for freshmen enrolling in the fall of 2019 Rising 9th grade Course Selection for freshmen enrolling in the fall of 2019

Welcome incoming freshmen and parents! We visited with your students at their middle schools and helped them choose their courses for next year. But we want to hear from you! You may make changes this evening. Because this is the first chance your Academic Advisors have had to visit with freshman parents, before we jump right in to select your student’s courses for next year, there are a few things we would like to share - to help you get your bearings.

If you are a transfer student, you will need to complete the enrollment process. Please attend Early Registration next week: Tuesday, April 23 or Wednesday, April 24. Lamar Library 4:30pm. If you are zoned to Lamar High School, and your child is currently attending an HISD school, your student’s information will automatically roll into our system. If you are zoned to Lamar High School but your child is NOT currently attending an HISD you will need to complete the enrollment process. If you are applying for a Boundary Option transfer to Lamar, you were to complete the application at www.HISDchoice.com

All Lamar Students are IB Students All Lamar students are placed on path to graduate on the Texas Foundation High School Plan, having earned the Multidisciplinary Endorsement, and realizing the Distinguished Level of Achievement. But because Lamar is an International Baccalaureate School, and because all Lamar students are IB students, Lamar students may earn – not only the Texas diploma – but also the IB Diploma or IB Career-related Certificate. You will learn more about the IB Diploma Program and the IB Career-related Program through our Parent Education Series – a series of targeted seminars that explore relevant topics in depth as these topics cycle into priority throughout 4 years at Lamar High School. A Parent Education Series calendar is available at the handouts table up front and is also posted on the Lamar website under Academic Advising.

The IB Program in 9th and 10th Grades The IB Program instills critical-thinking skills and a sense of international-mindedness. The IB Middle Years Program provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and to become critical and reflective thinkers. In 10th grade, students engage in a personal project. The project allows students to demonstrate the understanding and skills they have developed in the program.

IB Programs in 11th and 12th Grades In 11th and 12th years, any student may pursue the IB diploma. Students enrolled in a career pathway may choose to earn either the IB Diploma or the IB Career-related Certificate. Public universities in Texas, Colorado, California, and Florida give a minimum of 24 hours of credit to IB diploma recipients attending state colleges. Lamar graduates have received as many as 45 hours of credit based on their scores on the IB diploma SL and HL exams.

All Lamar students take a 4th year of Math and Science All Lamar students take a 4th year of Math and Science. Because this 4th year qualifies for the Multidisciplinary Endorsement, all Lamar students are automatically placed on that path and plan. You may choose to add other Endorsements. Public Service Multidisciplinary S.T.E.M. Business & Industry Arts & Humanities

IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the Pathways sequences currently planned for the 2019-2020 school year. Courses are subject to change as administration reviews CTE offerings each year to determine which courses best support the needs of our students.

Pathways are in use in all Texas high schools, but Lamar Pathways are unique! We realize that the thought of navigating Lamar on your own may be intimidating. It is our hope that by explaining our process, priorities, and calendar, we will be able to put your minds at ease, knowing that your Academic Team will lead the way, checking at regular waypoints to be sure that your student remains on the correct path and plan.

Whoa! Lamar is a BIG school. Will my child be lost? No. Your child will not be lost. Lamar offers all the benefits of a comprehensive high school with the added bonus of a small school feel because students learn in neighborhoods. And every student is supported by an Academic Team which will support that student from enrollment to graduation.

An Academic Team? Absolutely! A team of Program Coordinators, College Advisors, an Academic Advisor, an Assistant Principal, and Teachers partner with parents to support the student through 4 years at Lamar.

Who are the members of my Academic team Who are the members of my Academic team? In addition to an Academic Advisor, an Assistant Principal, and a Neighborhood Clerk, your student’s Academic Team includes: Credit Appeal/Attendance, Ms. Clouse gclouse@houstonisd.org College Corner Advisors: Ms. Ling, Ms. Alderete, and Mr. Mahmood cgranger@houstonisd.org, nalderet@houstonisd.org, mmahmood@houstonisd.org Lamar Success Center Director, Ms. Tello atello@houstonisd.org Communities in Schools Director, Ms. Beggs sbeggs@houstonisd.org 9th & 10th - IB Middle Years Program Coordinator, Mr. Gillespie dgilles1@houstonisd.org 11th & 12th - IB Diploma Program Coordinator, Ms. Bissell rbissell@houstonisd.org IB Career Program Coordinator, Mr. Munoz dmunoz@houstonisd.org IB Magnet Program Coordinator, Ms. Titus ctitus@houstonisd.org Registrar, Mr. Guinther bguinthe@houstonisd.org

College Application Support College Corner is currently located in the Lamar library. Next year, CC will office on the 2nd floor of the new building. College Corner is staffed by 3 full time College Advisors whose mission it is to assist students a they prepare for college applications and provide information and assistance for students of all grades to explore post high school plans: both college and career. Students may drop in before school, after school, and at lunch. College Corner Advisors: Ms. Ling, Ms. Alderete, Mr. Mahmood cgranger@houstonisd.org, nalderet@houstonisd.org, mmahmood@houstonisd.org

More about the Academic Advisor

Current Configuration of Academic Advisors Next Year, Advisors will be assigned by neighborhood Office 1 (N110) (3) or fewer Advanced Academics A-K Mr. Thompson kthompso@houstonisd.org L-Z Ms. Raibon sraibon@houstonisd.org Office 2 (N213) (4) or more Advanced Academics A-G Ms. Quintero monica.quintero@houstonisd.org H-Ph Ms. Brooks fbrooks1@houstonisd.org Pi-Z Ms. McDonald ksydow@houstonisd.org Special Populations SPED Ms. Fernandez mfernan7@houstonisd.org 504 and ELL Dr. Cain rcain@houstonisd.org

Why Email? Email has proved more efficient than phone calls. We are a mobile team. Moving about campus. In classrooms. Not tied to a desk phone. Our goal is to respond to all emails within 48 hours, but we are often much faster. Email serves as our “To Do” list. Email allows us to send attachments.

Academic Advisors meet with EVERY STUDENT, EVERY YEAR to review path and plan & select courses for the next year. Q: How will parents know when Advisors will meet with students for Course Selection? A: Principal Graves will notify parents of Course Selection dates in her weekly Newsletter.* *To ensure you receive Principal Graves’ Newsletter, once enrolled, please confirm we have your correct email address in our system by asking in N110.

Lamar Academic Advisors’ Parent Education Series Your Lamar Academic Advisors understand that our annual conversation with your student about path, plan, next year’s course selection, and the document package we prepare for that meeting may not always make it home to you intact. And you may have questions about the IB diploma, what to do if you student is struggling, how to apply to college, scholarships and financial aid, course selection . . . That’s why we host the Lamar Parent Education Series: our annual cycle of seminars created to communicate relevant information directly to parents and entertain any questions. A current calendar is posted on the Lamar website under Academic Advising. We look forward to seeing you and answering your questions at these events!

Some of our most popular seminar topics are: Course Selection (R9, R10, R11, and R12) What to do when your student struggles? A Deep Dive into the IB Diploma College Application, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Now, that you have your bearings, let’s select your courses!

IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the Pathways sequences currently planned for the 2019-2020 school year. Courses are subject to change as administration reviews CTE offerings each year to determine which courses best support the needs of our students.

What should I choose as an elective? New next year, we hope to offer 2 additional Fine Arts courses: Guitar and Handbells. No prior experience is necessary for these courses. Please indicate your interest on line 8 and circle a 2nd choice in the far right column.

Zoned and Boundary Option students may choose either On Level or Advanced Level courses. However, if your student plans to pursue the IB diploma, your student must register for Advanced Level courses in all 4 core subject areas. The IB diploma requires 5 years of HS math. If you do not enroll with credit for HS Alg1, you must attend Summer School for math before senior year.

You have chosen your courses You have chosen your courses. Will you have an opportunity to change your mind? Yes, there is a system in place for schedule changes. Here’s how that works. . .

VERY IMPORTANT The goal is for every student to have a complete and correct schedule on the first day of school. We are not able to accommodate requests for teacher preference or period preference. Schedules are created for the full school year, rather than by semester. This means schedules are not changed mid-year. Because incoming freshman are not on campus, they do not receive V1, V2, or V3. If your student is currently in grades 9, 10, or 11, your student will receive these in Advisory. Incoming freshmen get 2-3 opportunities to select courses/change their schedule: zoned students when we visit their middle school, all incoming freshmen & parents at Freshman Parent Meetings, and again when Verification 2 is mailed home on May 1.

Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) The PGP is attached to your Course Selection Worksheet. HB5 instituted the PGP statewide to help high schools follow students through 4 years. Lamar has followed our students using Course Selection Worksheets for years, so for us, the PGP is another way to support students through 4 years at Lamar. Should have been completed in middle school. Audited annually. Please complete the areas circled in red, sign the PGP, and turn it in with us tonight!

You’re new here and it is only natural that you will have questions. And we’ve been here a while, so we have answers. You will find the answers to your questions on the Lamar homepage. Watch and I’ll show you how it’s done!

You can find us on the Lamar homepage! http://www.houstonisd.org/lamarhs Click here

On our landing page, you will find a number of helpful resources. When you have a question, please look here for the answer!

If you are a transfer student, you will need to complete the enrollment process. Please attend Early Registration next week: Tuesday, April 23 or Wednesday, April 24. Lamar Library 4:30pm.

Your student is unique, but Lamar’s programs, paths, and plans are well established, time tested, and proven to serve our families well. Even though Lamar is a BIG school, it is our fondest wish that you can relax and enjoy these next 4 years because you know what to expect – and when. And because now you know that We’ve got this!

for coming out tonight!