Sophomore Parent/Student Meeting

1. Sophomore Parent/Student Meeting Thursday, August 28, 2014

2. Academic Basics : A Review • Graduation Requirements – 22 credits • 4 English – 1 each year • 4 Math – 1 each year • 3 Science – freshman, sophomore, junior years • 3 Social Studies – sophomore, junior, senior years • 1 Fine Arts – any year • ½ Health – freshman year • ½ Physical Education – freshman year • 6 Electives – all years

3. Academic Basics : A Review • Pre-College Curriculum • Graduation Requirements • 2+ years of same foreign language • Highlands High School Advanced Curriculum • Pre-College Curriculum • 10 Advanced Level Courses (these can be Advanced or AP) minimum • 2 AP Courses minimum • Minimum GPA of 3.75

4. Academic Basics : A Review • Major of Intensive Study • Pre-College Curriculum • Four courses in the intended area of study with a minimum grade of B/85 • Completion of Senior Seminar Course • AP Capstone • Pre-College Curriculum • Complete the AP Seminar/English II Course • Complete the AP Seminar/Senior Seminar Course • Four or more additional AP courses

5. Academic Basics : A Review • Credits for Promotion • Freshman  Sophomore Year = 5 cumulative credits earned • Sophomore  Junior Year = 10 cumulative credits earned • Junior  Senior Year = 16 cumulative credits earned • Senior  Graduation = 22 credits

6. Academic Basics : A Review • The Transcript • Grades and credits earned through each year of high school • Semester grades for each course taken • Attendance Record • Test Scores – Plan, PSAT, ACT, SAT, AP • Test scores are not on the transcript • Must be sent to colleges and scholarships from the testing agency

7. Schedule Planning • Core Courses • All students have to take a base of core courses • Levels will vary by student • Electives • All student have to take a variety of elective courses • Choose courses where there is an interest (not necessarily your future career) • Appropriate Level • Can’t OR Won’t?

8. Schedule Planning • Vocational School • Grades 11 & 12 only • Need to start thinking about early (have you had your fine arts?) • Sign up at end of sophomore year - when scheduling • 3 courses at Highlands/ 3 courses at McCormick • MUST take Fine Arts elective as freshman or sophomore • MUST be diligent about passing courses • Areas of study: Autobody Repair, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Health Sciences, Masonry, Welding

9. Where Do I Begin??? College Planning

10. College Fairs • National College Fair • Sunday, Sept. 14 • 1:00-4:00pm • Duke Energy Center • Regional College Fair • Tuesday, Sept. 23 • 6:00-8:00pm • NKU • Visual and Performing Arts College Fair • Monday, Oct. 13 • 7:00-9:00pm • Xavier University

11. Websites to Help the Search • Naviance • Students have a log in • Parents have a log in • www.collegeboard.com • www.actstudent.org • www.kheaa.com

12. Testing • Plan Test • Thursday, September 18 • No cost • PSAT • Wednesday, October 15 • $14 (payable to HHS) • On Demand – KPrep • Late May • End of Course Assessments – EOC • English II – all sophomores • Biology – all sophomores • Algebra II – some sophomores • US History – all juniors • Late May • ACT • Possibly in the Spring if you choose • Register at www.actstudent.org • $38 – without writing • $54.50 – with writing

13. Benchmarks • What is a “benchmark” and why do my kids keep talking about them? The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses.

14. Benchmarks

15. What Should I Be Doing Now? ACADEMICALLY • Refine your route: Look ahead to which 11th and 12th grade courses you might be interested in taking and plan to work on any prerequisites. • Challenge yourself, but wisely: Create a balanced schedule. You want to strive for the best possible grades, but overtaxing yourself is bound to be counterproductive. Stressed-out brains don't work well.  • The Junior Year Transcript is what gets you admitted to college.

16. What Should I Be Doing Now? OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES • Participate in clubs, sports, activities, community service, jobs. It’s quality and not necessarily quantity. • “It's better to be involved in fewer activities wholeheartedly over time, rather than 9 or 10 superficially." • Put together a resume: Note your hobbies, jobs and extracurricular activities. For now, it's just a way to keep track. USE NAVIANCE!

17. What Should I Be Doing Now? PERSONALLY • What Do You Like? • What Are You Good At? • Complete some interest inventories online • Naviance • CollegeBoard • ACT

18. What Should I Be Doing Now? • College Visits • Summer Programs • Governor’s School for the Arts • Check Guidance Website and College Websites for programs • Enrichment Activities • College Research – complete a college match (Naviance & CollegeBoard) • Where? • Size? • Academics • Activities/Athletics

19. What are colleges looking for in an applicant? • Challenging Schedule • Grades • Standardized Test Scores • Extracurricular Activities • Application Essay • Letters of Recommendation • Other Factors – majors, auditions, socio-economic, etc.

20. What’s the “general” process? • The short answer: • Submit application • Submit test scores • Submit transcript • Submit additional materials • Essay • Letters of Recommendation All schools are different so follow their instructions and ask lots of questions.

21. How Am I Going to Pay for This? • KEES $$ • www.kheaa.com • Academic Common Market • Scholarships • Unfortunately there is no “one place” for all scholarship information • Naviance for local scholarships • University based scholarships • National scholarships • Loans

22. What it Boils Down To… • Get Good Grades • Take Academically Appropriate and Rigorous Courses • Take College Admissions Tests – Prep if Needed • Research, Research, Research • Participate • Enjoy Your High School Experience!

23. Reminders • Stay in contact with the Guidance Department : • Guidance Website • www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School  Quick Links  Guidance Department • Naviance • www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School  Quick Links  HHS Naviance • Twitter • @hhs_go • Remind Text Messages • Text @08617 to (616) 723-9589

24. Questions? Trinity Walshtrinity.walsh@fortthomas.kyschools.us859.815.2605 Laura Schnitzlerlaura.Schnitzler@fortthomas.kyschools.us859.815.2622 *email will likely get you a quicker response.