Westminster High Welcome incoming 9 th graders!

1. Westminster High Welcome incoming 9th graders! We Are Westminster! We Are One!

2. Welcome Mr. Kenneth Goncz Principal

3. Objective: • Meet your School Counselor • Learn about graduation requirements • Learn about course selection process and four year plans. • Learn about the benefits of building a rigorous plan including Advanced Placement classes.

4. Meet Your School Counselors

5. Mr. Byrnes (A – COW)

6. Mr. Minnier (COX – HE)

7. Mrs. Lindsay (HI – MD)

8. Mrs. Naugle (ME – SA)

9. Mrs. Harper (SC – Z)

10. Minimum Graduation Requirements • English – 4 Credits inc. English 9, 10 etc or A.P. Lang. and Lit. • Math – 3 or 4 credits inc. Alg I, Interm Alg, Geometry, Alg II • Social Studies – 3 credits inc. Govt, US and World History • Science – 3 credits inc. Conceptual Physics, Chem I and Bio I • Physical Education – 1 credit, inc. PE I • Health – ½ credit • Fine Arts – 1 credit • Tech Ed – 1 credit – Foundations of Tech • Financial Literacy – ½ credit Financial Lit or Financial Mgmt using Software Apps

11. Graduation Alternatives • 2 credits World Language or American Sign Language + Algebra II • Or 2 credits Advanced Technology + Algebra II • Or State Approved Career and Technology Completer Program @ CCCTC or WHS • OR BOTH- Dual Completers

12. Additional Graduation Requirements… • 4 years beyond the 8th grade • 4 credits beyond 11th grade • Pass the HSA’s (State Tests): Algebra, Eng. 10, and Biology • Minimum of 25 credits(32 avail) • 75 Service Learning Hours

13. Course Selection Worksheets • Always read the directions, take your time • Select required course work prior to selecting optional electives • Credit total must equal 8 credits per year • Use a PENCIL • 2 alternate course selections are required as all courses requested may not schedule.

14. Course Selection Process • Use Program of Studies (white booklet) to get information about career pathways, graduation requirements, completers, courses available and descriptions. • Use Course Selection Worksheet to select desired courses and levels. • If you select an A/B Day course, be sure to balance it with another of equal credit value, totaling 1.0 credit • Transfer course numbers to Course Request Sheet • Meet with faculty advisor on advisory night to review selections and submit course requests for data entry

15. Course Levels • 1 Basic or below grade level • 6 Academic • 7 Articulated • 8 Honors • 9 Advanced Placement

16. Making Course Selection Decisions • Teacher recommendations • Counselor recommendations • Parent recommendations • Advisor recommendations • What are your goals for after High School?

17. Advisory • What is it? • Group of students who are linked to a teacher • Group remains together for all four years • Academic advice and support for each student • Who is my advisor? • You will meet your advisor at scheduling conferences 8th Gr. Transition day and again at freshman orientation in August. • When does it meet? • Every Wednesday, during the Flex Mod

18. FLEX Mod • Meets every day following Mod 1 • Students can meet with teachers for tutoring, testing, make up work and enrichment activities • Tuesday will be Club day • Wednesday will be Advisory day

19. Teen Leadership

20. Step Up! What Is Your Dream Job? • Are you preparing to make the climb and take the steps to fulfill that dream? • Are you aware of the pathway to that career?

21. What is Your Dream College? • Do you know what it takes to be admitted to that college or university? • Are you building a four year plan to achieve admission? • Are you acquiring the academic skills to graduate from that university? • Are you getting the most out of what WHS has to offer in fulfillingyour dream? • STEP UP!

22. Student 4 Year Plan (ECP)

23. Academics Matter • University admissions officers value performance in a rigorous schedule of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. • All 4 Years, All 8 Semesters! • Competitive admissions to Career and Tech. Center Completer Programs and technical post-secondary schools.

24. Academics Matter • “What courses should I take if I want to get into U.Va.?” • “Your academic program is very important to us; we need to see you challenging yourself in the classroom. In general, this means that you should take one of the toughest (if not the toughest) academic programs offered by your high school. The Office of Admission is also interested in academic leaders and intellectual risk-takers. ” • www.virginia.edu

25. Aren’t Extracurricular Activities Most Important? • “By far, the most important part of the selection process is the applicant's academic courses and his or her performance in those courses. The admission committee wants to see that students take a rigorous academic program and excel in that program. While extracurricular activities are an important way of demonstrating an applicant's ability to thrive in and contribute to the University, academics come first.” • www.virginia.edu

26. AP and Honors Classes and My GPA At Westminster, AP courses are weighted more than honors or academic courses. Weighted grades are used when calculating class rank. Weighted GPA Chart

27. “What do I do to STEP UP?” • “Where do I want to be at the conclusion of my time at WHS?” • “What is the path to my dream career/college?” • “What courses and completers best prepare me for that career/university major?” • Examine and Revise your 4 year plan- career pathways in front of P.O.S./ advisor/ counseling staff/ teachers. • Challenge yourself and take the most rigorous course load you can.

28. Advisory Meetings • Each student and parent is urged to meet with a WHS faculty advisor to review course selections and submit course requests. • All members of the incoming 9th grade class have been assigned an advisor for this purpose and parents may sign up for conferences in the main lobby at the conclusion of this meeting.

29. Questions???? • Course Selection? • Flex/Advisory? • Honors and AP? • Completer Programs? • Career and Tech. Center ? • ?????????