January
As we look ahead to the significant milestone of eighth grade graduation, parents/guardians and students will be receiving a great deal of important information. Students have the unique opportunity to choose between three school districts for the continuation of their education. Students may attend Shaker High School in NorthColonie School District, Watervliet Junior/Senior High School or Tech Valley High School in Rensselaer. Each school is rich with opportunities and offers a competitive course selection. Choosing a high school is a decision that involves discussions between students, parents/guardians, Menands School District and the future school of choice.
Important dates to keep in mind:
January:
We will meet with 8thgrade students to provide an overview of the high school selection process
January 10th, 18th, and 30th, February 1st
Attendance is required at one of the above Information Nights if your child is considering attending Tech Valley. Tech Valley is located at the University of Albany –East Campus, B Wing, 9 University Place, Rensselaer. For more information see
www.techvalleyhigh.org
February:
Shaker High School will send all parents of 8thgraders about March Information Night and registration packets
Applications are due toMenands Guidance Office for Tech Valley High School
Parents/Guardians of students planning to attend Watervliet Junior/Senior High School contact the Watervliet School District registrar
March:
Parents/Guardians of students planning to attend Shaker High School schedule an appointment with the NorthColonie School District registrar
Applications are submitted to Tech Valley High School by theMenands Guidance Department
Evening program for students entering theWatervliet Senior High School
Letters will be sent home by theMenands Guidance Department confirming high school selection
April:
New student/Family Orientation at Tech Valley High School
Parents/Guardians of students attending Shaker High School schedule individual conferences with Shaker guidance department
Parents/Guardians of students attendingWatervliet High School schedule individual conferences with Watervliet guidance department
Please continue to check the Support Services/Guidance Department website at
www.menands.org as well as your mail for updates.
****************************************************
November
First quarter report cards are sent home in the month of November. If your child is doing well and has successful, balanced achievement across all subject areas, congratulate yourselves and your child on a job well done. Discuss how to keep up the good work, continuing the study habits that have been beneficial. If your child has areas that need improvement, please consider the following list for increasing achievement.
1. What are your child's organizational strategies? Is the student agenda/assignment notebook filled out correctly? Are tests and due dates appropriately noted? Is the back pack cleaned out and repacked each night prior to bed to avoid the morning rush?
2. Does your child study "actively"? In other words, do they use a variety of methods to learn, such as reading out loud, visualizing concepts when studying, writing notes, etc.
3. What is your child's view of their study and work habits? If the view of his or her own work is poor, assistance can be provided by highlighting accomplishments and showing how the same skills can be used with more difficult subjects. Talking about the prospect of completing homework and studying can shed light on faulty beliefs and obstacles that get in the way of success.
4. How is your child at taking notes? Is he or she able to listen to the teacher and pull out the important peices of information? To see what this would look like, students can ask peers for copies of their notes, discuss class notes with a parent/caregiver to ascertain clarity, and rewrite notes with main ideas and supporting details. Doing these things also helps your student study, as the more her or she interacts with the information, the more familiar he or she will be with the material when it is time for a test.
5. Does writing reports get your child down? Before starting each report, set a timeline for completing each part. Discuss the general topic and the narrow down the idea of the report. Do the research and organize notes before writing. Spend time on the opening paragraph. Read and reread before finalizing. Have another set of eyes look over the report.
6. Discuss and model active listening. Sometimes we become lazy listeners. Discuss how to stay engaged with a speaker even if the topic doesn't seem interesting. By getting a good nights sleep, eating balanced meals and practicing conversations at home, students can improve their ability to retain information they hear.
7.How does your child manage his or her time? Using calendars at home, along with a watch or alarm clock, can be very helpful to organize the day.
8. Discuss how your child learns best. Some children are auditory learners (listening), some are visual, some are physical. Discover how your child learns best and incorporate those methods at home.
9. Maintain a homework/study area. This a quieter place in the house, which still may be in a commonly used area, so help is near by. The spot is relatively uncluttered, without the distractions of television or video games.
10. Communicate with teachers at school for other helpful ideas and tips to increase student success.
**************************************
October is Internet Safety Month!!!
5 Things to Think About Before Hitting Send
www.thenationalcampaign.org
1. Don't assume that anything you send or post is going to remain private. Your messages and images may get passed around, even if you think they won't.
2. There is no changing your mind in cyberspace. Something you send or post that seems fun will never truely go away.
3. Don't give in to the pressure to do something that makes you uncomfortable, even in cyberspace.
4. Consider the recipient's reaction. Just because a message is meant to be fun, doesn't mean the person who gets it will see it that way.
5. Nothing is truely anonymous. It is important to remember that even if someone only knows you by your screen name, online profile, phone number or email address, they can probably find out who you are if they try hard enough.
*******************************************************************************
Welcome back to school!!
We hope you enjoyed your summer. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you dive into the new school year:
Going to and from school safely
- Make sure you leave your house in plenty of time to get to the bus stop or school. Hurrying may cause you to forget something or to trip and hurt yourself.
- Stay with friends while walking or riding your bike to and from school. It's safer and more fun to be with friends.
- Stay in well lit areas and NEVER take shortcuts. Be aware of your surroundings and watch traffic when crossing the road.
- Stay with the group while waiting for the bus. Stay back from the curb. Wait for the bus to come to a full stop before walking towards it. Watch the driver for signals that you may come aboard.
- Don't walk away from the bus stop or leave in someone else's car. Talk to an adult before changing your plans for traveling to school or home.
Getting good grades from the start
- Set up a quiet area at home for homework that is well lit and comfortable.
- Have a small, nutritious snack, like an apple when you get home.
- Keep the television and computers off, and music at a low volume.
- Take a short, five minute break half way through your study time.
- Ask for help if you get confused and you've tried to find the answer yourself. If you are still confused, ask the teacher for extra help the next day.