Parent-to-Parent:
Ten Helpful Hints For Entering Freshmen's Parents

1. Work with teachers Mark your calendar with the dates* when interim and semester grades are released to your child, (you might also want to mark those pesky days off school). Just after grades are released, teachers are available for one-on-one conferences, but your child must sign you up. Also, you can reach many teachers by e-mail (teacher's use of e-mail varies), and all teachers by leaving a note in the front office. Little problems are more successfully addressed than big ones, earlier problems are easier to address than late ones.

2. Work with guidance  Each guidance counselor is responsible for over 380 students. They care about your student, but you have more time for your special people and know them better. Work with your student's counselor. As your child advances in grade, attend evening offerings such as the introduction to internships in December, college night in January of junior year, college financial aid session in December of junior or senior year.

3. Work with APs  Each grade has a responsible Assistant Principal to address any unusual issues your student might have. They are there to work with you and your student, and to explain responsibilities, options, and policy.

4. Critical evening events  Several evening events are key. Back to School Night is in September - you can meet all of you student's teachers. Spotlight on Dulaney is in January - you can learn about required courses, and your student's course options for the following year. Representatives from each department are there to answer your questions and tell you about courses.

5. Participate The more time you spend at the school, the more you will learn. It is VERY enlightening to help out the secretaries for a day. Attend sports events, concerts, plays.

6. Read the PTSA newsletter or visit dulaneyptsa.org  They provide timely communications about programs, people, parenting, and events relevant to the Dulaney community.

7. Read the student newspaper  It reflects some students' thinking and helps you understand student priorities and concerns.

8. Encourage your student to participate  Students who participate in sports and clubs tend to do better in school. Transportation is difficult for working parents so you and your student may need to build carpools.

9. Encourage your student to accept academic changes  Class rank is determined both by grades and the level of rigor of the courses taken (honors courses get more points than college prep classes, GT and AP get more points than honors). However, no one benefits by having a student in over his or her head or stressed out. Each child is different.

10. Sometimes school is closed Watch local news, listen to AM 1090 for closings/delays, or visit Baltimore County Public Schools.

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