Achieving the Right Balance Class of 2021 Rising 9th grade Family Night January 24, 2017 Dr. Edward Spurka, Principal Ms. Kim Premoli, Assistant Principal Ms. Jennifer Sidelinger, Counselor

Beginning the Transition Increased Student Responsibility & Support Programs Selection of Classes/Pre-Registration Unique Schedule and Course Options Grading Differences Graduation Requirements Availability of Athletics/Extra-Curricular Activities

Registration Process January By February 10, 2017 March & April Current teachers make recommendations for core courses: science, math, English, social studies, world language By February 10, 2017 Students and parents fill out verification form #1 by selecting elective courses and confirming teacher-recommended courses (or completing waiver to request non-recommended courses). March & April Parents/students make changes to core and elective course requests on verification forms #2 and #3 distributed to students. June 16, 2017 – Final date to make course request changes.

Special Programs night February 9, 2017 - 6:30 pm Electives AP classes WL Honor classes

Grading High School Middle School Grades are calculated using a system of averages. Example 8th English Semester I – 60 Semester II – 80 Yearly Average – 70 Grades are not averaged. Each semester counts separately. Example 9th English Semester I – 60 Semester II – 80 No yearly average – student fails 1st semester Credits accumulate over 4 years.

Graduation Requirements 23 Units required to graduate * 0.5 unit = 1 semester-long course * 2 semesters in a school year * 6 Classes taken each semester

4 units of ENGLISH 4 units of MATHEMATICS 4 units of SCIENCE All students will take 4 units of ENGLISH 4 units of MATHEMATICS 4 units of SCIENCE 3 units of SOCIAL STUDIES 1 unit of PHYSICAL EDUCATION: ½ unit Health & ½ unit Personal Fitness 3 units (minimum) from WORLD LANGUAGE and/or CTE (Career & Technical Education) FINE ARTS 4 units (minimum) of additional ELECTIVES

English / Language Arts 4 units required Grade Required Courses Term 9th 9th Literature and Composition or Honors 9th Literature and Composition Year-long 10th 10th Literature and Composition or Honors 10th Literature and Composition 11th American Literature and Composition or Honors American Literature and Composition or Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition 12th World Literature Composition and Multi-cultural Literature and Composition or Move On When Ready “MOWR” (“College English”) or Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition Semester-long

Mathematics 4 units required Grade Required Courses 9th 1. GSE Algebra 2. GSE Accelerated Algebra/Geometry A Honors 3. GSE Geometry Honors (students 1 year ahead) 4. GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors 10th 1. GSE Geometry 2. GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors 3. GSE Algebra II Honors (students 1 year ahead) 4. GSE Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors 11th 1. GSE Algebra II 2. GSE Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors 3. GSE Pre-Calculus Honors (students 1 year ahead) 4. AP Calculus AB or BC 12th 1. GSE Pre-Calculus or Advanced Math Decision Making 2. AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics 3. AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics 4. AP Statistics or Multivariable Calculus through Georgia Tech or other college-level mathematics course

Science 4 units required Biology (On-level, Honors, or AP for upperclassmen) Physical Science (On-level or Honors) or Physics (On-level or AP) Chemistry (On-level, Honors, or AP) or Earth Systems or Environmental Science (On-level, Honors, or AP) or Astronomy or AP Science 4th Science

Social Studies 3 units required American Government – 9th or 12th grade 9th grade - AP Government (year-long) 12th grade – Amer. Gov’t or AP Gov’t (semester) World History – 10th grade On-level or AP U.S. history – 11th grade Economics – 12th grade Elective Options for Rising 9th AP Human Geography (year-long) or World Geography (Semester)

Academics Electives for Freshmen Social Studies Advanced Placement Human Geography Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics (in lieu of Am. Gov’t) World Geography English Speech Annual Literary Magazine Newspaper

General Health/ Physical Education 1 unit required *General Health (1 Semester) – 9th grade *Personal Fitness (1 semester) 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th (or waiver) Electives Weight Training Body Sculpting Recreational Games General P.E. Outdoor Education

World Languages Elective Students planning to enter or transfer to a four-year college/university must take a minimum of 2 units of the same foreign language. World Languages offered at Cambridge HS: Spanish French Latin

Performing Arts Band Chorus Orchestra Drama ORCHESTRA DRAMA

Visual Arts Elective Fine Arts -- *Introduction to Art (semester- long) is prerequisite. Drawing Painting Ceramics Sculpture Jewelry & Metal crafts Photography Printmaking Graphic Design AP Studio Art 2-D or 3-D AP Art History

Career & Technical Education (CTE) – Elective Audio, Video, Technology, & Film Information Technology & Business Engineering & Technology Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security Sports & Entertainment Marketing Veterinary Science

Audio Video Technology & Film CTE

Information Technology & Business CTE

Engineering & Technology CTE

Sports & Entertainment Marketing CTE

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security CTE

Veterinary Science CTE

Talented & Gifted (TAG) Students must complete one TAG activity each semester to remain in good standing. TAG students are served in a variety of ways in a high school setting: Seminar options for all 9th graders during fall semester Advanced Placement Classes Directed Studies (11th and 12th grade students) Internships (11th and 12th grade students)

Special Education -Resource classes -Team Taught classes -Career Technical Instruction -Community Based Instruction Transition meetings Case Managers Students who currently receive instructional support through special education services will continue to receive supports:

9th Grade Registration Planning Guide ENGLISH (required) _____ On-level English OR _____ Honors English Year-long 1 SCIENCE _____ On-level Biology OR _____ Honors Biology OR _____ On-level Physical Science OR _____ Honors Physical Science MATH _____ GSE Algebra OR _____ GSE Accelerated Algebra / Geometry A Honors OR _____ GSE Geometry Honors OR _____ GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors P.E. (suggested) _____ General Health Semester-long 0.5 SOCIAL STUDIES ______ World Geography (elective) OR ______ Advanced Placement Human Geography OR ______ Advanced Placement Government & Politics (Advanced Placement = college level course) ELECTIVES ______________________________________ (1st choice) ______________________________________ (2nd choice) ______________________________________ (3rd choice) Semester or Year 0.5 or 1 TOTAL 6

Traditional 9th grade Schedule 1st Semester 2nd Semester 1st Physical Sci. or Biology 2nd 9th Lit. 3rd GSE Algebra 1 4th CLAWS/Lunch Study Hall/Lunch 5th Personal Fitness Health 6th Intro. to Art Drawing 1 7th Spanish 2

typical 9th grade schedule - 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester 1st Intro.to Vet. Science Intro. to Vet. Science 2nd Health World Geography 3rd CLAWS/Lunch Study Hall/Lunch 4th GSE Algebra 1 5th Honors Biology 6th 9th Lit on-level 7th Spanish 2 Student Profile: Interested in animals Regular babysitter Plays soccer WL in MS

typical 9th grade schedule - 2 Student Profile: Excels in Humanities Took Health online over summer Plays violin WL & 9th Lit. in MS 1st Semester 2nd Semester 1st AP Gov’t 2nd Orchestra 3rd GSE Algebra 1 4th CLAWS/Lunch Study Hall/Lunch 5th 10th Honors Lit. 6th Spanish 2 Hon 7th Honors Biology

Typical 9th grade Schedule - 3 1st semester 2nd semester 1st Foundations Engineering Foundations Engineering 2nd Band 3rd Honors Biology 4th GSE Honors Geometry 5th CLAWS/Lunch Study Hall/Lunch 6th World Geography Health 7th 9th Lit on-level Student Profile Excels in math Interested in Engineering Plays drums Took Personal Fitness online over summer WL in MS

Flexible 9th grade Schedule Student Profile: Plays and travels for competitive sport Interested in Broadcasting 1st Semester 2nd Semester 1st Physical Sci. 2nd 9th Lit. 3rd GSE Algebra 1 4th CLAWS/Lunch Study Hall/Lunch 5th Personal Fitness Weight Training 6th Intro A/V 7th Health Online First Aid Online

Online Courses ask yourself the following questions when considering online courses: What is my motivation for taking an online course? Do I have the self-discipline and self-motivation to work independently? Am I a good self-advocate? Am I organized? Do I have strong written communication skills? Do I have strong computer skills? What will I miss (if anything) by not taking this course in a traditional learning environment? Fulton Virtual or Georgia Virtual?

Success at Cambridge Select appropriate classes – BALANCE! Complete homework. Be organized, and keep an agenda. Seek help when needed. Study consistently. Get involved and make connections with Cambridge’s programs, staff, and students.

Support for Freshman C.L.A.W.S. support period – 1st semester Small groups Faculty advisor 11th and 12th grade student mentors Focus on Social, Emotional, and Academic Transition C.L.A.W.S. Academy – 2 Wednesdays/month In-depth seminars and workshops regarding academic & life skills to promote success

BEARS CARE Support at Cambridge CLAWS Mentoring Program CLAWS Academy PAWS – Enrichment and Remediation Program CLUB Fair – 1st week of school Extra-curricular Opportunities BEARS CARE

Questions? Cambridgehs.org Curriculum guide Course offerings Course numbers Course descriptions Course pre-requisites CHS Placement guidelines for honors and AP classes Fulton County Placement Guidelines Waiver form Please complete and submit the question form below. A F.A.Q. will be developed for common questions. Individual questions will answered within the next couple of weeks.

Please complete and submit this question form. A F. A. Q Please complete and submit this question form. A F.A.Q. will be developed and forwarded for common questions. Individual questions will answered within the next two of weeks. Your Name (First and Last): Your Email address: Your Student’s Name (First and Last): Student’s Current School: Question(s):