Section V: Program Curriculum

Post Secondary College and Career Readiness:

The Counselor Advisory Council (CAC) organized student feedback collected from different student groups including Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALS), National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), Teen Leadership, and grade level student representatives.  The data indicated that students felt nervous about planning for high school and their future. Sartartia Middle School counselors approach this initiative from several activities and programming. In the Fall, counselors present a lesson to students about college and career exploration. In this lesson, ‘Introduction to Endorsements and SchooLinks Find your Path Assessment,’ counselors introduce the different high school endorsements with examples of career pathways under each endorsement. Students also log into their SchooLinks account and complete the Find your Path Assessment for their grade level.  

Goal Setting is another approach counselors use to teach college and career readiness. Counselors created a SMART Goal Guidance lesson that allows students to focus on short term school based  goals. This could be social-emotional, academic, athletic or enrichment goals that students enter in SchooLinks and have easy access to check in and monitor their progress.  Several activities for the Post-Secondary College and Career Readiness initiative include parent and student Course Selection presentations and guidance.  Especially through 4 year planning in 8th grade, students learn to connect their career interests (gathered from their SchooLinks Onboarding Activity) to a specific sequence of courses, their pathway, in high school.  Some ancillary activities include College Wednesdays, the advertising of college pennants and brochures throughout the school and promoting Career and Technology programs.  Counselors met with students three times a year to evaluate their SMART goal progress and discuss changes in career interests. 

• Resources and Curriculum: Student Presentations

  • SchooLinks: Counselors used SchooLinks as a tool to explore career pathways, SMART goal setting, resume building and career interest inventories. Annually, students take a career interest inventory. 6th & 7th graders take the ‘Find your Path’ and 8th graders take the ‘Strengths Explorer.’  After taking the assessment, students explore the different career pathways and to explore personal testimonies about jobs, required education, average salaries and colleges that provide the degrees needed for careers.  Also, annually, students created an academic SMART goal in SchooLinks and check on their progress at the end of the school year. 

• CareerOneStop: Counselors used this website’s videos to introduce endorsements to students. These videos show and explain jobs and the essentials skills, knowledge and duties of each field. 

• • Parent Universities: Collaboration with Stakeholders

  • High School & 4 Year Planning Parent University: Counselors presented a Four Year Planning Parent University. Parents were given a presentation on the five different high school endorsements and pathways. Counselors discussed the graduation requirements and shared examples of a 4 year plan with parents.

  • College and Career Readiness Parent University: Counselors presented on helpful tips for parents when it comes to college and career support for their children. Parents also did an activity that exemplifies what is most valued by colleges when looking at college entrance requirements. 

• Career Day, 4 year Planning and Career Exploration: Collaboration with Stakeholders (guest speakers for Career Day and volunteers from PTO): Data from the Strengths Explorer was used to guide the speakers invited to Career Day and placement of 8th graders with compatible speakers.  Also, this data was used for 8th graders when creating their individual 4 year plans. 6th and 7th graders explored careers on SchooLinks and choose their favorite careers and pathways.  

School-Wide College Awareness Activities: Students and staff are asked to participate each Wednesday in College Wednesdays by wearing college gear, and college pennant and brochure information are available to students.

Goal Setting: Student Lesson: Counselors taught students how to create a SMART goal and then followed up with them at the end of the year to mark their progress.

Data Collection: SMART Goal: Counselors will increase the participation/ completion rate of  the SMART Goal and the Find your Path Activity on SchooLinks. 

SMART Goal Activity

2023-2024 School Year

6th Grade: 91%

7th Grade: 96%

8th Grade: 95%

2022-2023 School Year

6th Grade: 88%

7th Grade: 94%

8th Grade: 93%

Career Interest Survey/Find your Path Activity

2023-2024 School Year

6th Grade: 97%

7th Grade: 97%

8th Grade: 94%

2022-2023 School Year

6th Grade: 94%

7th Grade: 89%

8th Grade: 92%

PSAT: Student Presentation: Counselors present to 8th grade students about the PSAT they take in 8th grade and review the results with them.  Counselors also teach them how to create and link their Khan Academy account with their College Board account to practice for the test and use their results from the PSAT to further their studies.

Course Selection: Student Lessons: Counselors present guidance lessons to rising 7th-9th grade students.  Rising 9th grade students are also taught about 4 year planning. Also, counselors host a 5th grade visit to talk about middle school and course selection.

Parent University: Collaboration with Stakeholders:  Counselors present course selection to rising 7th-9th grade students.