Shared Counselor Helps Students Transition to High School

For many students transitioning from one school to another can be extremely difficult. Research has shown the move from 8th grade to 9th grade is one of the most important transitions and has a great impact on the student's academic career. In more than half the states, the attrition rate from 9th grade to 10th grade is the largest than any other year, with some states having as high as a 20 percent decrease in enrollment. Ninth graders on average report being less involved in extra-curricular activities and indicate lower self-esteem and higher rates of depression than middle school students.

Lanier Middle School Principal Scott Poole and Fairfax High Principal Dave Goldfarb are working to support transitioning students into high school. Together, the principals work with Heather Scott, a Transition School Counselor who works at both schools throughout the week. The principals believe this shared position provides the schools with an unprecedented opportunity to diagnose student needs in the 8th grades and match them with the appropriate personnel and services as they transition from Lanier MS to Fairfax HS.

“Successfully transitioning students in and out of middle school often receives little attention but remains critical to student success," said Dr. Poole.  "Having a transition counselor provides a key link that helps set students up for success at Fairfax and completes the feedback loop for staff at Lanier.”

Ms. Scott works to assist at-risk students by providing an increased level of mentoring, the development of study/life skills, and specialized instructional support. She collaborates extensively with the counseling teams, teachers, administrators, families and the community to help students achieve high school success.

For the transition to high school, Ms. Scott gives some recommendations to families:

• Help your child to be their own self-advocate. Encourage your child to work with his or her teachers and ask questions. Strong self-advocacy skills help students become confident problem solvers who can find solutions to challenges. Students are encouraged to ask questions and work with their teachers to gain extra help if needed. The level of high school work is more complex and demanding, so at some point, nearly every student will need help and they need the self-advocacy skills to ask for it.

• Help your child with organization and study skills. Ask them to show you their agenda books issued by the school where they should be writing down their daily assignments and using the calendar page to keep track of projects and tests. Ask your child about his or her plan to study for a major test or to complete a major project/paper (without procrastinating). More and more teachers are using Blackboard and other technologies to enhance learning and organization, but we still recommend the agenda book as an organization tool students can always have at their fingertips and see the big picture of all their assignments.

• Encourage your child to explore their interests, try something new, and get involved.  There are many ways for your child to be involved in school as a participant in a club, sport, or artistic activity. Students who are involved with their school tend to enjoy their education more and perform better as students.

• Communicate with the school. Parents can easily get in touch with teachers, counselors, and administrators to collaborate with them on supporting their child. There is a whole community willing to work with you to help your child reach his or her full potential. 

• Attend Freshman Transition Events at Fairfax High School:

• Rising Freshman Parent Night: May 29
• Rebels Reunite: August 26
• New Student Orientation: August 28

“Students entering high school confront increased levels of academic challenge and social anxiety," said Principal Goldfarb. "Having people who know them as learners and people can help make the transition from middle school to high school appear to be more a continuation than a change.”