Freshman Course Selection

1. Freshman Course Selection Seneca High School

2. Seneca Counselors • Mrs. Trish LaBouff Supervisor • Mr. Sam Maira A-Coo • Mrs. Mary Sabo Cop-Gou • Mr. Dave Lafferty Gr-Ki • Ms. Michelle Torrence Kl-Or • Mrs. Erica Maira Os-Sn • Ms. Sue Johnson So-Z

3. This presentation will help guide 8th grade parents/guardians through the course selection process. • It may also be helpful to access the 2012-2013 Program • of Studies for complete descriptions of all courses • referenced in this presentation. • Itinerary for Tonight • Power Point Presentation • Move to Classrooms to meet Counselors/Questions • Curriculum/Course Information in the Cafeteria

4. Graduation Requirements • English – 4 years • Math – 3 years • Science – 3 years • U.S. History – 2 years • World Cultures – 1 year • World Language – 2 years • Health and PE – 4 years • Visual / Performing Arts – 1 year • Century Life & Careers, Career-Tech Education– 1 year • Financial Literacy- ½ year • All Students must complete 130 Credits • All Students must pass the High School Proficiency • Assessment (HSPA) given in Junior year • It measures Language Arts Literacy and Math

5. Grade Promotion • 10th Grade-29 credits • 11th grade-58 credits • 12th grade-91 credits • 130 credits to graduate • Academic & Elective classes are 5 credits each • PE & Health are 2 credits each • Lab sciences are 6 credits • Failure to adhere to the Attendance Policy may also prohibit promotion. See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for complete details.

6. Levels of Instruction • Honors-Level 1 • Instruction designed to rigorously and intensively prepare students to enter competitive four year college programs. • Honors courses are invitation only. Invitations come from the middle school. Select Level 2 and it will be changed later after honors letter is returned. • Once the school year commences, a student will not be allowed to opt out of Level 1 until mid October. • Academic-Level 2 • Instruction designed to prepare students to meet the academic requirements of a four year college.

7. Modified Academic – Level 3 • Instruction designed to prepare students for some four year colleges, two year colleges, community schools, vocational schools, as well as the world of work. • Basic – Level 4 • Instruction which stresses basic skills. • Special Education – Level 5 • Instruction which is designed to meet the needs of classified students.

8. Academic Units • 4 year competitive colleges (Rutgers, Rowan, Penn State, U Delaware, • U of MD, Stockton, etc.) need at least 16 academic units (level 1 or • level 2 courses) • English-4 years • History-3 years • Math-3-4 years • Science-3-4 years • World Language-2-3 years • Top Factors in College Admissions • 1. Grades in College Prep Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or level 2 courses • 2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses • 3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably) • 4. High School Grade Point Average – Calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number of credits attempted • Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

9. LRHSD 9th Grade Schedule Sample • English – choose a level • World Language – usually same level chosen as English . Students who had Spanish 1 in middle school can pick Spanish 2. Option at end of 8th grade to take high school credit for Spanish 1. • Math – Algebra 1 or Geometry (only if had Algebra 1 in middle school). Option at end of 8th grade to take high school credit for Algebra 1. If students do not pass Math section of NJ Ask 8-will be placed in Algebra support class in addition to Algebra 1 class. • Science – choose Environmental Earth or Biology (Can only take Biology if taking Geometry) • PE / Health • Elective • Elective • Elective or Study Hall • It is possible to take one study hall each year and fulfill the 130 Credit Graduation Requirement. • If you select 7 courses, you will automatically get Study Hall. • *Must choose at least 3 alternate electives*

12. Course Changes • August 1, 2012 is the last day to request a schedule change. This must be done in writing with a parent’s signature. • Once school starts ONLY errors will be corrected. • There are timelines to drop levels and/or drop a course to a study hall. • Only 1 study hall per year is allowed (so a class cannot be dropped if you already have a study hall). • If you drop a course, WP (Withdrawal Passing) or WF (Withdrawal Failing) will appear on transcript. • CHOOSE WISELY!! • See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for details about Course/Level Changes.

13. Option Two • Option Two serves as an alternative to traditional high school courses for credit in the following categories: • College Courses • Internet Courses • Work/Internship • Community Service • Summer School Original Credit • Proof of Proficiency • EMT/Firefighter • ** 8th grade courses (Algebra 1, Spanish 1) being accepted for high school credit will appear on the transcript as a level 2 course and will NOT affect GPA and rank. ** • Please visit the district website • for more information • www.lrhsd.org

14. Athletics • Seneca Sports • Fall/Winter Sports: All Freshmen are eligible. • Spring Sports: All Freshmen must pass 15 credits at the end of the first semester to be eligible. • College Sports- NCAA- www.ncaa.org • Division I sports require 16 academic units • Division II sports require 14 academic units • Minimum GPA-2.0 • Academic courses taken in the Lenape Regional High • School District designated as Level l or 2 meet the criteria, as a core course, set forth by the NCAA. • See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for NCAA Eligibility Requirements

15. Attendance • Students are allowed 4 unexcused absences per semester • Semester 1- Marking periods 1 & 2 • Semester 2-Marking periods 3 & 4 • Anytime a student arrives after homeroom or leaves before the end of the school day, it will be considered an absence. • The following will excuse an absence: • Doctor’s note • Funeral/death in family • Court • Written parental permission-Limited to one parent note per semester (note may excuse a series of consecutive days absent) • No credit status-Requires a student to attend the LRHSD Credit • Completion program to be awarded high school credit for completed • courses. Any pupil who exceeds 4 unexcused absences will be on No • Credit for single semester courses and any pupil who exceeds 8 • unexcused absences will be on No Credit for full year courses. • Visit www.lrhsd.org for detailed attendance policy.

16. **COURSE SELECTION SHEETS ARE DUE BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS BY FRIDAY, 1/27** • COUNSELOR CONTACT INFORMATION: • Seneca-609-268-4600 • Mr. Sam Maira A-Coo x6687 smaira@lrhsd.org • Mrs. Mary Sabo Cop-Gou x6679 msabo@lrhsd.org • Mr. Dave Lafferty Gr-Ki x6686 dlafferty@lrhsd.org • Ms. Michelle Torrence Kl-Or x6673 mtorrence@lrhsd.org • Mrs. Erica Maira Os—Sn x6685 emaira@lrhsd.org • Ms. Sue Johnson So-Z x6656 sjohnson@lrhsd.org • Course Selection/Scheduling Questions • Thursday, February 2nd • 5:30 pm-7:00 pm • Seneca Cafeteria

17. Report to the following rooms to meet your child’s counselor and for follow up questions: • Last NameCounselorRoom • A-Coo Mr. Maira Room C108 • Cop-Gou Mrs. Sabo Room C106 • Gr-Ki Mr. Lafferty Room C104 • Kl-Or Ms. Torrence Room C105 • Os-Sn Mrs. Maira Room A103 • So-Z Ms. Johnson Room A104 • The evening will conclude in the cafeteria with Curriculum/Course Information