SOMS Guidance

Freshman Orientation:

High school preparation for SOMS 8^th graders

     SOMS hosted the first part of the Freshman Orientation process on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 9 am to 10 am in the SOMS auditorium. Both TZHS and SOMS guidance counselors co-presented the Class of 2016 graduation requirements.      The scheduling process was introduced, how to select electives and what a typical schedule would look like. Parents and students were provided with Course Offering catalogs, program offerings and Individual Course Advisement Sheets.

      The second part of the Freshman Orientation took place at TZHS on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7pm.    During the evening meeting, parents and students became acquainted with the high school’s academic and co-curricular offerings. In addition, the support services and athletic program were highlighted.  In coming 9^th graders had an opportunity to talk with high school students about the transition to the high school and to tour the building.

      The final part of the Freshman Orientation transition took part in the SOMS classroom with each student participating.  SOMS school counselors, during the social studies class, met as a whole to talk about specific course content,   requirements,   and goals for graduation from TZHS. Students reviewed their individual Course Offering sheet with their parent or guardian,  and came to class prepared to review final selections.   This information has been provided to TZHS guidance counselors who will be available to receive any changes.

     The final steps will be provided by the high school guidance department. Around the beginning of April, Course Selection letters will be provided to parents,  confirming   the students’ choices. By late August, a freshman schedule will be mailed out,   designating courses and periods. Any questions or concerns should be addressed at the high school guidance, whose number is 680-1614.

On January 19th, Mrs. Iannucci, Mrs. Maiorano, and Mrs. Michael worked with the 6th grade students during their Social Studies classes. Students talked about the tools and strategies they use to be successful SOMS students. Many students talked about how important it is to be organized as a middle school student and to reach out and use the help and support available at SOMS if you need it.  Our sixth graders worked in groups to write letters to the current 5th grade students to welcome them to SOMS and give them advice on how to be successful once they get here. These letters will be posted for our 5th grade parents and students to read at the orientation in March.

Click on the link below to see a video from the lesson created byMrs. Harris’ class:

6th Grade Mid Year Lesson

On November 4, 2011, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Maiorano pushed into 7th grade Science classrooms to facilitate a lesson on Learning Styles.  Students were given a Learning Preference Checklist which was then scored to determine their dominant learning style.  The three learning styles that were discussed in class and through the checklist were: Visual, Auditory and Haptic, or Kinesthetic. Upon completion of the checklist, strategies for studying based on each learning style were shared. Students identified some of the strategies they already use, as well as a different strategy they may use for a future test or quiz.

 On October 18th, SOMS 6th graders participated in National Mix It Up Day.  Students moved out of their comfort zones and sat at different tables during lunch, where they discussed important social issues and challenges that they face every day.

Prior to mixing it up at lunch, SOMS 6th grade school counselors (Trish Iannucci and Siobhan Maiorano) and school psychologist (Julianna Michael) facilitated lessons in each 6th grade ELA class.  Students explored the differences between friendships and cliques, discussed the impact cliques could have on our school community, and brainstormed ideas about how SOMS could become a more welcoming and tolerant place for all students.  Students also took an on-line survey during the lesson about the social climate here at SOMS.  Our 6th grade ELA teachers then had students journal about a time when they felt excluded, witnessed someone being excluded, or even participated in excluding someone else.  Each anonymous entry became a brick on our Wall of Intolerance.  The Wall hung in the 6th grade hallway during the week leading up to  Mix It Up Day.  Many 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students stopped by to read the entries during the course of  their school day.   On Mix It Up Day, students helped break down the Wall of Intolerance by ripping a brick from it.  Each brick included a table assignment for the lunch period and the stories on the bricks became very powerful conversation starters for students to discuss at lunch.

Mix It Up Day at SOMS was very successful!  It gave our 6th graders an opportunity to begin to think about and talk about the social challenges many  face on a daily basis and what can be done to make everyone feel safe and welcomed here at SOMS.  Our counselors and psychologists will continue this discussion with all of our students.   Please talk to your students about their experiences and what they took away from Mix It Up Day and the activities that lead up to it. 

A slide show of pictures from the experience and the results of our survey will be posted soon!

The Guidance Department is happy to welcome students back for the 2011-2012 school year!  We are very excited to see all the new and returning students and are hoping to have a successful and fulfilling year.