9th GRADE. What Is It All About?

Transcription

1 9th GRADE What Is It All About?

2 I wish I could do it [9 th grade] all over again. I should have listened to what people were telling me. Class of 2012 senior Quoted from meeting with seniors in September 2012

3 Who Is Your Counselor? A - B C- E F- G H - Kn Ko - Me Mf - Ri Rj - S T- Z Mr. Carter Ms. Mastromatteo Mrs. B. Lubenetski Mrs. Oristian Ms. Moore Ms. Josefchak Mr. Bean Mrs. Pellicoro

4 Making an Appointment in the Counseling Office Before school After school During lunch OK to drop by just to talk too Sign your name on your counselor s clipboard Not during class!!!

5 Graduation Requirements English - 4 credits Math - 4 credits, must have Alg. and Geo. Science - 3 credits: 1 biology, 1 physical science, and one other Social Studies - 3 credits, must have U.S. History (9 th ), NSL (10 th ), and MWH PE - 1 credit Health - 1/2 credit 10 th grade Fine Arts - 1 credit Technology Ed. - 1 credit, FOT or DTS

6 A Program Completer Is Also Required to Graduate! Choose 1 of the following: 2 credits of world language OR 2 credits of Amer. Sign Language 2 credits of advanced technology OR Career completer

7 High School Assessments (HSAs) The Class of 2016 must take and pass these 3 High School Assessments for a 1208 passing score: Algebra 1 English 10 Biology ***Government taken as a pilot in Note: If you took one of these courses in private school, you do not have to take the HSA in that subject if the course is recorded on your transcript.

8 Last but not least.. Students must attend school four years beyond Grade 8. Documentation must be provided for 75 SSL hours unless you attended an MCPS middle school. If so, 30 of your hours come with you automatically no paperwork necessary. If you attended 8 th grade in private school, you need to provide documentation for your 30 hours before Grade 9.

9 Don t Waste Your Time! BEFORE you volunteer for SSL hours, make sure your activity is approved. Go to mcpsssl.org for a list of approved organizations. If your organization is not on the list, you MUST submit a preapproval form to Mrs. Tilles in the sig. program office! No preapproval No SSL hours awarded.

10 Course Grade 1st nine weeks + 2nd nine weeks + Exam (25% of grade) = Course grade (1/2 credit) You should earn 14 course grades each year (7 credits)! Report card GPA s are not transcript GPA s.

11 What is a credit? A student earns ½ credit upon passing a semester course, not just the nine weeks (i.e., Eng. 9A) To be promoted to the next grade: 5 cr. = 10th grader 10 cr. = 11th grader 15 cr. = 12th grader

12 It s not just about the # of credits to be promoted! You also need to pass both English courses in ninth grade, plus earn a math credit. Moving to the next grade is in your control do your work and earn good grades! Plus, attend school regularly.

13 Only COURSE GRADES are recorded on your record (your transcript) Each year s course grades are added together to compute your cumulative GPA Ninth grade counts as much as tenth and eleventh!!! A weighted GPA (WGPA) gives an extra point (5 for an A, rather than a 4) for honors, AP or advanced courses if you earn an A, a B or a C. SO.if your WGPA is higher than your GPA, it shows that you have taken challenging courses and earned at least a C in them!

14 What About Math and World Languages Courses Taken in Middle School? The Class of 2016 this year s freshmen - will have these courses automatically added to their transcripts. The only way to have a middle school course removed from your transcript is repeating the course in high school or in summer school. There is a form to fill out for this option. See the registrar.

15 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES 3 days to bring in an absence note Make sure any trip is approved ahead of time by Ms. Richardson! Unexcused absence results in a 0 for any classwork or assessment that day Detention may be assigned by the teacher and after the first one by your adm.

16 THINGS TO KNOW Schedule changes will be made if you are in the wrong level of a course. You need to let us know immediately if this is the case. After 25th day of each semester = withdrawal grade is on your transcript and no credit is earned.

17 Looking Ahead: What Matters Most Grade Point Average (GPA) Rigor of academic program Don t overload yourself!! Standardized tests Well balanced with academics and other activities

18 What Are Standardized Tests? The SAT or the ACT will be an important factor when it comes time to apply to a college. CHS has practices built into your HS years for you: 9 th Grade Plan: In October you take the practice ACT (EXPLORE). 10 th Grade Plan: In October you will take the PSAT. In the fall or in the spring you may take a mock ACT or a mock SAT on a Saturday. 11 th Grade Plan: In October you will take the PSAT. In the fall or in the spring you may take the mock ACT or mock SAT on a Saturday. You may then take (and retake) the actual SAT and/or ACT this year as well, depending on which test seems better for you. 12 th Grade: You have the option to retake the SAT or ACT in the fall. You are good to go!!

19 Where to Go for Help????? See your teacher for when he/she is available. Ask your parents or another student in the class to help you. Get the phone # of a student in the class to call for work if you are absent Look at Edline for progress reports and ask your teacher about missed assignments. Ask for an NHS tutor through the counseling office (FREE!) or get the names of 3 prof. tutors. See your counselor. We may need to adjust your courses and make your schedule more manageable.

20 9th GRADE Do well in school! Get involved! Enjoy high school!