Every student in grade 6 develops a Personal Learning Plan with the assistance of their sixth grade teachers. Survey questions prompt students to identify strengths and weaknesses to develop short and long-term personal and academic goals and steps to reach these goals. The plan will be utilized by counselors and teachers to help them work towards achieving their goals.

Sixth grade parents are invited to visit HJMS in late winter. Parents will hear about seventh grade curriculum and afterschool activities. Current grade 7 Leadership Academy students will provide a panel of their personal experiences and be available to answer questions.

Administration and counselors visit all elementary schools in the spring. Students have the opportunity to hear about upcoming activities and ask questions in order to ease their concerns.

Students participate in tours of HJMS in the spring led by Leadership Academy students. Administration and teachers provide additional information about scheduling and activities. Seventh grade students share their transition concerns and successes.

School counselors meet with future caseload to discuss daily life at HJMS and answer questions regarding school culture.

Counselors, psychologists and social workers meet with colleagues from the elementary schools to discuss student concerns.

All incoming 7th grade students are invited to a summer orientation in late August. Leadership Academy students help facilitate activities, including opening lockers, understanding the schedule etc.

To help navigate the transition to middle school, the School Counseling Department supports adjustment and paves the way for a successful year.

The following are offered:

• 6th Grade Open House for parents
• Spring visits to elementary schools
• Elementary schools visit HJMS
• Counselors meet with their future students at elementary schools
• Summer orientation program for all incoming 7th graders

Students new to Simsbury Public Schools participate in a welcoming program to assist in the transition to HJMS.

8th grade Leadership Academy students connect with new students to familiarize them with the HJ community, expectations, resources and opportunities.

Counselors meet with students new to Simsbury Public Schools to acquaint them with HJMS and ease their transition.

• Review schedule, policy, and procedures
• Allow the students the opportunity to meet and discuss transition with other new students
• Familiarize students with available resources at HJMS
• Individual planning to facilitate academic and personal goal-setting

Lessons delivered in a variety of settings including: homerooms, full class periods, team meetings and small groups.

• Successful transitions
• Goal setting and course selection
• Career exploration
• Test-taking and study skills
• Problem solving and decision making
• Appreciation of diversity
• Bullying and teasing

School counselors offer groups as needed during the year that address a variety of topics including: stress management, anger management, coping with divorce, death, etc. Students may refer themselves or be referred by a parent/guardian or faculty member.

7^th grade students complete the Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) as part of a homework assignment in order to discover each student’s learning and working style. We encourage and help students to know themselves – strengths, challenges, and goals – so that they can make more informed decisions about academics, activities, and eventually careers. The LSI provides one of those building blocks by helping each student to identify as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. Students can then begin to understand how to use that knowledge to self-advocate and to apply the student’s personal learning and work styles in and out of the classroom.

Every student in grades 6, 7, and 8 develops a Personal Learning Plan with the assistance of school counselors. Middle school students answer survey questions through the online program called Naviance Family Connection. The questions prompt students to identify strengths and weaknesses, to develop short and long-term personal and academic goals, and steps to reach those goals.

The program will be utilized by counselors, administrators, families, and students throughout their middle and high school careers.

Students receive the HJMS Program of Studies and options for world language and music electives for grade 8.

Counselors meet with students as needed to address their questions and concerns.

Middle School students often have concerns about their transition, family, and friends. Students are encouraged to speak to their counselor one-on-one, as they are trained to give assistance on these issues. School counselors respond to the social emotional needs of all students as needed through several types of services.

Through responsive services, school counselors partner with Henry James students to establish connections, meet their challenges, and develop their character. Counselors also work collaboratively in consultation with outside support persons to provide as safe and productive a school environment as possible.

Spring activity collaborated with the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce to expose students to a variety of career possibilities. Students eat lunch with community mentors and learn about their careers.

Students new to Simsbury Public Schools participate in a welcoming program to assist in the transition to HJMS.

8th grade Leadership Academy students connect with new students to familiarize them with the HJ community, expectations, resources and opportunities.

Counselors meet with students new to Simsbury Public Schools to acquaint them with HJMS and ease their transition.

• Review schedule, policy, and procedures
• Allow the students the opportunity to meet and discuss transition with other new students
• Familiarize students with available resources at HJMS
• Individual planning to facilitate academic and personal goal-setting

Lessons delivered in a variety of settings including: homerooms, full class periods, team meetings and small groups.

• Successful transitions
• Goal setting and course selection
• Career exploration
• Test-taking and study skills
• Problem solving and decision making
• Appreciation of diversity
• Bullying and teasing

School counselors offer groups as needed during the year that address a variety of topics including: stress management, anger management, coping with divorce, death, etc. Students may refer themselves or be referred by a parent/guardian or faculty member.

Every student in grades 6, 7, and 8 develops a Personal Learning Plan with the assistance of school counselors. Middle school students answer survey questions through the online program called Naviance Family Connection. The questions prompt students to identify strengths and weaknesses, to develop short and long-term personal and academic goals, and steps to reach those goals.

The program will be utilized by counselors, administrators, families, and students throughout their middle and high school careers.

8^th grade students take this survey to find out about the unique strengths each student possesses and how to use those gifts to create a personalized path to success. After completing Strengths Explorer each student receives information about their specific categories of strength and what they indicate. The program focuses on what is right with each student from a strengths perspective rather than on areas of weakness. For young people, learning about how their talents affect their performance enables them to transfer that self-knowledge to the goals they want to accomplish in the future.

Counselors present information to all eighth grade students to explain their level recommendations and help them to make elective requests.

Counselors familiarize students with the SHS Program of Studies, Student Learning Cluster booklet and graduation requirements to enable them to plan an individualized course of study.

Individual follow-up meetings are held to verify course requests and answer student questions.

Spring activity collaborated with the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce to expose students to a variety of career possibilities. Students eat lunch with community mentors and learn about their careers.

To help navigate the transition to high school, the School Counseling Department encourages the following

• Attendance for students and families at the SHS 8th grade Course Selection Program
• Students should verify courses and electives with their school counselor
• Attendance at back-to-school activity in late August for freshmen to receive their schedule, locker and orient themselves to the building

Middle school counselors meet with SHS counselors and administration to provide insight and information for a successful transition.

Middle School students often have concerns about their transition, family, and friends. Students are encouraged to speak to their counselor one-on-one, as they are trained to give assistance on these issues. School counselors respond to the social emotional needs of all students as needed through several types of services.

Through responsive services, school counselors partner with Henry James students to establish connections, meet their challenges, and develop their character. Counselors also work collaboratively in consultation with outside support persons to provide as safe and productive a school environment as possible.

The PLP is an online tool for students to plan, organize, track and reflect upon goals and achievements. Learning plan questions address the following:

 

• Academic plans
• School and community activities
• Personal and social goals
• Future plans
• Career interests
• SHS adult connections
• NavianceFamily Connection

 

The Counseling and Career Center (CCC) is located in the School Counseling office and offers students an array of printed and electronic information on summer opportunities and/or career exploration programs.

Individual conferences are held to begin developing a relationship with your counselor. Since counselors work with the same student for four years, there are many opportunities to initiate appointments to discuss academic, career and personal issues.

All students will meet with their counselor to review progress toward established graduation requirements and complete individual course selection accordingly.

Simsbury High School Program of Studies and Student Learning Cluster booklet are available on the SHS website (click on "Documents & Links")

Grading Portal

SHS Connect is a program started in 2009 where grades 9-12 are assigned to small groups with a faculty mentor. The time frame and small group environment provides an opportunity to develop a stronger connection with an adult and peers in the building (who they may or may not already know) in order to discuss current topics of interest or concerns.

The PLP is an online tool for students to plan, organize, track and reflect upon goals and achievements. Learning plan questions address the following:

 

• Academic plans
• School and community activities
• Personal and social goals
• Future plans
• Career interests
• SHS adult connections
• NavianceFamily Connection

 

Individual conferences are held to begin developing a relationship with your counselor. Since counselors work with the same student for four years, there are many opportunities to initiate appointments to discuss academic, career and personal issues.

Annual individual meetings are held to review a student's academic progress, explain and answer questions regarding course selection and ensure students are taking the proper credits toward graduation.

Simsbury High School Program of Studies and Student Learning Cluster booklet
(Go to SHS website and click on "Documents & Links.")

Grading Portal

Online resume builder allows students to systematically build a resume by adding new activities each year.

Naviance Family Connection

Juniors complete an inventory in Family Connection that identifies their personality type and links it to careers with people who have similar personality preferences.

Naviance Family Connection (Look under "About Me" and click "Personality Type.")

Online tool that can help students discover the types of work activities and careers that match their interests.

Naviance Family Connection

The College and Career Center (CCC) is located in the School Counseling office and offers students an array of printed and electronic information on summer opportunities, employment, and career resources. The CCC also hosts a variety of speakers throughout the year, from college admissions representatives to working professionals sharing career experiences.

Students are engaged in a variety of testing during the sophomore year, some required and some optional. All students take the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), in Science.

Some students may want to consider the following optional assessments based on individual readiness:

• PSAT
• SAT Subject Test
• Advanced Placement Biology

Counselors and teachers can help students determine their readiness to complete these tests successfully.

All students will meet with their counselor to review progress toward academic, personal/social, and career goals.

Grading Portal

All students will meet with their counselor to review progress toward established graduation requirements and complete individual course selection accordingly.

Simsbury High School Program of Studies and Student Learning Cluster booklet are available on the SHS website (click on "Documents & Links").

Grading Portal 

 

Mock College Admissions (A, C):

College admissions representatives facilitate an exercise that simulates what happens with student applications during the admissions review process.

• Student and parent groups act as admission committees
• 15+ colleges participate

College Fair (A, C):

The college fair is hosted in the spring by the guidance departments of Simsbury High School and Avon High School. The event, held at The Hartford in Simsbury, draws 100+ colleges.

• Students can gather information about prospective colleges.
• Students have the opportunity to speak with admissions representatives.

Juniors meet in small groups several times with their counselor to learn how to plan for the future. Topics include:

• Post high school options
• College admission criteria
• Standardized testing
• Timetable for college planning
• Developing a resume
• Writing a college essay
• Preparing for interviews
• Visiting colleges
• Financial aid

Juniors complete a questionnaire in Family Connection to help them reflect on "who they are" and identify their future goals. This questionnaire assists juniors as they prepare for the college essay, college/employment interviews, and helps counselors write letters of recommendation.

TCCI Family Connection (Look under "About Me" and click "survey history" to access the Junior Questionnaire.)

Juniors complete a series of questions in Family Connection that help them define their "game plan." The questions are related to goals, college interests, college athletics, and people who will write their references

Naviance Family Connection (Look under "About Me" and click "Game Plan.")

Juniors write drafts of resumes to be used in future interviews and in the college application process.

Naviance Family Connection (Look under "About Me" and click "resume" to access the resume builder.)

 

Naviance Family Connection (Look under "About Careers" and click "Career Interest Profiler.")

Juniors receive information about standardized testing used for college admission. Dates of the exams, testing sites, registration procedures, and exam uses will be explained.

• SAT, PSAT, AP
• ACT
• Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Juniors meet with their counselor to discuss current and future course choices. Graduation credit requirements are monitored.

Simsbury High School Program of Studies and Student Learning Cluster booklet are available on the SHS website (click on "Documents & Links")

Grading Portal

Juniors meet individually with their counselor to discuss post–high school options. A list of colleges and/or other educational options will be developed.

Meetings begin immediately after return from Winter Break and run through March.