Wagener-Salley High School

1. Wagener-Salley High School 2010-2011 Freshman Orientation

2. 8th Grade Family Night PRESENTED BY THE WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Welcome PARENTS of the CLASS OF 2015!

3. Counseling Staff: • Mr. Darriel Whetstone – Guidance Director • Mrs. Christina Lowe – Guidance Counselor • Mrs. Jennie Browder – Career Specialist • Mrs. Latoya Hynes – Guidance Clerk

4. Welcome • Purpose of tonight’s meeting • Familiarize you with Wagener-Salley High School and our Freshman Academy • Prepare you to make the transition to 9th grade and high school • Explain the course offerings • Answer questions about programs for next year

5. COUNSELING PROGRAM COMPONENTS • Academic • Personal/Social • College/Career

6. A Counselor’s Role To prepare students for success To help each student find a sense of self and purpose To help with the selection of the best academic/curricular path To emphasize the importance of balancing academics and extracurricular activities

7. Role of a Guidance Counselor: See your Guidance Counselor if you: • Need to check your credits • Want help regarding personal, social, or emotional concerns • Want help choosing classes, or changing your classes • Need a tutor? Want to be a tutor? • Community Service Opportunities • Foreign Exchange Opportunities • On-Line Courses • Need to find out more about your interests and aptitudes, and Career Exploration • Need to know more about post-secondary opportunities, college tests, financial aid, etc. • Need assistance with High School survival skills including grades, testing, studying, etc. • Just want to stop in and say “HI” 

8. The Freshman Year….a crucial one. • A foundation – solid or shaky- is often a predictor of the future. • Transition – childhood to young adulthood – socially, intellectually, etc.

9. Freshman Academy aims to be: • A blended step between middle school and the high school • An opportunity for our 9th grade students to grow emotionally and academically more mature • A smaller learning community intent on helping 9th graders successfully achieve as well as earncredits toward graduation from Wagener-Salley High School.

10. Programs/Key Components of the Academy • Freshman Success • Career emphasis • Orientation • Parent Involvement • We need you in all steps of this process!

11. W-S High School Graduation Requirements: Grad year 2012+ English 4.0 Credits Math 4.0 Credits Science 3.0 Credits (Biology) U.S. History 1.0 Credit Econ./Gov’t. 1.0 Credit Social Studies 1.0 Credit PE or ROTC 1.0 Credit Computer Science 1.0 Credit Electives 8.0 Credits ________________________________ Total 24.0 Credits

12. H.S. Assessment Program The High School Assessment Program (HSAP) must be passed to receive a SC high school diploma. HSAP assesses selected SC Academic standards in English language arts and mathematicsthat students have the opportunity to learn by the end of grade 10.

13. End of CourseExamination Program The End-of-course examinations are administered in gateway or benchmark courses. Algebra I/Algebra I Part 2, English I US History and the Constitution Biology The examinations count 20 percent of the students’ final grade.

14. Promotion Requirements To 10th grade: English 1 credit Math 1 credit 4 additional credits Total 6credits

15. Wagener-Salley High Course Catalog • Course Catalog is on the school website • Flow chart by department of course sequence • Description of courses and prerequisites

16. What is Credit? Each class I take is equal to 1.0 Credit. I can earn up to 7 credits each year. (7 classes) I need 24 credits to Graduate. How Do I Earn Credit? Students will earn credit in a class where they receive a “D” (70%) or better by the end of the year. Credit can be earned in both required and elective courses. Credits are earned once a year in June; unless you are enrolled in a semester class then it would be December and June.

17. What is an NC? • An NC (No Credit) grade is when a student fails to receive a 70% or higher in a semester or year long course. • Required courses where a student does not receive credit must be repeated or made up in some way to meet graduation requirements. • Credit will need to be made up for Elective courses where an NC is earned, but does NOT have to be the same elective course.

18. Can I make up an NC? YES!! YES!! YES!! • Summer School offers make up in English, Math and Science up to the Sophomore level (depends on funding) • Correspondence and Online courses with prior approval by counselor, school district and at the cost of my parents! • Retake the same class again next year if there is room in the class!

19. Grading System at WSHS: • A – Superior Achievement reflected by 93-100% • B – Above Average Achievement reflected by 85-92% • C – Average Achievement reflected by 77- 84% • D – Below Average but Passing reflected by 70- 76% • NC – No Credit is earned, reflected by 0-69%

20. What is Grade Point Average? • GPA = Grade points earned divided by the number of courses the student has taken • Points: Awarded through the Uniform Grading Scale • Grade Point Average can be given as a Semester GPA or a Cumulative GPA • Semester grade point average is based on student’s semester grades and the level of courses that were taken. • Cumulative grade points are calculated by using the total number of courses the student has listed on their transcript.

21. Colleges/Universities Sports/Club Eligibility Class Rank Scholarships/Grants Employment Transcripts are Permanent Extended Lunch Privilege Cost of Insurance Employment Opportunities Internships Marketability: Your GPA tells something about who you are! Why should GPA matter to me?

22. Uniformed Grading Policy

23. Calculating a GPA: Example GPA = Total points earned/classes taken Sample GPA = 18/6 = 3.0 • If a student’s grades for a semester were the following: • English 1 = C (2 points) • Algebra 1 = B (3 points) • Science 1 = C (2 points) • Health = B (3 points) • Woods 1 = A (4 points) • PE = A (4 points) ____________________________ Total Points Earned = 18 points Total Classes Taken = 6 classes

24. You Need to Know…… SC Uniform Grading Scale-Course Catalog: -Honors courses .5 more weight, AP 1.0 more weight in GPA -Students may opt to repeat high school credit courses taken in 8th grade during the 9th grade year only. Only the retake course and grade will show on the transcript and count in GPA. -In grades 9 thru 12, students may only retake a course if they earn a D or F and all attempts will show on the transcript. High School Transcripts Include: Every course taken by year Final grade and credit earned GPA and Class Rank

25. Minimum Requirements for Admission to SC Public Four Year Colleges: http://www.che.sc.gov FOUR UNITS OF ENGLISHcompletion of College Preparatory English 1, 2, 3 and 4 FOUR UNITS OF MATHMATICS must include Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and a 4th higher level math is required THREE UNITS OF LABORATORY SCIENCE – 3units of a Lab Science beyond Physical Science THREE UNITS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE 1 unit of United States History; a ½ unit Economics and a ½ unit of Government; 1 unit of a other social science TWO UNITS OF THE SAME WORLD LANGUAGE – at least 2 years of the same World Language, some require 3 years ONE UNIT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR JROTC1unit of PE or JROTC 1 ONE UNIT OF FINE ARTS – 1 unit in Appreciation of, History of , or Performance in one of the fine arts ONE ELECTIVE UNIT – 1 unit from either Comp. Science, English, Social Studies, Lab Science, and/or Fine Arts

26. Are you attending College AND/OR Playing Sports? Consider This…NCAA • Additional Math • Additional Science • Foreign Language • Additional CORE classes for NCAA • National Registration with NCAA your Junior year in high school

27. GPA & Sports Eligibility: • Eligibility is determined by number of classes, semester GPA, and current GPA • Students must be enrolled in 5 graded classes, and must be passing 5 throughout the season • Students must have passed 5 classes in the prior semester with a minimum GPA of 2.0 • First grade check for Freshman occurs at the end of 1st quarter. They must be passing 5 classes and have a minimum GPA of 2.0

28. Eligibility (cont.): • If a student does not pass a minimum of 5 graded classes with a minimum GPA of 2.0 at semester, they will not have the opportunity to become eligible until the following semester! This means zero participation in clubs/sports/activities for a full semester!! YIKES!

29. Success in High School: • Attendance • Participation in Class/Completion of work • Meeting assignment deadlines • Communication between Students, Teachers, and Parents • Getting involved in your high school

30. Getting Involved at WSHS: FALL SPORTSWINTER SPORTSSPRING SPORTS Football Basketball Track/Field Cheerleading Cheerleading Girls Softball Volleyball Boys Baseball

31. Getting Involved (cont.): • Academic Quiz Team • Art Honor Society • Band • Beta Club • Chorus • FCCLAC • Future Business Leaders (FBLA) • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) • Freshman Board • Future Educators of America • Future Farmers of America • Drill Team (ROTC) • Rifle Team (ROTC) • Robotics Club • Drama Club

32. Freshman Course Selection: • Freshman Year: Total 6.0 Credits • Required Year Long Courses (1.0 Credit Each): ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE.SOCIAL STUDIES: CORE classes will be placed by scores on MAP, along with Middle School teacher recommendation • Required Year Long Elective Courses (1.0 Credit Each): • PE • Student Elective Courses (2.0 Electives): Student Choice in subjects including Art, Agriculture, Business and Computers, Construction and Woods, Family Consumer Sciences, Music,and CORE electives.

33. Freshman Scheduling: WSHS counselors will be scheduling 8th graders on Monday, January 24, 31 and February 1: Be sure your email and address are correct . • Meet one-on-one with your counselor • CORE classes will be placed already based on test scores and MS Rec’s • Can select own electives, upon availability • Last minute scheduling and viewing of schedules must be done prior to May • Freshman and New Student Orientation Half Day: TBA. Receive your schedule, your locker, meet your teachers and have lunch. • No schedule changes once the semester begins unless it is our error

34. High School Information Fair • Spring • 8th graders visit • School Tour • Question/Answer session

35. Parents Note the Following: • Double check that your mailing address and email address are correct with your middle school. • Making sure you schedule an IGP meeting!! • If your child has a specific medical concern, please notify our school nurse • Students cannot begin the school year if they have not scheduled an IGP meeting and met with a counselor!! 

36. Bringing Grades up from the Middle School • Grade that can come up with you: All must be verified by your middle school as a high school equivalent course. . English 1 Algebra 1 Computer Science • Benefit? Jump start on credits that count towards graduation Advancement into upper level courses Possible Early Graduation • Detriment? Non-Weighted courses will factor into rank Junior/Senior year Scholarships, etc. based on class rank Readiness for next course at the high school level THE GRADE IS ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT IT WILL NOT BE REMOVED AT A LATER DATE

37. QUESTIONS?