Counselor's Corner
FRESHMAN
The freshmen are adjusting well to high school! They are enjoying their classes and continue to indicate that they want to be successful. Many students are involved in extracurricular activities and participating in sports. Overall, the transition to high school is going smoothly.
Several options are available to assist students who are struggling in a class or whose 6 week grades are of concern. Students are able to meet with their teacher(s) during academic lab. Academic Lab is the second period on “B” days; students have access to all of their teachers during this time. Students can also arrange to meet with their teachers before or after school. Students who take advantage of this opportunity usually see their skills increase and their grades improve. Additionally, students can receive tutoring from A+ tutors. A+ tutors are students who are available after school from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm, Monday through Thursday. Students then take the 4:00 pm activity bus home. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers directly for their observations and suggestions. Teachers’ voicemail numbers and e-mail addresses are available on Parkway North’s webpage.
Freshmen should plan on attending the Parkway District College Fair on September 20, 7:00 pm at South High. The fair is open to all district students and their families. There will be college representatives from across the country. The district college fair will provide valuable information for freshmen as they explore various colleges.
SOPHOMORES
The PLAN test, which is a pre-ACT test for college admission, will be administered to all sophomores on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:45 a.m. in the large gym. The Parkway School District pays for all sophomore students to take the test. Taking the PLAN is an important step toward making college a reality. The results assist parents and students in identifying skills and knowledge needed to be successful in college. It helps to determine areas where extra help is needed and assists in finding career paths that match student interests. In addition, the PLAN will provide an estimated ACT score. To learn more about the PLAN test and other ACT resources you can log on to www.actstudent.org.
Sophomore year is the time for students to begin the planning process to pursue college, technical school or a career path. Students should begin to evaluate their performance and plan for the future. Identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses becomes critical at this stage. What are their successes and what would they like to improve? Please feel free to access teachers, counselors and guidance department resources and websites. Communication is the key to success at school. Please let us know how we can help your child achieve success and plan for the future.
Sophomores should plan on attending the Parkway District College Fair on September 20, 7:00 pm at South High. The fair is open to all district students and their families. There will be college representatives from across the country. The district college fair will provide valuable information for sophomores as they explore various colleges.
JUNIORS
The junior year is very important. Students should persevere with a challenging curriculum which is appropriate to their abilities. They should start to accumulate work samples and projects for a personal portfolio. Writing samples are always wise to keep and may be used later in the college application process. Juniors should participate in school and/or community activities for enrichment, experience and fun. A strong resume can set a student apart from the competition as well as open the door for more scholarship opportunities. Juniors should meet with the various college representatives who visit North. These meetings are informational and help students to make comparisons among different colleges as well as make an important contact person. They are usually scheduled during academic lab and take about 20 minutes. The schedule of college representative visits is posted on the counseling website. The list is constantly updated, so students are encouraged to check the website frequently.
Juniors should plan on attending the Parkway District College Fair on September 20, 7:00 pm at South High. The fair is open to all district students and their families. There will be college representatives from across the country. The district college fair will provide valuable information for juniors as they explore various colleges.
SENIORS
Seniors must continue to work hard and strive to maintain a strong academic record. In addition, seniors provide positive role models for the entire school. These leadership skills obtained in high school will provide valuable experience in future endeavors.
The senior year will pass quickly; therefore, it is important to plan wisely. The college application process can be time consuming and it is important to remember that college deadlines are final. Students should make appointments with their counselors to discuss their post-high school plans.
Senior credit letters will be sent to families at the beginning of September. Most seniors are on track to graduate in May 2012. Please read the letter carefully to determine exactly what your student needs to graduate. Additionally, counselors will be meeting with each senior during English classes to review graduation credits and discuss post-secondary plans. If you have questions, contact your student’s counselor by phone or e-mail, which you will find on the North High website.
All requests for having records sent to colleges and universities will be submitted electronically through the Naviance program. Students registered their account with Naviance during junior year. Those students who have forgotten their password, or have questions regarding Naviance, may speak to their counselors, Mrs. Gatti (College Secretary) or Mrs. Martin (College and Career Coordinator). Parents/guardians must provide written permission prior to any records being sent to colleges and universities. If you have not signed the Parkway North High School Consent Form, you may do so by visiting the counseling website. The form can be downloaded, signed and returned to Linda Gatti in the Counseling Department.
To access Parkway North’s Home Website, containing college scholarship and summer programs, use www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/north.
The Parkway college webpage is www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/college.
Seniors should plan on attending the Parkway District College Fair on September 20, 7:00 pm at South High. The fair is open to all district students and their families. There will be college representatives from across the country. The district college fair will provide valuable information for seniors as they make their final decisions about the colleges to which they will be applying this fall.
ATTENTION: PARENTS OF ATHLETES:
Students who are interested in playing college sports need to be aware of the following:
-NCAA (National College Athletic Association) determines eligibility to play sports at the college level for Divisions I, II & III.
-Eligibility is based on a number of factors, including athletic ability, academic record/GPA, ACT composite score and specific high school courses— www.ncaa.org.
-Students must contact their counselors to indicate their desire to play sports at the college level.
-Students must work with their counselors to choose the appropriate classes for eligibility; some core academic classes at North High are not NCAA approved for eligibility.
-Students who want to play NCAA Division I, II or III sports must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of their junior year— www.eligibilitycenter.org.
-Seniors interested in playing sports for NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) should register by visiting the website— www.PlayNAIA.org.