Adventures in High School

1. Adventures in High School A Student’s Guide to preparing for the 9th grade year

2. Success in High School (more than just good grades)… • Form relationships early with teachers—you’ll need an inside source • Familiarize yourself with the high school website—lots of great information for all sorts of topics • Organization--Keep an assignment notebook or an agenda, as well as a folder for each class with a “need-to-do” and an “already done” pocket • School is more than schoolwork—consider extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities • (Colleges do!) • Check out job-related experiences—COOPs and internships • Monitor motivation—keep track of grades and check in with teachers periodically; Parents can also use Pinnacle Viewer • Start college in High School • 8. Choose a next step toward college—choose two possible colleges this year—avoid the senior year rush • (Source: “7 steps to stay ahead” by Brian Taylor)

3. Begin with the end in mind… What college do you want to go to? What do you want to study? What kind of career goal(s) have you set for yourself? What kind of life do you want for your family?

4. Preregistration Picking your classes for next year

5. High School Schedule: --Students schedule 7 classes total—Choose classes with your future in mind --Each class lasts 45 minutes --Some upper level activity-based classes meet for two consecutive periods --Some classes change at the semester (Health, Comm. Apps., Keyboarding, etc.)

6. A Quick, Important Definition: Credit: A credit is what you receive when you pass a full year of one subject. Passing one semester (or half a year) will earn you a ½ credit. EX: If you need 1½ credits of a class to graduate, you need to take (and pass) one year and one semester of that class. You need a total of 26 credits.

7. Graduation Requirements: Page 4 in the Course Guide --4 years of each core subject (4 x 4) --more core classes translates to fewer electives, so more thorough planning is important

8. Distinguished Plan: --Requires 3 years of a world language (Spanish, French, German) AND…

9. Four Advanced Measures: A combination of four of the following: 1.AP Classes with scores of three or better on the AP exam or Dual Credit classes with a B or better. 2.National Merit Commendation (PSAT) 3.Tech Prep classes (only one counts toward the total) with a grade of B or better 4.A research project done through an independent study class

10. Freshman Core Classes English: PreAP, GT or Regular English Math: Algebra 1, Geometry, PreAP Algebra I or PreAP Geometry Social Studies: PreAP, GT or Regular World Geography Science: PreAP or Regular Biology

11. 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade PreAP Language Arts PreAP English I PreAP English II AP-English III AP-English IV Language Arts English I English II English III English IV Courses Offered at Level English I (9) English II (10) English III (11) English IV (12) PreAP English I (9) PreAP English II (10) AP English III (11) AP English IV (12) Sequence of English Courses Gray boxes indicate required courses for graduation Courses must be taken one at a time, in order Students are not bound to stay on one track or another (ex. students can move into PreAP with teacher and parent approval.

12. Sequence of Mathematics Courses 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11thGrade 12thGrade PreAP Algebra I PreAP Geometry PreAP Calculus PreAP Algebra II Math 8 Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Precalculus 4th Year of Math TBA Math Models Algebra II AP Statistics AP Calculus AB/BC PreAP Geometry PreAP Algebra II PreAP Calculus PreAP Alg. I 4th Year of Math TPB Precalculus Geometry Algebra II Courses Offered at Level Algebra I (9) PreAP Algebra I (9) Geometry (9-10) PreAPGeometry (9-10) Algebra II (10-12) Pre-AP Algebra II (10-12) Mathematical Models (11) Precalculus (10-12) PreAP Precalculus (11-12) AP Statistics (10-12) AP Calculus AB/BC (11-12)

13. Sequence of Science Courses AP Biology PreAP Biology PreAP Chemistry PreAP Physics AP Chemistry AP Physics Biology Chemistry Physics 4th year TBD N IPC N Chemistry N 4th year TBD One Credit must come from each area of science listed: Biology, AP Biology, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry Physics, AP Physics, or IB Physics And a fourth science credit from a higher level science course approved by the state.

14. Sequence of Social Studies courses Sequence of Courses

15. Electives Reminder: 7 total classes + 3 alternates PLAN AHEAD!!! Over 4 years: --2 1/2 to 3 1/2 electives --2-3 years World Language (Spanish, French, or German) --1 Technology applications credit (Keyboarding, Communications Systems don’t work) --1 Fine Arts credit --1 semester each: Communications Applications and Health

16. PE Credits: 1½ needed for graduation PE Foundations (1/2 credit) PE Individual Sports (1/2 credit) PE Team Sports (1/2 credit) Marching Band Cheerleading Dance/Drill Team Athletics

17. Technology Applications: 1 credit needed for graduation Computer Science 1 or 2 BCIS 1 or 2 Computer Applications Yearbook 2 or 3 Multimedia Business Computer Programming Web-Mastering

18. Fine Arts: 1 credit needed for graduation (please note: many of these can also count for PE credit if more than one level is taken) Art Dance Sidekicks Band Theatre Art History (AP) Music Theory (AP)

19. What about Pre-AP Courses: How many should I take? --Only you can determine this! --What are my strengths? --Outside activities? --How important are these to me? --How will these prepare me for my future? Some classes require work during the summer prior to 9th grade (check the website) PLEASE NOTE PREREQUISITES FOR EACH!!!

20. Deadlines: Preregistration forms are due to the middle school counselor – Medlin Feb. 18th, Pike Feb. 19th, Chisholm Feb. 20th June 12, 2008—Last day to change classes First 10 days of semester: changes due to academic misplacement only

21. Earning Credits Some things to think about…

22. How credits are awarded Every class you are in counts!! At the end of the semester, every class with a grade above 70 you receive ½ a credit. Every class with a grade below 70 you receive 0 credits. Your goal: ½ credit in every class you take each semester you are in high school.

23. To be promoted: You need a total of 6 credits at the end of your freshman year. Basically, that means passing 6 of your classes first semester and 6 of your classes second semester. Remember that more than nine absences in any class could cause you to lose credit. Attendance is important!!!

24. Remember it takes 26 credits to graduate and you can only earn 28 in your four years at NHS!!

25. Remember - Every class counts!!!

26. Your semester grade… …is the average of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd six weeks grades and your grade on the semester test …is how you earn or deny yourself a ½ credit …is important to your GPA Moral: If you had a rough time this six weeks, there is still time to turn it around in the 2nd and 3rd six weeks. For more information, see your teacher

27. Get a Jump on High School Summer School Courses for Advancement: Health Keyboarding Physical Education Communication Application

28. Correspondence Courses Students can take up to 2 whole classes this way (4 semesters). Course assignments are mailed to the student and tests are mailed to the NHS testing coordinator. Students make an appointment to take the test at NHS. This is a good way to earn credits outside of the normal school year. Texas Tech Outreach and Extended Studies website:http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/

29. Dual Credit Through our partnership with North Central Texas College, we offer a variety of courses through which a student can earn simultaneous credit for their high school and college course. For example: A student taking dual credit English will earn English 4 credit, as well as two semesters of credit for NCTC’s freshman English class. Note: These classes are usually taken during 12th grade, with few exceptions

30. Extracurricular Activities The most important thing you can do for your future.

31. Health Ocupation Students of America LIFT Cheerleading Art Club FCCLA Key Club Academic Decathlon Video Tech Club Band German American Partnership Program Speech and Debate Gaming Society Choir Texan Cavalry FFA Sidekicks SADD Theater

32. Athletic Information Night February 18th Texan Gym

33. For more information… Athletics— Gary Prescott at gprescott@nisdtx.org or Teresa Smith at tsmith@nisdtx.org Band—Scott Lewis at slewis@nisdtx.org or Paul Elder at pelder@nisdtx.org Ag/Career/Tech—Tony Neely at tneely@nisdtx.org Sidekicks—Heather Allen at hallen@nisdtx,org Cheer—Tammy McClure at tmcclure@nisdtx.org Choir—Vicki Jones at vjones@nisdtx.org Theater—Alva Hascall at ahascall@nisdtx.org Student Council—Mary Whittenberg at mwhittenberg@nisdtx.org

34. Contact your student’s counselor for more details: 9th A-K Mike Hays L-Z Kerry Jones 10th-12th A-Ek Jennifer Martinez El-Li Gayle Binder Li-Roe Amber Ward Rof-Z Jamie Farber For questions about GPA’s and Transcripts, contact Hollie Bierlein at 817-215-0238

35. Information (including this PowerPoint) will be available on the Northwest Counseling Website. Visit us today at http://www.nisdtx.org/12082073195920780/site/default.asp

36. In closing… Some thoughts from a professional football locker room…

37. Blame No One Expect Nothing Do Something Author Unknown Success depends on what you are willing to invest in yourself… …and, more importantly, the people around you.