Incoming Freshman Parent Meeting Boyd High School March 25, 2013 Welcome 8 th Grade Students & Parents!

Agenda: BHS Expectations Attendance Requirements Tips for Parents Common Mistakes GPA/Rank/Credits Graduation Requirements Which Classes to Take STAAR EOC Testing Info Questions???

BHS Expectations Academics are the primary reason you are a Boyd High School Yellow Jacket; make school a priority Expect success; be willing to pay the price to achieve it. Bring a great attitude with you daily. Give great effort daily in all classes. Be respectful to your teachers and fellow students. Get involved. Bring the 3D’s (Desire, Dedication and Determination) Have pride in yourself and your school!

Attendance Requirements Students must attend class at least 90% of the time in order to receive credit earned for a course There will be opportunities to make up attendance should students fall below 90% The Principal and Assistant Principal will be able to assist with an attendance redemption plan.

Tips for Parents Discuss classes and set goals Be available to help with homework Monitor your child’s activities and jobs Work with your school -Contact the teacher if you do not receive a progress report for a specific class, or the school if you do not receive a report card. -Teacher contact information can be found on the BHS website or by calling: For questions or concerns regarding a specific class, please contact the school directly.

Common Mistakes 1.My 9th grade year doesn’t count; I have plenty of time to make it up. 2.I chose this class because my friend is taking it. 3.I skipped 4th period because it won’t hurt to miss one day of that class. 4.I don’t feel like doing my homework, so I’ll just do well on the test. 5.I don’t have time to join school clubs, because I have to spend my free time studying. 6.Everyone else understood the teacher’s explanation but me; I am too embarrassed to ask the teacher for more help. 7.I am afraid to tell the teacher about the problems I am having with this class. *Communication is key with teachers! 8.I want to take blow off classes during my senior year.

Why are grades important?  GPA  Rank  Credits  Graduation

 GPA (grade point average) is calculated by averaging all of a student’s grades together that they receive each semester.  All of the classes a student takes will be included in their cumulative GPA except for the following: ◦ PE/Athletics ◦ Band (1 st semester only) ◦ Yearbook ◦ Choir

 Rank is determined by the GPA with added points from a student’s specific graduation plan, PAP, AP and Dual Credit classes that they take.  The person in a class with the highest rank at the end of senior year will be the valedictorian. The student with the 2 nd highest rank will earn salutatorian.  Calculation of cumulative GPA’s and ranks occur after each semester. For freshmen year, however, it is only done at the end of the 9th grade school year.

 For each class a student takes, they have the opportunity to earn either a half credit, or full credit.  If a student takes a class and earns a 70 or above they receive: ◦ 1 semester= 1/2 credit ◦ 2 semesters= 1 credit

 Minimum Plan- 22 credits  4 English Language Arts: English I, II, III, and one of multiple choices  3 Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, and one of multiple choices  2 Science: Biology and IPC, Chemistry, or Physics  3 Social Studies: United States History, United States Government (one-half credit), and Economics (one-half credit) and either World History OR World Geography

 Minimum Plan Continued:  Academic elective--one credit. The credit must be selected from World History Studies, World Geography Studies, or science course(s) approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE).  Physical education--one credit.  Speech--one-half credit (Communication Applications or Professional Communications)  Fine arts--one credit.  Elective courses--six and one-half credits.

 Recommended Plan- 26 credits  4 English Language Arts: English I, II, III, and IV  4 Mathematics: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one of multiple choices  4 Science: Biology credit, Chemistry credit, Physics credit, and one of multiple choices  4 Social Studies: United States History, World Geography, World History, United States Government (one-half credit), and Economics (one-half credit)

 Recommended Plan Continued:  Languages other than English--two credits. The credits must consist of any two levels in the same language  Physical education--one credit.  Speech--one-half credit (Communication Applications or Professional Communications)  Fine arts--one credit.  Elective courses-- five and one-half credits

 Distinguished Plan- 26 credits + 4 distinguished measures  4 English Language Arts: English I, II, III, and IV  4 Mathematics: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one of multiple choices (excluding math models)  4 Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and one of multiple choices (excluding IPC- Integrated Physics & Chemistry)  4 Social Studies: United States History, World Geography, World History, United States Government (one-half credit), and Economics (one-half credit)

 Distinguished Plan Continued:  Languages other than English--three credits. The credits must consist of any three levels in the same language  Physical education--one credit.  Speech--one-half credit (Communication Applications or Professional Communications)  Fine arts--one credit.  Elective courses-- four and one-half credits

 Distinguished Plan- Advanced Measures:  A student also must achieve any combination of four of the following advanced measures. The student may choose from the following options:  (1) original research/project that is: ◦ (A) judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project; or ◦ (B) conducted under the direction of mentor(s) and reported to an appropriate audience; and ◦ (C) related to the required curriculum set forth in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills);  (2) test data showing a student has earned: ◦ (A) a score of three or above on the College Board advanced placement examination; ◦ (B) a score of four or above on an International Baccalaureate examination; or ◦ (C) a score on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) that qualifies the student for recognition as a commended scholar or higher by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) of the College Board or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The PSAT/NMSQT score shall count as only one advanced measure regardless of the number of honors received by the student; or  (3) college academic courses, including those taken for dual credit, and advanced technical credit courses, including locally articulated courses, with a grade of 3.0 or higher.

 Core Classes: ◦ Algebra I ◦ Geometry ◦ Geometry PAP ◦ English I ◦ English I PAP ◦ World Geography ◦ World Geography PAP ◦ Biology ◦ Biology PAP * Please note that these are the common classes freshmen tend to take; however, student schedules vary.

 * Please note that PAP classes are more rigorous, move at a faster pace, and often require more homework.  * PAP, AP & Dual Credit classes also award points to a student’s weighted GPA. ◦ PAP: ◦ 1 semester= ¼ of a point ◦ 2 semester (full year)= ½ point ◦ AP: ◦ 1 semester= ½ point ◦ 2 semester (full year)= 1 point ◦ Dual Credit: ◦ 1 semester= ½ point ◦ 2 semester (full year)= 1 point

 Elective choices:  PE/Athletics  Health  Speech  Art 1  Art 2: Drawing & Painting ◦ Pre-Req: Art 1  Band  Choir  Theatre I  Spanish I & II  Debate  Principles of Ag, Food & Natural Resources  Principles of Arts, Audio Video Technology & Communications  Principles of Business, Marketing & Finance  Principles of Human Services  Fundamentals of Computer Science

 *Freshmen are encouraged to take required elective courses for graduation freshmen and sophomore year, giving them more flexibility junior and senior year.

 Please note that these are the current requirements for STAAR EOC testing. The state is currently reviewing some of the requirements, so please recognize that this information could change before next school year.

 Minimum Plan required state assessments: (11 STAAR tests): *Student must take STAAR EOC assessments only for courses in which they are enrolled in and an EOC is offered. Only courses specifically listed on MHSP are required to count towards cumulative score.*

Minimum Plan Required EOC’s: ◦ English I Reading, English II Reading, English III Reading ◦ English I Writing, English II Writing, English III Writing ◦ Algebra I ◦ Geometry ◦ Biology ◦ US History ◦ World Geography or World History

 Recommended Plan required state assessments (15 STAAR tests): *In addition to cumulative score requirements, student must meet or exceed the Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance standards for the STAAR English III Reading, Writing, & Algebra II assessments.* *Students attending Boyd High School will retake EOC exams until they reach a Level II: Satisfactory score.

Recommended Plan Required EOC’s: ◦ English I Reading, English II Reading, English III Reading ◦ English I Writing, English II Writing, English III Writing ◦ Algebra I ◦ Geometry ◦ Algebra II ◦ Biology ◦ Chemistry ◦ Physics ◦ US History ◦ World Geography ◦ World History

 Distinguished Plan required state assessments (15 STAAR tests): *In addition to cumulative score requirements, student must meet or exceed the Level III: Advanced Academic Performance standards for STAAR Eng. III Reading, Writing, & Algebra II assessments.

Distinguished Plan Required EOC’s: ◦ English I reading, English II reading, English III reading ◦ English I writing, English II writing, English III writing ◦ Algebra I ◦ Geometry ◦ Algebra II ◦ Biology ◦ Chemistry ◦ Physics ◦ US History ◦ World Geography ◦ World History

 A student attending Boyd High School will take EOC exams until they reach a Level II: Satisfactory score on their exams.  This is to guarantee that they will reach the minimum cumulative score they will need for graduation purposes.  * Please note that all of the STAAR EOC information is based on current state testing requirements; changes could occur.