Dear Osprey Students and Families,
It’s hard to believe we’re here already, but first semester Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are right around the corner.  On Wednesday, October 19 between 3:30 to 6:00, we’ll welcome all families to campus for these important conversations, facilitated by students and designed to foster meaningful reflection and communication about student growth.  SLCs occur once a semester and are mandatory for all 9th, 10th and 11th grade students in the fall.  Each SLC should take approximately 20 minutes to complete; in addition, juniors and their families need to attend one 30 minute session about LINK Internships.
We require professional dress for SLCs, as we believe that presenting oneself in a polished, mature fashion helps to set the tone for a thoughtful and engaged conversation.  In addition to daily dress code expectations, professional dress requires that students wear a button-down shirt and tie, shirt with finished neck, sweater or blouse; a nice pair of slacks (no jeans), skirt or dress; dark socks to match trousers and dress shoes (no sneakers, no excessively high heels).  Please communicate with an adult at school if procuring professional dress clothes is cost-prohibitive; we will find a way to help.  
SLC Format
Teachers will share grade-specific expectations and help students prepare for SLCs in their core classes; the format will vary a bit from grade to grade.  In the 9th grade, fall SLCs include an opportunity to reflect on the transition from middle to high school, a check-in on current projects, a review of information embedded in Infinite Campus and a presentation of the student’s Digital Portfolio.  For 10th grade, the fall SLC takes the form of an interview, with parents using questions we’ll provide to dialogue with students about their progress, their goals and their visions for their futures.  Juniors will engage in a two-way interview with parents about their own high school and college experiences, with parents interviewing students about their goals and learning about how students want parents to support them as they work to achieve these goals.
Grade-level teachers will be present in classrooms during SLCs, but the expectation is that students are truly the ones leading the conversations.  If questions arise during a conference, teachers will be circulating and available to offer support.  Multiple SLCs will take place simultaneously in each classroom.
Mandatory LINK Internship Overview for Juniors and Families
During SLCs, we are requesting that all juniors and their families attend an overview of the LINK internship program presented by internship coordinator Janae Hunderman.  Janae will share important information about LINK Internships–the three-week long, full-time internships required of all juniors in May–so that parents fully understand the program requirements and can support their students in finding an internship placement that is a good fit.  The LINK Overview will be offered  at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30 in Steve Smith’s classroom; please plan to attend one.
Scheduling and Signing Up
There are several available appointments for each time slot at each grade level.  Please select a time that works well for your family by using the following online links:

Please make every effort to schedule your SLC as soon as possible.  If your family is unable to meet on October 19, you must reach out to the appropriate teacher to reschedule.  All SLCs must be completed by Wednesday, October 26.  Please contact the following staff members if you need to schedule your family’s SLC for a time other than the afternoon of Wednesday, October 19:

If you cannot sign up online for any reason, please call the school and ask for the point person for your grade level.  Our number is (970) 247-2474.
As always, our goal with SLCs is for students to take the lead in their educational journey, learning to authentically assess their progress and refine their personal goals.  We encourage you all to engage in the conversations with fresh ears and open minds, and we hope that the experience will be meaningful for you.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions, feedback or concerns.
Cheers,
Libby