Tuesday 4 December 2012

Plan Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well, and Other Things : Checklist of Things for High School Students to Do Over the December Holidays


           December break is just around the corner. We know you’re looking forward to sleeping in, catching up with friends and family, and just all in all having a good time. We would like you to rest and relax; we’d also like to give you a few tips in order to ensure are making effective use of your time. We’ve divided the list up by Grade level. Grade 9 and Grade 10 students will be introduced to more tools through Family Connection in term two.


Grade 9 and Grade 10 Students:

  •          Ensure your resume is up-to date.
  •         Write! Find your “voice.” Reflect on your experiences so far. Write about a particular  significant event at an activity/in class/on the field/in the canteen.
  •         Read! Get caught up on personal reading; spend some time exploring topics you enjoy.
  •        Look for summer internship opportunities.
  •        Stay involved in service projects/activities/ sports that you are passionate about
Grade 11 Students:
  •        Set goals for yourself for next term.
  •      Watch a play.
  •      Complete the Personality Quiz on Family Connection
  •        Complete the Career Profiler on Family Connection
  •        Practice your music pieces.
  • Prepare for SAT through PrepMe.  You can find this through Family Connection.
  •     Explore Courses and Universities on UCAS or Family Connection, or through our Resources tab.
  •        Continue to develop your art portfolio.
  • Complete the Google Form entitled, “Finding the Right Fit University.”
  • Update your resume.
  • Come up with a list of 1-3 universities and your reasons why you like them.
  • Return to your CAS reflections and add more details to them. These reflections will serve you well when you have to write essays for college applications
  • Get caught up on any reading that you need to for your courses or read a book for fun!
  • Stay involved in service projects/activities/ sports that you are passionate about
  • Research internships for the summer/ summer programmes.
  • Have frank conversations with your parents about the decisions you are making. Ensure all constraints (financial, geographical, courses/majors) are all clearly laid out on the table. If you and your parents are on the same/similar page it may make decision-making easier.  Remember you are the one going to university for 3 - 4 years. Also remember your parents are the ones paying for you to go to university for 3 - 4 years.
  • Look for the calendar invitation for a one-on-one meeting with your university advisor. Accept the invitation.  Set a reminder for your one-on-one meeting time. If you cannot make the scheduled meeting, please let us know ASAP. The invitations will go out early next week, for meetings scheduled for the first week back.  After that, invitations will go out a week before meetings are scheduled.  
It may appear to be a long list, but most of this can be done within a solid hour or two a day (PrepMe and a conversation as a family will take more time and dedication).  Planning and being organised are essential elements to succeed and will make your life a lot easier as you are thrown back into the throes of classes and activities. So plan well, eat well, sleep well, and have a lovely December break!