OHS Freshmen Newsletter
October 2021
October highlights in the counseling center
- On-going student support as needed
- 9th Grade focus: courses, clubs/sports and building healthy relationships
- College Application Week: The Road to College Starts Freshmen Year: Oct 18– Oct 22, 2021
- Red Ribbon Week October 23-31 (Making Healthy Choices)
As a Freshman student...What should be my focus?
Students should focus on their courses, join some clubs and/or sports, build health relationships with peers, and do their best as they begin to build their high school record.
While the transition from middle school to high school can be challenging for both students and parents, here are some tips to help with this transition.
- The key to freshman year is to stay organized, manage your time and remain focused on your academics.
- Study in advance for all exams and use your time effectively to complete assignment on time.
- Review our class notes on a daily basis to reinforce what you learned in class.
- Get extra help during 5th period. All teachers have extra help days during 5th period. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive academic support, or even ask your teachers the questions you may not feel comfortable asking in class. Remember, you should bring written questions to discuss with your teacher.
- Getting involved in the school and the community will help you explore your personal interests. A list of clubs are available on the Orange high school website.
Cellphones in classrooms contribute to failing grades:
Cellphones and laptops can be distracting for students in classrooms, and new research also shows that using electronic devices can even lower students’ grades. Check out this article to find out if your cell phone could be hurting your grades: click here
Red Ribbon Week: Making Good Choices: The Danger's of Vaping!
Vaping impacts the developing brain.
Student's developing brains are more susceptible to addiction and e-cigarettes essentially provide a smoke-free way to inhale nicotine, which is more addictive than heroin, cocaine or alcohol. Some brands of e-cigarettes contain a dangerously high level of nicotine – more than twice what is found in traditional cigarettes and other e-cigarettes. Nicotine mixed with a developing brain can lead to addiction, reduced impulse control and mood disorders. Nicotine also negatively impacts the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for attention, decision-making, judgment and planning.
If you or someone you know is addicted to e-cigarettes reach out to a trusted adult for help such as teacher, counselor, parent, nurse or medical professional.
DEVELOP A SLEEP ROUTINE- WHY ENOUGH SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR SUCCESS
Getting enough sleep is critical for students to be successful in school. Students who do not get enough sleep have difficulty concentrating and learning as well as they can.
Set a consistent bedtime every night. Having a bedtime routine that is consistent will help your settle down and fall asleep. Components of a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading, listening to calming music, etc.
Turn off electronic devices well before bedtime.
Insufficient sleep is associated with lower academic achievement in high school and college, as well as higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. The optimal amount for adolescents (13-18 year of age) is in the range of 8-10 hours per night .
STRUGGLING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT?
Don't get discouraged, it isn't magic! But it does require desire, dedication and a lot of work. Active listening, reading comprehension, note-taking, time management, test taking, and memorization are a few study skills for students.
Here are some valuable strategies for effective study skills from, Princeton Review:
- Identify more than one study space. Variety helps!
- Get real. Be realistic about how long your assignments should take
- Track more than homework in a school planner. Include all activities and social commitments and plan accordingly.
- Use class time wisely. If you have time after class, ask your teacher to clarify a concept that seems fuzzy.
- Start small. Complete assignments in small chunks.
- Create a simple system to stay organized. Try separate folders for handouts for each subject. Nothing fancy!
- Look over your notes each night. Fill in details. Highlight key concepts. Interacting with your notes will help you remember them.
- Establish a routine. Try to do homework around the same time every day.
- Study a little every day.
- Don’t let a disappointing grade keep you down. Take proactive steps to improve.
- Create a distraction-free zone. Turn off the devices! Or at least turn off the notifications until homework is done.
- Make a friend in every class. Help and support each other!
College Application Week: The Road to College starts Freshmen year!
The road to college really starts your freshman year. You’ll stay ahead of the pack if you avoid these common mistakes freshmen make. Not all freshmen make these mistakes, but it’s important to be aware of them so you don’t hurt your school transcript or your grade point average (GPA).
Remember that your GPA means a lot when it comes to college admissions. The person in control of your education and your future is you, not your teachers, friends or parents. High school is an exciting, new and fun time, and you should definitely make the most of the experience. But remember that your senior year and college admissions will be upon you before you know it, and a little preparation early can go a long way. It's up to you to start planning for college now and working on keeping your GPA high and your transcript impressive.
Start planning for college by avoiding the following mistakes:
1. Believing your freshman year doesn't really count and you can improve your grades later.
If you slack off in your first year, it will be really hard to catch up later. Don’t forget: Your freshman year grades count toward your overall grade point average as much as your grades in later years, and you want that GPA to be high to better qualify you for college admissions.
2. Sacrificing your grades for your social life.
You should definitely try to have a rich social life in high school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get good grades too. Good grades are your ticket to getting into great colleges and universities, which in turn gives you more career choice and opportunities. Remember that while high school may seem like forever, it’s only four years, but the college you choose and your subsequent career affects the rest of your life.
Click here for mistakes 3 through 10).
Join a Club
Don't Miss Out: Get Important Updates from the Counseling Office
Get important information and updates from the Counseling Office right on your phone.
Receive texts or notifications through remind:
For text messages:
Send a text to 81010 with the following message:
- For 9th grade students and parents-@oh2025
- For notifications:
Download the remind app, tap join a class and search by the same remind codes above.
Meet Your Team: Grade 9 (Class of 2025)
9th Grade Administrator
- Mrs. Tenisha Williamson
- Mrs. Crystal Laws
Social Worker
- TBD
Career and Development Coordinator
- Mr. Nick Montgomery
Career Coach
- Ms. Tiffany Robinson (Durham Tech)
School-Based Therapist
- We also have a full-time school-based therapist in our building! Families interested in learning more about how this works or getting connected with this service should contact your student's school counselor for more information and/or a referral.
The role of the OHS School Counselor
The Orange High School counselors are here to assist students in achieving success in all aspects of their lives. We encourage students to book an appointment to come ask questions, seek information, and get support when needed. We are here to provide individual guidance on academic, personal, extracurricular, and post-secondary options. Each counselor serves a portion of the high school. Currently, Ms. Laws serves the freshmen caseload of 420 students. Therefore, it is imperative that we make an appointment to ensure that you can been seen by your Counselor.
The counseling offices are directly behind the main office.
Counseling office hours are: 8:30am-4:15pm on regular school days.
If you need to schedule a counseling session with the 9th Grade School Counselor please use the You Can Book Me Link
Orange High School
Email: crystal.laws@orange.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.orangecountyfirst.com/ohs
Location: 500 Orange High School Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278, USA
Phone: (919) 732-6133