1. High School 101

2. WELCOME River Hill High School National Blue Ribbon School Principal William Ryan

3. Our Mission The mission of River Hill High School is to provide a personalized, high- quality education that connects academic excellence to real-life experiences. Our staff, students, parents, and community members will collaboratively model core values essential to a diverse and democratic society.

4. Our Goals Goal 1: River Hill will meet state standards set by the year 2006 and eliminate all achievement gaps by ensuring that all student subgroups meet state standards by 2007. Goal 2: River Hill teachers will design high quality, hands-on, differentiated implementing the Howard County essential curriculum while emphasizing real life applications. Goal 3: River Hill teachers will communicate and collaborate with parents to establish a strong partnership to foster each students growth. Goal 4: River Hill teachers will convey a sense of caring and model core values so that students believe that teachers share a stake in student learning.

5. National Blue Ribbon School Outstanding student performance Highly accomplished staff Fantastic parental involvement Award winning co-curricular and extra- curricular programs

6. Web Presence William_Ryan@hcpss.org (All staff follow the same algorithm) www.hcpss.org/rhhs Our website www.eschoolnewsletter.com Weekly Principal’s Update

7. Scheduling Assistant Principal Dr. John DiPaula

8. Scheduling Timeline Course selection sheets must be returned to the respective middle school (January). High School counselors input requests into system (February). Students receive a printout of confirming their 7 requested courses (March 4, 2009). Master schedule is built based on student requests and staffing (March / April). If there are conflicts (usually not many for freshmen) counselors contact students to resolve (April - June). Students receive a copy of their 7 confirmed classes (May 27, 2009). Student schedules are mailed home (August 1, 2009).

9. Policy 8010 Any student in grade 8 must meet the following requirements or automatically be considered for retention: A student must pass all courses and receive a final grade of not lower than “C” in the core subjects (English, social studies, reading, math, and science). A student who does not meet this requirement may be recommended to attend summer school.

10. Policy 8010 A student who is below grade level in reading and/or math at the end of the 8 th grade (as shown on the student’s report card) will be required to participate in appropriate interventions such as summer school and/or designated reading and/or math intervention courses in 9 th grade.

11. Guidance Mr. Phil Vangeli

12. Guidance Counselors Danny IvesA - Do Annette JacksonDr - J Marianne PizzoK - N Phil VangeliO - R Kareef OvertonS – Z Neyda MoulierNewcomers

13. Question 1: What are the graduation requirements for the Class of 2013?

14. Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2013 Career Preparation Service Learning Credit Requirements High School Assessments

15. Credit Requirements English 4 credits Health 1/2 credit Social Studies 3 credits Fine Arts 1 credit Math 3 credits Tech Ed 1 credit Science 3 credits Program Choice 2 - 4 credits Lifetime Fitness 1/2 credit Electives 1 - 3 credits

16. 2 credits 4 credits Foreign Language Advanced Technology Career & Technology Completer Program Choice or

17. Algebra Biology American Government English High School Assessments Students must score a total of 1602 on the four exams.

18. Four Year Plan Mock Interview Resume Career Preparation

19. Service Learning 75 hours of service which includes planning, action, and reflection Most HCPSS students complete in middle school

20. 12 merit courses 3.0 GPA Merit with Honors Merit with Distinction Certificate of Merit 15 merit courses 1 GT/AP 3.4 GPA 15 merit courses 3 GT/AP 3.75 GPA

21. Question 2: What are the Career Academy options?

22. Career Academy Programs Architecture and Engineering Biotechnology and Health Services Business and Entrepreneurship Culinary Arts and Hotel Management Energy, Power and Transportation Multimedia Arts and Technology Human Resources

23. Question 3: How does my child select classes?

24. Teacher makes course recommendation The Course Selection Process Student take course request form home Parent reviews, signs, and returns Middle school counselor reviews and sends to high school

25. Question 4: What is the parent’s role in course selection?

26. 3. Encourage your child to take the most rigorous courses while enjoying other aspects of high school. 1. Talk with your child about goals for the next four years. 2. Review course recommendations and make the best decision for your child.

27. Question 5: What is the typical academic schedule for a 9th grade student?

28. English 9 U.S. History Mathematics Science Health/ Lifetime Fitness World Language Fine Art or Tech Ed A Typical 9th Grade Schedule

29. Question 6 : What does the high school schedule look like?

30. High School Schedule StartEndClass Time Period 17:258:1550 minutes Period 28:209:1050 minutes Period 39:1510:0550 minutes Period 4A and 4B 10:1012:25 Includes 30 minute lunch Period 512:251:1550 minutes Period 61:202:1050 minutes

31. Question 7 : What are weighted and unweighted grade point averages?

32. Unweighted Grade Point Average Add the quality points for each course A = 4 points B = 3 points C = 2 points D = 1 point E = 0 points Divide by the number of credits attempted.

33. Weighted Grade Point Average Weighted GPA is used for college admissions and scholarship applications only. GradeStandardHonorsGT/AP A4.04.55.0 B3.03.54.0 C2.02.53.0 D1.0 E000

34. Question 8: What is the attendance policy for high school students?

35. All students are expected to attend regularly in accordance with public school laws. Any student with unlawful absences of more than 5% of the course may be considered for denial of credit.

36. Question 9: What is academic eligibility?

37. Governs student participation in all voluntary extracurricular activities. Student must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and no failing grades for the marking period prior to the start of the activity. All incoming 9th graders are academically eligible for fall extracurricular activities.

38. Question 10: What are some other important aspects of high school?

39. Extracurricular Activities Athletic Teams School Clubs Cheerleading/ Dance/ Poms School Plays Musicals Service Clubs Class Boards

40. 9 th Grade Team Leader Mrs. Jaime Munford

41. Ninth Grade Team 9 th Grade Wing Team Members –20 Teachers – including 1 Special Education –1 Instructional Assistant –Administrator –Guidance Counselor

42. Why 9 th Grade Teams? Data – GPA of 9 th Graders National trend to break High Schools down into smaller workable groups Interdisciplinary teaching and planning Seamless transition from Middle Level to High School

43. Transition is a process….. …..NOT an Event!

44. Orientations JanuaryRHHS staff visit middle schools JuneAnnual RHHS Student Life Expo June 3Middle school students visit RHHS August 9th Grade Orientation Day SeptemberBack-To-School Night

45. Activities August9 th Grade Dance SeptemberBack to School Dance Sept/OctHomecoming JanuaryMidterm Exams March/AprilHSA Extended Day Program June9 th Grade Awards JuneFinal Exams OngoingData Discussions and suggestions for student support

46. TIPS FOR SUCCESS 1.BE PREPARED FOR THE SCHEDULE! 2.AS PARENTS…. STAY INVOLVED IN THE SCHEDULING PROCESS! 3.GET INVOLVED IN EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES!