Are you ready for high school? 8th Grade Parent/Student Meeting February 7, 2018

House Bill 5 Created additional meeting requirements between the parents, students, and counselors to discuss career and college plans (PGP)

Are you planning on going to a four-year university? Top 10% on Distinguished Plan gain AUTOMATIC ADMISSION to Texas public universities UT is 7% or 8% Student has to be on the Distinguished plan to qualify

Grade Point Average (GPA) and Rank GPA and Rank are calculated on a 100-point scale with a 10-point bonus for Pre-AP, AP, Dual Credit, and Spanish 3 or Spanish 4. GPA does NOT include courses taken at the middle school for high school credit, PE/Athletics, Band, Yearbook, High School Helpers, online courses taken outside of the student’s regular schedule, or college courses taken outside of Dual Credit courses.

Graduation Plans Foundation Plan Foundation Plan with Endorsements Distinguished Achievement Plan

Course Requirements Foundation Foundation + Endorsement Distinguished English 4 Math 3 4 Algebra II Science Social Studies Physical Education 1 Fine Arts Foreign Language 2 Electives 5 With 2.0 required electives for graduation 6 with 2.0 required electives for graduation and atleast 2.0 more required for endorsement 22 26

Are you a good match for Pre-AP/AP Courses? ABOVE grade level in skills Motivated and hard working Organized and meets deadlines Works independently Good time management Meets the grade requirements listed in the Academic Guide

9th Grade Required Core Courses English Credit English 1 *Pre-AP English 1 Math Credit Algebra 1 *Geometry *Pre-AP Geometry Social Studies Credit World Geography *AP Human Geography Science Credit Biology *Pre-AP Biology *Teacher recommendation and Pre-AP/AP contract required . Summer assignments may be mandatory.

Additional Graduation Requirements Physical Education Credit: 1 Physical Education Athletics Marching Band (Two Fall Semesters = 1 Credit) Cheerleading Fine Arts Credit: 1 Art Marching/Concert Band Jazz Band Floral Design Languages other than English Credit: 2 Spanish

Local Courses Required for Graduation Business Information Systems - BIM (1 Credit) World History (1 Credit) Professional Communications (1/2 Credit) CHOICE Finance (1/2 Credit) Employability Skills (1/2 Credit)

Purpose of CTE Classes (Career and Technical Education) Build skills toward college/career choices Provide opportunities for students to apply core curriculum skills in a practical way Some courses involve earning an industry certificate CTE classes in a particular order earns the student an endorsement in a particular area

PPHS Endorsement Areas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Advanced Science Advanced Math Business and Industry Agriculture - Animal and Mechanical Strands Business – Information Technology Hospitality – Culinary Arts Arts and Humanities World Languages Social Studies Visual Arts Musical Arts Multidisciplinary A combination of appropriate electives from other endorsements

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advanced Math (5 years of Math with Math started in 8th Grade) Advanced Science (5 years of science)

STEM - Advanced Math Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2 Pre-Calculus Dual Credit Math (College Algebra, Statistics)

STEM – Advanced Science Biology IPC Chemistry Physics Anatomy and Physiology Advanced Animal Science AP Environmental Science Must complete 2 out of these 3 courses.

Business and Industry – Information Technology BIM 1 Professional Communication/CHOICE Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance BIM 2

Arts and Humanities Foreign Language (Spanish 1-4) Social Studies (5 Social Studies-1 year Dual Credit) Musical Arts (4 Years of band) Visual Arts (4 years of art)

Business and Industry - Culinary BIM 1 Professional Communication/CHOICE Principles of Hospitality Introduction to Culinary Arts Culinary Arts (Double Blocked)

Agriculture Business and Industry – Animal Science Business and Industry – Mechanics

Agriculture - Animal Science BIM 1 Professional Communication/CHOICE Principles of Agriculture Small Animal Management/Equine Science OR Livestock Vet Med OR Advanced Animal Science

Agriculture - Mechanical BIM 1 Professional Communication /CHOICE Principles of Agriculture Ag Mechanics Ag Facilities or Welding

Ag Welding and Job Skills Welding may be taken after the previously listed courses to secure an Ag Welding endorsement.

Electives Each day has 8 periods In 4 years a student can accumulate 32 credits Students can sample from other endorsements as long as they have the pre-requisites and there is enough room (9th grade is limited) Some students may have to take support electives: Reading Lab, Math Lab, etc. There are additional electives that students can participate in: High School Helpers, Office Aide, Study Halls, etc.

8th Grade STAAR If a student fails to master any section of STAAR this spring then he/she may be assigned to acceleration coursework during their freshman year. This may be scheduled during elective classes, before/after school hours, during study hall, Saturdays, or the summer.

How to Help Your Student Encourage them to do their homework on the day that it is given. Monitor their grades on Parent Portal. Help them with organizational skills. Begin to shift responsibilities to them. Allow them opportunities to learn how to manage their own “stuff” and handle difficult situations.

PPHS staff will be hired, the master schedule will be set, and textbooks will be purchased based on your course requests. Therefore, if you receive the courses or alternates you request you will NOT be allowed to change you schedule in the fall. Requesting a course does not guarantee it will be offered next year.

PPHS Counselor’s Contact Information Casey Mandi cbrinlee@pilotpointisd.com (940)686-8740 Ext. 227 Kevin Moffitt kmoffitt@pilotpointisd.com (940)686-8740 Ext. 226