FCA UNDERCLASSMEN PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

OBJECTIVES 9 TH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHT What is High School at FCA & the expectations we hold What are requirements to graduate How FCA differs from other schools Future Planning & Standardized Testing

UNDERCLASSMAN ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM & ACADEMIC ADVISOR Principal – Graig Weiss Underclassman School Administrator & Instructional Dean – Jennifer Osemwegie Leader of Student Culture – Glenn Burns Dean of Students – Carla Hill Underclassman Academic Advisor – Christina Mangus

TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE TO HIGH SCHOOL 1. Go from class to class by themselves – no more supervised transitions 2. No Cohorts 3. Courses are geared toward specific graduation requirements. IF a scholar doesn’t pass, the course will have to be taken over again 4. Colleges will see all grades from 9 th -12 th on Transcripts 5. Colleges will also see any out of school suspensions on transcripts 6. Students are expected to take initiative and come to teachers for tutoring or help 7. Initial Communications will be directly given to the scholar

HIGH SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS OUR MISSION...is to ensure that all of our students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation’s finest colleges and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility and honesty. All courses and extracurricular activities are geared toward obtaining college acceptance. ✔ FCA scholars are expected to aspire to greater academic heights and higher personal standards for decorum ✔ Yes it is true that we expect our students to obtain an acceptance letter from a 4year college. ✔ Yes it is true that all students obtain 40 hours of community services. ✔ Yes it is true that our students feel prepared and ready for college when they graduate.

NJ VS. FCA GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS OF 2018 NJ Graduation Credits Total 120FAC Graduation Credits Approximate Total 160 English: 5 Credits each Level 9-12, 1 course / year English: 10 credits - 9th-11th, 5 credits - 12th Level 9-12, 1 course / year PE/Health: 3.75/1.25 each Level 9-12, 1 course / year PE/Health: 3.75/1.25 each Level 9-12, 1 course / year Math: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years Math: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years Science: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years Science: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years Social Studies/History: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years Social Studies/History: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years World Language: 5 Credits each 1 course over 4 years World Language: 5 Credits each Minimum 2 courses over 4 years Electives: Credits vary must total 15 # of courses vary Electives: Credits vary Mandatory: College Prep, Music

FCA GPA & GRADING SCALE Letter GradeNumeric GradeGPA A A B B B C C C F F F590.00

4 – YEAR GENERAL PLANNING Freshman Year: Begin planning your community service Get involved in extracurricular & find what interests you Work on getting GPA as high as possible Career Exploration & building self awareness Sophomore Year:  Career Readiness & Planning  Developing an academic plan to create success  Career Shadowing  College Trips/Tours Junior Year:  Testing Timetable – PSAT, SAT, ACT, PARCC  Parent Transcript Meeting  College Trips tailored to GPA  Challenge self with more difficult courses such as Honors & AP Senior Year:  College/scholarship applications  Financial Aid Information Night  Finalizing Community Service Hours  MCCC Courses

4 – YEAR COURSE PLANNING CoursesFreshmanSophomoreJuniorSenior EnglishEnglish 9English 10English 11English 12 or AP English Math-Algebra 1 -Alg/Geom -Geometry -Algebra 2 -Pre-Calc -Integrated Math -Statistics -Calculus -AP Calculus ScienceBiologyAnatomy & Physiology ChemistryPhysics PE/HealthPE/Health 9PE/Health 10PE/Health 11PE/Health 12 Social StudiesWorld HistoryUS History 1US History 2AP History Language-Spanish I -French I -Spanish II -French II -Spanish III -French III -Spanish IV -French IV Performing ArtsMusic IMusic IIMusic IIIMusic IV Career Exploration College Prep ICollege Prep IICollege Prep IIICollege Prep IV

STANDARDIZED TESTING PSAT : Preliminary SAT - October – It is recommended that students have completed Geometry – Taken during Junior year in order to compete for National Merit Scholarship s ACT and SAT Tests: Tests typically required for college acceptance – Taken during winter & spring of Junior year SAT Subject Tests: Taken dependent on college’s requirements – Taken after completing accelerated courses in math, science, foreign language, world history, and literature – Some university programs require specific SAT Subject Tests to be considered for admission Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: Taken May after majority of course being completed

New FCA Handbook with updated policies & course descriptions! Some new policies include: no more than 2 summer classes will be accepted minimum 2.0 GPA to progress to next grade level Parent Access Link to School Brains to view student’s grades!

GRADE LEVEL CHAIR Sara Landau – Freshman Grade Level Chair What is a grade level chair? What occurs at the Grade Level meetings? How you, as the parent may be involved?

Christina Mangus Underclassman Academic Advisory