Waverly High School 8th Grade Parent Night Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Waverly Community Schools + Proud to be one of the most diverse schools + A world class learning experience + Preparing students for real world achievements Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Agenda Agenda Counseling role Communication between counselor, parent, students Scheduling Process Details on core areas Credits/Transcripts/Graduation Requirements 4 Year Plan for High School What’s all this testing? College & Career Preparation Honors verses regular courses, AP, volunteer hours, and clubs Counselor contact information Question and Answer Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

High School Counseling Role Counseling Caseload: Your child will be assigned a counselor next year (based on last name). This person will stay with them until they graduate. Student advocate Encourage each student to succeed (success is different for each individual) Academic, personal, crisis, and career planning Summary: Planning for 2 time frames: 4 years of high school and post-secondary Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Scheduling Process 5 Easy Steps 1) Review the scheduling worksheet with your parent Be deliberate in your alternate choices as you are likely to get those classes as well 2) Obtain student and parent signatures 3) Obtain signatures for Honors classes if applicable 4) Return the worksheet to school 5) Transfer your choices from the worksheet into PowerSchool Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors “6 Choice Day” The High School is a 6 choice day Most freshman will have: English 9 or English 9 Honors Algebra I or Geometry Honors U.S. History or U.S. History Honors Biology World Language General PE/Health 4 Alternate Choices Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Benefits of “6 choice” day Provides time for a homeroom Allows time for test prep, supplemental instruction, clubs, career exploration “Flexible & Individualized” Time to meet the unique needs of each student Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Graduation Requirements 23 Credits 4 English credits 4 Math credits (Algebra One, Geometry, Algebra Two, and Senior Year Math) 3 Science credits (Biology & Chemistry/Physics & 3rd Science Choice) 3 Social Studies Credits (U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government/Economics) .5 General Physical Education & .5 Health 2 credits of World Language Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

4 Year Plan 9th 10th 11th 12th Note: Consider requirements first Career Path second CACC and general interests Suggestion-9th grade students complete their 4 year plan 9th ٠Algebra One or Geometry ٠English 9 or English 9 Honors ٠U.S. History or U.S. History Honors ٠Biology ٠2 electives (most with General PE/Health) 10th ٠Geometry or Algebra Two ٠English 10 or English 10 Honors ٠World History, World Hist. Honors ٠Physics or Chemistry (Chemistry Honors) ٠2 electives (take requirements first) 11th ٠Algebra Two, Pre-Calc ٠English 11 ٠U.S. Government/Economics ٠ 3rd Science ٠2 electives or CACC 12th ٠Continued Math Sequence (4th Year Math substitutes) ٠English 12, Eng. 12 H, or AP English ٠4th year of Science is recommended ٠4th year of Social Studies is recommended ٠2 electives or CACC Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors SAMPLE PLAN 9th grade Alg. One English 9 U.S. History Biology PE/Health World Language 10th Grade Geometry English 10 World History Physics ELECTIVE World Language 11th Grade Intermediate Algebra II English 11 U.S. Government/Economics 3rd Science Elective 12th Grade 4th Credit of Math English 12 Core Class Elective Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Honors Classes, Regular Classes & AP Honors Courses The questions: Do you desire more rigor, extra challenge, additional reading & homework? Earning an “A” in a regular class verses a B in an Honors course Consider changing to an Honors section the following year. “Recommended” by a teacher does not mean “Ready” on every level Preparation for the WHS AP Program Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Should I take Honors Courses? Things to consider: Do you have teacher recommendation? If not, consider being considered for your Sophomore year If Yes, decide if you are prepared for the challenge. Do you have strong reading skills, at or above grade level? High School staff may consult test scores. Colleges are interested in the strength of your High School “resume” and in your academic “trend”. Admission counselors look favorably upon successful completion of Honors level classes however bright freshmen sometimes benefit by waiting a year Honors coursework is designed to prepare a student for opportunities to complete Advanced Placement classes as an upperclassman. Success on the Advanced Placement exam may earn you college level credits while still in High School. Colleges look carefully at your overall GPA. However, every college admission representative will tell you that they would rather see a B or maybe C in an honors course verses an A in a regular class. Bottom line-Are you recommended and are you prepared for this challenge Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Math Math is very individual -Discuss placement with your current math teacher. -Based on successful completion of the year end exam, you may be eligible for math credit on your High School transcript. -You are still required to take 4 years of math during High School. - Honors Geometry students plan to progress to AP Calculus. Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Foreign Language 2 years of the same language are required (Spanish, French, ASL (American Sign Language) Colleges prefer to see 2 years during high school Language is recommended in 9th grade but you could wait as late at 10th grade to begin Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Plans of Study Students with IEP’s will have special attention in scheduling from their caseworker www.waverlyhighschool.net Review Course Descriptions Testing Out- Applications available in the spring Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Credits-a new Concept D- or higher at semester=.5 credits/class June=6 possible credits earned 23 credits required to graduate 40% + 40% + 20%=Semester Grade Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Transcripts=College Admission & Job Opportunity A permanent document Parchment Grades, attendance, honors verses regular courses, rank, test scores (selling yourself on paper after high school) Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

What’s all this Testing? 9th Grade- PSAT (Practice test for SAT) 10th Grade-PSAT (Practice test for SAT) 11th Grade- State Testing (April) Day 1 SAT Test * 9th grade is not too early to being studying on the only sanctioned SAT test prep website “KHANacademy.org” 12th Grade –optional-retest for better admission scores ACT/SAT optional Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Career & College Preparation 9th grade=collecting information 10th grade=2 visits www.careercruising.com Username: Password: Students can repeat the career test as many times as they wish. Career Fairs, College Visits, Job Shadowing, CACC, field trips “The best academic preparation for college is an AP Class” Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

College/Trade School Admission Volunteer Hours Letters of Recommendation Work Experience Test Scores (ACT OR SAT) Attendance Cumulative GPA Courses-Rigor (AP and Honors verses Regular) Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Volunteer Hours Clubs Sports All students should track volunteer hours as most colleges and employers inquire. Clubs and Sports are important as well. Consider 2-3 options at WHS or outside of school Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Attendance WHS has a strict attendance policy Parents must call to excuse a child (sometimes this very important step is missed) It is always the students duty to recover missed work Students are not penalized for College visits (2/semester) Missing class typically results in lowering your grade Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

How to get information home? Invitation for parents to sign up for REMIND text to 81010 @c96g7 Mrs. Gazley’s Counseling Page on Facebook and a new website coming soon Make sure an accurate email address is on file next fall School Announcements Individual appointments/student appointments Classroom visits Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Waverly High School Administration Chris Huff-Principal Tracy Thomas-Deputy Principal Tony Terranova-Asst. Principal Counseling Office 517-321-7573 Mrs. Ginny Doyle-Secretary Mrs. Kristen Gazley-Counselor Mrs. Precious Lee-Counselor Pat Klein-Social Worker Main Office 517-321-3831 Vanessa Scrugs-Attendance Salame Preston-Athletics/Community Outreach Michelle Smethhurst-Secretary Athletic Director-Scott Castelle Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors

Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors Questions & Answers Thank you for joining Us this evening and for being involved in your son/daughter’s education. Kristen Gazley & Precious Lee Counselors