1. Junior & Sophomore Parent Night NMHS Class of 2017 NMHS Class of 2018 Welcome Parents!

2. Agenda  Graduation Requirements  Honors and Recognition  HOPE Updates/Requirements  Preparing for College  NCAA Eligibility  Parental Support  Important Dates

3. Graduation Requirements : You must have a minimum of 23 credits to receive a diploma from Douglas County School System. **18 credits are needed to be promoted to senior status.

4. Required Courses  4 credits of English (9 th Lit and Amer. Lit.)  4 credits of Math (Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II & 4 th math)  4 credits of Science  3 credits of Social Studies (Am. Govt., US Hist. World Hist. and Econ.)  ½ credit Health and ½ credit Personal Fitness  3 Elective credits from CTAE, Fine Arts or Foreign Language

5. Science Requirements  Biology  Physical Science or Physics  Chemistry, Environmental Science or Earth Systems  1 additional Science

6. Foreign Language Alert!  Foreign Language is not required for graduation.  2 and 4 year colleges still require 2 credits of the same foreign language for admissions.

7. End of Course Exams EOC exams count as 20% of your final grade o Fall Test Window: November 30 th – December 14 th Test Prep: o www.usatestprep.com www.usatestprep.com o www.gacollege411.org www.gacollege411.org o http://secure.gacollege411.org/College_Plannin g/Test_Prep/End_of_Course_Tests.aspx http://secure.gacollege411.org/College_Plannin g/Test_Prep/End_of_Course_Tests.aspx

8. Promotion Rule  Total of 5 credits to be a true Sophomore.  Total of 11 credits to be a true Junior.  Total of 18 credits to be a true Senior.

9. Honors and Recognition  Honor Grad  Board Scholar  Academic Seal  Fine Arts Seal  Foreign Language Seal

10. Honors and Recognition Honor Graduate  3.75 cumulative GPA  Maximum credits (32)  5 academic courses Senior year  2 credits of Foreign Language Board Scholar  3.5 cumulative GPA  Maximum credits (32)  2 extra academic courses  2 credits of Foreign Language

11. Honors and Recognition  Academic Seal  3 AP or Dual Enrollment Credits  3 Certificates from a technical school dual enrollment program  Combination of the above  Fine Arts Seal  4 credits of Fine Arts Courses  2 credits must be from the same discipline  Foreign Language Seal  4 credits of the same foreign language

12. Striving towards Valedictorian/Salutatorian  Valedictorian is student with the highest # of points based on grades in all core academic classes.  Salutatorian is student with 2 nd highest # of points based on grades in above courses.  Calculation is based on a points system using all numeric grades from core academic classes, with extra weight assigned to Honors, AP, IB and Dual Enrollment.

13. HOPE Scholarship Updates:  Hope Scholarship:  3.0 HOPE GPA (Partial Scholarship)  3.70 HOPE GPA (Full Scholarship)  1200 SAT combined score  26 ACT composite score  Rigor Required:  For the Classes of 2017 & 2018, at least 4 credits in rigorous courses or Dual Enrollment courses.  Meet enrollment requirements  Hope Grant:  For students seeking a technical certificate or diploma, regardless of GPA or graduation date.

14. HOPE: Rigorous Courses English: AP Language, AP Literature Math: AP Statistics, AP Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Acc. Math courses, Advanced Algebra, Adv. Mathematical Decision Making. Science: Human Anatomy, Chemistry, Physics, AP Science courses, Forensic Science, Social Studies: AP Psychology, AP Government, AP Microeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP U.S. History Foreign Language: French II, French III, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Spanish V Dual Enrollment Courses: Academic Courses Only.

15. Preparing for College Now  GPA: Increasing it/Rebuilding it  Grades: 9 th – 11 th grade years first  Test Scores : SAT/ACT  Dual Enrollment  Student Involvement:  Extracurricular Activities  Community Service  Employment  Recommendations  Essays

16. Preparing for College Entrance Exams PSAT  Measures College Readiness in: Reading, Writing and Lang., and Math.  Provides personalized study plan for the SAT, based on test results.  Used as the entry point into the National Merit Scholarship.  Identifies AP Potential ASPIRE  Measures College Readiness in: Eng., Math, Reading, Science  Uses benchmark scores to determine College Readiness  Results include a STEM score & Progress towards Career Readiness.

17. College Entrance Exams Newly Designed! SAT  Achievement Test! (Previously Aptitude Test)  More aligned with what students are learning in the classroom.  Tests 3 Sections (Previously 4) : Reading, Writing & Language, Math; Essay (optional)  Score Penalty: No penalty for wrong answers.  Top Score: 1600 (Previously 2400) ACT  Achievement test : Curriculum based instruction.  Tests 4 Sections : English, Math, Reading, and Science. Optional Writing component.  Score Penalty: No penalty for wrong answers.  Top Score: 36

18. Dual Enrollment  Earn College Credit Now & Save $$!!  Advanced Placement Courses  College and Career Institute (CCI )  Move On When Ready  Georgia Highlands College  University of West Georgia  West Georgia Technical College  Dual Enrollment Night: January 14, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m.

19. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)  NCAA determines athletic eligibility for Division I and Division II school.  Meeting the eligibility standards helps prepare students for academic success in college.  Also protects the fairness of the sport by ensuring the student athlete is an amateur.

20. NCAA Athletic Eligibility  Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in their 10th grade year. www.eligibilitycenter.org www.eligibilitycenter.org  Must have minimum 2.0 Core GPA.  Complete 16 NCAA Core Course  Earn an SAT/ACT score that matches your Core GPA or minimum score.  SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center.  Submit an official transcript.

21. Parental Support  Remember your student still needs you!  Check on your student’s progress with his/her homework, study time, or projects.  Encourage your student to manage his/her time well.  Provide positive feedback on the skills/strengths your student uses to be successful.  Stay in contact with teachers.  Check website for important dates.

22. Parental Support  Help foster student’s Career Interests.  Expose him/her to different careers.  Encourage students to interview others about their job.  Explore Post-Secondary Options  Research College Options  Request Information  Schedule College Visits  Email or call counselor if you have concerns.

23. Important Dates!  Superintendent Scholar Awards  November 5, 2015, 6:30 p.m.  PTSA Panel Discussion  November 5, 2015, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.  October SAT Scores: 10/22/15  PSAT Scores: Mid-December  Dual Enrollment Night  January 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m.

24. Stay Connected  School website:  tinyurl.com/nmhsjags  Infinite Campus Parent Portal  Counselor’s Twitter @nmhs_counselors#nmhsjags  Counselor’s Facebook: NMHS Jags Counseling Department

25. Counselor Contacts Jen Travis – Last Names A-E jen.travis@douglas.k12.ga.us 770-651-2718 Shujuan Shannon – Last Names F-L shujuan.Shannon@douglas.k12.ga.us 770-651-2719 Pamela Cummings – Last Names M-R pamela.cummings@douglas.k12.ga.us 770-651-2727 Teresa Townsend – Last Names S-Z and Off Campus teresa.townsend@douglas.k12.ga.us 770-651-2781

26. Any Questions? Thank you for coming!