Welcome to SOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL, Class of 2015!

1. Welcome toSOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL, Class of 2015! • Our Mission • Pursuing academic excellence and celebrating diversity in a safe learning environment. • Empowering students to develop skills and explore talents so they can become responsible, informed citizens and leaders.

2. Our mission in action: Supporting the transition to high school • Nurses (Patti Bramson, Rena Eng) • Student Assistance Counselors (Cleo Lowinger, Pam Major) • B.R.I.D.G.E. Center (Nicole Schley) • Freshman classes located primarily in Annex, 3rd floor • Class advisors • Summer orientation • Ass’t Principal, Dean, and Grade-Level Office (Jaymee Boehmer, Yoshi Lassiter) • 10 Guidance Counselors and Ass’t Principal for Student Services (Susana Nikitczuk) • Intervention Services and 504 Plan Chairperson (Susan Coyle) • Special Education/Child Study Team (Marilyn Pruce)

3. Our mission in action: Providing guidance Guidance counselors: • Starting resource when students have social and emotional issues • Responsible for • permanent records • transcripts • college application process • academic advising • post-high school planning

4. Our mission in action: Supporting 9th graders • Peer Groups • Two trained senior Peer Leaders per group • More than 10 sessions • Teachers • Extra help sessions or days of the week set aside to help students after school • HAP • Help & Access Period/Music HAPs • Excel • Focused academic support for struggling students during student’s HAP • Homework Help Center • After school until 5:00 PM (Tues.-Thurs.) • Teachers from different subject areas each afternoon

5. Academic placement • For English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Language, placement is based upon: • 5th, 6th and 7th grade NJASK test scores • Student’s grades • Crossroads teacher recommendations

6. What’s a typical day for a 9th grader? A Day BL. 1 - 7:30 – 8:58 Academic English 1 Home Base: 8:58 – 9:08 BL. 2 - 9:14 – 10:42 HAP/Music HAP (Band, Choir, Strings) BL. 3 – 10:47 – 12:52 Phys. & Earth Science • A Lunch 10:47-11:20 • B Lunch 11:33-12:06 • C Lunch 12:19-12:52 BL. 4 – 12:57 – 2:25 French II B Day BL. 1 - 7:30 – 8:58 Algebra I Home Base: 8:58 – 9:08 BL. 2 - 9:14 – 10:42 Phys. Ed./Health BL. 3 - 10:47 – 12:52 Gov‘t. & Economics • A Lunch 10:47-11:20 • B Lunch 11:33-12:06 • C Lunch 12:19-12:52 BL. 4 - 12:57 – 2:25 21st Century Skills Class

7. …for a 9th grader very interested in music? A Day BL. 1 - 7:30 – 8:58 Academic English 1 Home Base: 8:58 – 9:08 BL. 2 - 9:14 – 10:42 Music HAP (Band or Strings) BL. 3 – 10:47 – 12:52 Phys. & Earth Science • A Lunch 10:47-11:20 • B Lunch 11:33-12:06 • C Lunch 12:19-12:52 BL. 4 – 12:57 – 2:25 French II B Day BL. 1 - 7:30 – 8:58 Algebra I Home Base: 8:58 – 9:08 BL. 2 - 9:14 – 10:42 Phys. Ed./Health BL. 3 - 10:47 – 12:52 Gov‘t. & Economics • A Lunch 10:47-11:20 • B Lunch 11:33-12:06 • C Lunch 12:19-12:52 BL. 4 - 12:57 – 2:25 Music for the 21st Century/ 9th Chorus

8. What are “credits”? • Full year / one block every other day = 5 credits • Semester (half-year) / one block every other day = 2.5 • Full year / one block EVERY day = 10 credits • Phys. Ed. = 3.75 credits (3 quarters) / Health = 1.25 credits (1 quarter) • Passing final grade necessary to receive credit

9. Graduation requirements • High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) • Language Arts • Mathematics • Biology, Algebra I end-of-course exams (Required to take but not pass, under review by state) • 125 Credits • Financial Literacy • ½ year • Visual or Performing Art • 1 year • 21st Century Skills • 1 year • English I, II, III, IV • Social Studies • Government & Economics • US History • Global Studies • Math • 3 years • Science • 1 Physical (PES or Physics) • 1 Biological • 1 Any other science • World Language • 2 years same language • Physical Education & Health • 4 years

10. Character education and academic integrity • Honesty and responsibility are two of our core values • Instruction in academic integrity and plagiarism in 9th grade English classes • Character education integrated in 21st Century classes • Some teachers utilize turnitin.com as preventative measure

11. Scheduling courses Incoming Freshman will be selecting • Elective: 21st Century Skill course Elective Alternate 1 Elective Alternate 2 • HAP • Regular HAP • Music HAP: Band – Strings - Choir • Music HAP for credit: Students must complete paperwork for Option II. • Music HAP/Option II documents will be available through Crossroads Music Teacher or Music Supervisor.

12. 21st Century Skills CoursesState requirement: All students must meet curriculum standards in 21st century skills. Technology: • Architectural • Automotive Technology • Video • Engineering • Technology Family/Consumer Science: • Foods I • Kids • Fashion Business: • Business • Computer & Multimedia Apps English: • Writing for Film & Media • Journalism Music: • Music Math: • Computer Science

13. Scheduling courses • Academic Courses scheduled after review of • Teacher recommendations • NJ ASK scores • Health/Physical Education classes will be prescheduled NOTE: Students wishing to change their World Language choice will need to contact their Crossroads teacher/counselor

14. Scheduling courses: Important dates • Online course registration • Jan. 21st - Jan. 28th • Registration help for incoming 9th grade parents/students: • Jan. 25th and Jan 27th • 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM • Writing Lab – SBHS

15. Scheduling courses: Getting started Step I • Go towww.sbschools.org/schools/sbhsto view the online Course Book. Step II • Use the Course Worksheet to plan courses to enter online. Step III • Go to Power School at Family Connect ps.sbschools.org/public. • Students/Parents must log on to the Parent Site to access the tab for Course Registration. • Use your Parent Access User Name and Password. If you do not have a Parent Access User Name and Password – please contact your Crossroads counselor or the helpline 732-798-2460 for assistance.

16. 21st Century Skills Course Selection You will make a selection only for the courses with a red exclamation Point. Click on the pencil to reveal the course selection list. Click the box in front of the class you choose. Once you have selected the 21st Century Skills courses go to the bottom of the page and click “Submit.”

17. SBHS Pathways to Graduation: Option II • Non-traditional pathway to graduation credit • Based on student interests and career goals • Enables in-depth study, study beyond SBHS, early graduation • Application and pre-approval required • Student MUST: • meet firm deadlines • assume related costs • pass appropriate assessment • provide “proof of experience”

18. Option II possibilities for 9th graders • Advancing a course level • Music HAP (No credits are awarded without application and prior approval!) • World language demonstration of proficiency for heritage speakers • World language not taught at SBHS

19. Option II: Beyond 9th Grade • College courses • Off-site high school courses • Online courses through accredited schools • Student exchange programs • Independent studies • Community service learning • Physical education through athletic participation

20. Option II requirements • Specified grade levels only • Published application only • Firm deadlines: March 1, May 1, October 1 • Must be pre-approved • Must have required signatures • NOTE: Students register for courses traditionally. If approved, schedules are adjusted accordingly. • See our website for more information: • Understanding the Options: A Guide for Parents and Students • Pathways to Graduation: Option II At-a-Glance

21. Questions? Check our web site – it’s a great resource! E-mail Assistant Principal for Student Services Susana Nikitczuk (susana.nikitczuk@sbschools.org) For incoming 9th grade registration information contact Mrs. Diane Bollaci at 732-329-4044 ext. 3285 Contact our Guidance Office at 732-329-4044 ext. 3278 Welcome, SBHS Class of 2015!