In this 4th installment of The KHS Counselor's Corner, the topic is Scheduling!
Students, as you recall, last week, Mr. Wedge, Mrs. Sutton, and Ms. Kanyuh (our Counselor in Training) visited 9th, 10th, and 11th grade classes to discuss the 2024-2025 scheduling process. We discussed information that was relevant to each grade level and quite possibly gave you information overload. (Sorry about that, but there's just such great information to share!) Fortunately, we started each presentation with providing directions to find where to find the information you need to make informed choices about creating a schedule that is going to best benefit you and your individual goals. (Hint: Check the tab for your grade on the top of the KHS Counseling Office's website.)
We counselors hope that one of your biggest takeaways during scheduling season is that everyone's path for toward's graduation should look different. While there are certain basic requirements all students must meet, all students have the opportunity to create their own unique schedules based on their individual interests and career pathways. Here's some interesting information about credits at Kingsford High School:
Most students know that KHS has a minimum of 24 credits required for graduation, but they often do not think about how those 24 credits create a career pathway. The number 24 is the minimum requirement, but students who pass all of their courses each year will earn 28 credits by the end of their senior year. Many of you come into the high school having earned at least one high school credit in either math or science - sometimes both. This means that upon graduation, students often have 29 or 30 credits. Since KHS only requires 18 credits of core courses, this means the average student has a minimum of 11 elective courses to use for career exploration, academic enrichment, self-discovery. That's a lot of credits!! Keep in mind, that even within those 18 required core credits, students still have a tremendous amount of flexibility to choose core courses best fit their needs. The long and short of it is that the choices are many and the opportunities are ENDLESS for students to find their own Flivver Way at KHS.
Applying the principles of the Flivver Way to how you approach scheduling and your Educational Development Plan could help guide your decision making.
1. Be Involved - Invest the time you need to really think about what you want and need from your courses in high school. Are you a student with a fairly clear vision of what you want to do after high school? Research the courses that will provide the best foundation for what you want to pursue after graduation. Are you a student who just isn't sure what you want your pathway to include? Spend some time in Career Cruising looking at careers that interest you. Schedule courses that can allow you explore a couple potential pathways. Are you a student who needs a creative or physical outlet during the school day? You might not plan to study art or fitness after high school, but if you know that seven hours of core academic coursework is too much for you, consider taking Pottery or Advanced Fitness. Involve yourself in the process.
2. Be Prepared -- Part of being prepared is having a plan. Career Cruising is a phenomenal tool for you to document your plan for the courses you plan to take during all four years of high school. It is helpful to map out all four years so that you are taking the right prerequisites for certain classes. It is helpful to have a visual for how the classes you want and need will work into your Educational Development Plan over four years. For instance, if you know you want to be take Work Based Learning AND a Tech Center class during your junior year, you should not wait until your junior year to take your World Language course, or else you might not have room in your schedule for those electives. If you want to start taking Dual Enrollment courses in your sophomore year, you need to prepare for your 9th grade PSAT so your test score will allow you to enroll in the college courses you want. Think ahead. Make a plan. Be prepared.
3. Be Positive -- The scheduling process can feel overwhelming. It's wonderful to have so many choices, but this can also mean you might feel you are making the wrong choices. Keep it all in perspective. It is not likely that you will be denied acceptance into the college of your choice because you took Band instead of Advanced Chemistry, or an On-Track class instead of Nutrition and Foods. Approach the scheduling process with good, positive intentions. Plan to do your very best in those courses and the rest will work itself out. Trust the process. Seek advice if you need it. And remember to BE POSITIVE.
Always know that Mr. Wedge ([email protected]) and Mrs. Sutton ([email protected]) are available to help you navigate your Flivver Way! The best way to get in touch with us during this busy time is to send us an email with the question(s) you have and if we can't answer your question in an email, we will put you on our calendar and let you know when to stop in to see us. We are excited to see you all succeed. Let us help if we can.
Students, as you recall, last week, Mr. Wedge, Mrs. Sutton, and Ms. Kanyuh (our Counselor in Training) visited 9th, 10th, and 11th grade classes to discuss the 2024-2025 scheduling process. We discussed information that was relevant to each grade level and quite possibly gave you information overload. (Sorry about that, but there's just such great information to share!) Fortunately, we started each presentation with providing directions to find where to find the information you need to make informed choices about creating a schedule that is going to best benefit you and your individual goals. (Hint: Check the tab for your grade on the top of the KHS Counseling Office's website.)
We counselors hope that one of your biggest takeaways during scheduling season is that everyone's path for toward's graduation should look different. While there are certain basic requirements all students must meet, all students have the opportunity to create their own unique schedules based on their individual interests and career pathways. Here's some interesting information about credits at Kingsford High School:
Most students know that KHS has a minimum of 24 credits required for graduation, but they often do not think about how those 24 credits create a career pathway. The number 24 is the minimum requirement, but students who pass all of their courses each year will earn 28 credits by the end of their senior year. Many of you come into the high school having earned at least one high school credit in either math or science - sometimes both. This means that upon graduation, students often have 29 or 30 credits. Since KHS only requires 18 credits of core courses, this means the average student has a minimum of 11 elective courses to use for career exploration, academic enrichment, self-discovery. That's a lot of credits!! Keep in mind, that even within those 18 required core credits, students still have a tremendous amount of flexibility to choose core courses best fit their needs. The long and short of it is that the choices are many and the opportunities are ENDLESS for students to find their own Flivver Way at KHS.
Applying the principles of the Flivver Way to how you approach scheduling and your Educational Development Plan could help guide your decision making.
1. Be Involved - Invest the time you need to really think about what you want and need from your courses in high school. Are you a student with a fairly clear vision of what you want to do after high school? Research the courses that will provide the best foundation for what you want to pursue after graduation. Are you a student who just isn't sure what you want your pathway to include? Spend some time in Career Cruising looking at careers that interest you. Schedule courses that can allow you explore a couple potential pathways. Are you a student who needs a creative or physical outlet during the school day? You might not plan to study art or fitness after high school, but if you know that seven hours of core academic coursework is too much for you, consider taking Pottery or Advanced Fitness. Involve yourself in the process.
2. Be Prepared -- Part of being prepared is having a plan. Career Cruising is a phenomenal tool for you to document your plan for the courses you plan to take during all four years of high school. It is helpful to map out all four years so that you are taking the right prerequisites for certain classes. It is helpful to have a visual for how the classes you want and need will work into your Educational Development Plan over four years. For instance, if you know you want to be take Work Based Learning AND a Tech Center class during your junior year, you should not wait until your junior year to take your World Language course, or else you might not have room in your schedule for those electives. If you want to start taking Dual Enrollment courses in your sophomore year, you need to prepare for your 9th grade PSAT so your test score will allow you to enroll in the college courses you want. Think ahead. Make a plan. Be prepared.
3. Be Positive -- The scheduling process can feel overwhelming. It's wonderful to have so many choices, but this can also mean you might feel you are making the wrong choices. Keep it all in perspective. It is not likely that you will be denied acceptance into the college of your choice because you took Band instead of Advanced Chemistry, or an On-Track class instead of Nutrition and Foods. Approach the scheduling process with good, positive intentions. Plan to do your very best in those courses and the rest will work itself out. Trust the process. Seek advice if you need it. And remember to BE POSITIVE.
Always know that Mr. Wedge ([email protected]) and Mrs. Sutton ([email protected]) are available to help you navigate your Flivver Way! The best way to get in touch with us during this busy time is to send us an email with the question(s) you have and if we can't answer your question in an email, we will put you on our calendar and let you know when to stop in to see us. We are excited to see you all succeed. Let us help if we can.