Sophomore Guidance Bulletin. Mr. Herncane. Guidance Counselor, Class of 2018

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1 Sophomore Guidance Bulletin Mr. Herncane Guidance Counselor, Class of 2018 Welcome to the senior high! I hope everything has gone well during your first weeks here. I look forward to getting to know each one of you as the year progresses. Listed below are some of the counseling services and programs that will be important for you to keep in mind during your tenth grade year. If you or your parents have any questions about any of the following, please let me know. I can be contacted at , ext or at david_herncane@tigerwires.com Guidance and Counseling Services Personal/Social Adjustment- Adjusting to a new school and academic workload can be challenging and stressful. It can also be difficult to balance your personal, academic, and extracurricular activities. Please see me if you are having any difficulty adjusting to school life in any way getting along with teachers or peers, or coping with other problems inside or outside of school. Educational Planning- We will work together to make sure that your courses are consistent with your level of achievement, your abilities, and you post-high school plans. Career Planning- You will complete several activities that are designed to help you assess your interests and individual traits, gather information about careers, and set your career goals. 1

2 Graduation Requirements Remember that 27 credits are required for graduation. These units are earned in grades All students must pass: 4 credits- Communications 4 credits- Social Science 4 credits- Natural Science 4 credits- Mathematics 4 credits- Physical Education/Health 1 credits- Computer Science 1 credits- Humanities 5 credits- Electives A FAILURE IN ANY ONE OF THE REQUIRED CORE SUBJECTS WILL NECESSITATE SUMMER SCHOOL! Keystone Exam Requirements: -All students must be proficient on the Keystone Exams in the areas of Algebra, Biology, and Literature. -If a student is not proficient on one or more of the Keystone exams, they will be required to take a remediation course and retest. Also keep in mind for this year... Grade Requirements: -77% or higher is needed to maintain college-bound level courses -77% or higher is needed to advance to the next level of a Foreign Language -84% or higher is needed to maintain honors level courses -95% or higher is needed to move up a level *If at the time of scheduling, you are not meeting a requirement, you will be scheduled in the appropriate level if you are able to bring your grade up by the end of the year, see me and I will be glad to change your schedule. 2

3 -Students who are not proficient on the Keystone Algebra Exam will not be permitted to take Honors or AP level Sciences or Math next year. -Students who are not proficient on the Keystone Biology Exam will not be permitted to take Honors or AP level Sciences next year. -Students who are not proficient on the Keystone Literature Exam will not be permitted to take Honors or AP level English, Social Science, or AP Elective next year. -Students taking an AP course must take the AP test for that particular subject in order to receive the AP class rank accelerator. Transcript Information Beginning in 9th grade, your transcript will include the following information: - Directory Information - Courses Taken - Grade Point Average (GPA)- unweighted, cumulative - Class Rank weighted, cumulative - Extra Curricular Activities - Standardized test results (Keystones, ACT- if taken) -Attendance - Grades and Credits Earned -Community Service Involvement -College Board Test Results (SAT, AP Exams) GPA and Class Rank Updated GPA and Class rank (through the end of your ninth grade year) will be listed on your first marking period report card. 3

4 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) In order to participate in college athletics and receive athletically based financial aid at a Division I or Division II school, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet the eligibility requirements. It is the student's and parent's responsibility to be sure that all NCAA Academic Eligibility guidelines are being met. To have your initial eligibility certified by the clearinghouse, you must complete the student release form and submit a registration fee. College-bound student athletes are encouraged to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse during their junior year in high school. Check out for information or check out Make sure you mention your intentions to me when you are scheduling for next year so that we can make sure you are on track. -Students will also need to go to and create an account to send your transcript to the NCAA through Parchment. To do this, use code Special Programs The Challenge Program- a Johnstown based, non-profit organization designed to encourage students to do their best and build a bridge between students in high school and the business community by providing incentives to students for successes they achieve while in school. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are encouraged to perform well and are rewarded with $250 in the following four categories: - Most Improved Academically- demonstrating hard work - Best Attendance- acknowledging dedication -Most Community Service- indicating ambition - Best Overall GPA- signifying top performance - Stem Award- Best Average in Science and Math Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week- Students go to a weeklong conference where they listen to speakers and gain information about certain careers. Information will be available sometime this spring. Listen for announcements. Tutoring- available for students having academic difficulty. Please fill out a peer tutoring form and return it to the guidance office. 4

5 Career Conferences- will be conducted in the spring with you, your parents, and a guidance counselor. This provides you with an opportunity to discuss your assessment results and review your individual career plan. Community Service- This gives students an opportunity to earn credit for their volunteer service. For each 60 hours, a student earns.5 unit. If interested, see me for a log for recording your hours. Finally... -It is highly encouraged that students utilize their school-issued tigerwires addresses, as I will be using them for communication and to send important information for the next three years. -If you or your parents or guardians need to contact me, I can be reached by at: david_herncane@tigerwires.com or by phone at ext Also visit my guidance webpage at Most of the announcements related to guidance can be found there. -Additionally, be sure to read your student/parent handbook and course selection guide for clarification on these and many other items. These can be found on the senior high webpage at As you begin the last three years of your public high school education, the choice is yours to make it a positive and rewarding experience. As your counselor, I look forward to working with each of you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns. Have a great year! 5

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