Getting Ready For High School

Why is 9th Grade So Important? Success or failure during the 9th grade year often sets the tone for a student’s entire high school career. If a student is successful during their 9th grade year, there is a likelihood that the student will graduate and enjoy their high school experience (Silverthorn, 2005) There is a heightened risk of school drop out related to negative education experiences (Hussong, 2007)

Transitioning to High School is associated with…. Increase in … Academic Stressors Social Stressors (fitting in, “popularity”, peer pressure, etc.) Depression Substance Abuse A decrease in … Social support Academic Functioning(grades, attendance, motivation) (Hussong, 2007)

8th Grade Students Worry About… Difficulty of Classes Getting Lost at School Increase in Workload in their Classes Getting to Class on Time Making Sports Teams Time Management Getting Their Locker Open Where to Go During Lunch Finding Their Friends Making New Friends Being Bullied by Upper Classmen

Tips for Success Attend Freshman Orientation With Your Child Encourage your child to get to know the school and where everything is located. (classes, bathrooms, offices, cafeteria, etc.) This will help ease anxiety about being in a new building. Students feel more comfortable when they know where everything is. After Your Child Receives Their Schedule have him/her go through the schedule in order to simulate their typical school day. Your child will have the same counselor all four years of high school. Encourage your child to know who their counselor is and to contact her with any questions or concerns. Monitor your child’s progress through EDLINE and keep in touch with his/her teachers and 9th grade principal. A staff contact list is located on the web site.

Get Involved Being involved in extracurriculars is key, as after-school activities are great for teenagers’ personal and social development. Extracurricular activities that focus on deepening your child’s interests will help them have a more enjoyable high school experience. In large schools students often feel overwhelmed and disconnected. When students are involved in extracurricular activities it makes them feel more connected to their school. “School-sponsored extracurricular activities can help keep students accountable to academics, and teach valuable skills that often cannot be found in a classroom. Remind your student that everything he/she does in high school is setting them up for their future, and it is their choice to make it a good one!” (Singleton, 2013)

What does your student want to do after high school? This is an important question to ask your child while he or she is in high school. If your child wants to go to a 4 year college, there are certain courses he/she must take in high school. If you child is not sure what to do after high school that is perfectly normal. But, the younger your child decides then the more prepared he/she can be. CFWV Interest Inventories are a great way to help guide your child to a career best suited for him or her.

In high school, students earn credits for each course they pass… The school year has 2 semesters Each semester has two 9 week grading periods Each class period is 49 minutes long Each class period is called a “mod” at HHS. Each 1 mod 1 semester class=1/2 credit Each block class(which is 2 mods in a row)=1 credit Most classes are offered as one mod and taken both semesters Some classes are offered as a block and are taken only one semester Students can earn 7 credits during the regular school day in one school year Students need 24 credits to graduate

Example of Typical 9th Grade Schedule Mod 1st Semester 2ndSemester Total Credit 1st mod English 9= ½ credit English 9=1/2 credit =1 credit 2nd mod Physical Science=1/2 credit 3rd mod Math I=1/2 credit 4th mod World History=1/2 credit 5th mod Phys. Ed Health 2 credits 6th mod Phys.Ed=1 credit Health=1 credit 7th mod Foreign Language=1/2 credit Foreign Language=1/2 credit 1 credit There are 2 lunches, the lunch the student goes to is determined by which part of the building the 4th mod is located.

Meet the Huntington High School Counseling Department… Beverly Brown Students A-CL (304) 528-6417 babrown@access.k12.wv.us

Shawna Rocknich Students Cm-Han (304) 528-6406 srocknich@access.k12.wv.us

Melanie Pinkerman Students Hao-Ma mpinkerman@access.k12.wv.us (304) 528-6419 mpinkerman@access.k12.wv.us

Joanie Poole Students Mb-Sc (304) 528-6420 jpoole@access.k12.wv.us

Renee Harris Students Sd-Z  (304) 528-6416 rharris@access.k12.wv.us

Jessica Jordan Graduation Coach (304)528-6419 jmjordan@access.k12.wv.us

Tammy Shull Registrar (304)528-6409 Fax (304) 528-6423 tshull@access.k12.wv.us

What? Who? Where? General 9th Grade Questions Lauren Werthammer-9th Grade Principal Main Office (304) 528-6411 Copy of Schedule Your Counselor Given out During Orientation Schedule Correction Counseling Office (D133) Buying a Locker Ms. Alicea Lewis (304)528-6524 Proof Of Enrollment Ms. Lisa Hall Attendance Office (304)528-6404 Turn in Absence Excuse Questions about Athletics Mr. Bruce Senior A123 (304)528-6545 Work Permit Ms. Linda George Upstairs Office (304) 6405 Medical/Health Issues Heather Wood-School Nurse Health Center (D127) (304) 528-6447 Copy of Student Handbook Located on Edline www.edline.net

References Hussong, A., Stein, G. L, (2007). Social and academic expectations about high school for at-risk rural youth. America Secondary Education, 36(1) SanFilippo, Elizabeth (2013). Preparing Your Child: Grade School to High School http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/22/preparing-your-child-grade-school-to-high-school/ Silverthorn, N., DuBois, D.L., Crombie, Gail. (2005). Self perceptions of ability and achievement across the high school transition: Investigation of a state-trait model. Journal of Experimental Education. v73 p191 Created by Melanie Pinkerman, Counselor Huntington High School