A focal point for the Navigation 101 year is each student’s student-led conference for his or her parents or guardians and advisor. One of the central tenets of Navigation 101 is that, by middle school, students are capable of becoming full partners in their education. The student-led conference – which students organize, present at, and then reflect on – gives students a regular opportunity to direct their own educational paths while also gaining organizational and communications skills.
Student-led conferences, along with the rest of the Navigation curriculum, are organized around the three ASCA standards: Academic Development (What have I accomplished in school this year?); Career Development (What do I want to do in the future?); and Personal & Social Development (Who am I?).
The student-led conferences, being held during the week of April 14 - 18, summarizes students’ accomplishments in the year to date; showcases students’ plans and goals for the coming years; and typically concludes with students’ plans for their course selections for the following year. The conference also provides a tangible way to involve parents or guardians in their children’s lives at school, by ensuring that they understand what their children are studying in school, how they are doing, and why their studies matter.
During the January advisory, 9th grade students scheduled an appointment with either a parent or significant adult to attend their first student-led conference. This is a very exciting time for the students. A letter is being sent home at the end of March with a reminder of the date and time, and a phone call will be made during spring break to remind you of this important event. Please make sure that you are able to attend and give your student the time and attention to hear their story.
INSTRUCTIONS: Park in the lower parking lot (student parking) and enter the building through the commons. Follow the signs for the conference sign-in table. We ask that you try and arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled time. At the end of the conference, you will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire. This information is vital to the growth and quality of the program. Thank you for your attention to these details.