By Katie Baskin

Austin High School principal

While AHS students will soon be completing their first semester of the 2016-17 school year, we have already engaged them in the planning process of course selection for the remainder of their academic future at AHS.

While it seems quite early to be planning for the next school year as well as discussing their future academic plans, we begin this process now to support students in making informed choices with plenty of time to discuss their decisions with their families and teachers. This is an extremely important process for students at AHS as we are asking them to plan for their future, and make decisions about pathways of study they need for graduation, college entrance, and that fit their area of interest beyond high school. High school is a time of trial and error in preparation for career and college. It is truly a unique opportunity for all students to prepare for the next step in their lives and test their skills in a variety of areas that will help them make decisions about their next course of study or trade.

AHS staff and administration work each year to refine the registration process to provide students multiple opportunities to engage in conversations with their content teachers, Connect teachers, and families. The course registration process started in December with math, science, social studies and language arts teachers making recommendations and conferencing with their students about their course of study for the 2017-18 school year.

During the week of Jan. 30, students will work with their Connect teachers and AHS counselors to review course selections and begin their future academic plans for the remainder of their high school career.

During the two weeks of Feb. 6 to 17, students will finalize their course registration and future academic plans with the support of their content and Connect teachers. Parents/guardians and students will have access to the Infinite Campus Portal through Feb. 17 to make changes to elective courses, but must seek out a grade-level counselor to make a change with a recommended course.

Students will finalize this process through an individual meeting with their grade-level counselor during the weeks of Feb. 20-March 3. Finally, families will have an opportunity to review the courses their student has registered for at spring conferences from 4 to 8 p.m. on March 9 in Hastings Gym.

While we understand there are a number of components to the course registration process, we are excited for students to take this next step in their preparation to be college and career ready.

Please contact the AHS Counseling Office at 507-460-1812 with any questions.