The 8th grade will use its time in couseling this year to research careers and talk about life after high school. They will participate in various activities throughout the year that will hopefully enhance their ability to make decisions in the future. Some of those activities will include the following:
- CENSational Day @ The University of Tennessee at Martin - This day shows the students various careers, skills, and activities to do with physics, engineering, chemistry, math, biology, geology, and other science related fields.
- Jackson State Community College Tour - The students will be given an overview of what Jackson State and other community colleges have to offer as well as a tour of the facility.
- Explore Test - A pre-ACT achievement test that also asks questions about a students' likes and dislikes. It attempts to give the student direction on how to improve academically and what fields would most closely match their interests.
- DHS Tour - Students will participate in a tour of Dresden High School. This includes discriptions of classes, clubs, and the schedule at DHS.
- 8th grade parent meetings - The state of Tennessee requires counselors to meet with 8th grade students and their parents to prepare a 6 year plan and register each student for a high school program.
- Job Shadowing - One of the highlights of the year, students are given a full day to go out into the community to "shadow" a host for the day. Many students take advantage of this day to see what someone does at work in a field in which they are interested.
- EdAmerica - Students will take an interest inventory which will match them with careers that fall within their areas of interests.
- Tennessee Scholars Program - Students are given the opportunity to join the TN Scholars Program. They are given information about the program and its benefits. Those that chose to participate are recognized at a breakfast and at the Awards Banquet.
- Classroom Activities - We will explore many issues in class such as transitioning into high school, registering for classes, career research and interests inventories, and budgeting money.