2015 Honor Council Student Conference presentation by Ashlee Simmons & Mr. Mahaffey

1. You Belong Here and
You Can Be Successful
Ashlee Simmons and Mr. Mahaffey

2. The Seminar Description
Changing school environments can be
a challenge for anyone. If your previous
school was very different from MICDS,
there are many resources on campus to
support your transition. A 12th grade
student and a faculty member will share
their experiences and offer suggestions
for navigating the Upper School culture.
Topics will include: why there is no
shame in getting a tutor, developing a
positive mental attitude for studying,
and previewing the ways it gets easier.
A question and answer opportunity will
conclude the session.
10 minutes for activity
10 minutes for content
5 minutes for questions

3. Why are you here?
What struck you in
the session
description?
What insights can
you offer the others
around the table?

4. Opening Activity
List Your Classes
• Rate Your Level of
Comfort in the Class
• Rate the Level of
Challenge in the
Assessment
On a scale of 1 to 10
1 is flat tire when you are late to school
10 is a triple snow day

5. You belong here and you can be successful
 If you are enrolled, you are full-fledge member of this school
 If you are enrolled, we saw in you the abilities and aptitudes to
graduate

6. Dealing with changes between school environments
Assimilation vs. Acclimation
Code Switching
All members of this school bring
their individual talents to make a
dynamic community

7. You have permission to make
use of resources on campus
Advisors and Deans
Student Services
School counselor (dhotaling@micds.org)
Learning specialist (kdepung@micds.org)
College Counseling

8. There is no shame in getting a tutor
Khan Academy
Students at local colleges

9. Developing a positive mental attitude for
studying and exams
Look back at the rating scales
How can you shift your cognitive model?
Have you scheduled a conference with your teacher?
Are you actively engaged in collaborative work?

10. What are your Action
Items?
How are you going
to raise your level of
comfort in each
class?
How are you going
to adjust the level of
challenge for each
assessment?

11. Previewing how it gets easier
I Glo’d up

12. Questions