Guidance & Counseling Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

My child had a 504 plan last year. Who will inform his/her new teachers of the 504 plan?

 

If your child has a 504 plan, you must have a meeting every year. This allows the new teachers to provide input and decide what accommodations would work best in their class. You will need to contact your child’s counselor to set this meeting up.

       

How do I set up a parent/teacher conference with my child’s teacher?

 

In order to set up a conference, you will need to contact your child’s counselor. Prior to setting up a conference, parents are encouraged to utilize the teacher’s emails and mygradebook.com where information is current on your child’s progress. Teacher email addresses can be accessed on the Bowie HS webpage at the following link Teacher Contact. To gain further information on the parent portal please contact your child's counselor.

 

Once school starts, can my child change their schedule if I am not satisfied with his/her courses?

 

No, students have been given the opportunity to make schedule changes prior to the last day of the previous school year. They were informed that no schedule changes will be honored the following school year, unless they fall into the following categories:

 

·        A counseling or data entry error

·        A missing graduation requirement

·        Failure in a prerequisite or a required course

·        Passing a course in summer school

·        A documented health issue which precludes making a requested course

·        Repeating a failed course with the same teacher

 

What do I do if my counselor is unavailable when I need to talk to him/her?

 

If it is an emergency, please let the secretary or another counselor know. There are other counselors available and they may be able to assist you immediately. The secretary will help you find someone to talk to.

If no counselor is available and you feel an urgent need to talk to someone, you may go to an administrator in the main office.

 

Students that are experiencing a crisis should talk to an adult immediately. The county crisis number is 301-864-7161 and should be used if students are not at school.

 

If my counselor is busy, are there other staff members who can answer guidance questions?

 

Other counselors, guidance secretaries and the registrar may be able to answer your question. Sometimes an administrator may be helpful depending on the question.

 

Where can I find a list of activities that I can be involved in, and how can I get information on activities dates?

 

Go the school’s website and click on Activities or PTSO for a list.

 

How many Student Service hours do I need and how can I complete this requirement?

 

Every student must complete 36 community service hours prior to graduation. These hours must be completed at a non-profit organization or a licensed day-care. Some examples include local hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs, or local churches. A list of these organizations is also available on the bulletin board in the Guidance offices.

 

Where can I get Student Service Hour forms? When do these forms need to be turned in? Is there a deadline?

 

Student Service Hour forms are available in the Guidance office. The forms must be filled out completely and turned in when you have completed your hours. It is preferred that you turn the form in within the same school semester that you perform the service.

 

How should I choose my classes? What classes look better to colleges? When comparing grades for honors, regular and AP classes, which looks better for a student to have, for example-an A in a regular class or a C in an honors/AP class?

 

Students should consult with their parents, teachers and counselors in making course selection and selections of levels of courses. While consistency is important, the types of classes you take and the grades you earn are extremely important. We encourage students to seek out new academic experiences and exposure to new ideas. Meeting with a counselor to plan course selections and discuss college options would be beneficial in helping you decide whether or not you want to continue with a particular subject.

 

Generally speaking, college would like to see students challenge themselves to as great a degree as possible in high school. Colleges also recognize that students have strengths and weaknesses, and understand that not all students should take a full course load of honors/AP classes. Your high school program should reflect some attempts at honors/AP work if that interests you and motivates you to success. An “A” or “B” in an honors or advanced level class that is suitable for the student’s abilities is generally viewed more favorably than all “A”s in less challenging classes. Some consistently making “C”s in honors/AP classes should review their program with their counselor.

 

Is it better to have more than two foreign language credits?

 

Yes, because more colleges are becoming more and more competitive, and some even require at least three years of a foreign language. Before you decide to stop at just two years, you need to research the colleges you are interested in and see what they want in their student enrollment.

 

How can I get information about colleges and careers?

 

There is a plethora of information available for you in the career center or the Guidance office. You can also go to www.collegeboard.com or www.petersons.com for more information.

 

What does it mean if I have good grades but my SAT scores are not high?

 

The SAT tests are but one measure of how a student might do in a college environment. It is also important to remember that a Critical Reading Score, Writing and Math composite SAT score of 1500 is considered to be a good indicator of success in college. If you are doing “A” and “B” work in high school, challenging yourself with some honors? AP classes, and you are an involved member of the school community, it sounds like you and your teachers are doing a find job, and you would have an excellent chance of success after high school, regardless of your SAT scores.

 

Do colleges heavily consider student’s involvement in extracurricular activities?

 

Although colleges put a lot of weight on overall grade point average, and SAT or ACT scores, extracurricular activities are also very important. There are limited spaces at every college, which means you must make yourself appear very competitive. The more extracurricular activities you are involved in, the better they get to know who you are and what you are capable of doing. They also like to know if you have exhibited leadership and organization skills. Depth of involvement in activities is preferred, rather than a breadth of activities. Your sports and activities show what kind of broad interest you have as well as the time management skills you possess.