Dear Students and Parent/Guardians, At Festus High School, our faculty and staff are committed to preparing students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. One of the challenges that our students will face more than any other generation is an increased level of training needed to obtain what were once entry-level jobs. Jobs have become more technical than ever before and require additional postsecondary training. As a result, it is our goal to help students prepare socially, mentally, academically, and financially for their future. Our teachers and counseling staff will work closely with students throughout the year to help them make some of these academic decisions. As students enter high school, it is important for them to begin exploring career interests and the skills/training needed both in high school and beyond. This planning guide will provide you with course offerings and their descriptions to help you with your planning. In early spring, Festus High School will host several College and Career days to help students in finding a career interest. We will also host a Curriculum Night in which advisors will work closely with students and their parents to assist in choosing an appropriate academic plan. Classes have several college and career readiness components built into the curriculum. Of course, planning your courses is just the beginning. We encourage students to challenge themselves and take courses that will push them beyond what they ever thought they were capable of. We have wonderful, dedicated teachers who will ensure that with a lot of focus and hard work, they can fulfill their dreams no matter what their interests. We have added a couple of classes to meet student demand for various career fields. Teen topics was replaced last year with Interior Decorating and Design. We have also updated some of our business courses to include things like coding, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign and PageMaker for students wishing to enter the field of graphic arts design. For next year, we have added Marketing I and Honors Psychology. The decisions that students make today will impact their number of opportunities later. In addition, the more students challenge themselves and take college-level courses in high school, the more likely they will be to complete a college level degree or training program. Please review this planning guide carefully and choose the courses that will prepare your child appropriately for postsecondary plans. Students will meet with and receive guidance from our counselors throughout the year in meeting specific graduation requirements. Beyond that, students should choose the courses that best fit their needs in relation to future goals. It may not seem like it now, but these decisions will be some of the most important decisions students will make in regard to their future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Diana Allen, Principal Festus High School
FHS College and Career Planning Guide
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