1. eSTEM 9 th Grade Orientation

2. This Summer  No summer bridge this year.  August 17 th is a freshmen only day and we will do our summer bridge activities on this day.  Summer Reading  Fiction—The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (Alternative—The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho)  Non-Fiction—The World Without Us by Alan Weisman (Alternative—Outcasts United by Warren St. John)  Raider Check-In  August 11 th —You will receive a letter in the mail with student times to report.

3. Scheduling  Scheduling is pretty easy for freshmen. All freshmen take:  English 9 and English 10  World History  A Science Elective (either Intro to Engineering Design or Intro to Computer Science)  Two Math classes—If you already have two math credits you can replace one of the math classes with an elective.  One Elective  We have tables set up near the eSTEM office to help you get your freshman scheduled after our meeting.

4. What You Can Expect Next Year  The transition from Junior High to High School is a big one.  Credits count!  Double-blocked classes move fast.  Homework is no joke.  Mastery grading is not a “get out of jail free” card.  Performance counts way more than practice.  Courses will look different.  Very few text books.  Much of the work is on-line.  Flipped classes  EdModo & ItsLearning  Inquiry based instruction looks different from what you have experienced in the past.

5. Freshmen Year Is Just The Start!  Throughout the year, freshmen will experience design challenges from each of the four Pathways: Design, Digital, Move, and Energy.  Towards the end of the freshmen year, students will select their Pathway for the following year.  Freshmen will Compass test early next spring. This test will help determine which college courses they will be taking, beginning in their sophomore year.

6. Be Persistent!  The eSTEM curriculum is rigorous. There will be times when you become frustrated.  Stick it out and work hard. You can do this!  If you remain persistent you will leave here in the spring of 2019 well prepared to take the next step in your life. College scholarships, high paying careers, and long-lasting friendships get started this August.