Freshman Academy

The Freshman Academy has multiple dedicated staff who will work directly with them.  This staff includes:

Freshman Advocates are available to help support freshmen during their freshman year.  There is a freshman advocate that works with both of the freshmen cohorts.  The advocate meets with freshmen who need help with their homework, getting organized, with study skills, and finding other resources in the building.  

The Freshman Academies have dedicated teams of teachers that work with each academy  The teacher teams, counselors, advocates and administrators meet weekly to discuss student progress.  We have also identified students of the week and freshmen of the year. 

Freshmen will take a new yearlong Freshman Seminar course starting the 2016 - 2017 school year, which will help them with career exploration, study skills, organization and more. 

Freshmen will attend a Career Expo in November with over 100 careers to explore and have hands on demonstrations.  They will declare their future career academy in the spring of their freshman year. 

The freshmen will also have the opportunity to visit college campuses this spring as they continue their college and career exploration.

There will be an freshman orientation night held each winter for incoming freshman to explore what Park has to offer.  Students will be able to check out the elective areas, talk with freshman teachers, advocates and students, as well as find out about clubs and sports offered at Park.  If you missed this year's event, you can see a slideshow of some of the great things going on at Park below. 

Freshmen College Visits

Our freshmen have been attending college visits at U.W. Parkside and Gateway Technical College. We are excited to offer the opportunity again for our students, which will now include Carthage College. Listed below is the schedule:

Gateway - May 2, 2024

UW - Parkside - Feb 28, 2024

Carthage College - March 27, 2024

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Gabriel Rodriguez, Project Manager, Office of Secondary Transformation at gabriel.rodriguez@rusd.org

MS to HS transition

Middle School to High School Transition

High School Counselors work with 8th grade teacher, counselors and students to help prepare them for the transition to high school.  8th grade teachers provide recommendations for the core academic classes for 9th grade.  High School Counselors present information to 8th graders about high school, scheduling and course options.  The 8th grade students select their courses for 9th grade during visits in early February.