High School Informational Meeting

1. High School Informational Meeting 2014-2015

2. Timelines and Dates • Feb. 24, 25, 26, 27: Registration information presented in class to rising 9th graders • March 6th: Packets given out in homeroom/3rd period • March 10-27: High school course selections are entered in Homebase/Powerschoolfrom home or school • March 17, 18, 19, 21: Students will be given time in Language Arts classes to register at school.

3. Timelines and Dates • - March 14th: First deadline to have registration sheets turned in to Mr. Milner. • - March 27th: Final deadline to have registration finished!

4. Homebase Registration Option 2-Students Register from School • Students will register in library at school during week of March 17th. • This option is best for students who need more help. • Students will finalize at school, print out two copies, and take one home. Option 1-Students Register from Home • Students will use their Homebase login, to register from home. • Open to Students starting March 10th. • Students will finalize from home and print out 2 copies, get parent to sign and bring to Mr. Milner.

5. Homebase Registration ***Students and Parents*** • Students will receive instructions for how to register in their packets on March 6th. • There will be a more detailed link to instructions on the Mills Park website starting March 10th • Please use this as a guide to register • It will walk you through the process step by step

6. Forget Powerschool password? If you have forgotten your account information, you MUST see Mr. Wilson, Mr. Warwick, or Mr. Milner as soon as possible. You cannot register unless your account is active! No exceptions!

7. High School Registration*** • Your registration packet contains the following: • Recommendations from your teachers for classes next year • Directions-Registration from home using Powerschool(white paper) • Course selections by school (green paper) • 4 sample year plan based on your plans for after high school+ blank plan to keep at home (blue paper)

8. This is what will NOT happen this year! These are the knuckleheads who waited until the last minute to do their registration. You will not be a knucklehead! This is me! I was, of course, nice and helpful while answering all of their questions!

9. Important • Students will receive registration packets on March 6th during homeroom or 3rd Period • Follow the instructions printed on the white sheet to register from home. • REGISTER BEGINNING ON March 10th

10. Important • You can only register for your assigned school next year! If you want to register for another school, you MUST see Mr. Milner for the appropriate paperwork.*** • Refer to the High School Planning guide link for course descriptions • http://millsparkms.wcpss.net/pages/files/High%20School%20Program%20Planning%20Guide%202013-2014.pdf • Included in your packet is a reference sheet for several 4 year plans depending on your plans for after high school and a blank form for you to use and keep at home. • Registration instructions… You will have a single page copy in your packet and more instructions will be posted on the Mills Park website starting March 10th.

11. Future Ready? What Is It? • It is the Course of Study developed to provide a strong academic foundation so that students are prepared and have many optionswhen they graduate from high school whether they go to college or to work. The main idea is that students graduate. . . . Ready for their future!

12. What do classes look like in High School? • You will sign up for 11 classes • 8 classes which you want (4 in Fall, 4 in Spring) • 3 alternate electives as back up classes

13. What do classes look like in High School? Block Schedule • Students take 4 courses/credits each semester. • Each course is 90 minutes( some exceptions). • An entire year’s worth of curriculum is compressed into one semester. • Grades start accumulating from day one! No time to “catch up” later in the year!!

14. Career/Military Sample Plan

15. Community College/Specialized Trade School Sample Plan

16. UNC System Minimum Requirement Sample Plan

17. Competitive College/University Sample Plan

18. Most Competitive College/University Sample Plan

19. TestingRequirements*** Four EOC tests must be passed- counts as 25% of grade • Common Core Math I • Biology • World History • English II

20. English • English I, II, III, IV are required for graduation from high school • You will take either English I Honors or • Seminar (fall)/English I (spring) • Students must pass the English II end-of-course test to graduate • Still have to pass English I to become a sophomore

21. Social Studies • World History (Honors) • American History I: The Founding Principles • American History II • Civics and Economics There are honors courses for all of these and AP of Civics and Economics

22. Science • Biology (EOC Course) • A Physical Science-Physical Science, Chemistry, or Physics • Earth/Environmental Three credits are required for graduation (one in each of the above areas)

23. Math 4 creditsare required for graduation : • Math IA/IB • Common Core Math I • Special Topics/Math II (Honors) • Common Core Math II (Honors) • Common Core Math III Honors Options for a 4th math class include: Pre-calculus, Statistics, Calculus (in rare instances a student may be able to opt out of the above math sequence)

24. Second Languages • Minimum of 2 credits of the same language ARE required for admission to UNC System of Colleges • Competitive universities may require more than 2 credits of a foreign language • Most local high schools require A averages in 8th grade courses in order to take a foreign language in the 9th grade. • Panther Creek…

25. Band • If you are sign up for band you need to sign up for two classes • Either Band I/Marching Band • Or Band I/Concert Band

26. Healthful Living • Students must pass Healthful Living I • Recommended to be taken in the 9th grade.*** • Students may opt to take other PE courses as upperclassmen

27. Career and Technical Education • To graduate with a CTE concentration a student must take four credits within a cluster • Agricultural and Construction • Finance • Human Services • Information Technology • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics • Business Management and Administration • Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

28. Calculating GPA Grade Point Average

29. Calculating GPAGrade Point Average The GPA chart shows the number of quality points given for each letter grade. If Heather receives the following grades, what is her current GPA? H English A-5 H Earth Science B-4 Healthful Living A-4 Math 1 A-4 5+4+4+4=17 17/4=4.25

30. A Word to the Wise • Remember to balance your academic and social life. • Get involved (check out clubs/ teams/organizations) Great way to make friends, helps you learn who you are, and use for college applications. • Get to know your high school counselor. • Make good friends. • Know and obey laws and school rules.

31. Points to Ponder • Do your best so you will be prepared for high school • Set high standards for yourself • Be cautious about internet postings- colleges may do internet searches to gain information about you Courses taken, class rank, and GPA**will be viewed by colleges and employers • Challenge yourself to take courses that are more rigorous

32. Please talk with your student/parent/guardian and decide together what course selections you want to take Please e-mail with questions and include your phone number Email: smilner@wcpss.net