9 th Grade Registration Marvin Ridge High School

Registration Materials  ALL ONLINE on the MRHS School Counseling Page:  Program of Study  Registration Card  4-Year Plan  Waiver Form

What is a Program of Study?

Graduation Requirements  4 English (1, 2, 3, and 4)  4 Math  4 Social Studies  3 Science  1 Health/PE  12 electives  Must have 28 credits to graduate

Foreign Languages  Foreign Language is NOT required for graduation  Almost all NC colleges require at least 2 years of the same foreign language. Most recommend 3 years.  Some SC colleges require 3.  If you want to go to a particular college, look on their website to see what classes are required.

What is a credit?

High School Schedule  2 semesters  4 classes per semester  8 classes per year  8 classes x 4 years of high school = ___ Number of possible credits?

This means you have room to fail 4 classes and still graduate on time.

What classes do 9 th graders take?

 English 1 or English 2  Math (Math 1, Math 2 or Math 3)  Earth Science  World History  Health/PE  3 electives  Fill these in on your 4-year plan for 9 th grade

College Prep vs. Honors Classes  Most core classes have the option of being taken as College Prep (or CP) or Honors level.  Honors level classes are more work, writing, and move quickly.  Starting your sophomore year, you can also take AP classes (college level classes for college credit)  Junior year, can enroll in the IB program

College Prep vs. HonorsClasses  GPA = Grade Point Average  Used by colleges for admissions  Average of all your high school grades  Quality Points  All final grades receive a point

Quality Points College Prep  A = 4  B = 3  C = 2  D = 1  F = 0

Quality Points College Prep  A = 4  B = 3  C = 2  D = 1  F = 0 Honors  A = 5  B = 4  C = 3  D = 2  F = 0

Quality Points College Prep  A = 4  B = 3  C = 2  D = 1  F = 0 Honors  A = 5  B = 4  C = 3  D = 2  F = 0 AP / IB  A = 6  B = 5  C = 4  D = 3  F = 0

How do I sign up for Honors?  Must be RECOMMENDED by your current teachers  Have them sign on your GREEN registration card next to the “CP” or “Honors” level course  Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Year- long Spanish  If you get recommended for an honors level course, you are not stuck taking honors. You can go down to CP if you would like to.  No Math 1 Honors class, only CP.  If you need a little more practice in pre-algebra before taking Math 1, we offer Foundations of Math 1. Your teacher can also recommend this for you.

What if I am recommended for CP but I want to take honors?  If your teacher recommends you for CP, we HIGHLY recommend you take the CP level course.  If you still want to go to honors, you can have your parents sign a waiver to place you into honors level.  The students who waive into classes are usually the ones that struggle.  It is better to take a CP level course and make an A than take a Honors level course and make a C (remember your quality points!)

Waivers  Middle School Counselors will have these forms if you need one (also online)  Once you sign the waiver, you will NOT be allowed to drop the class in the fall, even if you are struggling!  Some electives are honors courses and will require a waiver. Please pay attention to this in your program of study as you’re choosing electives later on.

Doubling Up in Classes  Taking two math or science courses in one school year:  Not recommended  Only for those planning on taking IB or AP courses Junior and Senior year  Colleges want you to take at least 1 math class per year  Possibility of some classes being in the same semester  Must be recommended for or waive into doubling up

EOCs  You will take 3 EOCs in high school:  Math 1  English 2  Biology

For College:  9 th – 12 th grade courses are all listed on your transcript  Transcript is a summary of all the courses and final grades from high school.  Grades are cumulative  On your transcript is your GPA (comes from your quality points)  SAT/ACT scores  Community Service  Extracurricular Activities

Differences Between Middle School and High School

Attendance Policy  7 days for fall semester & 7 days for spring semester  Once you hit 8 absences, you have to go to recovery or else you automatically fail  Exceptions: doctor’s notes, court, or funeral  Keeping up with make up work

Other differences  No Study Hall  Lunches

Athletic Eligibility  Attendance  Must pass 3 out of 4 classes to be eligible to play sports  Fall of Freshman year – all eligible as long as they are promoted to 9 th grade  Spring of Freshman year – based off of Fall semester grades

Prerequisites & Corequisites  What is a prerequisite?  Turn to page 36 and look at Math II

Prerequisites & Corequisites  What is a prerequisite?  Turn to page 36 and look at Geometry  A class you must take BEFORE you are allowed to take a particular course

Prerequisites & Corequisites  What is a prerequisite?  Turn to page 36 and look at Geometry  A class you must take BEFORE you are allowed to take a particular course  What is a corequisite?  Turn to page 39 and look at Chemistry

Prerequisites & Corequisites  What is a prerequisite?  Turn to page 36 and look at Geometry  A class you must take BEFORE you are allowed to take a particular course  What is a corequisite?  Turn to page 39 and look at Chemistry  A class you must take DURING or BEFORE you are allowed to take a particular course

Band  Band is a semester long course  You can take it year-long if you would like to  Write down band in two spots for electives on your 4-year plan if you want to take year-long  If you are interested in marching band, sign up for fall  If you only want to do concert band, sign up for spring  You do not have to be recommended for band

Alternates  Some classes will be full and you will not be able to take them until your sophomore, junior or senior year.  You will need to choose 3 classes you wouldn’t mind taking if you can’t get one of the electives you choose

Marking your Registration Card  Go home and talk to your parents about the classes you wrote down on your 4-year plan  After they approve it and your get your teacher recommendations:  Mark the 8 classes you want to take with a “X”  Mark the 3 classes you want as alternates with an “A” or list them at the bottom of your registration card, clearly labeled as “Alternates”

Important Dates April 3rd, 6:30pm in the HS auditorium Rising 9 th grader Parent Information Night April 7 th, Math Class Turn in your registration cards and waiver April 8-10 th Meet with HS counselors to go over your classes April 22 nd Waiver deadline

Choosing Electives  Fill in your 4-year plan with your 3 electives and 3 alternates  Electives should match your interests: art, drama, computers, animals, fashion, etc.  CHECK FOR PREREQUISITES  If you are unsure if you can take a class or not, look at your green registration card. It will be listed if you are allowed to take it as a freshman.

Choosing Electives  Foreign Languages: Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Latin (online).  Visual Arts 1 = Art 1  You must take Visual Arts 1 in order to take Photography or Pottery/Ceramics.

Important Pages  Core courses start on page 29, Math on page 35, Science on page 39, Social Studies on page 42, Languages on page 48.  Fine Arts courses start on page 52  CTE courses start on page 89