Welcome to Freshman Orientation Union County High School

Agenda… Graduation Requirements, Credits, and Transcripts GPA and Class Rank ECA (End of Course Assessment) testing Athletic and Social Eligibility Scheduling Elective Areas Role of a School Counselor

Graduation Requirements

High School Credits Staying on track… In order to receive a high school diploma… You MUST accumulate at least 40 Credits! (47 Credits for Academic Honors/Technical Honors diplomas) 12 credits = Freshmen 24 credits = Sophomore 36 credits = Junior credits = Senior Each class/course = 1 CREDIT! Study Hall does NOT count as a credit!

Credits are recorded on a Transcript Document that details a student’s academic achievement (grades and credits for each course taken) in grades Transcripts also include: Cumulative GPA and Class Rank Attendance State graduation test scores (ECA) College test scores (PSAT, ACT, SAT)

GPA and Class Rank Cumulative GPA average of student’s grades beginning Freshmen year (Algebra 1 in 8 th grade) 4.0 scale: 4.0 A3.0 B2.0 C1.0 D Weighted courses: AP (Advanced Placement)A = 5.0 Honor Roll Summa Cum Laude Highest Honors: GPA of 3.9 and above Magna Cum Laude High Honors: GPA of Cum Laude Honors: GPA of Class Rank based on GPA, shows where you stand in relation to other members of your class. Example: 1/139… Ranked first, highest GPA in a class of 139 students.

ECA End of Course Assessment Testing All students are required to pass the ECA in Algebra I and English 10 in order to receive a high school diploma… per the Indiana State Board of Education.

Athletic and Social Eligibility Extra-curricular (sports, dances, leadership positions) eligibility is based on passing at least 5 courses at the 9 week (midterm) and 18 week (semester) grading periods. 7 classes per semester… If enrolled in 7 classes… MUST pass 5…. Can only NOT pass 2 courses. If enrolled in a study hall… student is only enrolled in 6 courses… MUST pass 5 courses… can only NOT pass 1 course. Clean Start… However, Fall Athletics and the Homecoming Dance are dependent of first nine week grading period!!!

Example of a Freshman Schedule English 9 (or Honors English 9) Alg 1 (or Honors Geometry if completed Algebra 1 in 8 th grade) Bio 1 (or Earth Space Science) World History Computer Applications Health PE Spanish 1 Electives and/or Study Hall

PE Alternative Credit PE Alternative Credit grades are recorded on a student’s transcript and impact honor roll, GPA, and class rank. Deadlines: Winter and Spring sports are due the last day of Second Semester. Summer and Fall sports are due the last day of First Semester… including Summer Marching Band!!

Elective Areas Agriculture Business/Computer Technology Fine Arts: Art Fine Arts: Vocal & Instrumental Music Family & Consumer Science (FACS) Technology/Engineering Multidisciplinary: RtI (Response to Intervention) and BSD (Basic Skills Development)

RtI and BSD RtI (Response to Intervention) Support for struggling students in the area of Math and English BSD (Basic Skills Development) Support for students on an IEP For more information on RtI or BSD… see your Guidance Counselor.

Schedule Changes Schedule CAREFULLY! Most changes are made to balance classes or meet graduation requirements. Few schedule changes are made because students “change their mind”, as class supplies are purchased based on the number of students registered for a course. You may refer to your handbook for the “schedule change policy.” A “Petition to Drop/Add Course” form must be completed with the appropriate signatures in order for a schedule change to be considered. No schedule changes are made after the first 3 days of the semester!!!

Daily Schedule Monday/Tuesday Seven Period Day Schedule BellTimeMinutes 18:15-8: :03-9: :51-10:3544 Advisory10:38-11: :12-12:48 A Lunch11:12-11:4230 B Lunch11:45-12:1530 C Lunch12:18-12: :52-1: :41-2: :30-3:1545 Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Seven Period Day Schedule BellTimeMinutes 18:15-9: :09-9: :03-10: :57-12:33 A Lunch10:57-11:2730 B Lunch11:30-12:0030 C Lunch12:03-12: :37-1: :31-2: :25-3:1550

CALL ( Advisory/Bonus/Homeroom/Senior Exit) (Celebration of Advisees as Lifelong Learners) Compile portfolio throughout your high school career Complete 40 hours of Community Service Present a Senior Exit Oral Presentation 1 Required elective credit towards UCHS graduation! Community Service credit on transcript

A School Counselor is a Student Advocate High school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. Secondary school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

Counselors provide: -Social and Emotional support…The guidance office is somewhere you can CONFIDENTIALLY share your thoughts and feelings. -Academic and Career guidance and support…The guidance office is a resource for college and career planning. Counselors Collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents, colleges, as well as community resources.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or visit the Guidance Office website. Mr. Tony Duritsch, Guidance Counselor (students with last names beginning with letters A-K) ext Ms. Robin Durham, Guidance Director (students with the last name beginning with letters L-Z) ext Mrs. Pam Abernathy, Guidance Secretary ext. 3207