Youth Empowerment Seminar
Michael Johnson
Assistant Principal
South Cobb High School
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• What are some of the problems that students
encounter while in high school
• 8th Graders
– Peer Pressure
– Lack of Support (Parents, role models)
– Weak academic skills (Reading, Math)
– Lack of school support (tutoring, enrichment)
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• How Can You Turn This Around?
– Ask for assistance, especially if you already know
that you are weak academically
– Look in the school for resources (media center
hours before and after school, study groups, extra
curricular activities)
– Choose friends who have high standards and goals
– Where do you find such friends? In clubs, in the
media center, in front of the class, at the teachers’
door before class
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• Parent Roles for Middle School Students:
– Get involved in your school, become a class
parent, visit unannounced, volunteer and
supervise with activities
– Meet the Principal and Assistant
Principals/attendance clerk, Guidance Counselor,
and school secretary
– Purchase and keep an accurate academic calendar
( mark all important meetings, holidays, breaks,
etc.)
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
•Ask about tutoring, extra credit, ask for a syllabus, use
the internet system to track your child’s progress and
attendance
•Keep all records, including health records and report
cards in a file or strongbox
•Attend all open houses, know the PTA/PTSA president,
exchange contact with other volunteer parents (email?)
•Meet the Principal and Assistant Principals/attendance
clerk, Guidance Counselor, and school secretary
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• Parent Roles – Middle School Student
• Set Study hours – no excuses
• Check for homework, make sure it is accurate and
turned in the next day (keep a copy)
• Schedule a conference at the first reporting
period – Make Time for this – IT IS CRITICAL
• Students and parents must continually follow up
– do not accept more than 48 hours without a
response from a request for information!!
Student Responsibilities – 8th Grade
Must Do’s:
• Establish a study time each day
• Get organized and keep up with your assignments
• Get and use a planner and calendar (enter quiz
and test dates)
• Keep up with the school website information
• Talk with your parent(s) about your day,
assignments and other items coming up. Tell
your parents well in advance when you need
money for school issues/events
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• Questions?
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
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High School Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming you know something/listening to
your friends who assume too
Choosing the wrong classes-taking a class that
you have already passed, taking no rigorous
courses
Waiting until you are failing before you ask for
help
Studying only when it’s test time
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
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Things To Do
Explore the web for great sites for help such as
ACTstudent.org, collegeboard.com (for the SAT),
gacollege411.org
Learn to read and write very well
Practice studying in more than one way (listening,
hands on, reading, memorizing)
Take Good Notes – go over these at night
Study daily – it’s like putting money in the bank
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
Tips for parents of high school students
• Always meet the principal and all teaches at each
semester, and especially when report cards are
issued
• Attend all parent meetings, events (open house),
read all parent information issued and fully
understand all school policies
• Stay in touch with those in touch with your child
-phone, email, school/district websites- submit
any changes in address, phone, etc. ASAP
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR
• How to get the most scholarships
• Know your child’s grade point average (GPA)
at all times
• Make sure that your child takes the following
examinations :
ACT/SAT/ASVAB/PSAT/Advanced Placement
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR