1st Quarter
- Freshmen take a battery of personality, learning, and interest inventories in the first week
- Senior Advisors meet with freshmen to continue orientation
At SLUH our counselors are here to help and guide. The adjustment to high school for freshmen can be overwhelming and scary to some while others thrive in the new environment. Your son's progress will be monitored through individual meetings, informal gatherings and the help of senior advisors. (More about senior advisors later in this issue.) The counselors are here to help students to understand themselves, their strengths and limitations, and how to let people in their lives know about them. The counselors will also assist students in setting goals for the year and determining ways in which to reach them.
Freshman Surveys
Before the beginning of classes, the freshmen were given a series of surveys which will help them to learn more about themselves and will give us a foundation from which to discuss students' adjustment and goals at SLUH. The first of these surveys is a version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It asks students to indicate their preferences regarding how they make decisions, approach problems and opportunities, and interact with others. The underlying premise behind this survey is that each person has a preferred style of functioning in the world, and is happiest and more productive when living in accord with these preferences, rather than in opposition to them. The MBTI is used widely in business and education as a tool in team-building, since its focus is to appreciate and utilize the rich diversity of gifts among us. The information supplied by the MBTI is valuable in discussing one's learning style, academic strengths and weaknesses, curriculum and career directions, and style in relating to others. Freshmen will receive the results of the MBTI within the context of their theology classes, where the initial focus is awareness of self and others.
Another survey which was taken by freshmen is the Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) by Kenneth and Rita Dunn. The LSI is a brief survey which indicates a student's specific preferences for studying. Over twenty years of research on this instrument supports the theory that an individual's academic performance is enhanced when teachers and students pay attention to these preferences. The counselors will bring the information from these surveys into the comprehensive individual meetings with parent(s) and student, which begin in November.
A third survey which freshmen are asked to complete is based on the Holland scales for reflecting on possible career directions. Like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this survey looks for patterns among preferences. We believe it is helpful to acquaint students with such general tools for reflection. The results do not yield a prescription for what one should do with the rest of his life (These are only freshmen!), but offer an opportunity to talk about long-term goals and how to identify possible directions.
Senior Advisors
One person who will be an important figure in the life of each freshman is his Senior Advisor.
Ninety seniors applied for this position. Fifty were selected and successfully completed training. These seniors were introduced to the basics of peer counseling and SLUH's philosophy at a retreat held at King's House in early August. Members of the guidance department and administration participated along with Mr. Curdt and two senior advisors from last year.
Each freshman will be assigned to one of these seniors, who will spend the first semester in their homeroom. The homeroom will be divided into groups for small group sessions during advisement periods.
Freshmen should be encouraged to talk to their senior advisor as soon as problems arise and whenever they have questions about school life.
Each year the Senior Advisor program has been expanded and revised to provide more and better service to the freshmen with the goal of making their transition to high school a successful and happy one.
Mr. Tim Curdt is the coordinator of the program. He is happy to receive any suggestions or answer any questions parents may have. You will meet your son's Senior Advisor on Back to School Night.
