1. Surviving Your Freshman Year Frequently Asked Questions about Semesters, Averages, and Survival Skills Class of 2016! Sweet 16!

3. Stuff you might need to know? Credits Semesters GPA, Rank How to make it all count Why make it count?

4. What are credits and why do I need them? You need 26 credits to graduate. You earn a.5 credit each class, per semester with a passing grade of a 70. Example: If you pass the first semester of Biology, you receive 0.5 credit. If you pass the entire year, you receive 1.0 credits. You need 26 of these to graduate

5. What are credits and why do I need them? By the time you are ready to graduate you need: 4 Math Credits 4 Science Credits 4 Social Studies Credits 4 English Credits.5 Speech Credits 1 Fine Art Credit 1 PE Credit 2 Foreign Language Credit 5.5 Elective Credits

6. What are credits and why do I need them? By the beginning of NEXT school year, you need 6 credits to officially be a 10 th grader. What happens if you don’t earn 6? Technically, you’re still a freshman. If I fail a class or two this year, can I do Summer School so that I can be classified as a sophomore? YES! Highly Encouraged. You can only earn 1.0 credit in summer school and it costs $175 for each semester course.

8. Final exams? Final exams and how much they count are still to be determined. IF we have final exams, here is the past Humble exemption policy. Want to SKIP SOME EXAMS? Semester average = 80 or higher No more than 3 absences in the class you want to exempt – see teacher Maximum of 1 Saturday classes – see AP No major disciplinary record – No ISS Assignments or Long Term Can’t exempt the same class both semesters

9. Why are semester averages important? Where does the semester average go? Can you retake a class and get the original grade erased? What determines your credit? How do you make up credits?

10. What if your grade is poor 1 st semester? It is not too late! The 1 st & 2 nd semesters are averaged together. You gain credit for the whole year if the average is 70 or above. For example: 1 st semester, you make a 68 in W. Geography 2 nd semester, you make a 72 in W. Geography The average is a 70, so you earn 1.0 credit.

12. What is a GPA? It means: Grade Point Average Average of your grades Shows success in high school It tells colleges how successful you might be in college. What is rank? Comparison to your peers Both show colleges your work ethic/hard work, your skills, and your POTENTIAL success in college. When does it matter if you are in the top quarter or half of your class?

13. How do you achieve the right GPA? Organization Tutoring Classes to help – maybe AVID

15. Home Access Center - Grades

16. To get access Put in your STUDENT ID and COMPUTER PASSWORD. Parents can get their own access or use yours.

17. How do you stay ahead? Homework Re-assessment Ask Questions

19. How to take the initiative? Do something – Get connected. Why???? Staying ahead Study habits

20. Important Dates End of 9 weeks = Oct. 19 Gain or lose eligibility Day of Service = Nov. 5 Regain eligibility = Prog. Rpt. Nov 9 (official date Nov. 16) Holidays = Nov. 19-23 End of semester = Dec. 21

21. Questions and Answers What questions do you have for our senior representatives? Stephanie Bennett Kevin York Brianna Adams Sarah Flottman