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Welcome to the Counseling Page!
Please browse the items listed on the right side of this page. In addition to locating your student's academic counselor, parents and students can access the most current junior and senior bulletins, scholarship opportunities, and Stella Maris Counseling Corner article.
A new feature is called Summer Opportunities, listing various programs available to students of all grade levels. Some of these programs are academic programs while others stress enrichment, internship, or employment possibilities. Mary Star High School does not endorse any specific program, nor are we able to provide an exhaustive list of options; the Summer Opportunities section intends to provide options for parents' and student's consideration.
Thank you for visiting the Counseling page and let us know how we can better serve your student.
Study suggestions –To help our students (and parents) make the most of study time away from school, the faculty has some suggestions for effective study techniques. General ideas include turning off cell phones, computers (unless the assignment is computer-based) and loud music so students can concentrate on the task at hand. Don’t allow friends to interrupt the study time in person, by phone or IM, but do study for a 30- or 45-minute block then take a short break (5-10 minutes) to stretch, get something to drink, etc. Study the tough subjects first when you’re fresh and motivated. Here are some additional specific ideas from the faculty:
Math: Plan 30 minutes/night, Sunday through Thursday, to do homework. If homework is finished before the 30 minutes are up, use the extra time to review notes, organize math notebook, or prepare for the upcoming quiz or test. Use a kitchen timer to keep track of the time. Algebra I and II, Geometry, and AP Calculus books are aligned with Hotmath.com, a free math tutorial that shows how to do the odd numbered problems. Use 4marystar for the password. Make study groups in which you all agree, specifically, what you want to accomplish (get through ten practice problems, understand that one type of problem several of you are struggling with, etc.). You will learn from each other!
English: As you read, take notes on important characters, potential themes, and literary devices. Write notes at the end of every chapter including basic plot, new characters, conflicts, possible dying characters, etc. Make notes that compare/contrast the characters. Reread passages you do not understand. For writing assignments, begin the essay writing process by making an outline and revise, revise, revise your essay parts and draft!
Science: Take notes in class, compare notes with another student and/or the teacher if you feel you missed or don’t understand something. Make flash cards for vocabulary. Set up tutoring with your teacher! For chemistry, copy solutions to problems solved in class two or three times, put the answers away, and try to solve the problem from scratch. Then go to a new, unsolved problem and give it a try. If you get stuck, note exactly what you don’t understand and bring your attempted work to class and/or tutoring to get answers.
Social Studies: Read ahead of the upcoming class and, after class, reread the section(s) and add to your class notes from the book or to clarify information. Create flashcards for significant people, terms, events (including cause and effect when possible), economic principles, etc. When writing essays, remember to prove your point (thesis) with sufficient evidence (facts, analysis, effects, etc.) See your teacher for writing help early in the process.
Foreign Language: Make verb and vocabulary flashcards and specific tense conjugation cards or charts. Have someone – even a family member - quiz you on your cards.
Religion: Make note cards with vocabulary and/or make an audiotape or CD that you can listen to on the way to/from school and activities. When a teacher indicates something in your notes will be on a quiz or test, mark it with a * in the margin so you remember to include that point in your studying.
Art: Complete two pages in your sketchbook each week to avoid a last minute artistic “crunch time” at the end of each quarter. Art History students should complete critiques at the end of each chapter, not leaving them until the grading period end approaches.
On behalf of the faculty, we hope these suggestions help our students and parents throughout the year as we work together to achieve academic success for our students!
Please browse the items listed on the right side of this page. In addition to locating your student's academic counselor, parents and students can access the most current junior and senior bulletins, scholarship opportunities, and Stella Maris Counseling Corner article.
A new feature is called Summer Opportunities, listing various programs available to students of all grade levels. Some of these programs are academic programs while others stress enrichment, internship, or employment possibilities. Mary Star High School does not endorse any specific program, nor are we able to provide an exhaustive list of options; the Summer Opportunities section intends to provide options for parents' and student's consideration.
Thank you for visiting the Counseling page and let us know how we can better serve your student.
Study suggestions –To help our students (and parents) make the most of study time away from school, the faculty has some suggestions for effective study techniques. General ideas include turning off cell phones, computers (unless the assignment is computer-based) and loud music so students can concentrate on the task at hand. Don’t allow friends to interrupt the study time in person, by phone or IM, but do study for a 30- or 45-minute block then take a short break (5-10 minutes) to stretch, get something to drink, etc. Study the tough subjects first when you’re fresh and motivated. Here are some additional specific ideas from the faculty:
Math: Plan 30 minutes/night, Sunday through Thursday, to do homework. If homework is finished before the 30 minutes are up, use the extra time to review notes, organize math notebook, or prepare for the upcoming quiz or test. Use a kitchen timer to keep track of the time. Algebra I and II, Geometry, and AP Calculus books are aligned with Hotmath.com, a free math tutorial that shows how to do the odd numbered problems. Use 4marystar for the password. Make study groups in which you all agree, specifically, what you want to accomplish (get through ten practice problems, understand that one type of problem several of you are struggling with, etc.). You will learn from each other!
English: As you read, take notes on important characters, potential themes, and literary devices. Write notes at the end of every chapter including basic plot, new characters, conflicts, possible dying characters, etc. Make notes that compare/contrast the characters. Reread passages you do not understand. For writing assignments, begin the essay writing process by making an outline and revise, revise, revise your essay parts and draft!
Science: Take notes in class, compare notes with another student and/or the teacher if you feel you missed or don’t understand something. Make flash cards for vocabulary. Set up tutoring with your teacher! For chemistry, copy solutions to problems solved in class two or three times, put the answers away, and try to solve the problem from scratch. Then go to a new, unsolved problem and give it a try. If you get stuck, note exactly what you don’t understand and bring your attempted work to class and/or tutoring to get answers.
Social Studies: Read ahead of the upcoming class and, after class, reread the section(s) and add to your class notes from the book or to clarify information. Create flashcards for significant people, terms, events (including cause and effect when possible), economic principles, etc. When writing essays, remember to prove your point (thesis) with sufficient evidence (facts, analysis, effects, etc.) See your teacher for writing help early in the process.
Foreign Language: Make verb and vocabulary flashcards and specific tense conjugation cards or charts. Have someone – even a family member - quiz you on your cards.
Religion: Make note cards with vocabulary and/or make an audiotape or CD that you can listen to on the way to/from school and activities. When a teacher indicates something in your notes will be on a quiz or test, mark it with a * in the margin so you remember to include that point in your studying.
Art: Complete two pages in your sketchbook each week to avoid a last minute artistic “crunch time” at the end of each quarter. Art History students should complete critiques at the end of each chapter, not leaving them until the grading period end approaches.
On behalf of the faculty, we hope these suggestions help our students and parents throughout the year as we work together to achieve academic success for our students!
