1. Ninth Grade Counseling Services Joyce Ricks 9 th Grade Counselor (770) 736-3148 Room F-1

2. Common Problems for Freshmen Not using the agenda book Not completing homework Not studying effectively Turning work in late Believing Ninth grade doesn’t matter Not asking for help

3. How to help Help with study skills Talk about different colleges and careers Make an appointment with me Rewards and consequences Require weekly progress reports Freshman Academy Teacher communication and office hours Parent teacher conferences Use Parent Portal to monitor progress

4. Freshman Academy Monday and Wednesday: Math Tuesdays and Thursdays: Science For all Freshmen Students Classroom teacher and student tutors Not just for struggling students 2:30PM to 3:30PM

5. Guided Study Peer Mentors Advisement lessons Homework, study, and reading time Homeroom Activities Announcements on Fridays

6. Four Year Plan Four year planning with students in February and March Provides a guide for course selection Can change based on interests and needs Choice Book has graduation requirements

7. Graduation Requirements 4 credits in Language Arts 4 credits in Math 4 credits in Science 3 credits in Social Science 3 credits in any combination of Modern or Classical Language, Fine Arts, or Technical Education 4 credits in Elective Areas Total: 23 credits

8. Promotion Requirements 9 th to 10 th 5 Carnegie Units Including no less than: 0.5 unit of Language Arts 0.5 unit of Mathematics 0.5 unit of Science

9. Important Dates AP Fair: February 8 2011-12 Registration: February 14-22 Summer School: TBA 5 weeks and tuition-based

10. Something to Remember Ideally: What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child. George Bernard Shaw Reality: Children sometimes behave like little puppies. They must run after the ball many times before they become good at bringing it back.

11. Contact Information Joyce Ricks@gwinnett.k12.ga.us@gwinnett.k12.ga.us Office: (678) 639-3417 Conference scheduling: Mrs. Bifaro: (770)736-3417