Getting Ready for School 2018-2019

Songs to sing:  
All the Poor and Powerless (G)   YT
Come to the Altar (Chord of D)  YT

Deep Cries Out (G) YT
Every move I Make (G)   YT
Freedom (G) YT
Forever (G) YT
God of Wonders (Chord G) pdf  
I am Free (G) YT
Mighty To Save (C)  YT
O Come To The Altar (G) YT
This is Living (C)
Think About His Love (Chord G)  site
With Everything (G)   YT
Wake (C)

Group Discussion  Questions:

Looking back at last school year,

1.  Do you feel you have been productive? Why? 

2.  Were you an influencer or where you influenced?  Were you a leader or a follower? 

3   Did you reach your academic goals? 

4.  What would you change from last year to make this year better? 

5.  How was your faith in God last year and how has your faith in God helped you last year? 

Topics in a Glance

Preparing for 2018:

- How to excel in school this year (academic, school, goals).   

- Handling Peer Pressure (Relationships, Friends and Social)

- Electives:   How do I know if I need to be in a club? Planning extra curricular activities (Electives / Extra Curricular Activites)

- What role will my faith play this school year

============

HOW TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR (Academic, school, goals)

ISAIAH 40:28-31:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Discussion:   What defines a successful academic year?  How do I know if I have not given my best in a class?  

10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

1. Get Organized. Making a plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it will make sure you're always ahead of the curve - literally. 
2. Don't multitask. Studies have shown that multitasking is physically impossible. 
3. Divide it up. Studying isn't fun, to begin with, and forcing yourself through a study marathon will only make it worse. Dividing your work into manageable chunks and rewarding yourself when you finish each chunk will make studying (more) fun.
4. Sleep. Don't underestimate the importance of those eight hours of zzz's every night! Getting a good night's rest will sharpen your focus and improve your working memory.
5. Set a schedule. Do you work better right after school or after you've eaten dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute blocks or half-hour spurts? Find a schedule that works for you, and stick to it. 
6. Take notes. Taking notes will not only keep you more engaged during class, but will also help you narrow down what you need to study when exam time rolls around. It's much easier to reread your notes than to reread your entire textbook!
7. Study. This one might be obvious, but did you know that there's a right and a wrong way to study? Review your material several days ahead of time, in small chunks, and in different manners (for example, write flashcards one day and take practice tests the next). In other words, don't cram. 
8. Manage your study space. Find a place that will maximize your productivity. Look for places away from the television and other distractions. Whether it's your local library or just the desk in your bedroom, set aside a study space that you'll want to spend time in. 
9. Find a study group. Sitting down with a group of people who are learning the same things as you is a great way to go over confusing class material or prepare for a big test. You can quiz each other, reteach material, and make sure that everyone is on the same page. After all, teaching someone else is the best way to learn. 
10. Ask questions. You're in school to learn, so don't be afraid to do just that! Asking for help - from a teacher, a tutor or your friends - is a surefire way to make sure you truly understand the material.

Parents help sheet     15 habits of top college students

===========PEER PRESSURE ==============

HANDLING PEER PRESSURE (Friends, Relationships and Social Life)

Proverbs 1:10-15
My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; read more.
We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse," My son, do not walk in the way with them Keep your feet from their path,

Peer Influence Isn't All Bad

1. Friendship
2. Positive Examples
3. Feedback and advice
4. Socializing
5. Encouragement
6. New Expriences

When the Pressure is On, what do you do?

1. Listen to your gut. If you feel uncomfortable, even if your friends seem to be OK with what’s going on, it means that something about the situation is wrong for you. This kind of decision-making is part of becoming self-reliant and learning more about who you are.
2. Plan for possible pressure situations. If you’d like to go to a party but you believe you may be offered alcohol or drugs there, think ahead about how you’ll handle this challenge. Decide ahead of time — and even rehearse — what you’ll say and do. Learn a few tricks. If you’re holding a bottle of water or a can of soda, for instance, you’re less likely to be offered a drink you don’t want.
3. Arrange a “bailout” code phrase you can use with your parents without losing face with your peers. You might call home from a party at which you’re feeling pressured to drink alcohol and say, for instance, “Can you come and drive me home? I have a terrible headache.”
4. Learn to feel comfortable saying “no.” With good friends, you should never have to offer an explanation or apology. But if you feel you need an excuse for, say, turning down a drink or smoke, think up a few lines you can use casually. You can always say, “No, thanks, I’ve got a belt test in karate next week and I’m in training,” or “No way — my uncle died of cirrhosis and I’m not even looking at any booze.”
5. Hang with people who feel the same way you do. Choose friends who will speak up with you when you’re in need of moral support, and be quick to speak up for a friend in the same way. If you’re hearing that little voice telling you a situation’s not right, chances are others hear it, too. Just having one other person stand with you against peer pressure makes it much easier for both people to resist.
6. Blame your parents: “Are you kidding? If my mom found out, she’d kill me, and her spies are everywhere.”
7. Speak up: If a situation seems dangerous, don’t hesitate to get an adult’s help.

=============ELECTIVES==============

Electives:   How do I know if I need to be in a club? Planning extra curricular activities (Electives / Extra Curricular Activites)

Jeremiah 29:11,
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Why are electives IMportant? 

1. Electives are a way for colleges to judge your interests and academic abilities
2. Offer a way to show your personality and interests to a school 
3. electives can also play a role in helping you disocver new hobbies or career interests
4. It's possible for you to choose your career based on one really great elective you took in high school

Examples of Commonly Offered Elective

• Computer science: programming, graphic design, web design
• English: journalism, creative writing, speech and debate
• Family and consumer science: nutrition, child development, culinary courses
• Math and Science: environmental science, zoology, astronomy, statistics
• Social Studies: psychology, anthropology, economics
• Visual and Performing Arts: drawing, painting, photography, choir, band

Which Electives should I take?

Step 1:  Learn which electives your school offers

1. look through your school's course catalog
2. It's a good idea to at least skim through each section and course description

Step 2:  Figure out how many electives you'll be able to take

1. Draw up a rough plan of the classes you need to take in order to graduate.  To figure this out, first look at your high school's graducation requirements
2. Make blank spaces to represent ht enubmer of classes you can take
3. Fill in each of the required classes you must take
4. then look at entrance requirements for a few colleges
5. The blank spaces you ahve left will be when you can take electives!
6. If you know you won't be able to take a lot of electives, you can make those you do take count by choosing the elctives you're most interested in

Step 3:  Decide how rigorous you want your electives be

1. Don't take particularly diffult or time-consuming electives if they will cause your grades in core classes to suffer
2. You can also alternate between harder and less difficult electives

Step 4:  Look for electives related to your academic focus

1. A good way to develop college applciation is to have a clear interest in a particular subject
2. Electives are a great way to show them what your interests are
3. Chose electives that relate to your main academic focus
4. At least some of your electives should relate to what you'd liek to study in the future
5. Go through your school's list of electives and mark all the ones that relate to your academic focus

Step 5:  Look for Electives you find particularly interesting

1. Do any of these eletives relate to your hobbies? 
2. Which skills do you wish you had? 
3. High School is a great time to learn new skills before you head off to college
4. Can any of the elctives you're interested in also relate to your academic focus? 
5. Make the connection clear for colleges

CONSIDERING AP PROGRAM.  Is this for you?  

==============FAITH  ================

2 Timothy 1:7,
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

What role will my faith play this school year

1

Trust in God. To succeed in life, you have to trust God and know that what He's doing is best for you. You'll certainly go through trials in this life- No doubt! But "Be of good courage" (Joshua 1:9),remember that trials are allowed by God to both strengthen you in your faith and see if you trust Him. Sometimes he even causes them to allow you to grow in faith. If you pass these tests by trusting God, He will move you to a higher level. "Complain and remain; Praise and be Raised."-Joyce Meyer

2

Reading the Bible daily can give you encouragement and helpful advice on living a life full of the presence of GOD. God loves speaking to His children and one of the ways He does this is through His word. If you're facing a stressful time at school, simply reach for your bible (or search for bible verses online) and look at all the comforting bible verses God has for you.

3

Use prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool, because it is a spiritual sword of God. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be you getting on your knees for hours; it's simply talking to your heavenly daddy like you would a friend, for example "Hi God, how can I make you happy today?" Keeping your mind focused on God, can help you keep your priorities straight.

4

Remember the words you speak are very powerful (Proverbs 18:21) so use your words to praise GOD and others instead of gossiping. Instead of speaking negatively about yourself- for example; "I'm terrible at math," declare what God says about you (James 1:5)-"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..."

5

Do your homework. Anytime you get homework from school, make sure you complete it! That means no "I'll do it tomorrow for sure" Don't kid yourself. Try to Revise/Study for at least 45 minutes every day on the subject you have learned. You can revise the way you prefer so if you prefer studying on the internet than you do from a book, then hop on a computer and study.

6

Have patience and determination. Two of the qualities you need to succeed in life are patience and determination. These two qualities can determine your success in life. You're not always gonna feel like getting your homework done, or studying, but always be determined. Remember, school isn't gonna last forever.

7

Get help. If possible, try to find a Christian group that relates to you. (i.e Youth christian group for youths.) This can give you the encouragement needed when you feel like giving up on your Christian walk with GOD. It's important to stay connected to the positive influences in your life.

8

Don't listen to those who are a bad influence. Even if your friends aren't Christians, make sure they don't influence you to do things you know God wouldn't approve of, like drinking alcohol and smoking. These things can lower your morals as well as affect your health.

9

Remember, your heavenly Dad loves you so much more than you could ever think. It doesn't matter if others have rejected you, God will never reject you when you come to Him and ask Him to guide you through life. It doesn't matter if you're a convicted murderer or you cheated on a class test! He just wants you to be His and to give your life to Him. Hey you're His child, why wouldn't he love you. If you want to become a Christian, confess in your heart that Jesus is the Lord of your life, then ask Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all your sins. God will forgive you and will release you from the guilt of any sin you have (and will have) committed.