Hazelwood Southeast Middle School has a “university” inside with a course called Parents Preparing Students for the Future.
The free Southeast Middle School University (SMSU) course is designed to help families prepare their students for education from middle school to college, trade or technical schools. Classes started in September and will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month until March 2012, except in December and January, when students have homework assignments to complete.
SMSU is an interactive program that provides for the development of a network of parents who share in the interest of their children’s education and future. Parents will develop additional knowledge of the relationship between goal-setting and making sure their children are successful and positive about their future at school. Parents will also learn more about life after middle school, how reading links to academic success and parents and students will learn to study together.
Principal Dr. Sonya Ptah said after the September class, approximately 25 families chose the following topics as most important to include in future SMSU meetings – help students realize their potential, ideas to challenge students while in middle school, the importance of maintaining a high grade point average in college, extra help in school, the importance of financial aid, finding role models and ACT test preparation.
During Parents Preparing Students for the Future, parents and guardians can participate in such activities and classes as:
- College tours
- Virtual college visits
- Build a student portfolio
- Explore Careers 101
- Finance College 104
- Reading 101 – Real books before Facebook
- High School Expectations 121
- Seeking Excellence 103
Students are scheduled to graduate from the program in April 2012. Child care will be provided when there are classes at school. To RSVP for October's class or for more information, call Dr. Sonya Ptah at (314) 953-7700.