Freshman Seminar

We can't wait to work with you and your learner for the 2024-2025 school year! Freshman Seminar is a class your learner will participate in to support their transition into high school. This class is co-taught by both grade 9 school counselors, Mrs. Gasiewski and Mrs. Carlson. The Freshman Seminar series is developmental by design, focusing on needs, interests and issues related to the various stages of student growth in three domains: personal/social, academic, career and post secondary planning. Throughout quarter 1, Freshman Seminar will be a combination of group discussion topics and individual meetings with their school counselor. As we move through the school year, the 9th grade counselors will post important information in this newsletter. We look forward to meeting you soon!

• 1/22: Teacher Recommendations finalized in PowerSchool
• 1/29: Community lessons regarding course selection and PowerSchool instructions
• 1/31 - 2/13: Program of Studies released/PowerSchool portal opens to students
• 2/4, 2/6 & 2/7: Course registration with school counselors in wellness classes
• Feb/March: Individual check in with counselors regarding course requests

• May/June: Confirmation of scheduled classes
• August: Finalized schedule uploaded in PowerSchool

Have questions about course selection for your learner?

Brianna Gasiewski and Ashley Carlson are available via Google Meet to answer any questions you have on:

Wednesday, February 5th: 8:00 am - 8:45 am

Wednesday, February 12th: 11:30 am - 12:15 pm

Thursday, February 13th: 7:30 am - 8:15 am

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pmp-bcpj-xpb

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 401-552-4570‬ PIN: ‪602 290 569‬#

We encourage you to view the Program of Studies online, where you can read course descriptions, review graduation requirements, access program planning resources, and view registration and course selection tutorials. Click this Program of Studies Tutorial to guide you through accessing the POS online.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are quickly approaching the end of Quarter 1! So far in Freshman Seminar we have focused on helping our students learn about ways to get connected here at Hall. First, we have reviewed how to connect with us and their teachers as well as connecting organizationally with systems such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Classroom on their personal devices. Second, we have reviewed effective study strategies and creating a SMART goal.

During cycle four, school counselors covered the following topics:

• Academic Planning

• Graduation Requirements

• Introduction to Naviance, a post secondary planning tool students will use throughout their high school experience.

• Taking an assessment called “Career Cluster Finder”, identifying career options based upon students interests, skills and strengths. This information will be looked at again when we select courses for next year in February.

We will continue to post Freshman Seminar presentations and supplemental materials on the 2028 Hall High School Google Classroom.

Here are a few ways you can support your learner at home:

• Continue to check in about how the transition is going. Listen more, talk less.

• Review PowerSchool with your learner and encourage their outreach and communication with teachers in a class that is more challenging.

• Support your learner in drafting an email to a teacher if they have a question or need clarification on a topic covered in class.

• Asking your learner about their SMART goal.

Thank you for your partnership,

Brianna Gasiewski and Ashley Carlson

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have enjoyed hearing from many of you over the last few weeks. Thank you for your continued communication and transparency as we work together to support your learner.

As our 9th graders are settling into the routines and expectations of high school we wanted to take this opportunity to share with them tips and strategies to maximize their academic potential.

During cycle two, school counselors covered the following topics:

• What makes a successful student?

• Effective Study Strategies

• Creating a SMART goal for Q1

During cycle three, this week, the following topics were covered:

• PSAT- what is the structure of the PSAT, how can I best prepare, why is it important to take the PSAT?

• Students will participate in the PSAT 8/9 on Thursday October 10 at 7:30 a.m.

• We will meet again with students in mid-November to review the score reports and help students interpret their results.

Over the next 3 weeks, we will start to meet with students individually to review their progress. In cycle four of freshman seminar, we will begin talking about academic planning and a program they will soon become very familiar with called Naviance.

After each cycle, students will receive a post through the 2028 Hall High School Google Classroom of the freshman seminar presentation and any supplemental materials.

Here are a few ways you can support your learner at home:

• Continue to check in about how the transition is going. Listen more, talk less.

• Support your learner in drafting an email to a teacher if they have a question or need clarification on a topic covered in class.

• Encourage your learner to be checking email, PowerSchool, Google Classroom daily.

• Watch the “6 Habits of Highly Successful Students video” that is posted in the Cycle 2 presentation.

• Ask your learner about their SMART Goal for Q1.

Thank you for your partnership,

Brianna Gasiewski and Ashley Carlson

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Hall High School! We had the pleasure of meeting with all of your learners in cycle one of Freshman Seminar. Freshman Seminar is a class your learner will participate in to support their transition into high school. This class is co-taught by both grade 9 school counselors, Mrs. Gasiewski and Mrs. Carlson. The Freshman Seminar series is developmental by design, focusing on needs, interests and issues related to the various stages of student growth in three domains: personal/social, academic, career and post secondary planning. Throughout quarter 1, Freshman Seminar will be a combination of group discussion topics and individual meetings with their school counselor.

During cycle one, school counselors covered the following topics with your learner:

• Introduction to the role of a school counselor

• How to contact and set an appointment with your school counselor

• Confidentiality and the limits to confidentiality

• Using apps for their success (PowerSchool, Google Calendar, Google Classroom, Gmail)

• Importance of communication and self advocacy, e.g. checking email daily and managing your google calendar

• Importance of class attendance and its impact on credit

• Identifying and discussing appropriate email communications and etiquette

• Discussing ways to get connected to Hall through extra curricular activities such as clubs, activities, volunteering opportunities and sports.

• Joining the “2028 Hall High School” google classroom (Class code: 5dmb7bw)

• Completing a freshman questionnaire

During cycle two, the following topics will be covered with your learner:

• What makes a successful student?

• Effective Study Strategies

• Creating a SMART goal for Q1

A parent's role is ever evolving in their child’s life. Managing your high school learner will be and feel different than managing your middle school learner. Putting your learner in the lead is an important practice in the development of their self-advocacy. Here are a few ways you can support your learner in this process:

• Have a conversation about how the transition is going. Listen more, talk less.

• Encouraging your learner to reach out to their teacher or counselor as questions and concerns arise.

• Offer support in writing an email versus writing the email for them.

As parents, we value your role in your learner's experience. Please contact us at any time throughout the school year. We look forward to working with you and your family.

Thank you for your partnership,

Brianna Gasiewski and Ashley Carlson