Part 1 - 8th grade transitions – parental preparation (Explore Test)

Part 2 - A case for participation in athletics

How can you help your child be successful?

10 Simple Suggestionsfor a successful transition to high school

Make sure your child is appropriately challenged and taking courses now that will help meet future goals.

#1 Be involved in your child’s academic program

Research indicates that students who are

involved in an activity, club, sport, music, etc. are more likely to have a positive high school experience and get better grades than students who are not involved.

#2 Get your child involved in a positive activity but don’t overextend.

Comprehensive research says that when a teenager is faced with a critical decision, the influence of peers (positive and negative) has as much influence as that of parents and families.

#3 Know your child’s friends

Stay in positive contact with teachers, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember that email is a great tool for quick communication, but it is not a great tool for dealing with more difficult issues.

Conflicts are best resolved in person or over the telephone.

Don’t fight the small battles for your child. Part of high school is fostering self-reliance.

#4 Get to know your child’s teachers and guidance counselor.

The most successful students I see are those whose parents are (engaged) at the school, attending student games, performances, conferences, etc.

Look for opportunities to get involved in volunteer activities, Music Boosters, Sports Alliance, chaperoning, etc.

Parents who do these things are “in the know” and their children benefit from the connections between home and school.

#5 Get involved in the school yourself.

Your child should always know that you love him or her, but make sure that he or she knows your expectations.

Know where your child is at all times. Remember that good kids are capable of

making bad decisions. Supervision includes online supervision and

the supervision of technology (i.e. cell phones).

#6 Remember that all teenagers (including straight-A students) need parent supervision.

It is never too early to start planning for life after high school. Successful high school students visualize what they want to accomplish in their lives (even if their plans change often).

Plan backwards. Start with the desired outcome and work backwards.

#7 Have a plan.

Successful high school students have a balance of academic, social, family, and extra-curricular demands. This takes parent support and accountability. Their teen brains won’t do this for them. They think they are super-humans.

Adopt procedures and protocols to support your teens (i.e. planners, homework times and places, down time, etc.)

#8 Get organized.

Your child takes a dramatic downturn in school performance.

He or she loses interest in things normally enjoyed.

He or she begins avoiding friends or family for extended periods of time.

Your child is constantly worried or anxious. Your child is using drugs or alcohol.

#9 Be concerned if…

Your child seems emotionally out of control (extreme anger, sadness, hopelessness, etc.)

Your child hurts other people (or themselves), destroys property, or breaks the law

Your child seems “addicted” to technology (cell phone, Facebook, video games, etc.)

Adolescents are tough to read. If you have questions about whether your child is “typical” or “troubled,” we can help you sort that out.

#10 More reasons to be concerned…

Students who participate generally have higher GPA’s

Better Attendance Records Lower Dropout rates Fewer discipline problems

◦ (numerous studies including Women’s Sport’s Foundation, Minnesota High School Athletic Association, North Dakota High School Athletic Association, NFHS, University of Chicago, & Iowa High School Athletic Association)

Part 2 – Benefits of participation in athletics

Programs provide valuable lessons for practical situations – teamwork, sportsmanship, winning and losing, and hard work.

Students learn self-discipline, build self-confidence, and develop skills to handle competitive situations.

Participation in HS activities is a predictor of later success – college, career, societal contribution

Activities are Inherently Educational

Students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49% more likely to use drugs and 37% more likely to become teen age parents – US Dept of Educ.

Participation in activities appears to be one of the few interventions that benefit low-status, disadvantaged students – Harvard Ed Review

About 80% of CEOs in the province of Alberta participated in school sports. Typical participation rates in Alberta is 30-35%

Case Studies

95% of Fortune 500 executives participated in high school athletics. (Fortune Magazine)

47% of Fortune 500 executives were National Honor Society members. (Fortune Magazine)

Case Studies Continued

Male Participant GPA – 3.028 Male Non-Participant GPA – 2.739 Female Participant GPA – 3.331 Female Non-Participant GPA – 2.725

◦ Overall: 72.34% involved with an average GPA of 3.202 27.66% Not involved with an average GPA of 2.732

Esko - The class of 2006

Male Participant GPA – 3.115 Male Non-Participant GPA – 2.523 Female Participant GPA – 3.359 Female Non-Participant GPA – 2.781

◦ Overall: 80.43% involved with an average GPA of 3.260 19.57% Not involved with an average GPA of 2.652

The class of 2007

Male Participant GPA – 3.249 Male Non-Participant GPA – 2.148 Female Participant GPA – 3.253 Female Non-Participant GPA – 2.737

Overall: 80.41% involved with an average GPA of 3.251 19.59% Not involved with an average GPA of 2.442

The class of 2008

Male Participant GPA – 3.220 Male Non-Participant GPA – 2.473 Female Participant GPA – 3.618 Female Non-Participant GPA – 2.694

Overall: 71.43% involved with an average GPA of 3.446 28.57% Not involved with an average GPA of 2.558

The class of 2009

2009 2008 2007 20060

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Male Athlete GPAMale Student GPAFemale Athlete GPAFemale Student GPA

2006-2009 Senior GPAs

Plans After Graduation?◦ 5% Technical Program◦ 36% Two Year Program◦ 53% Four Year College (43 Students)◦ 3% Military◦ 4% Employment

Of the 43 Students going to a four year college 77% were student athletes.

Class of 2010 Senior Survey

WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM! – collaboration with parents is intentional.

Esko students athletes are better prepared for secondary opportunities than the average student.

Esko student athletes miss fewer days of school and have fewer disciplinary problems than average students.

FACT

1-3% of the overall district budget is attributed to athletics… money well spent!

In general student athletes get far more out of sports than the sport gets out of them!

My Reality

Which comes first?

◦ A strong athletic and fine arts program or district wide academic success?

◦ True Team – Byron, Osakis, etc…

Success breeds success!

BEING PROACTIVE!!

◦ Be intentional about the things you want.

Collaborating with parents

◦ The more often they here you say we are here to help your student be successful – the more likely they are going to believe it.

The purpose?

Together in Success…