourself to breathe.  You will get through this.

2) Tackle one thing at a time.  Break down longer assignments and heavier homework nights into manageable parts.  Allow for breaks in between.

3) Schedule time for family AND friends.  Both are essential in life.

4) Listen.  Even when you want to fix it, don't.  Listen and ask the child in your life what solution seems best.

5) Reach out to us.  We are here to help.  We don't know what is going on if you don't tell us.

6) Remember that us adults make missteps every day. Every single day we falter and get back up.  Teach your child how to get back up, because that is really want you need to know how to do.

Important Guidance Dates Coming Up:

Senior Parent Coffe: Friday, September 20th, 7:45 am

Wednesday, October 16th, PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT on a School Day

Tuesday, November 12th: Post-Secondary Planning Night