I hope you enjoyed your break, and I hope your time away gave you an opportunity to think about how the school year is going.  In addition to your academic work, what activities have you been involved in? Which ones are you finding fun, interesting...

Thanks to those of you who joined me in December for my webinar on standardized testing and test-optional admissions. If you missed it you can watch the recording here. I'll be revisiting this issue for sophomores toward the end of the school year, since students...

As you close out the year, take this opportunity to reflect on what you've accomplished in your first few months of high school. I hope you've had a successful transition and are doing well in your classes. Looking toward 2024, plan to explore some new activities....

Many students have gotten the first report card of the year. How was yours? Are there any areas where you might benefit from additional support? One of the most important things students can learn to do in high school is identify when they need help...

Have you gotten your first high school report card yet? Were you happy with your grades? This first marking period is an important opportunity to connect with your teachers for feedback. Here are some questions to ask: What do you see as my strengths in...

Now that you’ve settled into the school year, I hope things are going well! How are your classes? Are you feeling challenged, and are those challenges manageable? Do you have a clear understanding of expectations? Students often find that their workload increases each year in...

Now that we’re a couple months into the school year, I hope you are settling into the routines and expectations of high school. The most important thing to do in 9th grade is to lay the foundation for a successful high school experience. Keep in...

I hope you've been having a great summer!  As the school year approaches, think about how to use these last few weeks. First, make sure you're on track to finish any summer work that was assigned. Then, if you made a summer to-do list or...

Two years down and two to go! There are two summer priorities I recommend for rising juniors. The first is to start visiting colleges.  Many students wait until the second semester of 11th grade to plan campus tours, but it can become hard to fit...

As you wrap up this year it may be hard to believe that you're nearly halfway through your high school experience. I hope you’ve been having a great year, with lots of opportunities to explore academic and extracurricular interests. This is a good time to...