3rd Quarter
- After Spring Break, individual meetings for entering course requests and general follow-up
PLAN & PSAT
PSAT and PLAN scores will have been distributed in sophomore homerooms either just before or after the Christmas break. From the Guidance Department's perspective, the most significant value of administering these tests is the opportunity for the student to learn more about the tests and how he might better prepare for them. Simply learning the scores and discarding the materials is of minimal value, and may only serve to reinforce negative aspects of competition.
In order to help students learn about themselves in relation to these evaluative instruments, the test booklets are returned with the test reports, which include the student's responses, the correct responses, and the category for each test item. The PLAN also provides information on his interests as they relate to possible careers and his requests for particular assistance.
Hold onto these materials. If there is little interest in thoroughly reviewing the results right away, save them and pull them out a few weeks before the next test.
Course Selection Process
After their class meeting on course electives and requirements, sophomores and their parents should look over the plan worked out with their son's counselor last year. Students will receive registration forms in February and will bring these home for discussion and parental signatures. The completed form will be returned in a conference with the counselor, at which time their course requests will be entered.
Refer to the Parent-Student Handbook for a list of all electives and to your copy of the "Tentative Course Selections" sheet from last year's parent-student-counselor conference. Please call the counselor if you have questions.
While we push to enter student requests into the computer, know that SLUH is very accommodating when it comes to making changes, even in the summer or into the first two weeks of a semester.
Regarding honors/AP courses, it is usually best for a student to take the most challenging program offered to him. Sometimes, this may result in a student taking three or four advanced courses. Assuming that the student has been recommended for these courses, we generally advise that he take most, if not all of these options, as they are a way of placing your son with students who are similar in motivation and ability. Call the counselor if you have questions.
