| A Look into the
Future-this classroom
activity asks students to imagine what their lives
will be like at age 35 to stimulate a discussion about
goal setting and planning for the future.
Annual Reviews-each
8th grader meets with his/her counselor to review
their middle school experience and articulate how
these experiences relate to their future.
Self Awareness Through Decision
Making-this classroom unit
focuses on the decision making process as a tool for
high school program planning and career development.
Students are given information about graduation
requirements and Guilderland High School Course
offerings and are provided with recommendations from
their 8th grade teachers to assist them in selecting
an appropriate level of courses.
8th Grade Home and Career Skills-students
continue to engage in age appropriate career
exploration activities. Each student completes a job
shadowing experience in which they “follow”
someone employed in a career they are interested in.
8th Grade Parent Night at
Guilderland High School-Eighth
graders and their parents attend a program at GHS
where they are provided with information about various
academic programs and have an opportunity to meet with
representatives from the academic departments to ask
questions. The 9th grade course selection process is
completed at this evening program.
Women in Math and Science/Boys’
Career Day Conferences-career
exploration activities conducted concurrently for male
and female 8th grade students, the conferences offer
students a chance to find out more about career areas
that interest them. Girls and boys are taken to
separate locations for a half-day, where they are
seated at a table with an adult career role model and
about 7-8 other students. There
is a keynote speech and at least three 25-minute
career sessions.
High School Visits-The
first visit occurs when all 8th graders are bussed to
the high school to view the musical production. A
second visit occurs at the end of the school year when
8th graders attend an assembly during which they hear
from representatives of a variety of student programs.
Students are then lead on a tour of the building by
high school students and spend time meeting with 9th
grade teachers. They are then bussed home directly
from the high school.
Grade 9 Orientation-Prior
to the opening of school, 9th graders attend an
orientation program at which time they receive their
schedules and can familiarize themselves with the
building and staff.
Planning the High School Program-an
evening workshop for the parents of 8th graders
presented by members of the FMS and GHS School
Counseling Staff. The main goal of the program is to
disseminate information about high school graduation
and testing requirements as well as providing
guidelines to be used in helping students select the
appropriate course of study in high school.
In addition to the
formal activities listed, the Middle School, simply by
it’s nature and focus on integrating instruction
across the curriculums, aids students in developing
skills which will assist in their educational and life
transitions. Change is inevitable. But with careful
planning and attention to the needs of students, we
can assist them in adjusting to the normal
developmental challenges that come with transitions.
If you feel your
child is having difficulty handling the transition to
or from Middle School, it is important that you
communicate this to your child’s teachers and/or
counselor. Teachers and counselors will work with you
to address the individual needs of your child in
dealing with the changes he or she is experiencing. |
