Transitioning to High School: A Guide for 9th Graders and Their Parents
Welcome to high school! As we prepare for the 2012-2013 school year, it’s essential to understand what to expect in 9th grade. With over 1,200 students on the YHS campus, academic success is key. Your 9th-grade performance directly impacts graduation requirements, so staying on track with grades and credits is crucial. Join combined sports programs and get involved in academic support resources designed for student success. Stay connected with teachers and counselors, and remember—attendance and effort matter!
Transitioning to High School: A Guide for 9th Graders and Their Parents
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Presentation Transcript
Starting High SchoolFrom 8th to 9th grade2012 – 2013June 11, 2012 Brian Wharton YHS Principal John Johnson RMS Principal Heidi Bunker YMS Principal
Welcome to High School! • 430+ 9th graders next year • If 9th Grade were on Campus we would have nearly 1,600 students • Next year, we will have 1,200 + students on the YHS campus next year • Combined sports program for 9-12 grades, between 3 campuses. We move up to AAAA (4A) classification.
Athletic Information • Thad Nelson, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director • Fall sports • Buses • Eligibility • Paperwork • Important Fall Dates
The Most Important Messages Tonight… • What your student accomplishes in 9th grade classes counts toward graduation • Grades and report cards have always mattered, but now the students are “on the clock” towards meeting their graduation requirements
Core Academics Semester Courses • Natural Resource Science/Integrated Science Year Long Courses • Tech Communications • English • Math
Electives • Pre-Engineering - Semester • Art - Semester • Band – All Year • Choir – All Year • Spanish – All Year • PASS - Semester • *Intervention Reading or Math • PE and/or Health - Semester • Leadership – All Year
What is a credit? • Means that a high school class has been passed at end of a semester • Credits are added to official transcripts at end of fall and spring semesters • Students take 6 classes per semester • Earn 3 credits per semester/6 credits per year • Students can earn 24 credits in grades 9-12
Graduation Requirements – Increased for Class of 2016 • 22 credits to graduate and earn a diploma • Must earn credits in English, social studies, math, science, CTE, health, PE, fine arts and electives • Must do a culminating project • Must do a high school and beyond plan - WOIS • Must complete state testing requirements • Pass reading, writing, algebra, geometry and biology tests • Admissions requirements for 4 year colleges exceed those required to earn diploma
Getting off to a good start • For students who struggle, most problems occur in the 9th or 10th grade year • Attendance! • Get ahead and you have more choices in classes and programs • College bound students should take at least one honors or Advanced Placement course each year • Set time and place to study on regular basis • Involved in a positive school activity • Parents stay closely involved • Family access – improved features add to communication • Strong contact with teachers and counselor • Monitor social media
Getting off to a good start • Get behind and it is hard to catch up • We have to start picking classes – fewer electives • Hard to repeat classes • “I can easily catch up by…” • Credit retrieval costly • Middle schools and high school have similar support and intervention services
Academic Supports • We don’t want any student to fall behind. Students should never be failing a class because… • Grade checks required • Parent grade monitoring • Opportunity Time 2 or 5 days per week • PASS Support Class • Administration and Counselors monitor student progress and identify support for individual students • Lunch Study Hall, Academic Achievement, OT, Parent Contact/Staffing
Academic Supports at YHS • We don’t want any student to fall behind. Students should never be failing a class because… • Grade checks required • Parent grade monitoring • Learning Lab 3 days per week after school • Saturday Learning Lab twice monthly if not passing • Peer tutoring available – after school and during the school day • Counselor checks on graduation status each year with parent sign off • Students need to be passing (or making significant progress toward passing) to participate in sports and activities
Communication From School • School Website • Newsletters online • Autodial Calls • Roughly one per week • Schedule and activity information • Family Access functions • Encourage teachers to use Skyward messaging to families
Athletics • RMS Nicole Minor, ASB Secretary • YMS Kim Gosney, ASB Secretary • Activity Bus from both schools to YHS • Turn in paperwork to the middle school your student attends • Fall – Winter – Spring
In Summary…We ask our 9th Graders to do the following… • Attend school every day • Read every day • Do the work that is assigned • Look out for each other
RMS and YMS Email/Phone Contact RMS • John_johnson@ycs.wednet.edu 400-0872 • Ron_barnard@ycs.wednet.edu 400-0867 • Stacey_jansen@ycs.wednet.edu 400-1100 ex 11104 • Melanie_keller@ycs.wednet.edu 400-1100 ex 11103 • Nicole_minor@ycs.wednet.edu 400-1100 ex 11101 ASB • Sharilyn_howell@ycs.wednet.edu 400-1100 ex11122 Admin. Assistant YMS • Heidi_bunker@ycs.wednet.edu 458-6176 • Corrina_durocher@ycs.wednet.edu 458-6159 • Michelle_merlitti @ycs.wednet.edu 458-6154 • Sahja_cove@ycs.wednet.edu 458-8288 • Kim_gosney@ycs.wednet.edu458-3600 ASB • Linda_davis@ycs.wednet.edu458-3600 Admin. Assistant
YHS Contact Information • Principal • Brian Wharton • Kari Polzin – Administrative Assistant 458-6212 • Athletics and Activities • Thad Nelson, Asst. Principal and Athletic Director • Martha Auldredge, Asst. Principal and Activities • Deb McLean – ASB office 458-6205