Wayne County High School 9th Grade Orientation

Mr. Adams, Principal Welcome to WCHS

Wayne County BOE Mission: “Our mission is to empower all students to reach their highest levels of achievement.” WCHS Mission: “All students at WCHS will earn a meaningful high school diploma.”

Researchers have identified 9th grade as the most critical point to intervene and prevent students from losing motivation, failing, and dropping out of school. Steer them in the right direction.

Dr. Blanton, Asst. Principal and Testing Coordinator

GEORGIA MILESTONES TESTING Any student enrolled in and/or receiving credit for a GA Milestone course, regardless of grade level, will be required to take the Exam upon completion of that course. The Exam is 20% of the final grade. Students must have a final course grade of a 70 or above to earn credit toward graduation. 9th Grade GA Milestone Courses : Algebra, Physical Science, Economics (optional) Opt-Out program Students must pass course with 20% EOCT averaged in to gain credit toward graduation.

Dr. Blackwell, Asst. Principal and Alternative School Administrator

Discipline Excessive Tardies: 1st – 4th Tardy – Teacher Warnings 5th Tardy will result in a behavior referral Lunch Detention ISS

Cell Phones 1st Referral – Warning 2nd Referral – 3 Days Lunch Detention 3rd Referral – 1 Day of ISS 4th Referral – 2 Days of ISS 5th Referral 3 Days of ISS and Phone Must be picked up by Parent/Guardian Always surrender your phone when asked to do so. No cell phone use in the halls!

Skipping Class Being out of class without permission Leaving campus without permission Off-Limits Area Q: If you have permission to go to the restroom and you stay gone for 20 minutes is that considered skipping class?

Student incivility Drinking/Eating in Unauthorized Areas Failure to Complete Classroom Assignments Failure to Follow Directions Disruption of Class Failure to Follow School Rules

Blatant insubordination Refusal to comply with a request of faculty or any staff member. 1st Referral – 3 Days ISS 1st Referral for cell phone violation results in a warning. 1st Refusal to hand over your cell phone when asked results in 3 Days ISS PS – We don’t keep cell phones, so just hand it over

Mr. White, Assistant Principal

Attendance Attendance Policy Being absent will effect grades Tardies Attendance Incentives Exemption Policy

Mrs. Roach, Lead Counselor

WCHS Graduation Requirements 26 Carnegie Units English 4 units Math 4 units Science 4 units Social Studies 4 units Health ½ unit PE ½ unit Fine Arts/CTAE/ Modern Language 3 units Electives 6 units

All 9th graders will take the following required academic courses next year: Algebra or Foundations to Algebra Introduction to Literature and Composition Physical Science or Environmental Science American Government (Civics) Health/Personal Fitness Economics (optional) NOTE: If students do not take Accelerated Math in 9th grade they will not be able to take Accelerated Math later.

Block Schedule Students will have the opportunity to earn 4 Carnegie units a semester, totaling 8 Carnegie units a year. Students must earn 6 of the 8 Carnegie units to be promoted to the 10th grade. Students must have a passing grade of 70 or above to earn credit for a course. At the end of each semester, final grades for the courses taken are entered on the permanent record. These grades are part of transcript which will be the record sent to post secondary schools.

GRADES ARE Permanent IN HIGH SCHOOL Grades help gain entrance into post-secondary schools Semester grades are part of your student’s grade point average (GPA). Colleges will look at grades starting in the ninth grade. Scholarships (HOPE) are based on grades and rigor of courses. You will receive grades below 60 Eligibility for sports – Coach Cribb

Promotion: Earn 6 units = 10th Grade Earn 12 units= 11th Grade

Mrs. White, 9th Grade Counselor

HIGH SCHOOL IS A TIME Of CHANGE You will be: Taking new courses Starting a PATHWAY Meeting new teachers Making new friends Having more independence Having more responsibilities

SUCCESS DEPENDS ON: ATTITUDE WORK ETHIC BEING INVOLVED COMMUNICATION

ORGANIZATION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE The keys are: Budgeting time Planning how to do quality work and getting it done on time Students should write down assignments for the day, week, month and semester in a planner or calendar. (Include any papers and tests)

Coach Cribb, athletic Director

Athletic eligibility requirements To be eligible to play, practice, and/or try out a student must be academically eligible. All first year 9th grade students are eligible when they begin high school. Students gain or lose eligibility on the first day of the subsequent semester. Must pass a minimum of three classes each semester. Second-year students must have accumulated 5 total units in the first year and passed 3 classes the previous semester.

Protecting dreams The previous slide on athletic eligibility provided the minimum number of classes that must be passed to participate in high school athletics in the state of Georgia. If you have a dream of playing college athletics, you have to exceed the minimum grades. A’s and B’s will open doors! C’s and F’s will close doors! Remember NCAA Division 1 Requirements include all the academic mentioned earlier.

Pass to play rule

Dr. McDaniel, Asst. Principal and CTAE Director

CTAE Classroom Tour

Graduation Class of 2022