HCS hosting two events focused on students' futures

Hardin County Schools’ officials are continuing efforts to prepare students for the future with two events that focus on what lies ahead for teens at HCS.

The district is hosting a PLAN for the Future event for sophomores and their parents at 6 p.m. Monday at John Hardin High School and the Performing Arts Center, followed by an Explore the Future event for parents of eighth-graders at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the PAC.

The events follow three career fairs the district hosted for eighth-graders and freshmen in December, and are extensions of a larger focus on the part of the district and the state on college and career readiness for students.

Eighth-graders and sophomores take college and career readiness exams that are part of the state accountability system.

Sophomores and their parents will receive test scores, called the PLAN, and discuss what the results mean and their implications for college admission and scholarships, said Kim Case, a counselor at John Hardin High School.

Participants also will receive results of a career interest survey and will have an opportunity to move into breakout sessions on various career fields, she said.

The parents of eighth grade students will hear a presentation from Dale Brown, director of College and School Relations at Western Kentucky University, about planning for high school and postsecondary education. Brown has previously met with all HCS eighth-graders and the students completed a survey on their expectations about high school and beyond. He will share those results with parents as well.

John Wright, HCS community relations specialist, said it is important to include parents in these discussions.

“Parents are the driving force, they are their child’s first teachers,” he said. District officials want discussions of college and careers taking place at home as well as at school.

The district, and the state as a whole, has been moving these discussions to an earlier age because of the more competitive global marketplace, Wright said. Like anything else, preparation at an earlier age helps bring about success later.

“To become better at it, you start earlier at it,” he said.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.