1. Survival Guide

2. Follow these 15 steps and have a great high school experience! Step 1. Be in school, on time, every day. To do well in school, you must have a good attendance record. Step 2. Believe in yourself. Having a positive attitude is very important. See yourself succeeding! Step 3. Be organized. Use a planner to help keep you organized. Take it with you to every class, and use it to keep track of assignments, test dates, etc. Step 4. Manage your time well. Use any extra time you have in school to get started on homework. Create a study plan that works for you. Step 5. Set personal and academic goals. Set both short-term goals (get an A on tomorrow's math test) and long-term goals (graduate with a 3.0 GPA).

3. Step 6. Know your school's rules and academic requirements. Most schools have a student handbook with academic requirements, rules, attendance policies, etc. Go over this information carefully. Step 7. Be successful in the classroom. Learn how to adapt to different teachers. Know each teacher’s class rules and procedures. Have everything you need when you go to class. Always do your homework. Participate in class. Treat others with courtesy and respect Step 8. Take good notes. Be an active listener. Listen and think about what your teacher is saying. Recognize and write down important information. Get copies of class notes if you’re absent. Step 9. Know how to read a textbook. Scan the assignment to get an overview. Read the assignment. Review what you’ve read.

4. Step 10. Study smart. Find a good place to study. Organize your study time. Start studying for tests ahead of time. Allow more time than you think you’ll need. Step 11. Get involved in school activities. Being involved in school activities is a great way to meet new people and to have fun. Step 12. Make good choices and decisions. Make sure that your choices and decisions are consistent with your values and goals. Step 13. Get help when you need it. If you need help or have a question, talk to a teacher or see your counselor. Step 14. Plan and prepare for your future. Think about and investigate your career and educational options. Step 15. Always try your best. Doing well in school is an investment in your future!

5. GWHS School Counseling Program STUDENT PLACEMENT AND SCHEDULING 1.Work with students, parents and teachers to place students in the appropriate academic courses 2. Help students select majors and electives to fulfill diploma requirements 3. Schedule students in courses and adhere to course selection deadlines COUNSELING FOR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC ISSUES 1.Difficulty in adjusting to the High School 2. Social and/or personal difficulty 3. Academic challenges - provide information for extra help such as the Tutoring COLLEGE PREPARATION 1.Review grades and high school transcript 2. 2. NCAA Information 3.3. Letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, and employers 4.4. Important Tests: PSAT - Grade 11 (Fall) SAT or ACT - Grade 11 (Spring) SAT or ACT - Grade 12 (Fall) 1.5. Post-Secondary information 2. 6. Scholarship information 3.7. Financial Aid information GWHS School Counseling Program STUDENT PLACEMENT AND SCHEDULING 1.Work with students, parents and teachers to place students in the appropriate academic courses 2. Help students select majors and electives to fulfill diploma requirements 3. Schedule students in courses and adhere to course selection deadlines COUNSELING FOR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC ISSUES 1.Difficulty in adjusting to the High School 2. Social and/or personal difficulty 3. Academic challenges - provide information for extra help such as the Tutoring COLLEGE PREPARATION 1.Review grades and high school transcript 2. 2. NCAA Information 3.3. Letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, and employers 4.4. Important Tests: PSAT - Grade 11 (Fall) SAT or ACT - Grade 11 (Spring) SAT or ACT - Grade 12 (Fall) 1.5. Post-Secondary information 2. 6. Scholarship information 3.7. Financial Aid information

6. HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ! By appointment or during your lunch Attend Fall High School Open House ! Attend Fall and Spring Conferences (To meet with your school counselor make an appointment by email) Ms. Bond, Mr. Fuentes, Mrs. Gonzalez, Mrs. Sepulveda WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ! When you have questions about your class schedule, 4-year plan, career, college, personal concerns, course work, etc. ! Student, parent, teacher concerns ! Change in your address, phone numbers ! Medical or heath concerns ! Tutoring information, extra help opportunities ! Questions regarding your future career ! Information on colleges, financial aid, etc. ! Information on college entrance exams (PSAT taken usually in October of Junior year), ACT (taken usually in Spring of Junior year) ! Recommendation letters ! Working papers ! And more….. HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ! By appointment or during your lunch Attend Fall High School Open House ! Attend Fall and Spring Conferences (To meet with your school counselor make an appointment by email) Ms. Bond, Mr. Fuentes, Mrs. Gonzalez, Mrs. Sepulveda WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ! When you have questions about your class schedule, 4-year plan, career, college, personal concerns, course work, etc. ! Student, parent, teacher concerns ! Change in your address, phone numbers ! Medical or heath concerns ! Tutoring information, extra help opportunities ! Questions regarding your future career ! Information on colleges, financial aid, etc. ! Information on college entrance exams (PSAT taken usually in October of Junior year), ACT (taken usually in Spring of Junior year) ! Recommendation letters ! Working papers ! And more…..

7. Chicago Public Schools HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED COURSESDESCRIPTIONUNITS REQUIRED Credit Bearing Requirements English English I, English II, English III, English IV. 4 credits Mathematics Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. (Students successfully completing Algebra and/or Geometry prior to entering high school will follow an appropriate three-year math sequence.) 3 credits Science Biology and 2 years of Laboratory Science, which must include Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Science, or Physics.3 credits Social Science World Studies, United States History, and one other Social Science course.3 credits World Language Two years of the same world language. 2 credits Fine Arts One year of Music and one year of Art or Drafting. 2 credits Physical Education One year of Physical Education I/Health or ROTC I/Health and Physical Education II/Drivers Education or ROTC II/Drivers Education in 9th and 10th grades.2 credits Career Education/ROTC/Advanced Academic Option CTE programs, advanced academic/fine arts options or ROTC III, ROTC IV. 2 credits Electives Selection of an additional three courses not already listed above. 3 credits Total Credits Required Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits as described above to earn a diploma from the Chicago Public Schools. Non-Credit Bearing Requirements Service Learning Three approved classroom-integrated service-learning projects that amount to a minimum of forty hours. Twenty hours must be completed by the end of tenth grade. Consumer Education Complete a course integrating consumer education curriculum. Public Law 195 Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. and Illinois constitutions as part of subject-area curricula and/or Constitution test. PSAE Public Act 93857 requires students to take the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) as a condition for receiving a regular high school diploma. Chicago Public Schools HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED COURSESDESCRIPTIONUNITS REQUIRED Credit Bearing Requirements English English I, English II, English III, English IV. 4 credits Mathematics Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. (Students successfully completing Algebra and/or Geometry prior to entering high school will follow an appropriate three-year math sequence.) 3 credits Science Biology and 2 years of Laboratory Science, which must include Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Science, or Physics.3 credits Social Science World Studies, United States History, and one other Social Science course.3 credits World Language Two years of the same world language. 2 credits Fine Arts One year of Music and one year of Art or Drafting. 2 credits Physical Education One year of Physical Education I/Health or ROTC I/Health and Physical Education II/Drivers Education or ROTC II/Drivers Education in 9th and 10th grades.2 credits Career Education/ROTC/Advanced Academic Option CTE programs, advanced academic/fine arts options or ROTC III, ROTC IV. 2 credits Electives Selection of an additional three courses not already listed above. 3 credits Total Credits Required Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits as described above to earn a diploma from the Chicago Public Schools. Non-Credit Bearing Requirements Service Learning Three approved classroom-integrated service-learning projects that amount to a minimum of forty hours. Twenty hours must be completed by the end of tenth grade. Consumer Education Complete a course integrating consumer education curriculum. Public Law 195 Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. and Illinois constitutions as part of subject-area curricula and/or Constitution test. PSAE Public Act 93857 requires students to take the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) as a condition for receiving a regular high school diploma.

8. Subject AreaFreshman Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year Credits Earned EnglishEnglish 1English 2English 3English 44 MathematicsAlgebraGeometryAdvanced Algebra And Trig. AP Math/ Other Math 3 ScienceBiologyChemistryPhysicsAP Science or other Science Class 3 Social Science World Studies U.S. HistoryThird year of History 3 World Language World Lang. Year 1 World Lang. Year 2 2 Fine ArtsArtMusic2 Career Education Career Education 2 Physical Education PE/HealthPE/ Drivers Ed. 2 Electives 3

9. IMPORTANT The following pages show an example of 4 resources you will see often and should be familiar with. RESOURCE 1 The 4 Year Plan – This form helps keep track of your progress throughout your high school career. It also includes other information related to you, your accomplishments, and your future goals. RESOURCE 2 The Class Schedule – Each year will receive in your homeroom your class schedule. The administrative homeroom is a temporary homeroom used just to hand out information or for testing. The class schedule is run on a 7 class per-day cycle, meaning you will attend 7 classes a day. We have an 8 period day. For location of your classes, see the map in this booklet. RESOURCE 3 The Report Card – The school year is broken up into 4 parts known as quarters. At the conclusion of each quarter, they will be posted on Parent & Student Portal. It will provide you with information on your attendance, and a grade for each of your courses (which also may include some teacher comments). The report card is something you should regularly look at in helping you to track your progress. RESOURCE 4 The Official Transcript – This form provides a snapshot of your academic accomplishments and attendance throughout high school. Depending on which career path(s) you choose a copy of your official transcript will be sent to the appropriate institution (employer, college, military, etc.).IMPORTANT The following pages show an example of 4 resources you will see often and should be familiar with. RESOURCE 1 The 4 Year Plan – This form helps keep track of your progress throughout your high school career. It also includes other information related to you, your accomplishments, and your future goals. RESOURCE 2 The Class Schedule – Each year will receive in your homeroom your class schedule. The administrative homeroom is a temporary homeroom used just to hand out information or for testing. The class schedule is run on a 7 class per-day cycle, meaning you will attend 7 classes a day. We have an 8 period day. For location of your classes, see the map in this booklet. RESOURCE 3 The Report Card – The school year is broken up into 4 parts known as quarters. At the conclusion of each quarter, they will be posted on Parent & Student Portal. It will provide you with information on your attendance, and a grade for each of your courses (which also may include some teacher comments). The report card is something you should regularly look at in helping you to track your progress. RESOURCE 4 The Official Transcript – This form provides a snapshot of your academic accomplishments and attendance throughout high school. Depending on which career path(s) you choose a copy of your official transcript will be sent to the appropriate institution (employer, college, military, etc.).

11. Find out how your high school calculates your GPA. High schools can calculate GPAs based on your letter grades in different ways. Following a standard 4.0 scale for example, an A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0. Alternatively, some schools will calculate weighted GPAs, which give more importance to honors, accelerated, AP and IB classes. In this scenario, a 5.0 would be a perfect score instead of a 4.0. For example: AP biology A=5,B=4,C=3,D=1,F=0 MYP/Honors Classes: A=5,B=4,C=3,D=1,F=0 IB Classes: A=6,B=5,C=4,D=1,F=0 Find out how your high school calculates your GPA. High schools can calculate GPAs based on your letter grades in different ways. Following a standard 4.0 scale for example, an A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0. Alternatively, some schools will calculate weighted GPAs, which give more importance to honors, accelerated, AP and IB classes. In this scenario, a 5.0 would be a perfect score instead of a 4.0. For example: AP biology A=5,B=4,C=3,D=1,F=0 MYP/Honors Classes: A=5,B=4,C=3,D=1,F=0 IB Classes: A=6,B=5,C=4,D=1,F=0 The Importance of G.P.A. for College Acceptance

12. GWHS THE SERVICE LEARNING REQUIREMENT Service Learning = Volunteering in the Community! Plan on completing 10 hours per year: 9th grade 10hours 10th grade 10 hours 11th grade 10hours 12th grade 10 hours 40 hours are required for graduation! To answer the following questions: What type of volunteer activity would I like to do? Do I need to get my activities pre-approved? How do I prove that I completed an activity? What is a Reflection Paper? If you have additional questions that are not addressed on the website, please contact our service learning coordinator, Mr. MILLER M mmiller59@cps.edu GWHS THE SERVICE LEARNING REQUIREMENT Service Learning = Volunteering in the Community! Plan on completing 10 hours per year: 9th grade 10hours 10th grade 10 hours 11th grade 10hours 12th grade 10 hours 40 hours are required for graduation! To answer the following questions: What type of volunteer activity would I like to do? Do I need to get my activities pre-approved? How do I prove that I completed an activity? What is a Reflection Paper? If you have additional questions that are not addressed on the website, please contact our service learning coordinator, Mr. MILLER M mmiller59@cps.edu.

13. HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS & ACTIVITIES We want your high school experience to be enjoyable. Adjustment to a new school is usually easier when you join extra-curricular clubs/activities. In this way you will meet new friends, become involved in school activities and feel more comfortable within your high school. For more information listen to the morning announcements. Consider Joining One of the Following Clubs/Activities: · Cheerleading Club · Chess Club · Chorus Club · Concert Band · Drama Club · Foreign Language Club · Freshman Class ·GWHS Yearbook · Student Council · Technology Club and many more clubs… For more information and an update list, please visit http://www.gwashingtonhs.org/ HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS & ACTIVITIES We want your high school experience to be enjoyable. Adjustment to a new school is usually easier when you join extra-curricular clubs/activities. In this way you will meet new friends, become involved in school activities and feel more comfortable within your high school. For more information listen to the morning announcements. Consider Joining One of the Following Clubs/Activities: · Cheerleading Club · Chess Club · Chorus Club · Concert Band · Drama Club · Foreign Language Club · Freshman Class ·GWHS Yearbook · Student Council · Technology Club and many more clubs… For more information and an update list, please visit http://www.gwashingtonhs.org/