Community School of Davidson High School First Year Seminar 2012-2013 Jessica Smith Ann Marie McAfee [email protected] [email protected] Course Description Sophomore Seminar focuses on helping students with the transition to the next phase of high school. This course, taught by the Career & College Counseling Team, continues as a “High School 201” of sorts that picks up where First Year Seminar left off and continues with all the things that sophomores need to know. Over the course of four quarters, students reestablish good habits, reconnect with community, explore postsecondary options and begin the preparation for junior year.

During the first quarter, students are reacquainted with time management and organization skills they will need to continue taking on the academic challenges of high school courses as well as many extracurricular activities. In order to become familiar with standardized testing and gain valuable interest and career information, all students will take the PLAN during the fall of sophomore year.

Once students have reacquainted themselves to the high school culture, the second quarter of Sophomore Seminar focuses on reconnecting with the greater community culture. Through informational interviews and service projects, students learn different ways to be personally involved in the community.

In the third quarter students will explore a number of postsecondary options. The results from the PLAN will be reviewed and students will explore their individual career interest results. Also, CSD will host a panel of current college students for a discussion session.

Finally, during the fourth quarter, students will prepare for the last two years of high school by reviewing their four-year plans and creating internship proposals. Students will add to their electronic portfolios, which continue to showcase both the work they have done thus far and their interests for the future.

Class Policies Students are expected to come to class with their laptops each day. This course’s goal is to be paperless, so students will need their laptops in order to access class work. If needed, please make arrangements before class to borrow a laptop from CSD.

Assignments The majority of the work and assignments will take place during class time, but there may be the occasional assigned reading or follow-up to an in class activity outside of school.

Grading Policy Completion of First Year Seminar is a part of CSD’s overall curriculum and a requirement for graduation. Sophomore Seminar: Tentative Calendar of Topics

November 30: No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & Lunch December 7: Informational Interviews December 14: Informational Interviews

3rd Quarter: Self-Discovery January 4: Reflection/Portfolio Update January 11: Practice Job Application 1st Quarter: Reestablishing Good Habits January 18: August 24: Autobiographical & Shared Writing Seminar Introduction/Edline January 25: August 31: No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & Lunch CFNC: Progress Check February 1: September 7: Autobiographical & Shared Writing Learning Style Inventory February 8: September 14: No Seminar- Teacher Workday Update CFNC Portfolio/ Time Estimation & February 15: Management Autobiographical & Shared Writing September 21: February 22: No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & Lunch No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & September 28: Lunch College Visits March 1: October 5: Autobiographical & Shared Writing Virtual Tours March 8: Writer’s Workshop 2nd Quarter: Your Interests in the Real World March 15: October 12: Update CFNC Portfolios/ Review Goals Review PLAN/ CFNC: Do What You Are Inventory March 22: October 19 No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & Lunch Lunch October 26: March 29: No Seminar- Teacher Workday No Seminar- Spring Break November 2: What Color is Your Parachute: for Teens 4th Quarter: Preparing to Engage November 9: April 12: What Color is Your Parachute: for Teens Review Teen Bucket List November 16: April 19 What Color is Your Parachute: for Teens Looking Ahead to Next Year Sophomore Seminar: Tentative Calendar of Topics

April 26: No Seminar- Off Campus Advisory Service & Lunch May 3: No Seminar- Teacher Workday May 10:

No Seminar- Teacher Workday May 17: CFNC Portfolios & Reflection