Class of 2017 Information Night – The Freshman Year Home of the Algonac Muskrats!

Mrs. Blair Algonac High School Guidance Counselor (810) ext 1282 Follow me on Twitter – KarenBlairAHS Join my “Algonac High School Counseling Department” facebook page AHS website –

Visit the Student Service/Counseling Office Website Often! Student Services/Counseling Office

Earning High School Credits 23.5 REQUIRED 4 English 4 Math 3 Social Studies (US, Gov/Econ & World History) 3 Science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics, 1 more science) 1 PE/Health 2 Foreign Language (Spanish I counts) 1 VPAA 5.5 Electives

23.5 REQUIRED to GRADUATE! Students earn six (6) credits a year from passing all classes. 6x4=24 credits

Extra-Curricular Activities (.25 Credit Each) All Sports, Student Council, Quiz Bowl, SADD All sports are listed at the Athletics Website! Extra Credits

There is still time to join Student Council! The next meeting is Friday, Sept 25 th at 7:00 AM in the lecture hall. See Mrs. Landrum (Room 151) to pick up the Student Council Calendar and the application.

Class Status (Retention) A minimum number of credits are required for class status. To be a Sophomore = at least 5 credits To be a Junior = at least 11 credits To be a Senior = at least 16.5 credits

The High School Transcript Is a record of all the class taken and grades earned in high school. Middle school grades are not reported on the high school transcript. The high school grade point average is cumulative, meaning that all grades are averaged together. 4-point scale A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0 AP and IB are on a 5-pont scale A=5, B=4, C=3

AHS Ranking System AHS Ranking System Suma Cum Laude: 4.0 – 3.67 Magna Cum Laude: 3.66 – 3.3 Cum Laude: 3.29 – 3.0 Students in the Summa Cum Laude category will have an opportunity to compete for the opportunity to speak at graduation. The rubric is as follows: 1. Overall Grade Point Average 2. ACT Score 3. Class Selection Rigor Candidates will be invited to audition in front of a selection committee if they wish to be one of three speakers at graduation.

Academic Achievement Awards Each year students are honored for getting good grades. The assembly is held in the fall and called “Academic Achievement Award Assembly” Awards are earned based on grades earned in the “core classes”. Students must earn at least a 3.5 each marking period.

Importance of Grades/Testing  There are thousands of dollars worth of college scholarships to students who do well in high school and who do well on standardized tests (ACT/SAT/PSAT)  In addition, EPAS (Explore, Plan, ACT) scores are used for academic planning. Testing is in March each year.  PSAT is taken in sophomore & junior year. It is optional. NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) when taken junior year. Always in October.

MEAP Testing – 9 th Grade Social Studies On Wednesday, October 16, 2013, all 9 th Graders will test 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd hours in the lecture hall.

HAVE A PLAN! Sample 4 year plans in the Algonac High School Scheduling Guide!

The IB Plan An IB Diploma is one of the most prestigious accomplishments a high school student can achieve IN THE WORLD. Algonac High School is proud to offer this opportunity to our students and hope that you will consider accepting the IB challenge! Though rigorous, we believe that ANY motivated student can be successful in the IB Diploma Programme with proper work ethic and time commitment. Successful (good marks and attendance) completion of the IB Diploma Programme can lead to admission in some of the elite universities in the world. Students that score well on IB assessments can earn numerous college credits. Consult with the IB Coordinator or your guidance counselor if you have questions about the IB Diploma Programme at AHS.

Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule Survey Literature & Composition (H)American Lit & Comp (H) Geometry (H)Honors Algebra II/AP Statistics Biology A/B(H)Chemistry U.S. HistoryGovernment/Economics PE/HealthElective /AP Statistics French I/Spanish IIFrench II/Spanish III Junior ScheduleSenior Schedule IB English HL IIB English HL IB Mathematics SL IIB Mathematics SL IB Biology HL IIB Biology HL IB History of Americas HL IIB History of Americas HL IB Psychology SL I/Music SL 1/IB ChemistryIB Psychology SL II/Music SL III/IB Chem IB Spanish SL I/French SL IIB Spanish SL II/French SL II TOK – Seminar (Mandatory)TOK – Seminar (Mandatory) Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner

The TEC Plan St. Clair TEC -- St. Clair Technical Education Center Students attend TEC during their junior & senior yrs TEC counts as elective credit Beginning in 2013/14 only AM TEC Must be to AHS by 6:55 a.m. AHS three (3) hrs and TEC three (3) hrs Application process for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year. Students are selected on grades & credits, attendance and behavior. Must also have done Career Cruising EDP ducation/ ducation/

Automotive Technology Collision Repair Construction Trades Cosmetology Culinary Arts Digital Media Technology Employer Based Health Careers Information Technology Mechatronics Metal Machining technology Teacher Exploration Welding

Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule Survey Lit & Comp (H) American Lit & Composition Algebra/Geometry(H)Geometry/Algebra II A/Algebra II /AP Stats Biology A/B Physics/Chemistry/A&P U.S. History Government/Economics PE/Health Elective Elective Junior ScheduleSenior ScheduleTEC PROGRAMTEC PROGRAMTEC PROGRAMEuropean Lit & Comp/IB ENGL Algebra IIB/IB Math ISenior Math/IB Math II Science or World HistoryWorld History/Science or Elective St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner

The Blue Water Middle College Plan  Students begin taking college classes through SC4 in 11 th grade. By the time they graduate, on this 5-year plan, they will have an associates degree, as well as a high school diploma.  Diploma is issued from the Blue Water Middle College, not Algonac High School.  First cohort will begin this fall (15 total)  Eight (8) in 11 th grade  Seven (7) in 12 th grade  Algonac, Capac, Memphis, PH High, Northern & Yale  Website --

Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule Survey Literature & Composition (H)American Lit & Comp (H) Geometry (H)Algebra II/Algebra II A Biology A/B(H)Chemistry or Chemistry A U.S. HistoryGovernment/Economics PE/HealthElective /AP Statistics French I/Spanish IIFrench II/Spanish III Junior ScheduleSenior Schedule European Lit & Comp World Lit & Comp Algebra IIB Senior Math Physics/A&PElective World HistoryBWMC – SC4 Classes BWMC – SC4 ClassesBWMC – SC4 Classes Entire 5 th year at St. Clair County Community College! Sample Blue Water Middle College Course Planner

The Hybrid Plan Some students take some IB classes and some college classes with our general education and college prep courses. Our goal is to design a curriculum that allows each student to grow academically and learn more about themselves. We have something for everyone!

Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule Survey Literature & Composition (H)American Lit & Comp (H) Geometry (H)Algebra II/Algebra II A Biology A/B(H)Chemistry or Chemistry A U.S. HistoryGovernment/Economics Spanish IIHealth/PE Band Band Junior ScheduleSenior Schedule European Lit & Comp World Lit & Comp IB Math SL I IB Math SL II IB Biology HL IIB Biology HL II World HistoryDual Enroll – SOC 101, PS 101 IB Psychology SL IIB Psychology SL II BandBand The Hybrid Course Planner

SAMPLE 9 th grade Schedule 1 st hour –Biology I/II 2 nd hour – Geometry 3 rd hour – Survey of Lit & Comp 4 th hour – PE/Health 5 th hour – US History 6 th hour – Spanish II

The 9 th Grade Electives PE/health (required to graduate) Foreign Language (required to graduate) Band Choir Drawing & Painting

Have a Post Secondary Plan! Visit college campuses. Attend college fairs/open houses. Meet with military recruiters. Discuss apprenticeship programs. Decide what you want to be! Career Cruising –

Up-Coming Events for 9 th Grade Parents: Parents, Kids & College will be hosted here at AHS on Wednesday, October 23, :30-7:30 PM in Media Center. RSVP by ing Colleen Donaldson at

If your student loses credits in high school, in order to get back on track and graduate, they must make up those lost credits in “credit recovery”. Minimum passing mark in 60% Online classes (E20/20) Mrs. Jennifer Brutyn– Credit Recovery Coordinator/Graduation Coach (810) ext 3228

Sign up for Parent Connect & monitor it often. Stay in contact with your students teachers. Attend school functions. Show your student education is important. Have high expectations. Provide them with structure. Encourage them to be involved. Have homework time each night. Hold them accountable.

What a 9 th grader should do … Take challenging classes. Get good grades! Have good attendance. Create a 4-year plan. Develop good study habits. Join a sport or club. Get involved in school & community. Explore careers. Explore colleges and universities.