Welcome to High School, Class of 2022! A Presentation Regarding the Current Graduation Requirements for Texas Students and a Guide to Registering for Courses as a WFHS Freshman

WFHS Administration Christy Nash, Principal Wayne Calhoon, Associate Principal Jesse Thomas, Assistant Principal Kim Stutz, Assistant Principal Jackie Wheat, Assistant Principal

WFHS Counselors Rachel Sewell(rsewell@wfisd.net) A - E Leslie Bailey (lbailey@wfisd.net) F - L Jennifer Bronaugh (jbronaugh@wfisd.net) M - R Susan Palmore (spalmore@wfisd.net) S – Z Jessica Dixon (jlbennett@wfisd.net) College & Career Counselor

What do the Counselors do? Sign-up Students for Courses Recommend Courses Create Schedules Monitor Graduation Plans Letters of Recommendation College Applications Guidance Counseling Brief Crisis Counseling Etc., etc., etc….

What Will We Do TONIGHT? Give you a little information about high school Notify you of Graduation Requirements Guide you through the registration process for freshman classes

What’s Different in High School? Credits In order to graduate, students are required to earn credits in courses – meaning they must take and pass specific courses In order to earn credit, students not only have to pass the course, but they must have spent enough time in the class and covered enough material

What’s Different in High School? Credits Because of these requirements, students need to carefully choose classes that they want, because they cannot change classes throughout the year. Attendance matters!! Students must watch their absences, since being absent too many times can prevent a student from earning credit.

What’s Different in High School? Finals All freshmen are required to take all finals (except in their PE/athletics class). Finals count 1/10 of a student’s semester average. Each of the three six weeks averages counts 3 times and the final counts once. This is a change from previous years. Teachers are not allowed to give finals early. The schedule is set by the district and teachers are bound by these rules, so it is important not to schedule vacations and appointments during finals week.

What’s Different in High School? Failing a class could mean that your child would either have to retake class by sitting through the semester/year again, or by attending summer school ($100 per semester). Also, depending on the class, you student could have to change their endorsement.

What’s Different in High School? Your GPA starts with the first assignments you do in your classes as a 9th grader. How? Your GPA is based on semester grades. Your semester is figured from your six weeks grades & your final. Your six weeks grades are made up of every assignment, test, quiz, project, lab, etc., starting with the first day of school.

End-of-Course Exams (EOC’s) These are the state assessments (STAAR) that your student will be required to pass in high school in order to graduate. English: English 1 EOC English 2 EOC Science: Biology EOC Math: Algebra I EOC History: US History EOC

EOC’s Exams 9th grade: English 1, Biology, & Algebra, if not taken in junior high 10th grade: English 2 & US History Students who have not passed will retake the tests the following June, December, &/or April/May

Honors & AP Courses These courses are MUCH more rigorous than academic courses. The material will be covered faster and at a deeper level than in academic courses. Students will likely have more homework in Honors/AP courses. Many Honors/AP courses have summer assignments that students must complete prior to each school year, including some freshman- level classes.

Honors & AP Courses (con’t.) These courses are weighted Can increase GPA for those students in the race for top spots Still must have a 70 to earn credit (& pass) Honors courses prepare students for AP classes AP courses prepare students for the AP Exam, which gives students the opportunity to earn college credit

Honors & AP Courses If a student struggles in these classes and wants to drop, they MUST: Pick-up a form from the Guidance Office Obtain signatures from parent & teacher Return form to Guidance Office Changes will probably not be completed on the same day, so it is important that students not wait until the last minute. Students cannot drop a class during the last six-weeks of each semester.

The “secret” to graduating in the top of the class? There is no secret! Take as many Honors and AP classes as you can handle & do your best in them!

Graduation Requirements: The Foundation Plan Graduation Plans 2018-18   + Endorsement Distinguished Discipline Credits English  4 Math 4 Incl. Algebra II Science  Incl. Chemistry or Physics Social Studies  3 Foreign Language 2  Fine Arts 1  PE  1 Electives 4 in endorsement area Total Credits for Graduation 26

English Requirements 4 Credits, taken in the following order: English I English II English III English IV (except for Journalism Endorsement)

Mathematics Requirements 4 Credits for all Endorsements 2 of which MUST be: Algebra I Geometry The 3rd credit: Can be Math Models or Algebra II The 4th credit: Can be Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Quantitative Reasoning (AQR) Additional Math classes offered are: AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and (possibly)AP Calculus BC

Science Requirements 4 Credits for all Endorsements Biology must be the first science class taken Other science classes offered: IPC Chemistry Physics Forensic Science Honors Anatomy & Physiology AP courses: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, etc.

Social Studies Requirements 3 Credits, generally in the following order: World Geography US History Government (0.5) Economics (0.5)

Endorsement Signature Page: Mark ONE Track that your student will follow throughout high school Fill in Parent Name, Student Name & ID (Please print legibly!) Sign in spaces provided **Remember which Endorsement & Track you chose!

On Schedule Request Form: Fill in Name & ID At the top, go ahead & sign & leave either cell number or email address. Please print legibly! Please wait for additional instructions!!!

On Schedule Request Form: At the bottom, please circle which Endorsement your child is seeking, then write in which track. Wait for additional instructions!!!

English Classes Regular English in Junior High Honors English in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Honors Made low grades in Honors & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Honors Made A’s & B’s in Honors & plan to continue with Honors in High School Remember, if you sign up for PreAP English, there will be a summer reading of at least 1 book, but possibly 2. OR OR Register for English 1 Register for Honors English 1 Register for English 1 Register for Honors English 1

At this time, please complete this section of your registration page by signing up for one of the following: OR Course # Course Name 13100 ENGLISH 1 Course # Course Name 13110 HONORS ENGLISH 1

Math Classes (for students NOT taking Algebra 1 in Junior High) Regular 8th Math in Junior High Honors 8th Math in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Honors Made low grades in Honors & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Honors Made A’s & B’s in Honors & plan to continue with Honors in High School OR OR Register for Algebra 1 Register for Honors Algebra 1 Register for Algebra 1 Register for Honors Algebra 1

Math Classes (for students who took Algebra 1 in Junior High – at Barwise with Mrs. Eby during 3rd, 6th or 7th period) Honors Algebra 1 in Junior High Made C’s or D’s, or did not understand material & feel you should repeat Algebra 1 in High School Made B’s, but do not plan on continuing Honors in High School Made A’s & B’s & plan to continue with Honors in High School For Barwise, it’s Mrs. Ash; At McNiel, Mrs. Briscoe; At Kirby, Mrs. Grady teaches Algebra I; and at Zundy, Mr. McDonald Register for Algebra 1 & write “repeat” to the side Register for Honors Geometry Register for Geometry

OR OR If you DID NOT take Algebra 1 in junior high, sign-up for: If you DID take Algebra 1, then sign-up for: Course # Course Name 14100 ALGEBRA 1 Course # Course Name 14200 GEOMETRY OR OR Course # Course Name 14110 HONORS ALGEBRA 1 Course # Course Name 14210 HONORS GEOMETRY

Science Classes Regular Science in Junior High Honors Science in Junior High Made A’s & B’s in Honors & plan to continue with Honors in High School Made low grades in Honors & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Honors Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School IPC fulfills the required 4th credit of Science and there is no EOC for this class. We recommend taking IPC if your child is in regular science or if he’s not making A’s & B’s in PreAP 8th grade science. We’re doing this so that students won’t have to end up doubling up in Chemistry & Physics their junior year and having to take an EOC for both. We consider Chemistry & Physics two of the hardest classes we have for students not in PreAP. It would be better & easier to double up now rather than later. Register for Honors Biology Register for regular Biology

In this space, everyone will sign-up for one of the following classes: Course # Course Name 15100 BIOLOGY OR Course # Course Name 15110 HONORS BIOLOGY

Social Studies Classes Regular Social Studies in Junior High Honors Social Studies in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Honors Made low grades in Honors & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Honors Made A’s & B’s in Honors & plan to continue with Honors in High School OR OR Register for World Geography Register for Honors World Geography Register for World Geography Register for Honors World Geography

Now, please circle one of the History classes: Course # Course Name 16100 W. GEOGRAPHY Course # Course Name 16110 HONORS W. GEOGRAPHY OR

One credit of a PE is required before Graduation **If you play several sports, only sign up for the sport that occurs earliest in the school year. If you only play one sport, just sign up for that one sport. ROTC, Athletics, & PE classes can count for a student’s PE credit

Fine Arts One credit of a Fine Arts is required before Graduation You can sign up for more than one Fine Arts class if you choose the Fine Arts Endorsement.

These are the classes we recommend that you sign up for next year. Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4 Course 5 Course 6 Course 7 Course 8 English 1   Math Alg. 1 or Geom Biology World Geo. Spanish 1 Fine Arts credit PE/ Athletics/ROTC Endrsmnt. Class Principles of _______

Every student needs to sign up for 8 credits worth of classes You MUST choose alternates!! Mark an “A” by your 3 alternates, or WE will pick your alternates for you! Every student needs to sign up for 8 credits worth of classes before they leave tonight. A A

Reminders **If you sign up for a 0.5 class, make sure to sign up for another 0.5 class for the other semester. **Sign up for alternates **Make sure you’ve signed up for 8 credit classes.

Advising for Graduation Every year, we meet with students during February & discuss which classes they need to sign-up for the following year. You do not have to worry about your student staying on track for graduation – we will guide them through the process!

Parent Participation **Stay in contact with your student’s teachers regarding grades, assignments and progress *Sign-up for the Family Access & check on grades weekly Check the school’s & teachers’ websites for information and updates Come to parent meetings when they are offered and stay informed Make sure your contact information is correct and updated whenever necessary – don’t forget to do InfoSnap when it becomes available!

Some Final Notes… Parents, please make sure to sign the request form & put a cell phone number and/or email address – If there is a conflict about your child’s schedule, we’ll contact you to clear it up. Also, be aware of the “fine print” at the bottom right of the page.

Some Final Notes… We are operating an office complete with deadlines and lots of paperwork! Each counselor has approximately 300 students on their caseload. Please be understanding and patient with us! Encourage your student to follow rules and procedures and to pay attention to deadlines. Encourage your student to come to the counseling office themselves rather than you calling in for them. It allows us to get to know students on a more personal basis and makes writing those letters of recommendation a more personal experience!

Thank you for being here! Be sure to leave white schedule and Endorsement @WFHS with counselor or in one of the boxes in the Entry Way