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Byron Nelson High School 9th Grade Mission: GET INVOLVED!!! There is a place for YOU! www.nisdtx.org/bnhs

Graduation Requirements STEM Business and Industry Multidisciplinary Public Service Arts and Humanities Graduation Requirements The Pieces to the Puzzle

The New Grad Plans Your Personal Graduation Plan will focus your area of study toward your interests. Your graduation plan will include a foundation curriculum PLUS a field of interest, your ENDORSEMENT.

Again… What is an ENDORSEMENT? A coherent sequence of electives in a specific area of interest. These electives may be taken through an academy or through a specified Career Pathway.

There are FIVE Endorsements STEM Public Services Business and Industry Arts and Humanities Multidisciplinary Studies

What to Keep in Mind Your Potential College Choices Your Possible Career Goals/ Fields of Study

Your Endorsement Plan - Your Puzzle Must include 26 credits for graduation 19 ½ CORE credits (including required electives) 6 ½ elective credits geared towards your ENDORSEMENT 7 classes X 4 years = opportunity for 28 credits (plus any credits earned in middle school)

The Foundation with an Endorsement Requirements English Language Arts – 4 credits Math – 4 credits Social Studies – 3 credits Science – 4 credits *Languages Other Than English (LOTE) – 2 credits (same language) *Speech – ½ credit *Fine Art – 1 credit *Physical Education – 1 credit Electives – 6½ credits (dependent upon endorsement) *Credits in Languages Other Than English, Speech, Fine Arts, or PE may be acquired by various courses noted in the High School Course Selection Guide. “The CORE”

Distinguished Achievement Requirements Must meet all the requirements for an endorsement Math – 4th math must include Algebra 2 Examples – Algebra 1, Geometry, Math Models, Algebra 2 Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, an Advanced Math

Automatic College Admission Students in the top 10%* of their graduating class are eligible for automatic admission to any public university in Texas. To be eligible for this automatic admission, students entering high school in 2014-15 must complete the new Distinguished plan. **UT Austin – top 7% currently

Benefits of PreAP/AP College admissions – Colleges look for students who have completed rigorous coursework (PreAP, AP, Dual Credit). Students with higher level courses are generally more prepared for college level work. Students can earn college credits early through AP courses if you make qualifying scores on the AP exams (in high school).

Class Ranking Class Ranking will include grades earned in courses under the following headings: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Languages other than English. The Grade Point Average (GPA) used to determine class rank only is calculated on a weighted scale. Advanced Placement (AP) = up to 7 points PreAP = up to 6 points Regular = up to 5 points

Eligibility for Financial Aid All students applying to college will be encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the spring of their SENIOR year. Even if financial aid is not needed, some scholarships require the completion of the FAFSA.

The Freshman Core Four Pieces to your Puzzle! English – Regular, PreAP, or GT Math – Algebra 1 or PreAP Algebra 1 Geometry or PreAP Geometry Science – Biology or PreAP Biology Social Studies – World Geography – Regular or PreAP World History – Regular or PreAP Human Geography – AP or AP/GT

Languages (LOTE) – same language Two credits = Two Pieces of your Puzzle Spanish German Chinese $$$ French

One Credit = One Piece of the Puzzle Dance Choir Band F I N E A R T S Theatre r AP Music Theory Orchestra Digital Arts & Animation Floral Design Drill Team

Physical Education One Credit = One Piece of Your Puzzle Aerobic Fitness - .5 – 1.0 credit (also earned through Dance 1) Individual Sports / Team Sports - .5 -1.0 credit Strength & Tone - .5 – 1.0 Outdoor Education - .5 PE substitution credit through Band, Cheerleading, and Drill Team

Sports Offered Basketball Volleyball Swimming Diving Soccer Golf Track Cross Country Tennis Baseball Softball Football Wrestling Athletic Trainer

What will your ENDORSEMENT be? STEM Business and Industry Multidisciplinary Public Service Arts and Humanities What will your ENDORSEMENT be?

ENDORSEMENT Details You must specify in writing the endorsement you intend to earn upon entering Grade 9. You may select more than one endorsement.

STEM STEM ENDORSEMENT Students who choose a STEM endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest and Algebra 2, Chemistry, and Physics. Options may include: STEM/Engineering Additional Science Additional Math Information Technology

STEM options

STEM more options

Business and Industry Endorsement Students who choose a Business and Industry endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest: Ag, Food, and Natural Resources Marketing Architecture and Construction Career Preparation Arts, Audio/Video Tech. & Comm. Debate Business Management & Administration Newspaper Finance Yearbook Information Technology Technology Application NISD Culinary Arts and Hospitality Academy (BNHS only) NISD AMAT Academy (NHS only)

Business & Industry options

Business & Industry more options

Business & Industry more options

Public Service Endorsement Students who choose a Public Service endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest: - Education and Training - Health Science - Human Services - Career Preparation - NISD AMP Academy (BNHS only) - NISD Cosmetology Academy (SAHS only)

Public Service options

Arts and Humanities Endorsement Students who choose an Arts and Humanities endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest: - Additional Social Studies - Fine Arts - Additional World Languages

Arts and Humanities options

Arts and Humanities more options

Multidisciplinary Endorsement Students who choose the Multidisciplinary endorsement will choose courses with an academic focus: - Courses within the four Core areas - Courses within the AP Subject areas

Multidisciplinary options

Performance Acknowledgements Students may earn performance acknowledgments for outstanding performance in the following areas: Dual credit courses Bilingualism and bi-literacy AP testing ACT – Plan, PSAT, SAT, or ACT Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license * See NISD Course Selection Guide for more detailed information.

Diploma & Transcript Endorsements and Performance Acknowledgements will be printed on diplomas and transcripts.

As You Complete YOUR Puzzle 6 credits = Sophomore 13 credits = Junior 19 credits = Senior Remember, 26 credits to graduate!

Required STAAR Tests Algebra 1 English 1 English 2 US History Biology

Step One: Complete the top See below for Due Date Medlin Middle School Form due: March 26th Tidwell Middle School Wilson Middle School Complete all lines. Please write NEATLY!

Step Two: Choose your core Choose one in each box Make sure you get coaches/teachers signatures for classes which need approval and/or check the appropriate area if you have been accepted into one of the Academies.

Please Read Carefully! Step 3: Your Electives

The Symbols and More The most up-to-date Course Selection Handbook can be found on our website at http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/49196 You may also make changes to your course selection sheet (once submitted) by accessing the BNHS counseling website. Changes are due by May 30, 2014

Your Electives Keep in Mind… You need the following pieces to your puzzle by the time you graduate. PE – 1 credit Communication Applications - .5 credit (Speech) Fine Art – 1 credit LOTE – 2 credits (Languages Other Than English)

If Choosing a Sport… If you play more than one sport, select the sport that occurs first in the school year. If you enter another sport in the school year, your counselor will change your schedule reflecting your next sport. You must obtain your middle school coach’s signature indicating his/her approval for the sport.

Electives and Your Endorsement Also keep in mind: Your electives will be aligned with your endorsement(s) each year, your field of study. STEM Public Services Business and Industry Arts and Humanities Multidisciplinary Studies

Endorsement Commitment Requires Student and Parent Signature Your Endorsement can be changed as long as there is still time to complete a new Endorsement!

Parent Night Byron Nelson – March 24th 6:30pm BNHS Student Union (Cafeteria)

Counselors A – C Paige Smith D – G – Leah Berry H – L – Chris Bell M – P – Shana Greenwood Q – T – Surnedra Simmons U – Z – Alicia Edwards, Lead Counselor