Prepared to Thrive! The Playbook for Success in 9th Grade & Beyond

PREPARE THRIVE! TO

The Playbook for Success in 9th Grade & Beyond

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“Wait until you get to high school.” That warning, often coming from the mouth of a seasoned high schooler, strikes fear into the heart of many middle schoolers–especially eighth graders.

The move to high school is incredibly exciting yet often brings to mind increased workloads, social pressures, and—perhaps most intimidating of all— grades “counting” in terms of college admissions.

While there is truly no need for fear, it is wise for students and parents to think ahead and prepare for this transition year. This book, divided into three topic areas, can help guide you on this journey.

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The Predictive Power of Ninth Grade A brief look at research around the importance of freshman year

2

Home Base Help How parents & guardians can create an environment that thrives

3

Ask Your School How does your school set freshmen up for success?

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The Predictive Power of Ninth Grade A brief look at research around the importance of freshman year

There is no single year of school that will determine a child’s future. However, there are pivotal times when students begin building foundational skills.

1

THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF NINTH GRADE

The transition from eighth to ninth grade is one such pivotal time. The Predictive Power of Ninth-Grade GPA, a study by UChicago Consortium on School Research, found that: angle-right Ninth grade can be a make-or-break

experience for students. angle-right Students who have strong freshman grades are

likely to do well academically in the future.

You’ll want to share this data with your children, but do so gently. Knowledge is power, and students need to know that ninth grade matters a lot. However, it’s equally important that they understand that there is plenty of room for error— nobody expects them to excel right out of the gate!

Families and educators should embrace the “stumbling” that comes along with any new experience. Each “error” along the ninth grade journey represents great potential to grow and learn. The good news is that educators know this and should be prepared to provide encouragement and guidance during this critical transition.

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Home Base Help There are many ways parents and guardians can help with the sometimes bumpy transition from middle school to high school. One of the most common reasons for a rough transition to high school is a lack of preparation.

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HOME BASE HELP

Taking simple steps now to develop positive routines and learning mindsets will help your teen build confidence and skills as they enter this next high-impact phase of their academic career. angle-right Personalize Routines: Work with your child to create

effective routines for homework, studying, and chores.

Rather than dictating when and where school work should take place, talk to your child about the processes and timelines that work best for them. Just as you set routines when your child was little to keep them grounded and stable, routines can now help them feel in control of their changing surroundings and help them build successful habits that will help them throughout high school and far beyond into their work lives. angle-right Create Study Spaces: Most of us need quiet to concentrate,

which makes a study space away from distractions like siblings, phones, television, and music* the best option.

Studies have shown that phones are a distraction when they are in the room, even when turned off, so be sure to limit their use while studying. *There is conflicting research about whether music helps some people study better.

Discuss this with your child, suggest they do some of their own research, and let them know recent research suggests music (especially with lyrics) is a distraction.

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HOME BASE HELP

angle-right Decision-Making: To prepare your teen for high school,

and life in general it is important to begin shifting decisionmaking to the student. Where appropriate, allow your child to make their own decisions regarding extracurricular activities, subjects of interest, and schedules to help them gain ownership and confidence in their decision-making. angle-right Sleep: Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is

integral to learning and memory consolidation, so help your child prioritize sleep over other activities. Lack of sleep is linked to decreased attentiveness, decreased short-term memory, inconsistent performance, and delayed response time. More and more schools are implementing later start times in recognition of this biological need.

P R E PA R E T O T H R I V E ! | H O M E B A S E H E L P

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HOME BASE HELP

angle-right Talk About School: It can be challenging for parents and

guardians to stay connected with students because many teens spend so much time outside the home — at school, extracurricular activities, jobs, or with peers. Make efforts to talk with your teen every day so they know that what goes on at school is important to you. Rather than focus on grades, ask what they are learning and what interests them. When teens know their parents are interested in their academic lives, they’ll take school seriously as well.

This is a wonderful article by psychologist and author Lisa Damour about how to talk with your (possibly reluctant) child about school.

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Ask Your School When families and schools collaborate, it sets the stage for students to achieve their highest possible academic and personal outcomes. Ask your child’s school what plans they have in place to help students through the challenges of the transition to high school.

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ASK YOUR SCHOOL

Here are some questions that can help get the conversation started: angle-right What Does Orientation Look Like?

It is important to understand how your child will be onboarded to their new learning environment. Most schools offer a student orientation program to help guide freshmen through their transition. angle-right Are There Mentors or Advisors?

Some schools also provide buddy or mentor programs that match freshmen with older students who can help them through their first year. Reach out to your child’s school to find out more information about their program and inquire about additional opportunities, like summer school or private tours, to help facilitate your child’s transition.

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ASK YOUR SCHOOL

angle-right Is Support Ongoing?

Once classes have begun, schools should provide ongoing feedback loops and mechanisms to support your child’s academic progress. For example, many schools offer interim grades to allow students and parents early insight into their projected performance. Does the school offer in-school or after-school learning centers or tutoring? If students fall behind or struggle to keep up with their work, when and how does the school intervene? Reach out to your child’s administrator to understand the ongoing mechanisms for support before they become an issue so you and your child can help advocate for additional help when needed.

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For more information about St. Luke’s School, please visit www.stlukesct.org/admissions Interested in visiting our campus? Learn more and register to attend an upcoming event: www.stlukesct.org/visit

A secular (non-religious) private school for grades 5-12 serving over 30 towns in Connecticut and New York.

(203) 801- 4833 | admissions@stlukesct.org | www.stlukesct.org | 377 North Wilton Road, New Canaan, CT 06840