You’re already taking the right steps to reducing your stress: Educating yourself!

1. You’re already taking the right steps to reducing your stress: Educating yourself!

2. Open Door Policy to come see your Academic Counselor or a Wellness Counselor • Academic Advising (Scheduling) • Academic Support • College and Career Planning • Personal or Social Concerns • Teacher or Family Issues • Just to say Hi!! We have an Open Door Policy so you can come see us anytime throughout the day and we’ll write you a pass back to class and excuse you with the attendance office.

3. Advisories and Looping – Junior and Senior Year • Which classes are Looped? English, Social Studies, and Advisory • How will my advisory be chosen? We will create ten equal advisories – your advisor might not be one of your core class teachers • Jakarata, Cusco, and Timbuktu all teach the same curriculum in their advisories • All of our Advisors are amazing!!!!

4. Choosing Classes for Junior Year English (CP and Honors are taught separately) US History (CP and AP are taught separately) Math Science World Language CTE/VPA/Health Electives? You’re required to take at least six classes during your junior year – most of you will be done with PE

5. Choosing Classes for Senior Year • All seniors need to take five classes (not including Advisory • As long as we don’t teach it here, you can take CSM classes • When signing up for classes, consider the college application process equivalent to taking a class • We will focus on making sure you get the classes you want over keeping your House pure

6. Science Selection • Physics 1-2 • AP Physics 1 (need to be in Precalculus or Calculus) • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Environmental Science • Biotech at SMHS • AP Physics 2 (senior year) • CSM Science (senior year) AP science courses aim to closely reflect what goes on in the college science lab and the true process of science and inquiry, including hypothesis testing, experimentation, and analytic reasoning

7. What is an AP class?Advanced Placement • Simply put, AP classes are more difficult than other classes. They will require at least 30% more work than another class and will take approximately an hour a night to do homework • Students will delve more deeply into topics through research, practical applications, and critical thinking • One semester of a community college class translates to a year of an AP class. • AP classes affect GPA – students will receive an extra point (However, a D will not translate to a C in an AP or Honors course.)

8. How many AP classes should I take? • This is one of the most common questions that counselors are asked. The answer varies from student to student, but a student should take AP classes they are interested in, as long as they are still able to get eight hours of sleep after finishing homework and extracurriculars. • For highly selective schools such as Ivy League schools, Stanford, and public universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley, it’s common for accepted applicants to have taken about eight AP classes throughout high school, though that number can range from five to 13. • Students can get into a four-year school with just one AP, and in some cases, with none. • Students with a high school degree can also attend community college without any AP classes, and then transfer to a four-year school.

9. AP Contract Why do we need one? • Helps us build a more accurate Master Board • Helps students/parents know the time commitment – (typically an hour a night per class) • Helps students/parents know if there’s a summer assignment. • Lets students/parents know that they are making a year long commitment to this class

10. – Prior to May 1st make sure to: • Talk to the teacher of the class • Look at their syllabus • Look at the summer assignment • Look at the book • Open House on March 15th will have a presentation on Advanced Placement Cl And remember, we give students three months to make any changes to their original course requests. Nothing is carved in stone when you sign up for classes

11. 1:1 Meetings with your Counselor • We’ll be looking at the big picture in regards to time (other commitments), grades, expectations of the course • CSM options for more variety? • Check list: Summer School, CSF, Registered for SAT/ACT?, Resume?, Colleges in Naviance? • Another 1:1 in September/October…and many more times during the Fall!

12. What to do if I’m struggling in a class • Talk to your teacher! • Attend their Office Hours • Attend free After-School Tutoring • Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays in the library – Free snacks!!! • Peer Helpers – Check with your Counselor to see if one is available • Have study groups at home • Buddy up with a classmate who is doing well • Attend tutorial time with your teacher • Speak with your Counselor

13. What stresses you out? • Identify what causes anxiety for you? Not having enough down time –athletic expectations– job obligations – family squabbles – money issues – peer pressure – relationships • What is in your control to change and what’s not? • Let go of what you can’t change.

14. Is Stress Normal? Yes, 100% • Everyone experiences some level of “normal” stress, discomfort or nervousness : Studying for tests/Rushing or running late for school/Trying out for a sports team or a school play • Generally, stress levels go down when we use healthy coping strategies that make us feel better: Talking to friends or teachers/trusted adults about what’s going on/ Taking breaks from class or homework/Having realistic goals for yourself

15. Stress vs Distress Distress is a more intense version of stress and can significantly impact aspects of your life like school, relationships, even how you feel about yourself. It can range from a rough patch to signs of mental health disorders • Feeling overwhelmed • Extreme worry, anxiety or agitation • Heartache, break-ups • Losing friends or having a hard time making them • Death of someone you care about or know

16. Reducing Stress and Anxiety • Get Plenty of Sleep! • Work on Time Management(so you can make time to sleep!) • Exercise • Eat Healthy • Express yourself – what do you like to do creatively? • Help Others • Relaxation Techniques

17. What Coping Skills do you rely on? • Talk it out • Compromise • Be positive -Look at each obstacle you encounter as a learning experience • Make the choice not to over-react to stressors • Deal with problems one at a time • Accept yourself • Laugh – It reduces stress hormones … and releases endorphins to reduce pain!

18. Managing Stress – Do’s and Don’ts DON’T... • Don’t overload on classes & activities • Don’t compare grades with others • Don’t let grades define your self-worth • Don’t try to conquer stress on your own – rely on others

19. Managing Stress DO... • Do broaden your definition of success (it’s not just about getting into an elite college!) • Do take care of your mind & body • Do ask for help if needed – don’t keep your feelings bottled up • Do research Time Management Strategies • Do maintain a sense of humor – put things into perspective

20. How do I get the sleep I need? • Develop a routine – Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday • Unplug electronic devices • Avoid caffeine – Bye Bye Starbucks! • Exercise earlier in the day – not right before bed • Avoid confrontations right before you go to bed

21. Do Something that brings you Joy! If you haven’t already started, find one thing that will carry you through high school (the newspaper, a drama group, a sport or art activity) and to try other things along the way. Academics may seem a bit challenging, and doing something you love, should bring about peace and a sense of enjoyment. If you don’t already have something, this is a year to discover interests you never knew you had.

22. How Can Parents Reduce Stress?!

23. The Importance of Listening • When you see your teen at the end of her day, don’t let the first thing you ask about be homework • Listen and then listen some more. Try not to solve your teen’s issue or conflict of the day. Rather, give your child a chance to air the issue and then acknowledge the difficulty of the dilemma. • Your teenager will talk to you when they feel safe, not when it’s convenient. It’s up to you to notice when your child’s thoughts begin to string together. Be ready to drop your plans whenever that happens.

24. Stop, Drop, and Breathe • Stop what you’re doing • Drop the agenda that you had going (cooking dinner, on your electronic device, etc. • Breathe! When you become conscious of your breathing your body gets the signal that it’s not an emergency. If your kids don’t feel heard they’re not going to come to you the next time. Don’t we want them coming to us?!

25. Regulate Your Emotions • You always have the power to calm the storm and connect to your teen • You are the grown-up. Pull it together when you see you’re close to the edge • Self Care: When you’re running on empty you can’t take care of someone else. Put yourself back on the list. Talk to yourself like someone you love

26. 80% of Parenting is Connection • All humans resist control • You won’t have influence until they feel connected • It might not seem like it but teens are desperate to connect to their parents! • I wish I could talk to my parents about this but they: - Don’t have time - Are always nagging me to do chores or homework - They don’t understand me

27. Connection Power Tools • Special 1:1 time with your Teen • Traditions and rituals • Empathy • Laughter • Connect before you Correct • Respect their Privacy

28. Emotional Coaching • Replace punishment with solutions but let your teen problem solve – it empowers them • Don’t rescue them; if they forget their field trip form their consequence is not going on the trip • Accept their emotions – It’s okay to have a bad day! • Set limits using empathy rather than threats People are more motivated by love than by fear

29. More Tips for Parents • You are still the most important influence in your teen’s life. Find ways to transmit your values to your child without lecturing: make comments on a TV show, share a news article, discuss a dilemma you had at work and ask advice. Have these discussions as conversations, not lectures. Seek your teen’s input. • Know that it’s okay for teens to want to push away. This is a healthy part of growing up and becoming independent. • Begin to shift your role from parenting to coaching. Ask questions like, “Have you considered...?” or, “Is there another option?” or, “If you try A versus B, what will happen?” “Why do you think that happened?” • Parents need to take care of themselves! When parents are less stressed, they are much better able to help their teen

30. Can there ever be too many tips for Parents?! • Encourage your student to advocate for themselves! • Network with other parents. Staying connected gives insight into the high school scene from parties to drivers licenses, from homecoming games to college application deadlines. • Do not say “no” unless you have the energy to carry through with consequences. • Always be willing to admit your mistake and say, “I am sorry.” • Go somewhere/do something different with your teen – Create memories. • Keep your sense of humor! Laugh together! Remember, you’ll blink and graduation will be here!

31. Thank You!! Thank you for taking the time to come tonight Please feel free to contact your student’s Counselor if you have questions that were not answered this evening