Staying focused in the final weeks

The fourth quarter is always the most challenging for students as the warm, sunny days remind us that summer break is a few short weeks away. The last days of school can be an exciting and emotional time of year, too, as high school seniors prepare to graduate and begin the next phase of their lives whether they plan to attend college, join the workforce, serve in the military, enroll in trade schools or follow another path.

But first, students at the junior-senior high school must get through Regents week and final exams, which are quickly approaching. These exams can often make or break your final grade, so it is especially important to remain focused on learning and preparing for these tests during these final weeks of the school year.

The junior-senior high school offers Regents review classes to ensure that students are well prepared. I encourage students to attend the review classes and to seek extra help from teachers if you need it. (Information on review classes will be posted when available on the high school’s Web page.)

For students, study tips can be found on the guidance Web page:
http://www.watervlietcityschools.org/guidance/studytips.cfm

For additional study and test-taking tips visit: http://www.infoplease.com/homework/studyskills4.html#tips

I also want to congratulate the Class of 2012. Approximately 96 percent of this year’s graduates are planning to pursue higher education next year, and have been accepted at such esteemed two- and four-year colleges and universities as: Alfred University, Buffalo State, Butler University, Cazenovia College, Clarkson University, Hartwick College, Hofstra University, Hudson Valley Community College, Iona College, LeMoyne College, Quinnipiac University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Russell Sage College, Schenectady County Community College, St. John Fisher College, St. John’s University, Siena College, The College of Saint Rose, The University of Colorado (Boulder), Western New England University, numerous SUNY schools and others.

I encourage students to stay focused, stay positive and make these last weeks count. Let’s finish the 2011-12 school year strong!