Cypress Falls Counseling Department

1. Cypress FallsCounseling Department Safety Openness Academics Recognitions Junior Guidance Lesson 2006-2007

2. Your Counselors and Assistant Principals

3. How to See Your Counselor • Equal Access • Sign-up at Counselors’ Corner • Be specific on counselor request form • Sign-in and out of counselors’ office • Come without a pass/leave without a pass

4. Counselors’ Corner • Check often for new information • Provide information about • programs • opportunities • scholarship bulletin • SAT/ACT • Visit with counselor • various aspects of high school • learn about your responsibilities

5. Counselors Can Help • Safety • No harassment policy • Tell an adult (teacher, counselor, assistant principal) if you’re being harassed • Crisis • a life threatening situation • Tell an adult immediately • Confidentiality – danger or threat to you or others

6. Schedule Changes • Second Semester • Schedule changes due to balancing • Be flexible and expect a change • Elective changes for second semester - request to see counselor now • Changes only can be made during first 3 weeks of semester • Texas State Law mandates 90% attendance • Invalid reasons for schedule changes • Checking out and into classes.

7. K-Level Changes • 3 weeks and 6 weeks • Require teacher/parent approval/notification • D’s and F’s in K level - automatic removal • Again, always check out of previous teacher’s class before checking into new class when changes are made

8. Graduation Requirements • Required and Elective Credits • 22 - Minimum • 24 - Recommended • TAKS Tests • Exit Level - 11th Grade; required for graduation • Junior TAKS • February 20 - English/Language Arts TAKS • April 18 - Math TAKS • April 19 - Science TAKS • April 20- Social Studies TAKS

9. Texas Grant • State program that gives free money to help with college tuition and fees at Texas public colleges • Requires Recommended or Distinguished High School program • Must demonstrate financial need to receive Texas Grant money

10. College Entrance Exams • THEA - Texas Higher Education Assessment (new name for TASP) • Must take prior to any collegiate-level courses at public colleges only • May be exempt from testing if SAT/ACT score qualifies (check in the THEA booklet) • ACT, SAT I & II - Measures how well students have developed academic skills that are necessary for college work

11. College Entrance Exams Continued • Community colleges do not require the SAT/ACT • Most 4 year universities require the SAT/ACT • Only highly selective universities require the SAT II • It’s your responsibility to find out which tests your colleges require • We recommend taking your first SAT in the Spring of your 11th grade year (March)

12. PSAT • Tests skills you’ll need for college • This test... • assesses your skills in verbal reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and writing • gives you practice for the SAT • is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship • Test Date - October 18th… • Registration at Counselors’ Corner • Listen for registration info on announcements!

13. Transcripts • Permanent academic record • Seen by colleges, employers, the military • What’s on the transcript? • Semester grades • GPA • Class Rank • Attendance • Standardized test scores - TAKS, SAT, ACT • AP scores added only by student request

14. Junior Conferences • Begin in mid-October and continue throughout the year • Individual conference with your counselor to discuss • Transcripts • Rank/GPA • College/post-secondary options • Check credits

15. Grade Point Average (GPA) • GPA is cumulative by semester • Each year of high school is important • First semester GPA can be seen in February prior to registering for next year’s classes • Class Rank and GPA for this school year can be seen in Fall 2006

16. K Level A = 7 B = 6 C = 5 D = 4 F = 0 Regular Level A = 6 B = 5 C = 4 D = 3 F = 0 Grade Points • Honor Graduates - Three Levels • Summa Cum Laude - 6.5 GPA or higher • Magna Cum Laude - 6.25 GPA or higher • Cum Laude - 6.0 GPA or higher

17. Earning Credits • How is Semester Grade calculated? • 1st Six Weeks Grade - added twice • 2nd Six Weeks Grade - added twice • 3rd Six Weeks Grade - added twice • Semester Exam - counts as 1/7 of the semester grade

18. What Happens if I Fail a Semester? • Year Long Courses: • Failing 1st semester, passing second semester • First and Second semester must average to a 70 or above • Example: 60 + 80 = 70 (you get 1 credit) • Failing 2nd semester, passing first semester • You only earn 1/2 credit • Example: 80 + 60 = 1/2 credit • You must attend summer school or take credit by exam

19. Options for Gaining Credit • Summer School • Cost $150 per semester, $300 per one credit • Information available in April 2007 • Night School – HCC www.hccs.edu • Cost the same as summer school • Correspondence • Texas Tech or UT Austin • You pay for tuition and books • $125 or more per semester • Can only earn 2 credits by correspondence course

20. Options for Gaining CreditContinued • Zero Hour • sign-up in February if available • District Credit By Exam • $30.00 per test • take at Windfern High School • Make-up credit - can test only two times • Original credit - can test one time

21. Counselor Recommendation • Allow at least 3 weeks (not including holidays and weekends) • Don’t wait until the due date to send you information - the earlier, the better!! • Give counselor a stamped, addressed envelope to send the recommendation to the organization…(scholarships, special programs, etc…) • Recommendation packet needed…you can pick up packet at counselor’s corner!!

22. College Night • Wednesday, October 4th...6:00 - 9:00 pm • Berry Center

23. In Closing • Eleventh grade is the year to : • Continuing improve grades and study habits • Get involved or continue involvement in clubs and organizations • Continue volunteering or begin volunteering in the community • Continue building a portfolio • Begin/Continue researching colleges and universities • Take SAT/ACT Tests • Think about teachers who will be willing to write recommendation letters