FRESHMAN YEAR: A GUIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (AND THEIR PARENTS)

September 6, 2019

General Advice, High School Advice, Sage Advice for Parents, Sage Advice for Students, Tips for Academic SuccessNo Comments

Freshman Year

Make friends with your counselor. He/she will be an important resource throughout your high school career!
Establish good work habits now! Writing down assignments, tasks, and other activities in your planner every day is a great place to start.
Sign up for extracurricular activities such as drama, music, sports, and/or volunteer with Sage’s Service Club!

Read! One of the best ways to boost your vocabulary (and potentially prepare for the SAT or ACT) is to read a wide variety of books. Some great suggestions can be found here: High School Reading List
Prepare for midterms! Regardless of what you’ve heard, grades do matter your freshman year, so stay on top of your studies. Sage offers final exam review classes in most subjects.

Are you getting mostly As and Bs? You should complete the CSF application and submit it by the February deadline! Qualifying students are those who are carrying four or more subjects (not counting P.E. and repeated subjects) and who earn a minimum of ten CSF points, seven of which must be in academic subjects. Details and applications can be found here: Tamalpais HS CSF Information, or Redwood HS CSF Information. If you attend a different high school, please ask your counselor or one of our directors to help you locate your school’s CSF information.
Register for your sophomore classes. Keep the potential workload in mind and be realistic about your schedule and endurance. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your counselor for guidance on how to choose the best classes for you.
Study for your finals! Sage offers final exam review classes in most subjects.

Go on an adventure with ARCC or Amigos!
Read more! We’re not kidding. Some great suggestions can be found here: High School Reading List
Consider lightening your sophomore year workload by taking an online math, science, language, or PE course. Be sure to check with your school beforehand to ensure that units will transfer over. BYU Independent Study and APEX Learning Virtual School are both excellent options. Let us know if you need some guidance about where to start.
Consider taking a Sage Essential Skills Workshop like Bridge to Geometry, Bridge to Advanced Algebra, or Writing for High School.
Enjoy yourself. Free up some head space this summer so you can start next year refreshed and ready to go!