1. Class of 2019 Transition to High School
Home of the
Algonac Muskrats!

2. 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 –

3. School Counseling Services
Crisis Intervention (On-going counseling is referred)
Academic Interventions
504 Plan Facilitator
Credit Checks/ Graduation Audits
Scheduling of Students
Peer Mediation
Career Counseling
TEC Placement
College Applications
Financial Aide Assistance
Local/National Scholarship Coordinators
Military Liaisons
And much more!

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

5. Algonac High School Staff
Mr. Ryan Melrose – Principal
Mr. Mitchell Landrum – Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Mrs. Karen Blair – Counselor (9-12)
Ms. Lexi Michalski – College Counselor
Mrs. Shannon Kelly – Career Advisor
Mrs. Kathy Barraco – IB Coordinator
Mrs. Mary Shackett – SE Teacher Consultant
25 Regular Education Teachers (4 AHS Grads)
4 Special Education Teachers
2 Para-Pro Aides
1 WIA Facilitator/Career Advisor (AHS Grad)
2 secretaries

6. AHS Hours of Operation Starts at 7:32 AM Ends at 2:20 PM
Two (2) lunch breaks
Lunch is determined by your 4th hour teacher!

7. Teachers 7:15 AM – 2:45 PM
Many teachers arrive at AHS earlier than 7:15 AM and stay later than 2:45 PM.
Students are encouraged to meet with teachers and Mrs. Blair before or afterschool.

8. High School Schedule Monday, Wednesday & Friday
1st Hour: 7:32-8:35 AM 2nd Hour: 8:40-9:38 AM 3rd Hour: 9:43-10:41 AM A Lunch: 10:41-11:11 AM 4th Hour Class (A Lunch): 11:16 AM – 12:14 PM 4th hour Class (B Lunch) 10:41-11:39 AM B Lunch: 11:44-12:14 PM 5th Hour: 12:19-1:17 PM 6th Hour: 1:22-2:20 PM 5 minutes passing between classes!

9. Tuesday & Thursday Schedule
1st Hour: 7:32-8:25 AM 2nd Hour: 8:30-9:20 AM SEMINAR: 9:25-10:05AM 3rd Hour: 10:10-11:00 AM A Lunch: 11:05-11:35 AM 4th Hour Class (A Lunch): 11:40 – 12:30 PM 4th hour Class (B Lunch): 11:05 – 11:55 AM B Lunch: 12:00-12:30 PM 5th Hour: 12:35-1:25 PM 6th Hour: 1:30-2:20 PM 5 minutes passing between classes.

10. SEMINAR All students have a seminar. After 2nd hour.
Tuesday & Thursday.
40 minutes
Various topics including academic assistance, Leadership,P.A.S.S. mentoring and character education for freshmen.
Four (4) rotations a year.
Seminar is a great time to get help from a teacher.

11. P.A.S.S. Promoting Academic & Social Success
Started in 2006/07 school year
Eight (8) years of successfully helping students
Targets – At-risk youth; matches them with junior or senior student mentor
Services approximately 45 students each year = approximately 315 students positively impacted.
Recently received Educational Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards

12. AHS Student Population Information
We will have 582 students in the high school in the 2014/15 school year.
Class of 2018 has 156 students
Class of 2017 has 146 students
Class of 2016 has 144 students
Class of 2015 has 136 students

13. 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

14. 6x4=24 credits Earn six (6) credits a year (Three (3) per semester)
(Each class is .5 credit)
6x4=24 credits
23.5 REQUIRED to GRADUATE!

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. HAVE A PLAN! Sample 4 year plans in the Algonac High School Scheduling Guide! www.algonac.k12.mi.us

22. 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.

23. Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner
Freshman Schedule Sophomore Schedule
Survey Literature & Composition (H) American Lit & Comp (H)
Geometry (H) Honors Algebra II/AP Statistics
Biology A/B(H) Chemistry
U.S. History Government/Economics
PE/Health Elective /AP Statistics
Spanish II Spanish III
Junior Schedule Senior Schedule
IB English HL I IB English HL
IB Mathematics SL I IB Mathematics SL
IB Biology HL I IB Biology HL
IB History of Americas HL I IB History of Americas HL
IB Psychology SL I/Music SL 1 IB Psychology SL II/Music SL II
IB Spanish SL I IB Spanish SL II
TOK – Seminar (Mandatory) TOK – Seminar (Mandatory)

24. The TEC Plan St. Clair TEC -- St. Clair Technical Education Center
Students attend TEC during their junior & senior yrs
TEC counts as elective credit
AM TEC ONLY
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
echeducation/

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

26. St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner
Freshman Schedule Sophomore 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 Spanish I or II Elective Junior Schedule Senior Schedule TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM European Lit & Comp/IB ENGL European Lit & Comp/IB ENGL Algebra IIB/IB Math I Senior Math/IB Math II Science or World History World History/Science or Elective

27. The Blue Water Middle College Plan
Students begin taking college classes through SC4 in 11th 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 11th grade
Seven (7) in 12th grade
Algonac, Capac, Memphis, PH High, Northern & Yale
Website --

28. Sample Blue Water Middle College Course Planner
Freshman Schedule Sophomore 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. History Government/Economics
PE/Health Elective /AP Statistics
Spanish II Elective
Junior Schedule Senior Schedule
European Lit & Comp World Lit & Comp
Algebra IIB Senior Math
Physics/A&P Elective
World History BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes BWMC – SC4 Classes
Entire 5th year at St. Clair County Community College!

29. 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!

30. The Hybrid Course Planner
Freshman Schedule Sophomore 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. History Government/Economics
Spanish II Health/PE
Band Band
Junior Schedule Senior Schedule
European Lit & Comp World Lit & Comp
IB Math SL I IB Math SL II
IB Biology HL I IB Biology HL II
World History Dual Enroll – SOC 101, PS 101
IB Psychology SL I IB Psychology SL II
Band Band

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

32. The 9th Grade Electives PE/Health (required to graduate)
Foreign Language (1 credit required to graduate)
Band
Choir
Drawing & Painting

33. Schedules of 2015/16
You will get the scheduling form tonight.
AMS Band/Choir students that choose to stay have that as one elective.
Heath/PE is also required. It is highly recommended that be taken in 9th grade.
Honors classes (ENGL, MTH, BIO) will be added based on 8th grade teacher recommendations.

34. Viewing Schedules/Making Changes
You will be able to see your student’s schedule through Skyward in May.
Changes can be made by ing Mrs. Blair.
There will be an orientation for all students in August. More schedule changes, pictures are taken, locker assignments distributed, building tours.

35. Have a Post Secondary Plan. Visit college campuses
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 –

36. They can help you decide and make all this happen.
Check out their website!
erviceseducation/knowhow2go
A variety or workshops for parents & students.

37. College Survival Kit http://sccresa
College Survival Kit /college_survival_kit.pdf Know what your GPA and ACT can get you in college!

38. 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)
Mr. Corbat – Credit Recovery Coordinator/Graduation Coach
(810) ext 3228

39. What parents of 9th graders should do…
Monitor Skyward 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.

40. What a 9th grader should do …
Take challenging classes.
Get good grades! Check them in Skyward!
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.

41. See you then! Go Muskrats!!
8th graders visit AHS on May 8th!
See you then! Go Muskrats!!