For the week of  4/18 - 4/22

3rd Trimester SMART Goals

by Sara Terry, MS, NCC, LPCA

HKMS School Counselor

Over the month of April, students are setting up their Trimester III SMART Goals to end the school year off with success. These goals are part of our Student Success Plans. What even is a SMART goal? Students were given the following information regarding SMART Goals:

Specific: What exactly are you trying to achieve? 

Measurable: How will you know when you have achieved this goal?

Achievable: Is this goal realistic? Do you have the tools you need to achieve it?

Relevant: Why is this goal important in your life?

Timely: When do you want to achieve this goal?

Goals are inputted into a program called Naviance which is widely used within the high school. However, we begin using this program here-and-there in middle school to get students acquainted before high school and use it as an "electronic portfolio" to bring with them to the high school. Students focus on three areas to set their goals in: Academic, Personal/Social, and Career. Below, you can find more information as to what students are learning about in this lesson.

Academic: What academic goal do you want to set for yourself to complete by the end of the school year? Is there a certain class you need to raise your hand in more? Are there vocabulary words you need to study more in depth? Is there a book you need to read by the end of the year? Do you need to manage your time better by making a study plan every Sunday night for 30 minutes? There are so many ways to develop this academic goal that is specific for your own needs!

Personal/Social: What personal goal do you want to set for yourself to attain by the end of the school year? Do you want to make a new friend? Do you want to speak more in class? Do you want to be part of a play? Do you want to join a club? Do you want to learn more about people who you don't really know right now? There are so many areas of growth all of us can have personally and socially. We are always working towards our "best self" and this goal will be the one of many goals to get us there.

Career: What are you learning now at HKMS that will help you in your future career? What are your interests/disinterests?  Are there careers that match up to your interests? What do you need to do to get yourself to master this career goal? Is this a  short-term goal or a long-term goal? Truly, our career goals can begin at any stage of development, but this goal will be identified in depth at the high school level for juniors and seniors. Listed below is the typical 

"course of action" for college/career development within middle school:

• 8th Grade: identify current interests/passions to guide selection in high school courses, explore career clusters in Naviance & "favorite" three that you are interested in

• 7th Grade: identify interests and traits that match careers

• 6th Grade: learn your best study practices based off of your learning style 

SMART goals are ongoing throughout middle school and high school. They allow for students to work towards something they find important to them, and instills pride. With this skill, students will be able to innately formulate goals within their future careers and personal lives to live happy and healthy lives. 

• April 27th: PSATs for 8th Grade Students Only

• May 3rd:  Mid Point of Trimester 3

• May 16th: May 26th:  Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) Testing   Window - Grades 6-8

• May 20th: Minimum day for students (dismissal at 12:50), afternoon PD for teachers.

• May 30th: Memorial Day - No School

• June 15th:     Grade 8 Celebration Trip to Brownstone Adventure Park 

• June 16th:     8th Grade Twilight Picnic Party 

• June 17th: Grade 8 Closing Ceremony (6:00 PM)

• June 21st: Last Day of School, Field Day at ECC, a minimum day (dismissal at 12:50)