Welcome Parents!

1. Welcome Parents! CLASS OF 2016

2. People at Rickards you need to know. • Now that your “child” has made it this far, what is next? • Graduation Requirements • Will need to register for an on-line course. • Bright Futures • What should you be doing now to help them get ready? • How can you allget help to make some decisions? • Answers to your burning questions

3. Guidance Department • Jones • 10-11 cohort • 12-13 cohort (IB w/Varn and alpha A-K) • Bright Futures • Waivers • Dual Enrollment • Thompson • 11-12 cohort • 12-13 cohort(at-risk) • Graduation Coach • Secretary: YasminFishburn • Registrar: Jolisa Coffee • Mentors: Hicks-Evans • Bostic • Behavior Support-all co-horts • Groups • Community Service-all co-horts • ESOL Coordinator • Schmeckenbecher • 13-14 cohort • 12-13 cohort (alpha L-Z) • Military contact • Referral Coordinator • Technology/Website • College and Career Center/Scholarships: Kraft • IB Dean: 13-14 and 12-13 cohort Varn

4. Call the Guidance office at 850-414-5020 or ask for Mrs. Fishburn to schedule a parent/teacher conference with all teachers or speak with your counselor directly. • Students should meet with their counselor at least 2 times this year! • Students may come to the Guidance Office before school, during lunch, or after school to make an appointment with their counselor. Sign up sheet is with Mrs. Fishburn at the front desk in the main office. the

5. Learn about educational opportunities after graduation from high school. • Discover career information – just ask! • Use the computers in the Media Center for career and post- secondary school searches. • Find answers: NCAA Clearinghouse, college visits, applications, transcripts. • Check with Mrs. Kraft in room 1414 for info on the College and Career Center.

6. PARENTS… Needtodrivethebus… to ensure that your student becomes the responsible adult that he or she is capable of becoming…the self- advocate who is capable of achieving their dreams and goals!

7. 11 credits(12creditsisontrack) 2.0GPA (recommended)

8. 24 Total Credits: • 4 English • 4 Math (Algebra 1- Pass EOC, Geometry EOC- 30% of the grade • 3 Social Studies • 1 World History • 1 United States History (EOC- 30% of the grade) • .5 Economics • .5 American Government • 3 Science (Biology EOC- 30% of the grade) • 1 H.O.P.E. • 1 Performing Fine Art/Practical Art • 8 Elective Credits • 1 online class through FLVS • Pass FCAT 2.0 • Reading- Level 3 • 2.0 GPA

9. OnlineCourseRequirement • Your child must take at least one online class before he/she graduates from High School. • The classes will take time. A full credit class can take up to 36 weeks to complete and a ½ • credit class can take up to 18 weeks to complete. • Once your child has registered and enrolled • in the class and had a welcome phone call, they have 28 days to drop the class without penalty. • After 28 days, your child can be withdrawn and will receive a WF, which the F will be put on their transcript here at the high school • Excludes Drivers Education

10. Your child must pass the grade 10 Reading FCAT and End of Course Exams in designated classes in order to receive their diploma. • Your child will take the FCAT Reading the week of April 21st •REMEMBER:

11. HelpThemConsiderTheirOptions WORK MILITARY TECH SCHOOL COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY 2 YEAR-4 YEAR

12. Minimum:18Academic Units • English – 4 credits • Math - 4 credits(including Alg. I, Geo., Alg. II, or a higher math) • Science – 3 or 4 credits • Social Studies 3 or 4 credits • Foreign Language – 2 or 3 credits (2 yrs. of the same foreign language) • 2 Academic elective credits (extra English, math, science, social studies, foreign language) • ACT/SAT • Recalculated GPA 3.0-3.5 weighted

13. Mid-RangeGPA’sandtestscoresforFalladmission:

14. FloridaAcademicScholarsAward • 3.5 GPAin selected subjects • 1290SATor29ACT • 100hourscommunityservice • FloridaMedallionScholarsAward • 3.0 GPAin selected subjects • 1170SATor26ACT • 75hourscommunityservice • FloridaGoldSeal VocationalScholarsAward • 3.0inselected subjects • 3.5in3sequentialvocationalcourses • 30hourscommunityservice • Testscores: • SAT–440verbal,440mathor • ACT–17English,18Reading, 19Math, or • PERT 104Reading,99Writing,113Math • Seewww.floridastudentfinancialaid.orgfor changesin awards/renewal

15. Community service– Remember to document hours earned and submit to counselor– All Bright Futures scholarships now require community service hours. • If your child is planning to play sports in college, your child can register online with NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of their junior year. • Bright Futures - Academic, Medallion and Gold Seal – Students will apply online senior year (opens December 1 of senior year). • www.flvc.org Use their account for an unofficial Bright Futures GPA evaluation!

16. Take the PSAT • Take classes that meet graduation and college admission requirements • Get involved in extracurricular activities and complete community service • Be on the College Track Check out www.FLVC.org for more information • Be ambitious and take rigorous classes • Earn college credit now! Look into taking Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Enrollment • Don't slack in the grade department. Freshman and sophomore grades are the foundation of their GPA, which factor into college admissions and scholarship awards • Have them get on FLVC.org and check their bright future's status, as well as, announcements on the Counseling Connection

17. Check out their unofficial Bright Futures GPA. • See courses taken • View current state GPA. • Apply to Florida Colleges. • Make a 4-year plan Yourstudentcan…

18. http://www.rickards.leon.k12.fl.us/ • Facebook: James S, Rickards Counseling Department • Twitter: #Rickguidance • www.campustours.com • www.flvc.org • www.onetonline.org • http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator • www.flvs.net