January Issue

A Note from the Counseling Office

Happy New Year from the Counseling Department! The start of a new year brings with it a renewed sense of possibility—a chance to reset, refocus, and strive to become the best version of ourselves.

The Spring Semester is filled with meaningful milestones and opportunities, including Grade 11 University Night, Counselor Courses for Grades 10 and 11, our Mock University Admissions Event, and the beginning of course selection season. Each of these moments is designed to help students reflect, plan, and move forward with intention. Please read on for more details on what’s ahead

Welcoming our New Dragons

This semester, we are delighted to welcome several new students and families into our community. We are fortunate to have gained five Grade 9 students and two Grade 10 students. We look forward to supporting their transitions and helping them feel at home at ASD.s.

Grade 11 - The University Journey Begins

Last week, the Counseling Team hosted a dynamic event to officially kick off the University Admissions Cycle for the Class of 2027 and their families. Together, we explored:

• Student, parent, and counselor responsibilities

• The components of a university application

• Testing timelines

• Current admissions trends

If you were unable to attend, you can view the slide deck from the evening here

To build on this foundation, Grade 11 students have now begun their Counselor Course, where these ideas are explored in greater depth. Special care is given to conversations about:

• University “fit”

• Desk research and building a balanced list

• Essays and personal statements

• Safeguarding and student well-being
  
  

This course is designed to give students both clarity and confidence as they begin this important journey.

Grade 10 - Exploring and Reflecting on Careers

The Grade 10 Counselor Course is also off and running. The focus of this course is career exploration and reflection. Over the next five weeks, students will:

• Meet individually with their counselor to discuss course selections for next year and beyond

• Use the MAIA Learning platform to complete a series of inventories

So far, students have completed three of four inventories:

• Flourishing – a snapshot of current well-being

• Personality – identifying patterns in how they think and interact

• Values – clarifying what matters most to them

Each inventory also highlights careers that align with a student’s personality and values. Next week, students will complete the Career Interest Profile, which will yield additional insights.

All of these tools are grounded in John Holland’s career theory, helping students recognize patterns in who they are and how they might thrive in the world beyond high school. The final task will be the creation of a personal career plan, which students can share with their families.

Course Selection Timeline 

As we move into the spring, course selection season begins—an important moment for students to reflect on their goals and make thoughtful academic choices for the year ahead.

Course Selection will open the week of February 8. To support students in this process, we will host grade-level assemblies to walk them through options, pathways, and expectations:

• Rising Grades 9 & 10 – February 9

• Rising Grades 10 & 11 – February 11

• Students have until February 22 to input thier choices.

These sessions are designed to help students understand their choices within ASD’s academic framework and to encourage intentional planning aligned with future goals.

Families are encouraged to review our Program of Study in advance, which outlines graduation requirements, course offerings, and pathway options across AP, IB, and core programs:

View the ASD Program of Study

This resource is an essential companion to course selection conversations at home and with counselors.

ICYMI: See below for the information provided during AP/IB Curriculum pathway night.

• AP and IBDP, which include general information sessions on the programmes.

  • HS Curricular Pathway Night Recording 2026

  • HS Curricular Pathway Night 2026 Presentation Slides

• Frequently Asked Questions - Offers answers to frequent queries we receive about the programmes.

• Screencasts and Syllabus 2026 - Additionally, a short video and syllabi for all the courses can be found here for AP and IBDP

• QS Ranking University Information

• Find countries/territories and universities that recognise IB programme

Mock Admission University Event

On February 3, from 8:30–10:00 AM, we invite families to join us for a fun and illuminating experience that offers a glimpse into the life of a university admissions officer.

Participants will step into the role of an admissions reader and explore how applications are reviewed and decisions are made. It’s an engaging way to demystify the process and better understand how students are evaluated.

To RSVP, please complete the form here