Your High School Journey A Step for Success

The World of High School High School is a time of change and growth; Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, and More choices, responsibilities, and independence Tons of options Class choices, clubs, sports and more Adult responsibilities College and Career Readiness Everything counts towards college Career and Technical Hands-on Experience

High School Levels Freshman – 9th grade Sophomore – 10th grade Junior – 11th grade Senior – 12th grade

8th Grade 9-12th Grade Middle - vs - High school Report Card Classes are in a sequence Teachers give lots of reminders about classwork Official Transcript (grades permanent) Credits to Graduate Teachers expect students to be responsible for own work

High School Block Schedules Classes last approximately 90 minutes. Generally, classes meet every day for one semester (4X4 block schedule) or every other day for year (X/Y block schedule), or every day all year for 2 credits. Some student schedules may include both 4X4 and X/Y courses. HYBRID

Class changes at the HS level have consequences Class changes at the HS level have consequences! This is a sample -Deadlines change from one school year to another

Advanced Academic Programs Nickname Location Advanced Placement Programs of Excellence APPX Colonial Forge HS, North Stafford HS, & Stafford HS Commonwealth Governor’s School CGS International Baccalaureate Program IB Mountain View HS & Brooke Point HS Stafford Academy for Technology STAT Brooke Point & North Stafford HS

Diplomas All Students Earn Either: Standard Diploma - 22 Credits Advanced Diploma – 26 Credits Additional Diploma Opportunities: International Baccalaureate (IB) at MV & BP Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID)-with APPX Program at NS, SS, CF Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma-with APPX Program at NS, SS, CF

Requires a minimum of 22 credits The Standard Diploma Requires a minimum of 22 credits Course areas Credits Earned English 4 Mathematics 3 Algebra I, Geometry & Algebra Functions or Algebra I, Geometry & Algebra II Note: Alg.1 Part 1, and Geom. Part 1 still offered Science 3 Earth Science, Biology One additional science

The Standard Diploma Continued Course areas Credits Earned History 3 WH9, US/VA, & Government Health & PE 2 Economics and Personal Finance 1 Electives 4 World Language, Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education 2 Total 22 Credits

The Advanced Studies Diploma Requires a minimum of 26 credits Course Areas Credits Earned English 4 Mathematics 4 Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II & Statistics or Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II, & Algebra III Alg . Part 1 and Geom. Part 1 and Algebra Functions still offered. Must have 1 course above the level of Alg. II Science 4 Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry & Physics/Oceanography/Anatomy,/Geology, etc.

The Advanced Studies Diploma Continued Course Areas Credits Earned History 4 WH 9, WH 10, US/VA, Govt. Foreign Language 3 or 4 3 of 1 or 2 of 2 Health & PE 2 Electives 3 or 2 (depending on Lang. option) Economics & Personal Finance 1 Fine & Practical Arts or Career & Technical Education 1 Total 26

The Standards of Learning (SOLs) Credits Advanced English 2 Math 1 Science History Any or CTE competency exam 1 in any, other than English Any or CTE competency exam 1 in any, other than English Total 6 9

Standard vs Advanced (Advanced does NOT mean advanced classes) Standard Diploma 22 Required Credits Advanced Diploma 26 Required Credits Subject Area Required Credits English 4 Health/PE 2 Math 3 World Language, Fine Arts, OR Career and Technical Education Science Economics & Personal Finance 1 Social Studies Electives, including 2 sequential electives Subject Area Required Credits English 4 Health/PE 2 Math World Language Either 3 credits of one language, OR 4 (two credits of two different languages). Science Economics & Personal Finance 1 Social Studies Fine Arts OR Career & Technical Education  1 Electives 3 (or 2)

SOL/Verified Credits Advanced Diploma Standard Diploma Subject Area Verified Credits English Grade 11 Reading Grade 11 Writing 2 Math Two different courses from among Alg. I, Geom, Algebra functions & data analysis, Alg. II and higher courses 1 Science Lab Science such as Earth Science, Biology or additional Science course Social Studies Plus 1 student selected TOTAL: 6 Subject Area Verified Credits English Grade 11 Reading Grade 11 Writing 2 Math Two different courses from among Alg. I, Geom, Algebra functions & data analysis, Alg. II and higher courses Science Lab Science such as Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics Social Studies Plus 1 student selected TOTAL: 1 9

Advanced Academic Programs IB Offered at MVHS and BPHS Internationally recognized Includes Ext. Essay and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Transportation NOT provided Application required IB Night at MV 2/9/17 CGS Regional Academic Gifted Education Program Transportation provided to North Stafford from MVHS Application required and due 2/14/17 to Mr. Trotta.

APPX Program available at CFHS, NSHS, & SHS Transportation NOT provided Includes AP Capstone Diploma Program Requires Registration Agreement Information Session 2/14/17. Sign up in Counseling

STAT Academy These programs provide specialized instruction in network systems, engineering, and biomedical sciences. Academic Core STAT Courses are Honors Level. Transportation provided to North Stafford from MVHS Requires an application; available in the Counseling office. Presentation 2/17/17 in cafeteria; MUST sign up in Counseling office to attend.

Career and Technical Education Career and Technical Education *All students are encouraged to seek Career and Technical Education. (CTE) course that provide a foundation for their career plans and career interests. Industry Certification exams are available in many CTE courses. *Attendance, Self-discipline, and safety awareness are vital to successful enrollment and completion of CTE courses. * While students pursuing an Advanced Studies Diploma may enhance their career plans by enrolling in CTE course, students pursuing a Standard Diploma MUST complete two sequential electives or a CTE concentration and pass an industry certification. * Sequential electives MUST be selected from the same discipline or subject area to qualify as sequential electives, i.e. both course from Agriculture, business, Health and Medical Sciences….etc.

Required Sequential Electives The Standard Diploma requires a minimum of two sequential elective courses to prepare for the workforce or continued education beyond high school.

Course Descriptions Each core and elective class is described in detail in the Program of Studies (POS). Honors classes are offered in certain subjects and in all Advanced Academic Programs. Honors placement depends on grades and teacher recommendations. Please see the POS for grade requirements.

English English 9: Meets requirement for graduation for all diplomas. English 9 Honors: Must have a B in English 8 and teacher recommendation. Meets requirement for graduation for all diplomas.

Math 8 Students Algebra I: Recommended if “C” or higher earned in Math 8. Meets requirement for graduation for all diplomas. Algebra I Part I & Part II: Recommended if grade earned in Math 8 is lower than a “C”. Both parts required to meet Algebra I requirement for graduation for all diplomas.

Algebra & Geometry Students Advanced Algebra I Advanced Geometry Geometry or Advanced Geometry *Math Teacher will Recommend Placement Algebra II Or Advanced Algebra II *Math Teacher will Recommend Placement

Social Studies MVHS NSHS/CFHS World History/Geography I or Honors   World History/Geography II, Honors, or AP US History, AP US History US Government, or AP Comparative Government World History/Geography II Honors: IB Candidates (Considering or Committed to Program)

Science Earth Science: Meets requirement for graduation for all diplomas. Earth Science Honors: Recommended if “B” or higher earned in 8th grade Science.(Available for APPX, & STAT candidates) If Full IB take Biology Honors Meets requirement for graduation for all diplomas.

World Languages Spanish French German Latin ASL

Health & Physical Education 9 – Required for All 9th Grade Students Health & PE Health & Physical Education 9 – Required for All 9th Grade Students Health & Physical Education 10 (Dr. Ed. Included) - Required for All 10th Grade Students

Electives World Language may count as an elective per diploma selection. Electives to help you discover your talents and direction for life Art, music, business & marketing, technology, work & family studies, foreign language, etc.

…balanced with … Extracurricular Activities Meet new people Learn new skills Athletic Activities Meet friends Learn teamwork Get in shape and have fun!

Grades are important! All your grades are part of your GPA (grade point average) Colleges and employers will use your GPA to help determine what kind of student or worker you will be.

Being a well-rounded person is equally important! Involvement in activities, sports, community service Leadership roles in extracurricular activities Work or volunteer experience Recommendations from supervisors, teachers

Sample 4x4 9th Grade Schedule Block Semester1 Semester 2 1 English 9 W. History 1 2 Earth Science Algebra 1 3 PE 9 Spanish 1 4 Keyboarding Principles of Bus & Mktg Credits

Sample Modified Block-Hybrid Day Semester1 Semester 2 1 XY English 10 W. History II 2 Biology Geometry 3 X Band Y PE 10 4 Spanish 2 Spanish 3 Credits 3+2 (year long) = 5

PROMOTION 5 credits from 9th to 10th 10 credits from 10th to 11th Minimum of 22 or 26 credits to Graduate

The TRANSCRIPT: Your High School Story Final Grades for All Courses Cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) Verified Credits (passed SOL)

Deleting Courses High school courses may be deleted or “expunged” prior to arrival into H.S. Parents must submit in writing a request to have final grades deleted from H. S. academic record. Request must be received within 30 days of posting of final grades. If the course in question is required, the course must be retaken in order to meet the requirements for graduation.

Weighted Credit Explanation Weighted credit is the process by which an additional quality point is added to the total quality point value of a grade earned. Quality point value of an “A+”= 4.5 Weighted quality point value of an “A+”= 5.5 Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Courses have weighted value.

SO, as your High School journey begins: Be involved in, and responsible for your own high school story! Ask questions and utilize the many resources here for you. Enjoy this time of academic and personal growth Dare to dream about where your journey will lead….

Registration: What to Expect Meeting with students in labs starting February 21st to begin the process of signing up online Your student should come home with a registration packet: course catalog, “cheat sheets” for each high school and OCR process, 4 year plan document (ACP), high school registration form (this paper copy is very important!). Each Course Request Form must have the parent’s signature.

Registration: ACP

Registration: What to Expect Don’t have this info? Reach out to Ms. Kugler in the Counseling Center

Registration: What to Expect Select “COURSE REQUEST” on the left side of the screen

Registration: What to Expect

Registration: What to Expect RECOMMENDED WAY TO SEARCH

Registration: What to Expect It is highly recommended that you search by COURSE ID, which can be found on your student’s high school registration form

Registration: What to Expect Repeat the previous steps until EIGHT courses have been requested, to include ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, PE, and ELECTIVE(S)

Registration: What to Expect The process to add alternative electives is the same: it is recommended that you search by COURSE ID as some courses may be difficult to find when searching under “department”

Registration: What to Expect Click on “CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO COURSE REQUEST SUMMARY” to see an overview of what you have selected

Registration: An Overview We will meet with students during their elective blocks to assist with registering online beginning February 21st Every student will bring home a packet that consists of a course catalog, “cheat sheets”, four year planning form, high school registration form Please send your student’s signed and completed registration to us by Friday, March 10th Each course selection form must have a parent signature and also should match the selections made online – ultimately we will refer to the signed registration form

HS Freshman Orientation Night WILL BE HELD IN MARCH. PLEASE ATTEND THE ORIENTATION WITH YOUR CHILD.

Questions???? Please call RTMS Counseling Office at 540-658-6420.