Welcome to High School! A Presentation Regarding the Current Graduation Requirements for Texas Students and a Guide to Registering for Courses as a Wichita Falls High School Freshman

Wichita Falls High School Counselors Heather Miller (hrmiller@wfisd.net) A - D Leslie Bailey (lbailey@wfisd.net) E - L Jennifer Bronaugh (jbronaugh@wfisd.net) M - Ro Stephanie Schelter (sschelter@wfisd.net) Ru – Z Kris Gossom (kgossom@wfisd.net) College & Career Counselor

What do the Counselors do? Sign-up Students for Courses Recommend Courses Create Schedules Monitor Graduation Plans Letters of Recommendation College Applications Guidance Counseling Brief Crisis Counseling Etc., etc., etc….

What Will We Do TONIGHT? Notify you of Graduation Requirements Give you a little information about high school Guide you through the registration process for freshman classes

What’s Different in High School? Credits In order to graduate, students are required to earn credits in courses – meaning they must take and pass specific courses In order to earn credit, students not only have to pass the course, but they must have spent enough time in the class and covered enough material Because of these requirements, students need to carefully choose classes that they want, because they cannot change classes throughout the year Additionally, students must watch their absences, since being absent too many times can prevent a student from earning credit

What’s Different in High School? Finals If a student is required to take a final for a class & they choose to skip it, then they receive a 0 as 1/7th of their semester average – this will cause most students to fail the class. Students can be exempt from a final if they meet certain requirements set by the District – these generally deal with the grade in the course, absences, & performance on state assessments. Teachers are not allowed to give finals early. The schedule is set by the district and teachers are bound by these rules, so it is important not to schedule vacations and appointments during finals week.

What’s Different in High School? Failing the class could mean that your child would either have to retake class by sitting through the semester/year again, or by attending summer school ($100 per semester).

What’s Different in High School? Your GPA starts with the first assignments you do in your classes as a 9th grader. How? Your GPA is based on semester grades. Your semester is figured from your six weeks grades & (possibly) your final. Your six weeks grades are made up of every assignment, test, quiz, project, lab, etc., starting with the first day of school.

End-of-Course Exams These are the new state assessments that your student will be required to pass in high school. Any student not passing an exam MUST be placed in a class for accelerated instruction the following school year – no credit for this accelerated class.

End-of-Course Exams The following Exams must be passed prior to graduating: English: English 1 EOC English 2 EOC Science: Biology EOC Math: Algebra I EOC History: US History EOC

Pre-AP & AP Courses These courses are MUCH more rigorous than academic courses. The material will be covered faster and at a deeper level than in academic courses. Students will likely have more homework in Pre-AP/AP courses. Many Pre-AP/AP courses have summer assignments that students must complete prior to each school year, including some freshman-level classes.

Pre-AP & AP Courses These courses are weighted Can increase GPA for those students in the race for top spots Still must have a 70 to earn credit (& pass) Pre-AP courses prepare students for AP classes AP courses prepare students for the AP Exam, which gives students the opportunity to earn college credit

Pre-AP & AP Courses Pick-up a form from the Guidance Office If a student struggles in these classes and wants to drop, they MUST: Pick-up a form from the Guidance Office Obtain signatures from parent & teacher Return form to Guidance Office Changes will probably not be completed on the same day, so it is important that students not wait until the last minute Students cannot drop a class until the first progress report of the first six-weeks of the year, nor can they drop during the last six-weeks of a semester

The “secret” to graduating in the top of the class? There is no secret! Take as many PreAP and AP classes as you can handle & do your best in them!

Graduation Requirements: The Foundation Plan Graduation Plans 2014-15   Foundation + Endorsement Distinguished Discipline Credits English 4 Math 3 1 Incl. Algebra II Science Social Studies Foreign Language 2 Fine Arts PE Electives 5 Total Credits for Graduation 22 26

English Requirements 4 Credits, taken in the following order: English I English II English III 4th English

Social Studies Requirements 3 Credits, generally in the following order: World Geography US History Government (0.5) Economics (0.5) World History will now be an elective credit.

Mathematics Requirements 4 Credits for all Endorsements 2 of which MUST be: Algebra I Geometry The 3rd credit: Can be Math Models or Algebra II The 4th credit: Can be Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Quantitative Reasoning (AQR) Additional Math classes offered are: AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC

Science Requirements 4 Credits for all Endorsements Biology must be the first science class taken Other science classes offered: IPC Chemistry Physics Earth & Space Pre-AP Anatomy & Physiology Any AP course: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, etc.

On Schedule Request Form: Fill in Name & ID In the bottom right, go ahead & sign & leave either cell number or email address. Please print legibly! Please wait for additional instructions!!!

English Classes Regular English in Junior High Pre-AP English in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Pre-AP Made low grades in Pre-AP & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Pre-AP Made A’s & B’s in Pre-AP & plan to continue with Pre-AP in High School Remember, if you sign up for PreAP English, there will be a summer reading of at least 1 book, but possibly 2. OR OR Register for English 1 Register for Pre-AP English 1 Register for English 1 Register for Pre-AP English 1

At this time, please complete this section of your registration page by signing up for one of the following: Course # Course Name 13100 ENGLISH 1 OR Course # Course Name 13110 ENGLISH 1 PAP

Math Classes (for students not taking Algebra 1 in Junior High) Regular 8th Math in Junior High Pre-AP 8th Math in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Pre-AP Made low grades in Pre-AP & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Pre-AP Made A’s & B’s in Pre-AP & plan to continue with Pre-AP in High School OR OR Register for Algebra 1 Register for Pre-AP Algebra 1 Register for Algebra 1 Register for Pre-AP Algebra 1

Math Classes (for students who took Algebra 1 in Junior High) Pre-AP Algebra 1 in Junior High Made C’s or D’s, or did not understand material & feel you should repeat Algebra 1 in High School Made B’s, but do not plan on continuing Pre-AP in High School Made A’s & B’s & plan to continue with Pre-AP in High School For Barwise, it’s Mrs. Ash; At McNiel, Mrs. Briscoe; At Kirby, Mrs. Grady teaches Algebra I; and at Zundy, Mr. McDonald Register for Algebra 1 & write “repeat” to the side Register for Pre-AP Geometry Register for Geometry

OR OR If you DID NOT take Algebra 1 in junior high, sign-up for: Course # Course Name 14100 ALGEBRA 1 OR Course # Course Name 14110 ALGEBRA 1 PAP If you DID take Algebra 1, then sign-up for: Course # Course Name 14200 GEOMETRY OR Course # Course Name 14210 GEOMETRY PAP

Science Classes Regular Science in Junior High Pre-AP Science in Junior High Made A’s & B’s in Pre-AP & plan to continue with Pre-AP in High School Made low grades in Pre-AP & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Pre-AP Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School IPC fulfills the required 4th credit of Science and there is no EOC for this class. We recommend taking IPC if your child is in regular science or if he’s not making A’s & B’s in PreAP 8th grade science. We’re doing this so that students won’t have to end up doubling up in Chemistry & Physics their junior year and having to take an EOC for both. We consider Chemistry & Physics two of the hardest classes we have for students not in PreAP. It would be better & easier to double up now rather than later. Register for Pre-AP Biology Register for regular Biology

In this space, everyone will sign-up for one of the following classes:

Social Studies Classes Regular Social Studies in Junior High Pre-AP Social Studies in Junior High Plan to continue with Regular classes in High School Made A’s in regular & your 8th grade teacher recommends you take Pre-AP Made low grades in Pre-AP & 8th grade teacher does not recommend you take Pre-AP Made A’s & B’s in Pre-AP & plan to continue with Pre-AP in High School OR OR Register for Pre-AP World Geography Register for Pre-AP World Geography Register for World Geography Register for World Geography

Now, please circle one of the following History classes: Course # Course Name 16100 W. GEOGRAPHY OR Course # Course Name 16110 W. GEOGRAPHY PAP

Fine Arts One credit of a Fine Arts is required before Graduation If you are going to be in Marching Band, you must sign up for Marching Band AND Instrumental Ensemble. These are 2 separate classes – Zero hour and 1st period. Your child will sign up for a total of 9 credits then (band students only).

One credit of a PE is required before Graduation **If you play several sports, only sign up for the sport that occurs earliest in the school year. If you only play one sport, just sign up for that one sport. ROTC, Athletics, & PE classes can count for a students’ PE credit

Every student needs to register for 8 credits worth of classes You must mark an “A” by your 3 alternates, or WE will pick your alternates for you! Do not pick PE courses only for your alternates! Every student needs to register for 8 credits worth of classes before they leave tonight. A

Reminders **If you sign up for a 0.5 class, make sure to sign up for another 0.5 class for the other semester. **Sign up for alternates **Make sure you’ve signed up for 8 credit classes (possible 9 with Zero hour).

Advising for Graduation Every year, we meet with students during February & discuss which classes they need to sign-up for the following year. You do not have to worry about your student staying on track for graduation – we will guide them through the process!

Parent Participation Stay in contact with your student’s teachers regarding grades, assignments and progress Sign-up for the Family Access & sign-in regularly Check the school’s & teachers’ websites for information and updates Come to parent meetings when they are offered and stay informed Make sure your contact information is correct and updated whenever necessary

Some Final Notes… Parents, please make sure to sign the request form & put a cell phone number and/or email address – If there is a conflict about your child’s schedule, we’ll contact you to clear it up. Also, be aware of the “fine print” at the right of the page.

Some Final Notes… We are operating an office complete with deadlines and lots of paperwork! Each counselor has approximately 450 students on their caseload. Please be understanding and patient with us! Encourage your student to follow rules and procedures and to pay attention to deadlines. Encourage your student to come to the counseling office themselves rather than you calling in for them. It allows us to get to know students on a more personal basis and makes writing those letters of recommendation a more personal experience!

Thank you for being here! Be sure to leave white copy of schedule in one of the baskets in the Entry Way