In an effort to ease the transition not only for incoming ninth graders but also for their parents, California High School held several special orientation meetings this summer as a part of their Parent Partnership/Ninth Grade Orientation Program.

“Our goal is to involve parents in their children’s high school education before classes even begin so that they have the knowledge and the connections to our resources that will enable them to actively support their children’s high school journey from the outset,” said Paul Wise, California High School’s Dean of Students. “We want them to feel associated and comfortable with every office.”

Each of the District’s five comprehensive high schools offers a parent/student orientation program designed to prepare both for the coming year and introduce them to the services and programs each school offers.

The programs enable parents and students to meet with counselors and school administrators who provide information regarding:

• Services school offices provide for parents and students.
• Key academic information such as expectations  and support systems
• School wide policies such as attendance and dress codes
• Program pick-up times and class schedules
• Distribution of all forms that will need to be completed for Program Pick-Up.

Parents at a recent California High School Parent Partnership meeting said they appreciated the orientation which helped to smooth their own move to the high school setting.

“This makes us feel a lot more comfortable about sending our son to high school,” said parent Michael Arevalo. “We now know that he’s in good hands.

“It also gives us a good look at the school and helps use understand how to fill out all of the paperwork,” Arevalo said. “We feel like we’re ready to go now.”

The Parent Partnership program provides parents and their children with all school forms and class schedules in advance so that any changes that need to be made can be worked out with counselors before Freshman First Day, Wise said.

“Our hope is that parents and students can get all of the information they need in one morning session,” Wise said. “We want the first day of high school to be a positive experience for everyone.”