Welcome to Johnson High School Class of 2022! This is the first step in your journey through High School! Today we will be giving you lots of information to help you with making plans for High School and selecting your 9th grade courses.

Here is what your day at Johnson will look like… First, let’s look at what your day will be like at Johnson. Every day will have 8 periods, 1 will be for lunch and the other 7 will be for classes. Every student will have an assigned “Flex” period to attend on Flex Days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Flex assignments are usually study halls, unless a student requests a particular subject to get extra help/tutoring.

9th Grade Recommended Schedule Language Arts: English I (regular or Pre-AP) Math: Algebra I or Geometry (regular or Pre-AP) Science: Biology (regular or Pre-AP) Social Studies: Geography (regular, Pre-AP, or AP) LOTE(Language other than English) Foreign Language of student’s choice PE/Health: Semester of PE and/or Health (PE Equivalents: Athletics, Pep, ROTC, Band) (Health Equivalents: Principles of Health Science) Elective: Based upon endorsement Please remind students that they must have completed Algebra I before taking Geometry.

Should I take Pre-AP or Regular Courses? Pre-AP Courses require students to be: Self motivated with a strong work ethic Time management skills Willingness to seek help Strong STAAR/EOC scores Summer reading assignment

What are the Benefits of Taking Pre-AP Courses? Better prepare students for Advanced Placement and/or Dual Credit classes Promote college readiness Offer a weighted grade system - grades are multiplied by 1.15 for Pre-AP and 1.29 for AP when they are calculated in your GPA (i.e., a 75 in Pre-AP class would calculate as an 86 in your GPA) Enhance students’ resumes and applications - Colleges look for rigorous coursework

How Many Pre-AP Classes Should I Take? Individual decision Consider extracurricular commitments outside of school Seek balance Better to make an A in regular class than a C in a Pre-AP class

Important things to know. . . Students can drop a Pre-AP/AP class to a regular level equivalent course within the first 9 week grading period of the 1st semester Students can only add a Pre-AP class within the first two weeks of school, or they must wait till semester Extracurricular activities can be very time consuming and students will miss classes Course cards and NEISD Course Catalog posted on Johnson website Elective changes will not be made after June 8, 2018

Course Card Directions Be sure to write your name & ID number Circle course number in bottom section Write course number & name in top section Select 7 courses & list 2 alternates Be sure to list Endorsement in top section Be sure to have required signatures Return to Middle School Counselors by Friday, February 16th

Begin With the End in Mind!!

The Graduation Plan for your Class of 2022 Foundation with Distinguished Level of Achievement Students must complete: Curriculum requirements for an endorsement 4 credits in English 4 credits in Math (includes Algebra II) 4 credits in Science 3 credits in Social Studies 2 credits in languages other than English 1 credit in Fine Arts 1 credit in Physical Education 0.5 Health credit 6 and 0.5 Electives (Must include Endorsement) Foundation with Distinguished Level of Achievement + Endorsements = 26 credits Students must pass all 5 STAAR End of Course (EOC) exams to meet graduation requirements: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, and US History

Endorsements Found on back of course card Must choose a Pathway within the five Endorsement Options: STEM Multidisciplinary Arts/Humanities Public Service Business/Industry

Selecting Endorsements Students select their endorsement on their course card Students are required to select at least one endorsement, but may have more than one Students can change endorsements based upon interests and course selections All 9th grade students will complete an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) online to plan their courses and track the Endorsements they will qualify for

Johnson Course Fair will be on January 29th Course Fair will be 6:00pm-8:00pm Course Fair located in cafeteria area & gym - Electives arranged by Endorsements Electives available for 9th graders are on 9th grade course card & Endorsements listed on back of course card Coaches will be available in the small gym for required signatures for Athletics

Remember: Must have coach signature for Athletics Middle School Coaches can sign for their sports High School Coaches need to sign for sports not offered in Middle School (soccer, swimming, diving, softball, wrestling) Must have alternate electives on course card Must have Endorsement Pathway listed on card Last day to make changes to courses with our Johnson Counselor is June 8, 2018

to all Middle School Counselors Course Cards are due on February 2nd to all Middle School Counselors

Final Date for Course Changes: June 8, 2018 Ways to Change a Course: E-mail your assigned Johnson Counselor any change request Include student name, ID number, course to drop, course to add All students will receive a form in the mail in mid-May. Only send the form to Johnson if you are requesting a change.

JOHNSON COUNSELORS ctarbo@neisd.net Rebecca Hudkins Bl - D Courtney Tarbox A - Bj ctarbo@neisd.net Rebecca Hudkins Bl - D rhudki@neisd.net Patti Snider E - Her psnide@neisd.net Julie Metcalf Het – Map jmetca@neisd.net Richard Boeger Mar - Pen rboege1@neisd.net Taylor Ditto Per - Sn tditto@neisd.net Desiree Meza So - Z dmeza1@neisd.net Lisa Williams STAN Counselor lwilli3@neisd.net Students are assigned to Counselors by their last names.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL WELCOMES YOU!