1. Getting Ready For High School

2. Why is 9th Grade So Important?
Success or failure during the 9th grade year often sets the tone for a student’s entire high school career.
If a student is successful during their 9th grade year, there is a likelihood that the student will graduate and enjoy their high school experience (Silverthorn, 2005)
There is a heightened risk of school drop out related to negative education experiences (Hussong, 2007)

3. Transitioning to High School is associated with….
Increase in …
Academic Stressors
Social Stressors (fitting in, “popularity”, peer pressure, etc.)
Depression
Substance Abuse
A decrease in …
Social support
Academic Functioning(grades, attendance, motivation)
(Hussong, 2007)

4. 8th Grade Students Worry About…
Difficulty of Classes
Getting Lost at School
Increase in Workload in their Classes
Getting to Class on Time
Making Sports Teams
Time Management
Getting Their Locker Open
Where to Go During Lunch
Finding Their Friends
Making New Friends
Being Bullied by Upper Classmen

5. Tips for Success Attend Freshman Orientation With Your Child
Encourage your child to get to know the school and where everything is located. (classes, bathrooms, offices, cafeteria, etc.) This will help ease anxiety about being in a new building. Students feel more comfortable when they know where everything is.
After Your Child Receives Their Schedule have him/her go through the schedule in order to simulate their typical school day.
Your child will have the same counselor all four years of high school. Encourage your child to know who their counselor is and to contact her with any questions or concerns.
Monitor your child’s progress through EDLINE and keep in touch with his/her teachers and 9th grade principal. A staff contact list is located on the web site.

6. Get Involved
Being involved in extracurriculars is key, as after-school activities are great for teenagers’ personal and social development. Extracurricular activities that focus on deepening your child’s interests will help them have a more enjoyable high school experience.
In large schools students often feel overwhelmed and disconnected. When students are involved in extracurricular activities it makes them feel more connected to their school.
“School-sponsored extracurricular activities can help keep students accountable to academics, and teach valuable skills that often cannot be found in a classroom. Remind your student that everything he/she does in high school is setting them up for their future, and it is their choice to make it a good one!” (Singleton, 2013)

7. What does your student want to do after high
school?
This is an important question to ask your child while he or she is in high school.
If your child wants to go to a 4 year college, there are certain courses he/she must take in high school.
If you child is not sure what to do after high school that is perfectly normal. But, the younger your child decides then the more prepared he/she can be.
CFWV Interest Inventories are a great way to help guide your child to a career best suited for him or her.

10. In high school, students earn credits for each course they pass…
The school year has 2 semesters
Each semester has two 9 week grading periods
Each class period is 49 minutes long
Each class period is called a “mod” at HHS.
Each 1 mod 1 semester class=1/2 credit
Each block class(which is 2 mods in a row)=1 credit
Most classes are offered as one mod and taken both semesters
Some classes are offered as a block and are taken only one semester
Students can earn 7 credits during the regular school day in one school year
Students need 24 credits to graduate

11. Example of Typical 9th Grade Schedule
Mod
1st Semester
2ndSemester
Total Credit
1st mod
English 9= ½ credit
English 9=1/2 credit
=1 credit
2nd mod
Physical Science=1/2 credit
3rd mod
Math I=1/2 credit
4th mod
World History=1/2 credit
5th mod
Phys. Ed
Health
2 credits
6th mod
Phys.Ed=1 credit
Health=1 credit
7th mod
Foreign Language=1/2 credit
Foreign
Language=1/2 credit
1 credit
There are 2 lunches, the lunch the student goes to is determined by which part of
the building the 4th mod is located.

12. Meet the Huntington High School Counseling Department…
Beverly Brown
Students A-CL
(304)

13. Shawna Rocknich Students Cm-Han (304) 528-6406

14. Melanie Pinkerman Students Hao-Ma mpinkerman@access.k12.wv.us
(304)

15. Joanie Poole
Students Mb-Sc
(304)

16. Renee Harris
Students Sd-Z 
(304)

17. Jessica Jordan Graduation Coach (304)528-6419

18. Tammy Shull Registrar (304)528-6409 Fax (304) 528-6423

19. What?
Who?
Where?
General 9th Grade Questions
Lauren Werthammer-9th Grade Principal
Main Office
(304)
Copy of Schedule
Your Counselor
Given out During Orientation
Schedule Correction
Counseling Office (D133)
Buying a Locker
Ms. Alicea Lewis
(304)
Proof Of Enrollment
Ms. Lisa Hall
Attendance Office (304)
Turn in Absence Excuse
Questions about Athletics
Mr. Bruce Senior
A123
(304)
Work Permit
Ms. Linda George
Upstairs Office
(304) 6405
Medical/Health Issues
Heather Wood-School Nurse
Health Center (D127)
(304)
Copy of Student Handbook
Located on Edline

20. References
Hussong, A., Stein, G. L, (2007). Social and academic expectations about high school
for at-risk rural youth. America Secondary Education, 36(1)
SanFilippo, Elizabeth (2013). Preparing Your Child: Grade School to High School
Silverthorn, N., DuBois, D.L., Crombie, Gail. (2005). Self perceptions of ability and
achievement across the high school transition: Investigation of a state-trait model.
Journal of Experimental Education. v73 p191
Created by Melanie Pinkerman, Counselor Huntington High School