Monday, Sep. 15, 2008

MARYELLEN GREENE | HORRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

In just four short weeks, Horry County Schools will reopen. Rising ninth-graders and their parents may view this with great anticipation and some trepidation. Carolina Forest High is a large high school on a sprawling campus. Approaching it for the first time can be intimidating.

The staff at Carolina Forest High School is committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for the incoming new students. On Aug. 20 at 8:30 a.m., the staff will conduct freshman orientation for all rising ninth-graders and their parents. At this time, the Horry County Schools Parent/Student Handbook and academic calendar will be distributed. Students and parents will be informed of the following: the time school begins, where to report on the first day, where a student must report following an absence and, most importantly, how long the student will have for lunch! A question and answer session will follow. Students and parents will have the opportunity to tour the campus, meet their teachers, find their lockers and walk through their schedules.

In the spring, the staffs at Ocean Bay Middle, Black Water Middle and Carolina Forest High School held three meetings that laid the groundwork for the transition process from middle to high school. Parents and students learned graduation and college entrance requirements, scholarship opportunities and course selection, daily schedules and attendance policies. Programs at the Academy for Technology and Academics, the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology, Early College and the Connect Programs were discussed. Counselors from both the middle and high schools met in small groups with the students and parents to discuss students' EXPLORE scores. This included a student interest inventory. The counselors talked to the students and parents about the S.C. Education and Economic Development Act and student majors. Parental questions and concerns were addressed at this time. Parents received a copy of the Carolina Forest High School Academic Planning Guide, which outlined much of what was discussed.

The staff at Carolina Forest High School has gone the extra mile to assist in the first step of a successful high school experience.

MaryEllen Greene is a member of the Horry County Board of Education. She represents District 2, which includes part of Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, Socastee and St. James.