What will your child do after high school?
How can we help ensure your child has opportunities and good choices?
Welcome to Paterson Pathways!
Paterson Pathways [formerly called Navigation 101] is an advisory-based life planning program for students in grades 6 through 12.
It helps students improve their academic performance, plan for future education and career choices, and, most important, make progress toward the people they want to become when they grow up.
What Topics Does Paterson Pathways Cover?
The monthly themes cover academic preparation and improvement; planning and goal setting; career and college preparation; community service and leadership; and basic life skills, such as using money wisely.-
Introduction & FAQ grade 6 7 8
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September - Setting Goals grade 6 7 8
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October - Improving Academically grade 6 7 8
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November - Planning for Next Year grade 6 7 8
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December - Exploring Careers grade 6 7 8
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January - Planning for Life After High School grade 6 7 8
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February - Building Community grade 6 7 8
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March - Using Money grade 6 7 8
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April - Preparing for Student-led Conferences grade 6 7 8
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May - Updating Your Four-Year Plan grade 6 7 8
- The high school curriculum:
How Is Paterson Pathways Taught?
Students meet in groups of 15 – 20 with an advisor, once per week, during the school day, for 30 minutes. The advisor introduces the topic and facilitates a discussion. The students then complete reflection sheets, which they keep in a portfolio. The students and advisor stay together for several years.
What Is A Portfolio And Why Keep One?
A portfolio is a record of a student’s accomplishments in school. It includes samples of work, grades, test and assessment results, educational and career plans, a record of community service, honors or awards received, reflections and notes from the student-led conferences. A portfolio will be an important part of the student’s life at school. It will help in many ways:- To organize important information. Your child’s portfolio will store information from school, so it will always be available when he or she needs it. The students will not have to scramble to find an old report card, or proof of how many credits they have, or that paper they got an ‘A’ on. The information will all be right there. Students will also be able to use the portfolio to store photos of artwork, video of achievements on the sports field or the stage, or recordings of musical performances.
- To help students plan for the future. The information in the portfolio will help students track how they are doing in school each year, and that will help them set goals for each year and figure out what they’re good at. Keeping track of how they do will help them plan for life in high school and beyond. It will also show how they’ve improved each year.
- To market themselves. Students will need to present the contents of their portfolio to their parents or guardians and advisor at the student-led conference next spring. The portfolio will let them know how well they are doing. In addition, having a good portfolio will help them present themselves professionally to high schools, and ultimately to employers, colleges, and other organizations.
Who Participates In Paterson Pathways?
All 6th through 8th grade students participate in Paterson Pathways.
Eastside academies students will start this year in all grades, 9-12.What Is The Paterson PathwaysStudent-Led Conference?
A focal point for the Paterson Pathways year is each student’s student-led conference for his or her parents or guardians and advisor. One of the central beliefs of Paterson Pathwaysis that students are capable of becoming full partners in their education. The student-led conference – which students organize, present at, and then reflect on – gives students a regular opportunity to direct their own educational paths while also gaining organizational and communications skills.
The student-led conference, which is held each spring, summarizes students’ accomplishments in the year to date; showcases students’ plans and goals for the coming years; and concludes with students’ plans for their course selections for the following year. The conference also provides a tangible way to involve parents or guardians in their children’s lives at school, by ensuring that they understand what their children are studying in school, how they are doing, and why their studies matter.
How Can I Help?
If you are a parent or guardian, be sure to attend the student led conference. Ask about your student’s portfolio.If you are a community member, there are volunteer opportunities to discuss your educational journey, job, career and other life experiences. Click here to volunteer.