School Environment and Activities
School counselors
All high school students are assigned a school counselor. Their job is to help students understand the school system, select and schedule classes, and participate in other school-related activities. They are also responsible for resolving student conflicts, improving their attendance, and aiding them with their mental health.
Maintaining a good relationship with your school counselor is important; you need to know they are here to help you accomplish your academic goals and succeed.
Assemblies
The whole school gathers in a large space every few months, usually the basketball court, for what is called and assembly. The Student Council Association, or SCA, usually organizes cheerleading, dance performances, and games where students and teachers compete. This is also where important school announcements happen. The loud music and crazy events make assemblies integral to the American high school experience.
Orientation day
Every school in Virginia Beach hosts an orientation day for all new students a few days before school starts. Those look different according to each school but they could include a tour, presentations of the different school clubs and organizations, a band and a cheerleading performance, and many other events. This is a great opportunity to get to know the school and the activities you could participate in during your time there.
Class environment/group activities
The class environment in a US high school can be very different from the typical image of a school most international students have. Before moving here, my image of high school was the teacher writing on boards and talking during almost the entire class and the students taking notes and participating. However, here, high school can be very different. Students use Chromebooks to study and do many assignments that vary according to the teacher. Tests are usually a combination of multiple-choice and free-response questions. Students are encouraged to work in groups for the different projects teachers assign.
Grades are calculated based on points earned from completing homework, in-class assignments, projects, quizzes and tests.
Athletics
High schools in the US sponsor many sports teams. There are usually two types of teams: junior varsity and varsity teams. Varsity is the highest level of school sports. School sports require tryouts to join, and being part of a team comes with many hours of practice. There are regional and state sports events where teams from different high schools compete. All VA Beach high schools have many sports teams on different sports. They are usually featured on the school websites.
There are three sports seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each sport is done in one of those seasons.
Some of the most common high school sports in Virginia Beach are:
01
Fall
American Football
Cross country
Field Hockey
Competition Cheer
Golf
Volleyball
02
Winter
Basketball
Dive
Indoor track
Gymnastics
Scholastic Bowl
Wrestling
Swim
03
Spring
Baseball
Outdoor track
Lacrosse
Track
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Some high schools may have teams for more sports according to their establishments, while others may not have some of the teams mentioned. Don’t worry, though. There are also sports teams unrelated to schools
Clubs
Another fun opportunity offered by US high schools is clubs. Many types of clubs generally fall into one of these categories:
STEM
Examples:
- Robotics
- App inventor
- Environmental
- Astronomy
- Rocketry
- etc
Public speaking
Examples:
- Debate
- Mock trial
- Forensics
Volunteering
Examples:
- Operation Smile
Cultural
Examples:
- Filipino American Cultural Society
- German club
Recreational
Examples:
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Larping
- Book club
These are only a few examples of the many clubs each high school offers. Many clubs mentioned above are associated with regional or state competitions, especially public speaking and STEM ones. In VA Beach, there is also the STEM Trifecta challenge, where clubs can participate in one of three competitions in Cybersecurity, STEM Robotics, and Maker Expo.
For more information on STEM Trifecta: VBCPS STEM TRIFECTA CHALLENGE
If you interested in a club that does not exist in your school, don’t worry. You can start your own club if you find a teacher willing to be an advisor.
Suppose you like a club and are interested in more responsibilities. In that case, you can take a leadership position or even become club president upon voting of all members.
Honor Societies
Honor Societies are much like clubs but more formal and with specific requirements. They are branches of National organizations.
National Honor Society or NHS
The National Honor Society, or NHS, is one of the most famous honor societies. It is dedicated to volunteering and requires a specific GPA a clean disciplinary record to join. As a member, you must complete specific points in NHS-organized events and other volunteering activities. Many schools in VA Beach have an NHS branch with the most student members out of any school organization.
Other types of Honor Societies
Apart from the general volunteering-oriented NHS, there are other types of honor societies centered around a specific subject or area of study. Examples are the Math National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, English National Honor Society, and French National Honor Society. Suppose your school doesn’t have a branch of an honor society that interests you. In that case, you can start by contacting that national organization and, upon school approval, start it yourself.
These more specific organizations aim to promote learning on their dedicated subjects by holding monthly meetings and organizing events to engage members. Operation varies according to each school, but they usually award points to reward engagement. They also require you to have a good GPA and no disciplinary record, and you need to satisfy their requirements to remain a member.