Overcoming the high school transition

For seventh graders at Valley Stream North and South High School, there is a whirlwind of new challenges that lie ahead for the school year. But district guidance officials do not want them to worry — they want to steer them to success. And with numerous resources, several students are learning to navigate their new environment with minimal mishaps.

Just ask Dorothy Pierre, a 12-year-old North student. “This experience is new for me, but teachers give lots of support,” she said. “You are able to move on…coming to a new school can be a challenge, but you learn from new experiences. You learn it is not hard to take another step in life.”

For Pierre, her first impressions of North meant a lot and influenced a positive opinion of her new surroundings. “The school is great, safe and the organization helps you to know what not to do,” she said. Pierre is learning many helpful tips including one important school rule that there are no cell phones allowed in the hallways.

Jarred Times, 12, is also striving for success at North, employing all the values and lessons learned during his time at his previous school, Howell Road in District 13. “The transition can be a challenge but it is not that different than a new level in a video game,” he said. “You get a fresh start. You can embrace it and make it the best experience.” Times said that students should take advantage of support services like extra help sessions.

There is one special group on the district’s frontline: guidance counselors. Currently, there is an average of 200 students assigned to each counselor. In each counselor’s role, they are instrumental in fostering students’ development through a number of different meetings, interactions and events. Officials strongly encourage each student to create a dialogue with their counselors.

District Guidance Director Jill Vogel described the counselor and student relationship as a very significant one. “In the relationship, there is an emphasis on academics and achievement,” she said. “The counselor bridges the gap.”

Vogel oversees a staff of about 20 counselors. Some of her primary responsibilities include meeting with counselors about how to provide pupil services and communicate with parents. Under this leadership, several web-based communication tools are offered on the district’s website like parent portal — a service for parents to view their child’s attendance and other academic information. The district allows students to research colleges and careers through a “family connection portal.” And all students can access a college and career informational program called Guidance Direct.

In addition, the guidance department offers more personalized and comprehensive programs including academic monitoring, crisis intervention and individual and group guidance sessions. Specifically, seventh graders can attend orientation when the school year begins, which allowing each to experience a typical day in their new high schools.

For South student Syndey Amato, her seventh grade year started with some locker trouble. “During summer orientation, I saw all the different floors and my classes and meet my teachers,” she said. “My friend opened my locker for me. But then the locker jammed.” Despite the early locker woes, Amato is happy that teachers stay after school to offer extra help.

Many students with academic troubles can seek peer tutoring or extra help. Officials push students to take advantage of these support services and begin thinking about college. “We want to look to the future,” said Karen Biron, a guidance counselor at North. “They should set goals and move toward college. You have to start early habits to be successful.”

Biron added that counselors meet with each seventh grader to begin a repertoire. Along the way, counselors review each student’s progress reports on a regular basis. If any concerns arise, different preventive measures are taken like meeting with the child’s parents to help them get back on track. “For us,” she said, “the student relationship is paramount because that is what we are here for.”

Vogel seconds that sentiment because she recognizes that this specific grade of students may face unique obstacles attending a school with high school seniors, which is the case at North and South. “We need to make the effort to help them given many high stakes,” Vogel said. “When we help young children have success, there are greater rewards for them.”

Over at South, some of the seventh grade students are tackling those very obstacles through trial and error starting on their first day. “Starting here was overwhelming,” said Cristina Russo, a seventh grader. “It scared me and my homework took really long.” But Russo, 12, quickly learned to effectively cope with the heavier homework load and multiple tests by dividing her study time between different days.

Samori Emmanuel, also a seventh grader at South, said that his counselor gave him some great advice on his first day — carry one book for different periods. “It is like being in kindergarten and learning things all over again,” he said. Emmanuel, a center-midfielder for South’ soccer team, is very happy to use an agenda book, which he believed is a great key to success.

South’s Principal Maureen Henry is very pleased with what she describes as a caring school community where staff members can reach out to make a difference. Henry, along with North Principal Clifford Odell, recognize that students are undergoing several personal changes when beginning high school. Both said there is always help for any students including those who struggle with their social skills, have special needs, or who maybe targets of bullying. “We focus on academics and add the social piece,” Odell said. “We are taking in account each student’s needs.”