COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
RICHMOND HILL HIGH SCHOOL
August 2019 Newsletter
July 31st- Blood Drive
August 1- 1st day of school
August 27th- Senior Night Presentation
WHAT'S GOING ON IN 9TH GRADE...
What To Expect Your Freshman Year of High School
Freshman year of high school is a big transition for any student. Whether you’re moving from a big middle school, private school, or transitioning from another city or state, the beginning of ninth grade signals change on a number of different levels.
You’re probably starting new clubs and exploring new extracurriculars. You are selecting classes with an eye for your future and beginning to think about college. All this is on top of making new friends and maintaining old friendships, too. There’s a lot to juggle.
Luckily, you’re not the only person going through this, and plenty of others have made the transition before you too...
· Anticipate Higher Expectations
· Learn Self Advocacy
· Don’t Aim for Perfection
· Reinvent Yourself
· Start Thinking About College
WHAT'S GOING ON IN 10TH GRADE...
Think Positive Thoughts…
We all know how easy it is to default to negative thinking in our day to day life. It’s something most of us do without even realizing it. Another thing we tend to overlook is the long term affects of thinking negatively- on our health, our hearts, our relationships, and more. Here are a few tips that we could all benefit from, to make our days brighter and our lives happier!
· Start your day with positive affirmation. As you struggle to get out of bed because you’re dreading the day, stop right there and tell yourself it’s all going to be just fine and kick that pessimistic mindset EARLY in the day.
· Focus on good things, even the small ones. There will always be obstacles throughout your day. It is when we accept that, and don’t dwell on each of them, that we are freed from the weight of negativity on our bodies. Find the good in anything that you can. I.E.- Stuck in traffic? Going to be late? “Hey, at least I can finish this podcast that I’m into”
· Find humor in bad situations. Sometimes, truly the only thing you can do is laugh. When things seem like they can’t possibly get any worse, comic relief will always save the day- even if it’s just in that moment.
· Focus on the present. Meaning focus on this exact moment, not yesterday, not two hours ago, not tomorrow- the here and now. Make it a goal to strip all anxious or negative thoughts of the past and future, and only pay attention to what is happening right now. Telling yourself that you can’t control the past or the future and living by that will help eliminate a great deal of the stress and worry in your life.
· Hey! It’s time to get your Learner’s Permit or Driver’s license! *PLAN AHEAD! Submit requests by Sunday night to have your certificate that week*
o Click here for instructions and applications for learner’s permits and driver’s licenses.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN 11TH GRADE...
Welcome back, juniors! Just like that, you are officially over half way done with high school! Junior year is crucial in your academic, personal, and post-secondary journey. As you begin your junior year, it’s important to develop strong habits that you can carry with you throughout your life.
Here are 12 tips to get the brain boost you need to start the year off strong:
You don’t need ONE study space. Sometimes you need to stray from your desk at home. Try the kitchen table, a coffee shop, a local library, or a park. The change of scenery can improve your memory.
Track more than homework in your school planner. Incorporate your extracurricular activities, part-time job, SAT dates, and social commitments in your planner too! By tracking multiple areas, you can see if you really should be hanging out with friends all v
Start small. Stay motivated on big projects by completing a small piece of the project every few days. For example, write 1 paragraph per night or complete 5 math problems at a time and then take a break.
School supplies (alone) don’t make you organized. Stick to an simple, yet effective system, like color-coded binder tabs. Complicated systems are difficult to keep up, so keeping it simple is key in helping you stay organized.
Get into a routine. Find a time of day that works best for you (and your brain) to do homework. Use a planner to help you develop a routine so you can plan in advance when to do homework, hang out with friends, enjoy a hobby, or work.
Learn how to create a distraction-free zone. Studies show that it takes about 25 minutes to get back on task after a distraction. Try turning your phone on Do Not Disturb or change your settings to turn on text/call alerts. You can also block certain apps on your phone or computer temporarily to help you concentrate. Find out which strategy works best for you and make it a habit every time you sit down to study!
Get real. Be realistic about how long it actually takes to finish a project, read a chapter, or craft an essay. It might take 30 minutes to read the chapter and then an hour write the essay. Again, using a planner allows you to map out your time each day or week to make sure that you allocate enough time to do a good job on your assignments and turn them in on time!
Use class time wisely. Let’s say your teacher finished their lecture early and you still have 10 minutes of class left to work independently. Get a head start on homework in another class while it’s still fresh in your mind, or ask your teacher about concepts that were unclear from the lecture.
Look over your notes each night to make sure you’ve got it. Fill in details, edit parts that don’t make sense, and highlight bits of important information. Interacting with your notes, rather than simply reading them over and over, will help you remember them. You can also use your notes to start making flashcards to prepare you for any upcoming tests.
Study a little every day. Cramming vocabulary for a quiz might work in the short-term, but when your midterm rolls around, you’ll be back at square 1. Reviewing a 3-4 terms, dates, or important pieces of information will help you store them long-term so you can recall them on an exam or start a conversation at a party ;)
Don’t let a bad grade keep you down. A rough start to the semester doesn’t have to sink your GPA. Take proactive steps by checking your grades regularly on PowerSchool, staying after school for tutoring with your teacher, or seeking out a peer tutor.
Connect with someone in every class. Find a few people you can contact from each of your classes. Study buddies are good for homework questions and, if you miss class, they can help prevent you from falling too far behind.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN 12TH GRADE...
Gearing Up for Graduation
Seniors, the Tassel is worth the Hassle; but before donning the cap and gown there are preparations to be made. Your high school career maybe coming to an end, but for many college careers and employment opportunities are in progress or are soon to begin. Here is a list to help in the journey!
*Locate, note, and alarm application deadlines!
Deadlines for financial aid, scholarships, and college admissions will soon be upon us, even if today it appears months away. Many of these applications may require supporting documents from the school, your parents, or outside sources; and deadlines are unforgiving. Keeping an academic calendar or an app on your phone will help you track the application process and meet all your deadlines.
*Consider dual enrollment options for the Spring Term.
Ready to get the academic party started, consider looking into dual enrollment options. For those meeting the criteria, courses off campus are offered in the Spring semester at three different locations. Pass the course and receive college credit.
*SAT/ACT Retake.
Already taken the SAT/ACT’s? Not happy with your scores? Think you could have performed better or need a higher score? See your friendly Richmond Hill Counselor and schedule for the next available testing date. There is always room for growth!
*Big Fish, Bigger Pond.
A Richmond Hill Rock Star? Well, of course! We at Richmond Hill High School want nothing more than our Rock Stars to be the world’s next Super Stars. To direct each step you make toward that super star status, seek every opportunity to grow academically, socially and emotionally. Life experience is a great classroom; so try volunteering, joining a club, or connecting with new or international students.
*Do the Prep Work.
In the last four years you have prepared academically for college admissions and scholarship applications; but have you prepared for the ESSAY, INTERVIEW, or VIDEO. After years of presenting and testing on topics of study the subject matter is now YOU. To prepare yourself, research frequently asked interview and essay questions, and write out your responses. Once you have prepared a series of responses, turn on your Chromebook and record yourself. There is nothing better than testing the waters when there is no pressure.
*Line them up.
College admissions as well as scholarship/job applications require references. Now is the time to reach out to neighbors, coaches, teachers, pastors, and principals to ask for a digital reference or letter of recommendations. For many granting your request for letters, providing a summary of accomplishments, extracurricular, etc, will assist in completion within a deadline. To include an individual for a digital reference, you must request your references full name, job title, a mailing address, an email address, and a contact telephone number. Be sure to store the gathered information for future employment applications. And upon receiving the finished recommendation letters, make digital copies for use throughout the application process at various schools.
COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER
MILITARY FAMILY LIFE COUNSELOR
Due to the unique challenges faced by military families, the Department of Defense offers private and confidential counseling services to military service members and their families. The mission of the MFLC program is to provide short-term, solution focused counseling, support and education. Military counselors may assist military connected students with a variety of issues including: communication, self-esteem/self-confidence, school issues, life stressors, resolving conflicts, behavioral management techniques, building resiliency, sibling/parental relationships, and deployment and reintegration. Within a safe, therapeutic relationship, MFLCs help military children and their parents to cope with normal reactions to the varied stresses of military life, to enhance their lives and to boost military readiness and resiliency.
Dawn Imler is the military counselor at RHHS. She is on campus Tuesday/Thursday (all day) & Wednesday (morning) in the LINK. If you have any questions about the program stop by the LINK or call (912)271-9725.
RESOURCES
Personal Wellness
RHHS COUNSELOR CASELOAD:
Rhashida Bunyan- (A thru De Cesari)
Emily Neff- (De La Cruz thru Hicks)
Tam Daniels- (Hickson thru Medrano)
Debbie Kilpatrick- (Medsker-Sams)
Saraswati Hendrix- (Sanchez-Z)
Deanna Appleton (College and Career Counselor)
Dawn Imler- (Military Family Life Counselor)
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Website: https://rhhs-counselors.wixsite.com/rhhs-counselors
Location: 1 Wildcat Drive, Richmond Hill, GA, USA
Phone: 912-459-6403