2019-2020 welcome, freshmen! academic resources testing ... · attendance matters!! when you’re...
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Welcome, Freshmen!2019-2020
Introduction to Counseling Staff and ServicesTesting InformationAcademic Resources
The Counseling Staff:*Assigned by student’s last name:
● Mrs. Shari Smith: A-D○ [email protected] 323-5527
● Mrs. Krista Hovestadt: E-K○ [email protected] 323-5420
● Ms. Amy DiMaggio: L-Ri Director○ [email protected] 323-5472
● Mrs. Cindy Figueroa: Rj-Z○ [email protected] 323-5424
The Counseling StaffAdministrative Assistants:
● Ms. Stacey Hunter: enrollment, appointments, transcripts, registrar...○ [email protected] 323-5475
● Mrs. Kim Loiselle: college visits, scholarships, immunizations, academic awards...○ [email protected] 323-5464
Counseling Services● College Planning:
○ Completing basic requirements for future college/university applications, college advising regarding academic class selection, providing college research and resources, discussing post-secondary plans and general college advising.
● Career Planning:○ Career exploration activities, interest inventories, Career Cruising
access, resources for local skilled trades/unions and military contact information.
Counseling Services● Academic:
○ Selecting your classes for all four years, monitoring required classes and graduation credits, auditing classes, access to academic help.
● Individual/Personal Counseling:○ Counselors are always here for you to help with any question or
concern you might have. We are here to listen and provide support. We provide outside resources for additional help, when needed.
High School: it counts!!● Semester credits add up to earn required # for graduation● Grades count! They build into a GPA: grade point average
● It all matters… completing daily homework, making up missing work, preparing for a test/quiz, taking semester exams, passing a course and getting good grades.
● ATTENDANCE matters!!○ When you’re absent, you miss content/material/info. It’s hard to ‘make up’ class
discussions, teaching/instruction and learning.○ If you miss more than 9 days in one semester, you could lose credit in that class!!
After 9 days absent, you need to “earn back time” (days you missed) in order to get credit. Earn back time will be on Saturday mornings at the end of the semester.
CREDITS● Classes that are year long = 1 credit
○ First semester = .5○ Second semester = .5
● Classes that are semester long = .5 credit● Semester grades appear on your transcript ● Semester grade / credit is comprised of:
○ Marking Period / Quarter 1 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade○ Marking Period / Quarter 2 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade○ Semester exam 20% of semester grade
■ You must pass 2 of the 3 above AND achieve a 59.5% in order to earn the .5 semester credit.
● To pass a class, you need to earn 59.5% or higher ○ D- or above…E is failing.
Graduation Requirements: PPS
Portage Public Schools Graduation Requirements:
● Students must earn 26 credits within 4 years of starting high school.○ Middle School credits do not ‘count’ towards the total 26 required. Those classes
were pre-requisites to move to the next level.○ Middle School classes will appear as letter grades, but will NOT factor into your high
school GPA.
● Students must pass certain “core/required” classes:○ Michigan Merit Curriculum (next slide)
Michigan Merit Curriculum● English 4 credits● Math 4 credits
○ Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Senior year math or math-related● Science 3 credits
○ Chemistry / Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics 2, Earth Science● Social Studies 3 credits
○ Modern American History, Government/Economics, World History● Health .5 credit
○ Health: one semester course = .5 credit / required○ Health/Freshman Focus: year long course = 1 credit/recommended
● World Language 2 credits of same language○ 2 years in middle school count as the 2 year requirement○ 3-4 years strongly recommended for competitive colleges
● PE 1.5 credits○ Can be “waived” with a PNHS sport or marching band. See your counselor if you have questions.
● Fine Arts 1 credit○ Recommended in 9th or 10th: art, music, business, woodworking
PPS Graduation● PPS does not allow a student to be “held back” or “repeat a year”. You still
move on to the next grade level and have to take the required classes, even if you have failed previous classes.
● Our summer program is an online program only for students who are ‘at risk’ of not graduating (who have failed four or more semester classes). Students must complete the work in a computer lab during the summer.
● Transportation is not provided for summer school.
GPA● It’s important to establish a strong GPA early. ● Freshmen year counts and is equally as important as any other year.
There are no “go-backs” or “re-do’s”. ● When you first apply to colleges, they will only see your cumulative
GPA from your 9th through 11th grade years. ● The later in high school, the harder it is to raise your GPA. In fact, it
will be easier to lower it, than raise it.● If you’re dreaming of college sports in your future, the NCAA
requires high school student athletes to have a 2.3 minimum GPA in core classes to be eligible to play in college.
Freshman Interview: 1:1● You will meet with your counselor 1:1 (“freshman interview” this
fall. ● This is just an informal meet n’ greet so you know who your counselor
is and so we know who you are.● You will receive a folder full of materials regarding PNHS life:
academic support and resources, school procedures.● Be sure to share those printed materials with your parents/guardians.
What to Expect Freshman Year:● Counselors will:
○ Provide scheduling presentations regarding requirements, college advising and course planning in late Jan - early Feb.
○ Meet with each student individually in February to select classes for the next academic year.
○ Help you to transition to high school successfully.○ Provide college research and career planning resources.○ Complete course audits to make sure you’re on track to graduate.○ Monitor your grades weekly and meet with you to provide academic support, when
needed.
What to Expect Freshman Year:● Students should:
○ Ask questions in class. Participate in class. Complete homework daily. Stay on top of assignments. Check teachers’ Google sites. Study for tests/quizzes.
○ Take responsibility for your learning: your homework, your questions, communication with teachers and attending class.
○ Contact teacher FIRST if you have questions/concerns about the topic (not understanding) or about a grade or assignment.
○ Monitor Skyward. Check your grades weekly. Ask a teacher if you have a question. Seek outside help if struggling. Ask your teacher first.
○ Pay attention to announcements. Have them emailed to your phone. They are printed in all offices. Follow PN on social media.
○ Remember the PRIDE matrix.
General Tips for the Future...
● Many academic, college & testing resources are available online. That means that you’ll have many different online accounts.
● START NOW AND RECORD ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS: website, username, login, password, etc.
● Future college applications / SAT testing and transcript info will all be handled online. Get organized and stay accurate early on!
● Set up a new, non-PPS email address for all academic accounts for now and the future. Be sure the address is “appropriate”.
Required Standardized Tests ● PSAT 9: practice test for the SAT
○ April. Free at PNHS. Counselors will register you.● Future Tests:
○ 10th grade: PSAT 10 ○ 11th grade: PSAT 11 ○ 11th grade: MME / SAT ○ 12th grade: Optional to retake SAT/ACT
Standardized Test Sequence
Practice for Standardized Tests The best preparation/practice for the PSAT, SAT is online through two important websites:
● The College Board www.collegeboard.org● The Khan Academy www.khanacademy.com
Your middle school counselors helped you create accounts at both sites in 8th grade. You linked those accounts so that you now have individualized practice for the PSAT 9 and SAT.
*Do not create new accounts at either College Board or Khan.*Use the “forgot password/username” prompt, if needed.
Counseling Procedures: how we stay in touch...● If you’d like to see your counselor, you should:
○ Come into the office and ask Ms. Stacey to make an appt for you.○ You may also email your counselor to ask a question or let her know that
you’d like to talk. ***Keep in mind… counselors will only check/respond to emails during school hours (7:30 am to 3:00 pm).
● If your counselor wants to see you, she will:○ Send a pass for you to one of your classes. Read the pass and report to the
counseling office when requested.○ You’ll “sign in and out” of the office each time.○ Be sure to check your school email. Counselors and teachers will
communicate with you via school email. We expect that you’ll check it often and respond.
Freshmen Reminders● Mrs. Hinga is your Assistant Principal: 323-5458
○ Attendance and discipline● Mrs. Clemens: 9th grade secretary: 323-5471
○ Attendance: parents call or send a note● Report to 3rd floor office if you arrive late or leave school early. You’ll
always need ‘a pass’ from grade office before you report to class.
Mrs. Clemens Mrs. Hinga (AP)
Good Luck● Have fun. Get involved. Meet new people. Try new
clubs/sports/activities. Go to events. Try out for new activities/events.● Work hard to pass your classes and seek help as soon as needed.
Establish a solid GPA.● Ask for help. Advocate for yourself.