1. Are you ready for high school?
8th Grade Parent/Student Meeting
February 7, 2018

2. House Bill 5
Created additional meeting requirements between the parents, students, and counselors to discuss career and college plans (PGP)

3. Are you planning on going to a four-year university?
Top 10% on Distinguished Plan gain AUTOMATIC ADMISSION to Texas public universities
UT is 7% or 8%
Student has to be on the Distinguished plan to qualify

4. Grade Point Average (GPA) and Rank
GPA and Rank are calculated on a 100-point scale with a 10-point bonus for Pre-AP, AP, Dual Credit, and Spanish 3 or Spanish 4.
GPA does NOT include courses taken at the middle school for high school credit, PE/Athletics, Band, Yearbook, High School Helpers, online courses taken outside of the student’s regular schedule, or college courses taken outside of Dual Credit courses.

5. Graduation Plans
Foundation Plan Foundation Plan with Endorsements Distinguished Achievement Plan

6. Course Requirements Foundation Foundation + Endorsement Distinguished
English 4
Math 3
4 Algebra II
Science
Social Studies
Physical Education 1
Fine Arts
Foreign Language 2
Electives
5 With 2.0 required electives for graduation
6 with 2.0 required electives for graduation and atleast 2.0 more required for endorsement 22 26

7. Are you a good match for Pre-AP/AP Courses?
ABOVE grade level in skills
Motivated and hard working
Organized and meets deadlines
Works independently
Good time management
Meets the grade requirements listed in the Academic Guide

9. 9th Grade Required Core Courses
English Credit
English 1
*Pre-AP English 1
Math Credit
Algebra 1
*Geometry
*Pre-AP Geometry
Social Studies Credit
World Geography
*AP Human Geography
Science Credit
Biology
*Pre-AP Biology
*Teacher recommendation and Pre-AP/AP contract required . Summer assignments may be mandatory.

10. Additional Graduation Requirements
Physical Education Credit: 1
Physical Education
Athletics
Marching Band (Two Fall Semesters = 1 Credit)
Cheerleading
Fine Arts Credit: 1
Art
Marching/Concert Band
Jazz Band
Floral Design
Languages other than English Credit: 2
Spanish

11. Local Courses Required for Graduation
Business Information Systems - BIM (1 Credit) World History (1 Credit) Professional Communications (1/2 Credit) CHOICE Finance (1/2 Credit) Employability Skills (1/2 Credit)

13. Purpose of CTE Classes (Career and Technical Education)
Build skills toward college/career choices
Provide opportunities for students to apply core curriculum skills in a practical way
Some courses involve earning an industry certificate
CTE classes in a particular order earns the student an endorsement in a particular area

14. PPHS Endorsement Areas
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Advanced Science
Advanced Math
Business and Industry
Agriculture - Animal and Mechanical Strands
Business – Information Technology
Hospitality – Culinary Arts
Arts and Humanities
World Languages
Social Studies
Visual Arts
Musical Arts
Multidisciplinary
A combination of appropriate electives from other endorsements

15. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
Advanced Math (5 years of Math with Math started in 8th Grade)
Advanced Science (5 years of science)

16. STEM - Advanced Math Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2 Pre-Calculus
Dual Credit Math (College Algebra, Statistics)

17. STEM – Advanced Science
Biology
IPC
Chemistry
Physics
Anatomy and Physiology
Advanced Animal Science
AP Environmental Science
Must complete 2 out of these 3 courses.

18. Business and Industry – Information Technology
BIM 1
Professional Communication/CHOICE
Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance
BIM 2

19. Arts and Humanities Foreign Language (Spanish 1-4)
Social Studies (5 Social Studies-1 year Dual Credit)
Musical Arts (4 Years of band)
Visual Arts (4 years of art)

20. Business and Industry - Culinary
BIM 1
Professional Communication/CHOICE
Principles of Hospitality
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts (Double Blocked)

21. Agriculture Business and Industry – Animal Science
Business and Industry – Mechanics

22. Agriculture - Animal Science
BIM 1
Professional Communication/CHOICE
Principles of Agriculture
Small Animal Management/Equine Science OR Livestock
Vet Med OR Advanced Animal Science

23. Agriculture - Mechanical
BIM 1
Professional Communication /CHOICE
Principles of Agriculture
Ag Mechanics
Ag Facilities or Welding

24. Ag Welding and Job Skills
Welding may be taken after the previously listed courses to secure an Ag Welding endorsement.

27. Electives Each day has 8 periods
In 4 years a student can accumulate 32 credits
Students can sample from other endorsements as long as they have the pre-requisites and there is enough room (9th grade is limited)
Some students may have to take support electives:
Reading Lab, Math Lab, etc.
There are additional electives that students can participate in:
High School Helpers, Office Aide, Study Halls, etc.

28. 8th Grade STAAR
If a student fails to master any section of STAAR this spring then he/she may be assigned to acceleration coursework during their freshman year.
This may be scheduled during elective classes, before/after school hours, during study hall, Saturdays, or the summer.

29. How to Help Your Student
Encourage them to do their homework on the day that it is given.
Monitor their grades on Parent Portal.
Help them with organizational skills.
Begin to shift responsibilities to them.
Allow them opportunities to learn how to manage their own “stuff” and handle difficult situations.

30. PPHS staff will be hired, the master schedule will be set, and textbooks will be purchased based on your course requests. Therefore, if you receive the courses or alternates you request you will NOT be allowed to change you schedule in the fall. Requesting a course does not guarantee it will be offered next year.

31. PPHS Counselor’s Contact Information
Casey Mandi
(940) Ext. 227
Kevin Moffitt
(940) Ext. 226