Shadow Program

1. What is being done to help the eighth grade students transition from junior high school to high school? • Shadow Program • As part of RTTT the JCJHS students will be registering for My Plan For College which they will be able to access throughout their junior/senior high school years. • Parent Conferences • Presentation by Brian McCann to the 8th graders in December and May regarding course offerings, electives and JCHS requirements. • Joint department meetings between JCJHS and JCHS. • End of year joint department meeting between 8th and 9th grade teachers.

2. What is being done to help the eighth grade students transition from junior high school to high school? • A representative from the high school attends SPED meetings at the junior high school for incoming 9th graders when appropriate. • Orientation for grade 8 parents regarding the program of studies, course selection, and school activities/sports. • First day orientation. All faculty members gather in the auditorium to welcome the freshman. From that point, the students are assigned to a faculty advisor/mentor who will meet with the student throughout their high school years. • The guidance dept. answers parent inquires regarding the high school curriculum. • Math placement test.

3. What has the guidance department done differently over the past year? • Peer Mediation Program • MASCA professional development • Junior high advisory in planning phase • Beginning implementation of Mass. Model for Comprehensive School Counseling programs. • Both guidance department s is open at 6:45 a.m. so the students/parents/faculty have access to the services. • Your Plan for College (currently at HS, to be implemented at JHS) • Guidance director /counselor is part of the leadership team. • Increase parent communication – six parent mailings to date • The guidance counselors are advisors to six groups

4. What has the guidance department done differently over the past year? • Senior/Freshman parent social • Senior Packet (revised) • The guidance counselors are now in the main lobby before and after school to be more visible to the students. Guidance Counselor on duty during all 3 lunches • Karen Fisher is now housed in the guidance suite. • Gay/Straight Alliance • The HS guidance department has standing Monday morning meetings that include the administration, SPED, and guidance counselors’. • All the guidance counselors document meetings, telephone calls, classroom presentations etc. on the X2 program. • Guidance eBoards/web pages

5. How is the guidance department focusing on reaching all the students not just some of them? • 5th grade parent orientation • Classroom visits • JHS is in the process of implementing Mass. Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Program • CHIP/CAST Team. This team meets once a week to discuss students who are having difficulty socially/emotionally/academically. • Development of an 8th grade advisory program. • The guidance curriculum we use is developmentally based meaning it includes both small and large group activities that address the developmental issues of ALL students. • HS Classroom activities: • Senior packets, SAT orientation, course selections, financial aid presentations, financial aid packets, PSAT orientation. • HS Group activities: • Making High School Count, Making the College Search Count, Freshman – Senior orientation, course selection orientations and sophomore career day. • Advisory program. This is a personalized program set up to connect each student with a faculty advisor.

6. How is the guidance department focusing on reaching all the students not just some of them? • Peer Tutoring. This program is composed of National Honor Society Students who provide tutoring to their peers. • MCAS preparation and remediation • Saturday school • BCC – On the spot admissions day (1/26/12) • College fair • College presentations from various schools • Virtual High School • Tech Prep - Child Care • Dual Enrollment • Case High Alternative Program • ARCH Program • Support learning rooms • Part time work experience • Introduction to Sustainable and Green Energy Technologies, course to begin January 17th • Education Proficiency Plans

7. How is the guidance department involved in the community? • School Council – Member of the Swansea community sits on the council. • Goods for Troops/Council on Aging Food Drive • Mental Health Agencies/Social Service Agencies – Hospice, DCYF, DMR, DPH, Div. of Youth Services • Social Security Administration • Joseph Case High School Scholarship Trust Fund • WIC Program (Women, Infant & Children) • Mass Rehab. Commission • Martin House • College Fair Night/Financial Aid Night in conjunction with Somerset High School • Part-time work experience • School-to-career internships • Formal internship with the Swansea Police Dept. • Formal internship between the child care program and various child care sites in Swansea • Formal internship within the Swansea School Dept. • Provide interns for Fire Science week with the Swansea Fire Dept. The high school students go to the elementary school to discuss fire safety.

8. How is the guidance department involved in the community? • St. Anne’s Hospital Adolescent Sexual and Physical Abuse Program • South Coast Collaborative • Bristol County Juvenile Court • Citizens for Citizens • People, Inc. • Massachusetts Commission for the Blind • Career day for the sophomores and juniors. Local professionals do presentations in their respective fields to interested students. • Giving Programs • Supporting The Troops • Cranwood Home for Children • St. Vincent de Paul • In some cases, JCHS provides services for the families of the students as well as the students

9. Do we have a mentoring/advisory program at JCHS? • Beginning in their freshman year, all students are assigned to an adult mentor. This mentor will follow the student throughout their high school years. Each mentor has approximately 12-15 students who meet bi-monthly as a group. This personalized advisory program ensures that every student feels wanted, has a voice, and is heard. Through the advisory program the students develop key social and academic skills that they will need to succeed both in school and in life. The advisory program is also a vehicle for students to make connections with their peers as well as teachers. • An advisory program is in the planning phase at the junior high school. This is part of RTTT project 4C.

10. What are the “triggers” that bring students to the guidance department? The students are referred by the administration, nurse, teachers, parents, coaches, bus driver, and self referral. • Situations that may bring a student to the guidance department include: family crisis, death, divorce, school failure, peer conflicts, interpersonal difficulties, depression and suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, eating disorders, disciplinary problems, child abuse/neglect, pregnancy, illness, relationship issues. The counselors may serve as an immediate support person and/or referral agent.

11. What more can we or should the school committee be doing over the next three – five years to help the guidance department? • Continue to support programs and projects designed to increase student learning and foster post-secondary success.

12. Race to the Top (RTTT) Project 4C update • Currently in Year Two • Collaborative effort between junior and senior high schools • Springboard to implement the Massachusetts Comprehensive Model for School Counseling

13. What is the guidance department proud of? • Karen Fisher: When the students walk across the stage on the first Sunday in June to receive their diploma. We know of the struggles some of our students face on a daily basis and there is no better feeling than seeing them shine on their special day.Joseph Case High School has the highest graduation rate compared to surrounding communities and one of the lowest drop out rates. This is contributed in part to the culture at Joseph Case High School which is one of respect, acceptance, tolerance, and understanding. • Linda Reidy: Although It may appear trite, I feel the most pride when a student walks into my office crying or is feeling extremely anxious and walks out of my office feeling happy.