1. Achieving the Right Balance Class of 2020
8th Grade Parent Night
March 1, 2016
Dr. Edward Spurka, Principal
Ms. LaToya Gray, Assistant Principal
Ms. Amy Price, Assistant Principal

2. Beginning the Transition Process
Increased Student Responsibility & Support Programs
Selection of Classes/Pre-Registration
Unique Schedule and Course Options
Grading Differences
Graduation Requirements
Availability of Athletics/Extra-Curricular Activities

3. Pre-Registration for Courses
February
Current teachers make recommendations for core courses: science, math, English, social studies, world language
March
Students and parents fill out verification form #1 by selecting elective courses and confirming teacher-recommended courses (or completing waiver to request non-recommended courses).
April and May
Parents/students make changes to core and elective course requests on verification forms #2 and #3 distributed to students.
June 20, 2016 – Final date to make course request changes.

5. Cambridge Bell Schedule 2016 – 2017
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Period 1
8:20 – 9:20
8:20 – 9:14
Period 2
9:26 – 10:22
9:19 – 10:09
Period 3 or
Lunch/Study Hall or CLAWS
10:28 – 11:24 Or
Lunch/Study Hall
10:28 – 10:56
10:56 – 11:24
Class or Lunch
10:14 – 11:04
Period 4 or
11:30 – 12:26
11:30 – 11:58
11:58 – 12:26
11:09 – 11:59
Period 5 or
12:31 – 1:27
12:31 – 12:59
12:59 – 1:27
12:04 – 12:54
Period 6
1:32 – 2:28
12:59 – 1:49
Period 7
2:34 – 3:30
1:54 – 2:44
PAWS
2:48 – 3:30

6. Cambridge Bell Schedule How does this schedule benefit 9th graders?
C.L.A.W.S. support period – 1st semester
Small groups
Faculty advisor
11th and 12th grade student mentors
A variety of activities:
High school transition
Counselor sessions
Academic and career planning
Team building
Study skills
Peer tutoring

7. Grading Middle School High School
Grades are calculated using a system of averages.
Example
8th English
Semester I – 60
Semester II – 80
Yearly Average – 70
Grades are not averaged.
Each semester counts separately.
Example
9th English
Semester I – 60
Semester II – 80
No yearly average – student fails 1st semester
Credits accumulate over 4 years.

8. Graduation Requirements
23 Units required to graduate
* 0.5 unit = 1 semester-long course
* 2 semesters in a school year
* 6 Classes taken each semester

9. All students will take 4 units of ENGLISH 4 units of MATHEMATICS
4 units of SCIENCE
3 units of SOCIAL STUDIES
1 unit of PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
½ unit Health & ½ unit Personal Fitness
3 units (minimum) from
WORLD LANGUAGE
and/or
CTE (Career & Technical Education)
FINE ARTS
4 units (minimum) of additional ELECTIVES

10. 9th Grade Registration Planning Guide
ENGLISH
_____ On-level English OR
_____ Honors English
Year-long 1
SCIENCE
_____ On-level Biology OR
_____ Honors Biology OR
_____ On-level Physical Science OR
_____ Honors Physical Science
MATH
_____ GSE Algebra OR
_____ GSE Accelerated Algebra / Geometry A Honors OR
_____ GSE Geometry Honors OR
_____ GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors
P.E.
_____ General Health
Semester-long
0.5
SOCIAL STUDIES
______ American Government & Civics OR
______ Advanced Placement Government & Politics (college level course)
ELECTIVES
______________________________________ (1st choice)
______________________________________ (2nd choice)
______________________________________ (3rd choice)
Semester or Year
0.5 or 1
TOTAL 6

11. English / Language Arts 4 units required
Grade
Required Courses
Term
9th
9th Literature and Composition or
Honors 9th Literature and Composition
Year-long
10th
10th Literature and Composition or
Honors 10th Literature and Composition
11th
American Literature and Composition or
Honors American Literature and Composition or
Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition
12th
World Literature Composition and
Multi-cultural Literature and Composition or
Move On When Ready “MOWR” (“College English”)
Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition
Semester-long

12. Mathematics 4 units required
Grade
Required Courses
9th
1. GSE Algebra
2. GSE Accelerated Algebra/Geometry A Honors
3. GSE Geometry Honors (students 1 year ahead)
4. GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors
10th
1. GSE Geometry
2. GSE Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II Honors
3. GSE Algebra II Honors (students 1 year ahead)
4. GSE Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors
11th
1. GSE Algebra II
2. GSE Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors
3. GSE Pre-Calculus Honors (students 1 year ahead)
4. AP Calculus AB or BC
12th
1. GSE Pre-Calculus or Advanced Math Decision Making
2. AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics
3. AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics
4. AP Statistics or Multivariable Calculus through Georgia Tech
or other college-level mathematics course

13. Science 4 units required
Biology (On-level, Honors, or AP for upperclassmen)
Physical Science (On-level or Honors)
or Physics (On-level or AP)
Chemistry (On-level, Honors, or AP)
or Earth Systems
or Environmental Science
(On-level, Honors, or AP)
or Astronomy
or AP Science
4th Science

14. Social Studies 3 units required
Grade
Required Courses
Term
9th Grade
American Government & Civics or
AP Government & Politics
Semester-long
Year-long
10th Grade
World History or
AP World History
11th Grade
U.S. History or
AP U.S. History
12th Grade
Economics or
AP Macro/Micro Economics

15. General Health/ Physical Education
1 unit required
*General Health (1 Semester) – 9th grade
*Personal Fitness (1 semester) 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th (or waiver)
Electives
Weight Training
Body Sculpting
Recreational Games
General P.E.
Outdoor Education

16. World Languages Elective
Students planning to enter or transfer to a four-year college/university must take a minimum of 2 units of the same foreign language. World Languages offered at Cambridge HS: Spanish French Latin

17. Performing Arts
Band Chorus Orchestra Drama

18. Visual Arts Elective Drawing & Painting Ceramics Sculpture Jewelry &
Fine Arts -- *Introduction to Art (semester-long) is prerequisite.
Drawing & Painting
Ceramics
Sculpture
Jewelry &
Metal crafts
Photography
Printmaking
Graphic Design
AP Studio Art
2-D or 3-D
AP Art History

19. Academics Electives for Freshmen
Social Studies
Advanced Placement Human Geography
Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics (in lieu of Civics)
Mathematics
Math Support
English
Speech
Annual
Literary Magazine
Newspaper
Journalism “101”

20. Career & Technical Education (CTE) – Elective
Audio, Video, Technology, & Film
Information Technology & Business
Engineering & Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security
Sports & Entertainment Marketing
Veterinary Science

21. Audio Video Technology & Film CTE

22. Information Technology & Business CTE

23. Engineering & Technology CTE

24. Sports & Entertainment Marketing CTE

25. Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security CTE

26. Veterinary Science CTE

27. Talented & Gifted (TAG)
Students must complete one TAG activity each semester to remain in good standing.
TAG students are served in a variety of ways in a high school setting:
Seminar options for all 9th graders during fall semester
Advanced Placement Classes
Directed Studies (11th and 12th grade students)
Internships (11th and 12th grade students)

28. Special Education -Resource classes Transition meetings Case Managers
-Team Taught classes
-Career Technical Instruction
-Community Based Instruction
Transition meetings
Case Managers
Students who currently receive instructional support through special education services will continue to receive supports:

29. Traditional Freshman Schedule
First Semester
Second Semester
1st Pd – Am Govt/Civics
1st Pd – General Health
2nd Pd – Spanish 1
3rd Pd – 9th Literature/Comp
4th Pd – C.L.A.W.S.
Lunch
4th Pd – Study Hall
5th Pd – GSE Algebra
6th Pd – Biology Honors
7th Pd – Introduction to Art
7th Pd – Ceramics 1
P.A.W.S. (tu/th/f)

30. Online Courses
Before signing up for an online course, ask yourself the following questions:
What is my motivation for taking an online course?
Do I have the self-discipline and self-motivation to work independently?
Am I a good self-advocate?
Am I organized?
Do I have strong written communication skills?
Do I have strong computer skills?
What will I miss (if anything) by not taking this course in a traditional learning environment?
Fulton Virtual or Georgia Virtual?

31. Non-traditional Freshman Schedule
First Semester
Second Semester
1st Pd – Introduction to Art
1st Pd – Ceramics
2nd Pd – Spanish 2
2nd Pd – Spanish 3
3rd Pd – Honors Biology
4th Pd – GSE Algebra
5th Pd – C.L.A.W.S. /Lunch or
Check out
5th Pd – Study Hall /Lunch or
6th Pd – 9th Literature/Comp (traditional classroom or online)
6th Pd – 9th Literature/Comp
(traditional classroom or online)
7th Pd – Online Civics –Fulton Virtual
7th Pd – Online Health – Fulton Virtual

32. Success at Cambridge Select appropriate classes – BALANCE!
Complete homework.
Be organized, and keep an agenda.
Seek help when needed.
Study consistently.
Get involved and make connections with Cambridge’s programs, staff, and students.

33. Questions? Priceaf@fultonschools.org Cambridgehs.org Curriculum guide
Course offerings
Course numbers
Course descriptions
Course pre-requisites
CHS Placement guidelines for honors and AP classes
Waiver form
Fulton County Placement Guidelines