16 Aug Ready or Not…5 Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to School
It’s our favorite time of the year: back to school!! We’re so excited– we’ve missed seeing you and sharing all the feels that happen in 9th-12th grades. At the School for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SET High), a tuition-free high school in San Diego, we want to help you succeed and support you all the way. Speaking of, here are a few tips and tricks to think about to ease your way back into your school routine.
1. Schedule
Our California Distinguished School scheduling wizards work hard concocting the perfect schedule for you…and all your classmates. You will start using it on the first day of school, August 12, and it will cover what you need to graduate on time, California’s UC A-G requirements, and how to fit in college classes too.
Of course, the first thing you’ll look for are which of the amazing classes you get to take. History of Media: Video Games? Robotics? Definitely Leadership SET Style! And remember, because we use block scheduling, you’re covering a year’s worth of material before it changes for the spring semester. Look over your schedule, memorize it, and even bring it to our office with questions.
Speaking of schedule, here’s a look at the 2024-25 academic calendar.
2. Overnight 9th Grade Retreat
Not only is SET High new to 9th graders, you may not know anyone. This retreat will change that. During the first week of school, our 9th grade students take over the school for a night, engaging in group activities and a series of team-building exercises with staff and upper class peer counselors. The retreat is a great way for new students to bond with each other as well as staff, transitioning them into the start of a successful school year. Here’s more on setting up your first year in high school for success.
3. Make the Most of Your Advisor
At SET High, you are partnered with an advisor – a new one each year – who helps advise and guide you along the way during your time at SET. Every advisory teacher advocates, promotes, assists and reinforces a student’s personalized path through high school. We assist parents and students in crafting an educational program tailored to accomplish academic career goals. We help you design your own learning journey. Your advisor is also a great resource for help with your passion projects from exploring options to making them happen.
4. Easy Listening
New this year, we have a podcast! Get back in the high school groove while you listen to timely episodes like Cell Phones in Schools, or School Attendance and Mental Health.
5. Sports & Clubs
You have many choices about how you spend your time. Don’t forget about athletics and clubs. Because we’re a small school, you have the opportunity to get more sports playing time in or even try something you’re curious about but may have been intimidated by in a larger school.
Our clubs range from Ping Pong to College Prep to SET Senate to Film Production to Mountain Biking. Can’t find a club you want to join? Create one! We’d love to hear your ideas (Kombucha Making? Hedgehog Pajama Club?) and make them happen!
Bonus Tip: Sleep!
Haha, we have to say it because it’s so true! We get it, you’re busy at 10pm catching up with your friends but let your brain help you by giving it some sleep. While we can’t stress enough the importance of getting enough sleep, we’ll settle for some semblance of a sleep schedule? Tip within a tip? Listen to our podcast while you drift off– we won’t take it too personally if you fall asleep before you finish an episode.
Welcome back to school– we can’t wait to see you. Our WASC-accredited school is enrolling now.
About SET High
SET High offers each student individual attention from multi-talented, highly qualified teachers. Students build a healthy camaraderie with classmates inside an intellectually rigorous environment that brings out their talents and personality, helping them develop their individual character and direction in life. With a wide variety of electives, flexible scheduling, dual enrollment college classes and more — our students regularly exceed their academic and personal expectations. Enroll now.