1. Sophomore Seminar 2017 MHS Class of 2020!

2. Sophomore Seminar Paperwork

3. MHS Guidance Staff Counselors: A-G Jennifer Abernathy H-N David Ellis
O-Z Kim Porter
Transition Counselor: Jackie Stryker
Guidance Administrative Assistant: Michelle McClanahan

4. Canvas Grade Level Information

5. The College Planning Process
10th Grade:
Explore post-secondary options
Pursue academic rigor and excellence
11th Grade:
Discover college “matches” through campus visits
Take the PSAT (Top 5% of junior class students; only year that qualifies a student for National Merit Scholar eligibility)
Take the ACT
12th Grade:
Begin the College Application process
Apply for Financial Aid

6. Getting College Ready ACADEMICS and GRADES EXAMS and TESTING
Choose Rigor
Set high expectations, as they yield greater results
Investigate Naviance, which is MHS’s delivery program for college searches, applications, and career guidance.
EXAMS and TESTING
Take the PSAT – October 25, 2017
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Analyze interests and values
Attend summer enrichment options
Find volunteer opportunities

7. Maryville Graduation Requirements:
MHS Webpage: Course Catalogue p. 3

8. MHS: FOCUS AREAS Elective Focus Area Options at MHS: Fine Arts
The Elective Focus is a program of study focusing on a particular area of concentration: three courses in a concentrated area.
Elective Focus Area Options at MHS:
Fine Arts
Exercise, Safety and Sports Science
Humanities
Science and Math
Advanced Placement
Dual Enrollment
Career and Technical Education (CTE) – 10 options

9. MHS: CTE Focus Area Options
Career and Technical Education (CTE):
Architecture and Construction
Business, Management, and Administration
Health Science
Information Technology
Marketing Management
Arts and Communication
STEM
Law Enforcement
Finance
Hospitality and Tourism

10. Academic History: MHS Transcript

11. Grade Point Average (GPA)
A student’s GPA is updated twice a year:
After term/semester one ends (January)
After term/semester two ends (May)

12. Relationship between GPA and Financial Aid
A student’s classwork, homework, and test grades positively or adversely impact his/her grade point average (GPA).
A student’s GPA is one of the factors that colleges and universities consider in determining his/her financial aid eligibility in the student’s senior year!
UTK Freshman Class 2016
UTK Chancellor’s Scholarships

13. Graduation Information: Graduating with Honors
Students who score at or above all of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT will graduate with honors.
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks:
English 18
Math 22
Reading 22
Science Reasoning 23

14. ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
According to ACT, “the Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses. These college courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and biology.”

15. Graduation Information: Graduating with Distinction
Students will be recognized as graduating with “Distinction” by attaining a B (3.0) average and completing at least one of the following:
Earn a nationally recognized industry certification
Participate in at least one of the Governor’s Schools
Participate in at least one of the state’s ALL State musical organizations
Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi- Finalist
Attain a score of 31 or higher composite score on the ACT
Attain a score of 3 or higher on at least two AP exams
Earn 12 or more semester hours of postsecondary credit.

16. Extra Curricular Activities
Programs should reflect student interests, aptitude, and passions:
Summer enrichment programs
Governor’s School
Volunteer opportunities
Part-time employment
Leadership opportunities

17. Governor’s School Applications due in the guidance office no later than Friday, September 29th
The State of Tennessee provides twelve summer programs for gifted and talented high school students.
These programs provide challenging and intensive learning experiences in these disciplines:
Agricultural Sciences
Arts
Computational Physics
Emerging Technologies
Humanities
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
International Studies
Prospective Teachers
Sciences & Engineering
Scientific Exploration of Tennessee Heritage
Scientific Models and Data Analysis

18. College Exploration To-Do List:
Explore websites:
Naviance
College Board: Big Future
ACT College Planning
Meet with college representatives at MHS (read the MHS daily announcements)
Attend the Blount County College Fair
September 11, 5:30-7:00 at the Cooper Athletic Maryville College
Financial Aid Workshop following BC College Fair
Visit the College Fair at MHS in February
Interview counselors and teachers
Ask parents, students, and alumni about their college experiences

19. PSAT (Preliminary SAT)
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
Critical reading skills
Math problem-solving skills
Writing skills
Registration deadline:
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
PSAT test date:
Wednesday, October 25, 2017

20. PSAT (Wednesday, 10/25 @ MHS)
As sophomores, the PSAT serves as a practice SAT exam, and we encourage our highest achieving 10th graders (top 5-10% of the class) to take the test.
As juniors, the PSAT test serves as the basis of the National Merit Scholars program. Competitive and highly selective colleges and universities actively recruit National Merit Finalists and give significant scholarships based on the student’s 11th grade PSAT results.
MHS offers support to a select group of 11th grade students who have the potential to score in the top 1%.

21. PSAT (Wednesday, 10/25 @ MHS)
The PSAT will be administered during the school day on 10/25. Pre-registered students will be excused from their morning classes on that day.
Specific Details:
To register for the PSAT: Sign-up for the test in the MHS Guidance Office by paying the PSAT registration fee of $25 (checks made payable to Maryville High School).  
Students will receive a practice test booklet when they pre-register for the PSAT.  
PSAT Testing locations are TBA.
Please direct all questions to Jackie Stryker:

22. Goals for Sophomore Year
Follow graduation path
READ
Look for leadership positions
Keep a record of performances, achievements, events, awards, etc.
Talk with college representatives that visit MHS
Attend the college fairs
Build relationships with teachers and counselor
Consider taking the PSAT
Use PSAT for future planning
Learn to use test scores results in decision making
High achieving students should consider Governor’s School
Begin college files
Volunteer
Explore different careers by talking with people
Begin investigating college costs through web sites

23. Information Overload: I Have questions!!
Tonight was just an overview. If you have specific questions about the material covered in this presentation, please make an appointment with your son or daughter’s counselor.
A-G -- Jennifer Abernathy
H-N -- David Ellis
O-Z -- Kim Porter
Transition Counselor – Jackie Stryker
Open House begins at 7:00

24. MHS Implementation of the Laude System

25. What is the Laude System?
A tiered system that recognizes students for the rigor of their academic program as well as their success in the program:
* Summa Cum Laude: Highest Honor
* Magna Cum Laude: Great Honor
* Cum Laude: Honor
What is the Laude System?

26. What is the Laude System?
A tiered system that recognizes students for the rigor of their academic program as well as their success in the program:
* Summa Cum Laude: Highest Honor
* Magna Cum Laude: Great Honor
* Cum Laude: Honor
What is the Laude System?
Honors
Proposed GPA
cutoffs
5 Year Average
Summa Cum Laude
4.45 and higher
~15 students
Magna Cum Laude
4.25 and higher
~17 students
Cum Laude
3.95 and higher
~31 students
Total Honored
~63 students

27. Why Change to the Laude System?
Encourages students to take a healthy balance of challenging classes
Reduces excessive competition with peers
Promotes a willingness to take intellectual and academic risks
Rewards more students for academic excellence
Why Change to the Laude System?

28. More than HALF of all schools do not report rank
Will the Laude System affect college admission?
According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), due to differences in curricula and grading standards, colleges have begun to discount the accuracy and importance of class rank as a factor in evaluating students. 
Although GPA may be considered, many other aspects of a student's educational career come into play. 
            Sources: NACACNET.org
More than HALF of all schools do not report rank

29. With the current system, many of MHS’s top students go unrecognized. 
Who goes unrecognized?
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
# of Students with a 4.0 GPA and higher 53 58 66 62 48

30. 5 year data using proposed cutoffs
Number of Students in Class Receiving Honors
Year
Summa
Magna
Cum
Total
2017 11 17 29 57
2016 13 19 32 64
2015 25 18 30 73
2014 23 68
2013 7 15 54
5 year data using proposed cutoffs
Percent of Total Class Receiving Honors
Year
Summa
Magna
Cum
Total
2017
2.99%
4.62%
7.88%
15.49%
2016
3.93%
5.74%
9.67%
19.34%
2015
7.38%
5.31%
8.85%
21.53%
2014
3.98%
7.03%
9.79%
20.80%
2013
2.03%
4.36%
9.30%
15.70%

31. Qualification and Implementation
How do Students Qualify?
Full-time seniors with a weighted GPA of 3.95 or higher at the end of the 8th term of high school
Qualification and Implementation 
When Will this be implemented? How will students be recognized?
If approved, the system will be in place for the class of 2020 (Current Sophomores).
At graduation, honored students will be denoted by distinctive tassels, stickers on diplomas, and explanation of recognition on the graduation program.

32. Any other Questions?