High School Transition Group GRIP
There were three groups of students: freshman, sophomores, and a combined group of juniors and seniors. The groups were made up of students who had transferred in the past year. For the first week, the freshman group met for their first session. The same thing happened next week for the sophomores and the week after for the combined juniors and seniors group. After the three week initial sessions, those who were still interested in the group made a fourth, combined total group of ten members. That group then met for six more meetings.
Goals for Group:
HP2. Understand when and how to utilize family, peer, school, and/or community resources
HP3. Use appropriate communication and conflict resolution skills with peers and adults
Results:
The students answered seven questions with yes or no answers with a pre/post test. The questions were based on if they felt comfortable in the school, if they know who their counselor is and their role, if they have a solid group of friends, if they think this group will help them, if they know any other students who have transferred, and if they know how to get involved in a club or organization. Based on the results, the students now have a more solid friend group and are more aware of how to get involved in school than they were at the beginning of the group.
Program Implications:
Goals for Group:
- Help transfer students become comfortable in the school overall.
- Let them be aware of the guidance office and their role and services.
- Help them build friendships in school.
- Get to know other students in their same situation.
- Know about school activities and sports.
HP2. Understand when and how to utilize family, peer, school, and/or community resources
HP3. Use appropriate communication and conflict resolution skills with peers and adults
Results:
- 100% of the students had a solid group of friends by the end of the semester, instead of 80% in the pre test.
- 100% of the students now know how to get involved in a club or organization at school.
The students answered seven questions with yes or no answers with a pre/post test. The questions were based on if they felt comfortable in the school, if they know who their counselor is and their role, if they have a solid group of friends, if they think this group will help them, if they know any other students who have transferred, and if they know how to get involved in a club or organization. Based on the results, the students now have a more solid friend group and are more aware of how to get involved in school than they were at the beginning of the group.
Program Implications:
- All students continued to report being comfortable in the school, and all students now report having a solid group of friends at WMHS.
- There will be more of a focus on getting the students to know the group members better.
- In future groups, there will be more of a focus on the dynamics of the group and the friendships within the group. Instead of mainly focusing on how to develop friendships in general, focus will split between general friendship building skills as well as friendship building skills within the actual transition group.