1. ROCKDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Rising 9th Grade Parent Night

2. Welcome to Bulldog Country
Athletics
RCHS offers 21 different sports:
Fall
Football, cheerleading, cross country, girls volleyball, fast pitch softball, girls flag football
Winter
Basketball, cheerleading, wrestling, swimming
Spring
Baseball, soccer, track, golf, tennis, boys volleyball

3. 9th Graders Are Automatically Eligible on Day 1
Athletics
9th Graders Are Automatically Eligible on Day 1
Must pass 5 classes each semester to maintain eligibility
Must be cleared on Privit to participate
Research shows that athletes have:
Higher grades
Better Attendance
Better Discipline
Better Social Skills
More Healthy Lifestyles

4. Athletics Most Pressing Dates Spring Football – starts May 2
Girls Volleyball Tryouts – starts May 2
Softball Tryouts – starts May 6
Physical Day – April 23 in RCHS Gym Lobby 3:30-6:00pm
Follow us on TO STAY CONNECTED
AD Coach Suddeth with questions –

5. Language Arts Curriculum
Ninth Grade Gifted Literature/Composition- This course offers rigorous planned lessons for students who have tested above the norm on national standardized testing.  This course offers the pathway for future AP classes course work and beyond.
Ninth Grade Excel Literature/Composition- This course offers advanced placement for students who wish to plan for AP course work and beyond.
Ninth Grade Literature/Composition- This course is a regular class placement that offers course credit towards the English program

6. Technology Resources that support the English Curriculum
1.  Achieve this program introduces informational readings and measures Lexile reading levels.
2. USAtestprep.com- this program offers support of standards through online activities.
3. The textbook is online for students to access through Pearsonrealize.com
4. Star 360- Helps to measure Lexile reading levels along with Achieve 3000, and it offers activities for student reading comprehension improvement.

7. Major Assignments Assigned to Rising Freshmen
Major Assignments include Summer Reading and assigned activity; this information can be found on the County and school’s website.
DBQ Writing Task (1 per semester)  

8. 9th Grade Track Math Options
8th Grade Math: Normal Track
Coordinate Algebra
Analytic Geometry
Advanced Algebra
Senior options: Pre- Calculus, College Readiness Math, Statistics, AP Statistics, or Dual-Enrollment
8th Grade Math: Coordinate Algebra
Analytic Geometry
Advanced Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Recommended: AP Calculus
Options instead of AP Calc: College Readiness Math, Statistics, AP Statistics, or Dual- Enrollment

9. Coordinate Algebra Support
Support Classes are yearlong
Teachers supplement the Coordinate Algebra content and provide support with skills necessary for success in the CA content
Elective credit is earned
Placement is determined by 8th grade final grades and End-of-Grade performance

10. Technology Support for Math Curriculum
Star 360 (Gap placement test)
Kahn Academy
Delta Math
USA Testprep

11. 9th Grade Class Offerings
Biology- the study of life
Environmental Science- the study of organisms and their environments

12. Course Outlines Biology 9th grade content standards
Daily work in class that supports the development of mastering content standards
Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note- taking skills, and basic writing
Regular homework that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills
Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material)
Environmental Science
9th grade content standards
Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses
Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note-taking skills, and basic writing
Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing
Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material)
Most work will be completed in class, with homework for students who need additional time in class, or have difficulties using time in class wisely
BOTH
Strong emphasis on interpreting data in graphs, charts, and tables
Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing including lab reports
Strong emphasis on students making informed decisions to solve real world problems using data and inquiry and NOT opinions.
Emphasis on student inquiry and application of content knowledge to personal life and community
Use of school issued personal laptop

13. Other Sciences offered
Conceptual Physics
Physics
Chemistry
Forensic Science
Human Anatomy and Physiology
AP Chemistry
AP Biology

14. Social Studies 9th Grade Class Offerings
American Government
Excel Government
AP Government and Politics

15. American Government Excel 9th grade content standards
Daily work in class that supports the development of mastering content standards
Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note-taking skills, and basic writing
Most work will be completed in class, with homework for students who need additional time in class, or have difficulties using time in class wisely
Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material)
Excel
9th grade content standards
Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses
Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing
Regular homework that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills
Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material)
Advanced Placement (AP)
9th grade content standards
Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses
Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing
Nightly homework (1 hour/night) that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills
Use of school issued personal laptop
Should plan on taking the AP Exam in May

16. Advanced Placement Class
Additional outside reading and interpretation is a MUST to guarantee success in the course.
Comparative analysis of documents, events, etc... happen on a regular basis.
It's more than the who what when where why of social studies. 
Requires constant revision and updates.
It's a living class: facts change daily because it involves real life situations
Interpretation of charts, maps and diagrams for the purpose of drawing conclusions and making projections as well

17. Nutrition and Food Science Pathway
Food, Nutrition and Wellness
Centered on Healthy Food and Lifestyle Choices
Investigate relationships between food and health
Food For Life
Nutritional Needs of the Human Life Cycle
Start from Pregnancy through adolescents to adulthood
Focus on Real Life Situations
Food Science
Focuses on how science affects food preparation, processing and storage
ServSafe Food Handlers Certification

18. Human Resource Management
Business Pathways
Business & Technology
Designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to be an asset to the collaborative, global, and innovative business
IBT
Business & Tech
Business Comm
Entrepreneurship
Focuses on recognizing a business opportunity, starting a business, operating and maintaining a business
IBT
Business Law
Human Resource Management
Equip students with operational knowledge of hiring, managing, and firing employees
IBT
Business Law
HR Management

19. Information Technology Pathways
Web & Digital Design
Designing a professional looking web site using graphical authoring tools that contains multimedia elements
IDT
Digital Design
Web Design
Programming
Designed for high school students to strategize, design, and develop games and mobile and desktop applications that can be produced in the real world
IDT
Computer Science Principles
Programming, Games, & Apps

20. Graduation requirements for the Class 2023
One diploma
English – 4 units
Math – 4 units
Social Studies – 4 units
Science – 4 units
CTAE/Foreign Language/Fine Arts – 3 units
Health & Personal Fitness – ½ unit of each
Electives – 4 units
Total of – 24 units
For pathway completion, students must complete three courses (units) in the same sequence or pathway
Students planning to attend a college or university must take a minimum of two years of the same Modern Language or Latin to meet admission requirements.

21. Modified Block Schedule
A – DAY
Meets every Monday and Wednesday
1st Block – 90 minutes
2nd Block – 90 minutes
3rd Block– 90 minutes minute lunch
4th Block – 90 min
B – DAY
Meets every Tuesday and Thursday
1st Block – 90 minutes
2nd Block – 90 minutes
3rd Block– 90 minutes minute lunch
4th Block – 90 minutes

22. Susie’s Schedule B Day A Day 1st Block – HS 101
2nd Block – Environmental Science
3rd Block– Government
4th block – Coordinate Algebra Support
A Day
1st Block – Coordinate Algebra
2nd Block – English 9
3rd Block– Personal fitness/Health
4th block – MJROTC (Elective)

23. Grading and transcripts
Grades are given at the end of each semester. That is the grade that will go on the student’s transcript (permanent record).
Unlike middle school, grades are final at the end of each semester and DO NOT average together at the end of the year. Each semester stands alone.

24. HOPE Scholarship
HOPE Scholarship
Students will receive 90% tuition with a HOPE GPA of If the student does not have a 3.0 HOPE GPA by graduation, a student can earn it back ONLY once.
Zell Miller Scholarship
Students with a 3.7 or higher HOPE GPA will be eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship program . In addition to the HOPE GPA of 3.7 or higher, they also must have received a score of at least combined on the Critical Reading Score and Math Score on the SAT or have received a score of at least 26 on the ACT. These students will receive full tuition at Georgia’s public institutions and the full private HOPE award at Georgia private institutions.
Students must have 4 courses from the Rigorous course list to be eligible for the
HOPE Program.

25. Top 10 Skills for High School Students
Time Management
Good Study Habits
Set Attainable Goals
Concentration
Good Note-Taking
Complete Assignments
Review Daily Notes
Organizational Skills
Motivation
Commitment

26. Questions?? Jermaine Blakely– Graduation Specialist
ext  28132
Brandi Thompson – College Advisor
(770) ext
Therese Owens– Career Resource Center Coordinator
ext
Dustin Allen – Counselor A-D
ext
Jewell Jackson– Counselor E-K (19-20)
ext.  28119
Francene Breakfield –Counselor L-R
ext
Khalisha Sabree- Counselor S-Z
ext