NORTHSHORE HIGH Freshman/Sophomore Information Night

COLLEGE PREP GUIDANCE PRESENTATION ACADEMICS TESTING TOPS /SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID COLLEGE/CAREER INFORMATION HOW CAN PARENTS HELP UPCOMING EVENTS QUESTIONS

ACADEMICS Freshman and Sophomores- 24 credits must be earned. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT PASSING A COURSE, correspond with their teacher. Check grades on STI Home to help keep up with your students’ progress. ( ) Have your child attend tutoring at Northshore, (Mon.-Thurs.) In addition to 24 credits: SOPHOMORES must PASS The GEE 21 English, Math AND Science OR Social Studies. FRESHMAN must PASS the following END-OF-COURSE TESTS: Algebra I or Geometry; English II or English III; Biology or American History. (Students are required to take all six tests)

TESTING: PLAN/ GEE/ END OF COURSE All 10 th Grade Students will take the PLAN test at NHS on Tuesday, Sept. 28, This test is the “practice ACT” provided by the St. Tammany Parish School Board. GEE test dates: Phase I – March 22, 2011 and Phase II – April 11 – 15, 2011 All END OF COURSE tests are given during the month of May.

TESTING: PSAT/ACT The PSAT is offered at Norhtshore High School each year. Students wishing to take the test may do so as a “practice” for the PSAT they would take in 11 th grade which determines National Merit Scholarship Qualifiers. Registration will take place in the NHS Counseling office with Mrs. Brooks. Fee is $20.00 and is payable upon registration. Cash or checks written to NHS are accepted. To ensure a spot, please register by Sept. 20, Test date for the PSAT is Saturday, October 16, Arrive by 7:45 a.m. Testing begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. and usually takes 3 hours.

TESTING: CON’T. Any students wishing to take the ACT test should go to to register online. Regular registration fee is $47.00 with Writing. Your registration fee includes sending scores to FOUR (4) colleges you select and grid in on your registration form. One of these choices should be TOPS whose code is Our high school code of should also be listed on your registration form so that NHS will receive your score.

Did you know?... Louisiana Public University Minimum Admissions Criteria TOPS core curriculum is required for admission to all four- year public universities. (This is not the same as Core 4 requirements.) Class of 2013, you must take an additional upper level Math or Science class to be TOPS eligible. (17.5 credits) Class of 2014, your requirements have increased to include 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Science and 4 Social Studies. (19 credits) There are additional admission requirements specific to each individual university. Please contact the college/university admissions office for details or see the university website. Community and Technical Colleges have an open admissions policy.

TOPS/SCHOLARSHIPS TO EARN THE TOPS OPPORTUNITY AWARD, a student must: Complete all courses in the TOPS core curriculum with a grade point average in these courses of 2.5 (17.5 units or 19 units) AND Earn an ACT score of 20 by the April 19 ACT test date. (Students may take the June test, but will lose one semester of TOPS eligibility.) *NOTE: This is the first level of available TOPS awards, see for details of all awards.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Check on student’s work and grades. or call teachers if necessary. Show an interest in what your son/daughter is doing in school. Ask questions. Be involved. Encourage attendance at NHS after school functions. The more your child is connected with school and activities, the better they will tend to do academically. Encourage your child to join a club. This will help them to feel connected and a part of the larger Northshore High family.

MORE…. The St. Tammany Parish College Counseling Center is available to you at: or you may fill out an appointment request form at NHS. Annette O’Regan and Christine Woodard are the Parish College Counselors. To schedule a conference with them, please or call. Contact Mrs. O’Regan at either or or Mrs. Woodard at either or Prospective College Athletes - register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at:

UPCOMING EVENTS College and Career Fair-September 29, 2010 Castine Center in Mandeville at 6:00p.m. END OF 1 ST 9 WEEKS – OCTOBER 7, 2010

QUESTIONS ?? Glad you could be here! If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Nienaber or Mrs. Calderone at