Your son’s first year at a private high school will mean many changes and challenges for him. Naturally, as a parent, you want to know how to optimize his experience. Help him get off to a good start by keeping these crucial tips in mind.

Tips for an Optimal High School Experience

1. Familiarize Yourself With the School

Become familiar with your son’s high school by getting involved. Explore the website and the school grounds. Show up for back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences, find out what big events to anticipate, and acquaint yourself with the teachers and administration. Having a close understanding of your son’s school and its workings will help him navigate life at a private high school.

2. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering your time for activities can show your son how much you care. Offer to help with events, trips, and fundraising activities in whatever way fits your schedule. If your son is wary about you taking part in too many school activities, offer to help him prepare for tests by quizzing him or suggesting effective study methods.

3. Keep Him Healthy

Help your son stick to a schedule that lets him sleep between 9 and 9.5 hours per night, and provide a healthy nourishing meal consisting of fruit, dairy, and nuts first thing in the morning. This will optimize his energy, memory, concentration, motivation, and critical thinking skills, and it’ll help him avoid missing class due to illness.

4. Help With Homework

At a high school, the curriculum may be as rigorous as it is rewarding. It’s wonderful to offer to review the subject material and assignments for each class with your son, but equally important is teaching him to be organized, plan ahead, divide his tasks into manageable components, and stay motivated. Do your part to ensure his study environment is free of distractions.

5. Encourage Extracurricular Activities

Your son needs to develop his interests and make friends who share them. Help him find a club or organization to join at school. When he’s given time and space to do things that he enjoys, there’s a good chance he’ll also be emotionally healthy enough to do well in his classes.

6. Offer Emotional Support

Private high school life and adolescence are difficult enough individually, and together, they make an extraordinary challenge for any teenager. Check up with your son regularly, listen to him attentively, prioritize time with him, and let him know that he can always approach you.

Located in Metuchen, NJ, Saint Joseph High School promises to provide a high quality private high school experience for your son. As one of the top-rated high schools in Middlesex County, the teachers and administrators are committed to facilitating top-notch Catholic education to boys in the Union, Essex, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Monmouth Counties as well. Learn more about the academic services they offer by calling (732) 549-7600 or exploring their website.