The School Counseling Department offers seminars to all students in grades 9 – 12. The coordinated, comprehensive School Counseling Program begins in the fall for ninth and twelfth grade students and continues in the spring for sophomore and junior students. Students whose schedules do not permit them to be assigned to a seminar meet with their counselors on an individual basis as time permits to review the topics covered in each seminar. As always, counselors remain available on an individual basis throughout the day.
FRESHMAN SEMINARS
The focus of freshmen seminars is to orient all ninth-grade students to the high school. Counselors visit PE classes throughout the year to review with students the role of school personnel, teacher and student expectations, time management, graduation requirements, the student transcript, MCAS requirements, and cyberbullying and cyberskills. Students are introduced to the Naviance program and are exposed to learning style and other surveys to help to get to know themselves as students and how that connects to high school and post-secondary planning.
SOPHOMORE SEMINARS
Sophomore seminars take place during students' health class and enable counselors to explore with students their strengths, weaknesses, and interests as they relate to possible career choices. Sophomores complete a Myers-Briggs Type Personality Assessment and a Career Interest Inventory during the seminar. The results are discussed at length and possible careers and/or college majors are explored.
JUNIOR SEMINARS
Held during the second semester, junior seminars begin the process of helping students evaluate what they have accomplished educationally to date and what they hope to accomplish during their senior year and beyond. Students explore post-secondary options and begin to build their first list of possible colleges and universities, if appropriate. Alternatives to college are always discussed and presented.
SENIOR SEMINARS
The focus of senior seminars offered in the fall is to assist students in planning for life after high school. Since each year Hingham High School sends approximately 85% of its graduates to four-year colleges and another 5% to two-year schools, the primary task of these seminars is to teach students to navigate the complex college-application process. Seniors are able to benefit both from the expertise of their school counselors and from each other. Counselors review with seniors SATs, post-high school planning timeline, college applications including the essay, recommendations, scholarships, financial aid, and alternatives to college.
FRESHMAN SEMINARS
The focus of freshmen seminars is to orient all ninth-grade students to the high school. Counselors visit PE classes throughout the year to review with students the role of school personnel, teacher and student expectations, time management, graduation requirements, the student transcript, MCAS requirements, and cyberbullying and cyberskills. Students are introduced to the Naviance program and are exposed to learning style and other surveys to help to get to know themselves as students and how that connects to high school and post-secondary planning.
SOPHOMORE SEMINARS
Sophomore seminars take place during students' health class and enable counselors to explore with students their strengths, weaknesses, and interests as they relate to possible career choices. Sophomores complete a Myers-Briggs Type Personality Assessment and a Career Interest Inventory during the seminar. The results are discussed at length and possible careers and/or college majors are explored.
JUNIOR SEMINARS
Held during the second semester, junior seminars begin the process of helping students evaluate what they have accomplished educationally to date and what they hope to accomplish during their senior year and beyond. Students explore post-secondary options and begin to build their first list of possible colleges and universities, if appropriate. Alternatives to college are always discussed and presented.
SENIOR SEMINARS
The focus of senior seminars offered in the fall is to assist students in planning for life after high school. Since each year Hingham High School sends approximately 85% of its graduates to four-year colleges and another 5% to two-year schools, the primary task of these seminars is to teach students to navigate the complex college-application process. Seniors are able to benefit both from the expertise of their school counselors and from each other. Counselors review with seniors SATs, post-high school planning timeline, college applications including the essay, recommendations, scholarships, financial aid, and alternatives to college.
