High School on the Horizon!
Each student’s time in Manteca Unified School District, from TK – 12th grade, is an educational journey – and the transition from elementary to high school is a particularly exciting next step!
As 8th grade students get ready to leave the campus they have come to know so well, they will be exploring a much larger one that will be brand new to them! Students can sometimes feel nervous or overwhelmed by the idea of moving on to high school, which is why counselors are there every step of the way..
“Transitioning to high school is both exciting and anxiety provoking (in the best way)!” shares Lisa Wilson, a Lathrop High School Counselor. “Freshmen start out as small fish in a big pond, with lots of new and different faces. Their classes are longer, and they have more teachers, more work, and more expected from them than ever before. While this can be daunting, it is also an exhilarating time! Students make new friends, establish supportive relationships with teachers and staff, try new things, and get to become part of a loving and spirited high school community.”
High School Counselors have one of the most important roles in MUSD, as they help guide students and families during their journey to and during high school.
Each year, following Winter Break, counselors from each
comprehensive high school visit elementary sites in their school boundary area to discuss classes and opportunities. During this event, students are handed a “Course Catalog” which lists class offerings across Manteca Unified. Students and families are then encouraged to review the catalog to select courses that are school-specific. Even as students get older, parents and guardians continue to play an important role in their child’s educational journey throughout high school.
Sierra High School Counselor Adrian Hernandez often encourages students to explore new territory when selecting courses. She states, “Students should try new things and embrace all that high school has to offer as they practice self-advocacy and responsibility. The Course Catalog is a great resource for students and families to plan for success — it has detailed information about class offerings, requirements, and pathways. It’s an amazing tool to help plan a student’s high school career and beyond.”
Another significant way that counselors support students’ transition to high school is the annual 8th Grade Parent Night. Hosted in late winter following their visits to elementary schools, high schools invite both students and their families to attend this in-person event, which includes presentations from principals, counselors, teachers, athletic
coaches and staff about classes, campus culture, expectations, extracurricular opportunities, and more. These Parent Nights are also an opportunity to remind parents of the importance of checking emails, Q Student and Parent Connect accounts, and following the school’s social media platforms to stay up to date on relevant information.
Counselor Lisa Wilson states, “When students begin as freshmen in August, they should take advantage of all opportunities, help, support, and programs available to them. They will learn different things and grow as a person!” If students are unsure where to locate these support systems, visiting their high school’s counseling office is a great first step.
“School sites try to prepare students and parents for how to be successful in high school, and having a plan will only make students more successful. Parents appreciate 8th Grade Night because they like to see what clubs and electives are available to their child next school year, and their feedback has been informative for us as we continue this practice,” states Samuel Gonzales, a counselor at Weston Ranch High School.
Following 8th Grade Parent Nights, academic counselors return to elementary schools to have a one-on-one meeting with each 8th grade student. During these meetings, counselors answer questions and enroll students in their freshman classes. Families are invited to this meeting and are strongly encouraged to attend as they are critical partners in their child’s education.
The end of the school year will be here before we know it. There is so much for 8th graders to look forward to in the coming months: school dances, field trips, and celebration ceremonies. But as 8th graders prepare to leave their campuses behind, we would like to leave them with one request:
Over the next few months, soak in your time at your elementary school, where you have grown from an early learner to a maturing student ready to take on a new adventure. We understand your eagerness to begin high school and “grow up”, but this is a time to appreciate the teachers, staff, and friends you have made along the way. While change can be bittersweet, we have no doubt that high school will be all that you dreamed of – and more.
- Abigail Guillermo, 8th Grade Student Body President“Neil Hafley taught me how to be more caring. I’m going to take everything I learned here into my leadership classes in high school.”Students at Neil Hafley and Veritas Elementary Schools Work with Counselors to Plan their Freshman Year