Lexington High School
SOPHOMORE PARENT
WORKSHOP
What To Expect As A 10th Grader
 More Courses to Choose From
 More Extracurricular Activities and
Programs
 More Independence & Responsibility
 More Social Events
 Greater Need for Time Management &
Organization
AGENDA
 Upperclassman Transitions & Risky Behavior




Town and School Resources
Post-Secondary Planning
Parent Role
Q&A
Upperclassman Transitions
& Risky Behavior
Comic from benitaepstein.com
High School Transitions
What we know:
 high school years are stressful and challenging
 Parents have dreams and hopes
 It’s easy to lose sight of day to day living
 “It’s about the journey not the destination”
 The pressure to succeed can have real life health
consequences
Short term stress is important for
success
Long term stress can impact emotional and
physical health
Many teens experience long term stress in their
pursuit of success
Long term stress can cause:
 depression
 anxiety
 cutting
 psychosomatic symptoms including: headaches,
stomach aches
 use of alcohol and other drugs
 eating disorders
 sexually acting out
What Parents Can Do
 Remember to breath
 “Put the oxygen mask on before you put it on your
child”, Wendy Mogel, author of “Blessings of a Skinned Knee”
 Reflect on what our own values and beliefs are
 Realistic expectations
 Teach our children to become responsible, caring family
members and members of society
What Parents Can Do
 Helping our children learn to balance the pressures.
Teach them healthy coping strategies through example
and conversation.
 Know the warning signs of potential health related issues.
 Know your child and what they feel passionate about.
 Provide guidance to your child but encourage them to have
responsibility for the tasks of preparing for their futures.
 Guidance and other resources
 Reach out to other parents and supports.
 Make time for fun and down time. Maintain a sense of
humor.
Town & School
Resources
Town Resources
Human Services Department
The Town of Lexington Human Services Department works
to ensure the provision of core social services, including
direct services such as limited case management,
stabilization and parent support, promoting health and well
being, advocacy, financial support, educational and
support programs, cultural outreach and recreational
programs
for
residents
of
all
ages
and
backgrounds. These services are provided by Human
Services Department social workers at no cost to the
resident.
Human Services Department
 www.lexingtonma.gov/humanservices/youthfamily.
cfm
 Meet with Emily Lavine, LICSW, Assistant Director
of Family & Human Services (1 – 5 times)
 Address a variety of concerns such as stress,
family dynamics, life events, etc.
 Services provided to residents at no charge
School Resource
Guidance Department
The primary purpose of the Guidance and
Counseling Department is to promote the
educational and social/emotional development
of our students. The counselors help students
and their families to manage adjustment
difficulties and emotional impediments to the
students’ academic progress.
How To Reach The
Counseling Department




Telephone
E-Mail
Schedule an Appointment
Web Page: lps.lexingtonma.org
POST-SECONDARY
PLANNING
2015 Graduation Requirements
 104 credits
 Course Distribution Requirements
– English 16 credits, Math 16 credits, Social Studies 16
credits, Science 18 credits, Foreign Language 8 credits,
Fine Arts 8 credits, Physical Education 6 credits,
Wellness 2 credits
 MCAS – ELA, Mathematics, and Science
 40 Hours Community Service
Sophomore Programming
 In Sophomore Seminars Students …
– Follow up to Career Day
 Develop Career Awareness
– Identify Strengths & Areas of Interest
– Acquire Self-Knowledge
– Receive Assistance with Academic Planning
and Testing Information
Course Selection
 Begins mid-February
 Curriculum Night – February 13th
 Course Catalogue available online
lps.lexingtonma.org/lexingtonhs
 Important to select a well-balanced schedule
 Placement Review & Approval for Outside
Coursework Deadline = March 15th
 27 credits
MA State College and UMass
Minimum Admission Requirements
English – 4 years
Mathematics – 3 years (Alg I, Alg II, Geo)
Science – 3 years (2 Lab Sciences)
Social Studies – 2 years (US History)
Foreign Languages – 2 years (single
language)
 Electives – 2 years





Minimum Required Grade
Point Average & SAT
 Weighted GPA = 3.0
 Applicants who meet the GPA requirement
do not have to use the sliding scale for
admission.
Highly Selective College
Admission Requirements
 English – 4 years at the most rigorous level you
can handle
 Mathematics – 4 years including Trigonometry and
Pre-calculus
 Science - 3-4 years of lab sciences
 Social Studies – 3-4 years including (1) year of US
History and (1) year of European History
 Foreign Language – 3-4 years (single language)
 Electives – 2-3 years
FAQ’s About the Advanced
Placement Program (AP)
 What is the difference between credit and
placement
– Some colleges award credit for qualifying AP
Exam grades.
FAQ’s About the Advanced
Placement Program (AP)
 Can I earn college credit or placement just
by taking the AP course?
– Colleges and universities give credit or
placement only for qualifying AP Exam grades,
not AP course grades.
Family Connection
 Family Connection is a comprehensive
website that you and your child can use to
help in making decisions about colleges &
careers.
 The web address for Family Connection is:
http://connection.naviance.com/lexington .
Guest Password: lhsguidance
Post-Secondary Planning
See 10th & 11th Grade Calendars
On the LHS Guidance Website
Standardized Testing
 MCAS – Administered in March, May, and June
 SAT Subject Tests – Biology & History
- administered in May or June
- collegeboard.org
 AP Exams – Sophomore Year
- only take if you are in the course
- Administered mid-May @ LHS
 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT) – Administered October Junior Year
John and Abigail Adams
Scholarship Program
 Non-need based & state-supported aid to reward and
attract high performing students to MA public higher
education
 Massachusetts public high school students
 score of Advanced on the ELA or Mathematics test and a
score of Proficient or higher on the other test; AND
 have combined scores from the MCAS ELA and
Mathematics tests that place them in the top 25 percent of
students in the graduating class in their district.
 The state to notifies Lexington Public Schools in the Fall of
senior year
 Stanley Koplik Certificate of Mastery
Parent Role
Tips For Parents
 At the beginning of each term, sit with your child
and set realistic academic goals for the term.
 Encourage your child to be involved in
extracurricular activities. Show your support by
attending events.
 Help your child explore and evaluate a variety of
career and educational options.
 Help your child develop independence by
encouraging him/her to take responsibility for
balancing homework with other activities.
What Parents Can Do
 Assist your child with course selection
– Solicit the assistance of guidance counselor as needed.
 Communicate with your child’s teachers and
counselor re: academic progress, and course
expectations.
 Call with concerns about recent changes in
behavior, attitude, and/or academic performance.
 Ask for resources outside of school to assist with
social/emotional issues.
What Parents Can Do Cont…
 Tour college campuses or visit their web
sites.
 Is your child interested in attending a U.S.
military academy?
 Begin to plan financially for college as early
as possible.
Question and Answers
Any questions not addressed during the time
allowed should be submitted on an index
card to the Director of Guidance
Thank You