This document outlines an agenda for a Sophomore Night event at West Potomac High School. The agenda includes presentations and breakout sessions on resources available through the College and Career Center, using the online Family Connection system to explore careers and colleges, personality assessments to determine career fits, effective study skills, and meeting with guidance counselors. The goal is to help sophomore students learn about post-secondary options and develop strong study habits.

1. Sophomore Night
November 15, 2011
West Potomac High School – Student Services

2. Agenda
• College & Career Center Resources
• Family Connection
• “Do What You Are”
• Study Skills
• Breakout Session
West Potomac High School – Student Services

3. College & Career Center Resources
Room 332
• College Information
• College Visits
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid Information
• Test Prep Info
• Career Information
West Potomac High School – Student Services

4. Family Connection
• Log in through Blackboard
Students Should
• Make sure e-mail address is current
• Click on “About Me”
• Complete “Career Interest Profiler”
• Create “Resume”
• Review the “Do What You Are” survey
West Potomac High School – Student Services

5. About Me
West Potomac High School – Student Services

6. Career Exploration
West Potomac High School – Student Services

7. College Tab
West Potomac High School – Student Services

8. Scattergrams
West Potomac High School – Student Services

9. Resume
Scholarship Nominations
Job interviews
College activity sheets
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Letters of recommendation

10. Do What You Are
• Modified Myers Briggs personality inventory
• Results are in Family Connection
• Gives career options
• Helps students understand themselves and
how to work better with others
• Activity
West Potomac High School – Student Services

11. Study Skills
If you come to school every day and do the
following, you are certain to get good grades.
Organization
Time Management
Tips for Success in the Classroom
Note Taking
Reading
Studying
Test Taking West Potomac High School – Student Services

12. Be Organized
• Use a student planner every day.
• Have phone numbers for classmates.
• Keep locker and backpack neat.
• Have a separate pocket folder for each
class.
• Get everything organized for the next day
before going to bed.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

13. Time Management
• Use any extra time in school to get
started on homework.
• Create a study plan that works for
student.
• Break large assignments down into
smaller parts.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

14. Tips for the Classroom
• Learn how to adapt to different teaching
styles.
• Be in class, on time, every day.
• Know each teacher’s class rules and procedures.
• Bring everything you need to class.
• Always do the homework.
• Participate in class.
• Don’t leave class with unanswered questions.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

15. Note Taking
• Be an active listener. Think about what’s being
said.
• Recognize and write down important
information.
• Take notes that are neat and easy to read.
• If absent, get copies of the notes missed.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

16. Reading Textbooks
• Before starting to read, look over the
headings and the words in bold and italic
print.
• Read the assignment.
• Review what was read.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

17. Studying
• Find a good place to study.
• Organize study time.
• Focus on one thing at a time.
• Allow more time for homework than you
think is needed.
• Use “tricks” to help memorize things.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

18. Test-Taking Strategies
• Have everything needed for the test
(pencils, calculator, etc.).
• Before starting, look over the entire test and
develop a plan.
• Mark the questions that you want to return
to.
• Check answers, and use all of the time
available.
West Potomac High School – Student Services

19. Counselor Breakout Rooms
• Rodriguez (A-Bas)-501
• Moore (Basa-Cob)-502
• Levine (Coba-For)-504
• Allison (Fora-Jab)-Auditorium
• Otoyo (Jaba-Mam)-Auditorium
• McMahon (Mama-Ny)-528
• Watlington (Nya-Robe)-518
• Turner (Robf-Ten)-503
• Jefferson Dixon (Tena-Z)-524
West Potomac High School – Student Services