Incoming Freshmen Registration

Administration

Principal – Mr. Curt Landry (Seniors)

Asst. Principal – Mr. Brett Ferguson (Academics)

Asst. Principal – Mr. Frankie Palermo (Freshmen)

Asst. Principal – Mr. James Picheloup (Sophomores)

Asst. Principal – Mr. Rob Schlicher (Juniors)

Counselors

Class of 2024 (Freshmen) – Mr. Brad Clark

Class of 2023 (Sophomores) – Mrs. Paula Barras

Class of 2022 (Juniors) – Ms. Kendra Boutte

Class of 2021 (Seniors) – Mrs. Ferri Fontenot

Contact information can be found in the Course Directory

Course Directory

Can be found on NISH’s website homepage at

nish.iberiaschools.org

TOPS Information

Can be found on the LOSFA website at

mylosfa.la.gov

What is the TOPS University diploma?

• Designed for students planning to attend a 4-year university immediately following graduation.• Students can also attend Community College based on admissions

• IMPORTANT NOTE: A student must still meet the admission requirements for individual universities.

• Students in the Honors program must be enrolled in the TOPS University diploma track.

• All students are automatically placed in TOPS University by La Dept of Education. Parents must make an appointment with Mr. Clark (Class of 2024 counselor) to sign the contract to enter the JumpStart Diploma.

TOPS UNIVERSITY CHECKLIST

What is the Jumpstart diploma?• Louisiana Workforce Commission determined high wage/high demand fields

which did not require a four year degree.

• Designed for students pursuing a future in technical school, community college, military, or workforce.

• Each student must select from pathways, receive credit in sequential 9 CTE (career and technical electives) courses, and earn a state, integrated, or regional certification to graduate.

• On-time graduation can be jeopardized if a student changes his/her diploma track or pathway!

IPSB Available Pathways (TBA in April)Listed below are some possible pathways

Business Management

Carpentry

Certified Nurse Assistant

Electrician

Emergency Medical Tech

Hospitality, Tourism, Culinary, and Retail

Internet Web Foundations

Welding

JUMPSTART CHECKLIST

Side by Side Course Comparison

Clearing Misconceptions

• With freshmen entering high school in 2014 (class of 2018), the TOPS University and Jumpstart diplomas were implemented.

• Both diplomas designate graduation from high school and are equivalent to one another – Jumpstart is NOT a lesser diploma.

• TOPS University students may still earn IBCs (industrial-based certifications) utilizing their electives.

• TOPS University students can continue directly to a four year university (Each university has their own admission requirements).

• Jump Start TOPS Tech students can enter directly into the workforce with their certifications or enroll in a community/vocational/technical school.

Transitional 9th Grade Students(9T)

• If an incoming freshman does not score at least a Basic in either ELA or Math on the 8th grade LEAP exam, he or she will be designated as a 9T.

• This means that a student does not meet the promotional standards for 9th grade.

• Based on State Law, a student designated as a 9T must receive a remedial course in the deficient area(s).

• These courses are Technical Writing A and Math Essentials A and will automatically be scheduled in the place of English I and Algebra I.

Honors Program• All honor students who enter NISH as a freshman in 2021 are required to

complete 26 credits from the prescribed college preparatory curriculum. Students following this curriculum will have 21 required credits and 5 credits to choose from electives.

• * Inclusive of 8th Grade Carnegie Unit High School Level Honors Courses

• Honors Program students will be required to complete a minimum of15 Honors Courses, an Art elective credit, IBCA, and PE/Health and all remaining requirements in order to complete the Honors Program.

• It is highly recommended that students choosing to enroll in an Honors level class have a history of scoring “Mastery” and “Advanced” on state proficiency exams while also maintaining a GPA of over 3.0.

Honors vs On-level Classes

Differences in class requirements• Moves faster• Different type of tests• More assignments• Higher difficulty level• Higher order thinking skills

**TOPS University diploma is designed to prepare students for University level work regardless of Honors designation or not.

Valedictorian Requirements

• The valedictorian(s) for the graduating class will be the Honor Graduates with the highest weighted GPA*. No salutatorian will be name if co-valedictorians are designated. All valedictorian candidates are required to complete a mandatory 18 credits from the prescribed college preparatory curriculum while meeting all requirements of the Honors Program. In addition, a composite of a 27 on the ACT must be achieved by February ACT test date of their senior year in order to be considered for the distinction.

• When weighting the student’s cumulative grade point average, only the mandatory 18 credits for valedictorian will be included in the weighted, recognition grade point average and is for ceremonial purposes only. If courses are pursued outside of the 18 courses, an equivalent course within the same subject can be substituted into the calculations.

• Example: If both Physics and Biology II are present on the transcript, the course with the highest average will be used in the weighted grade point average calculations.

• For more detailed information, please reference the Academic Handbook which will be posted on the NISH website in the near future.

English(Scheduled based on 7th & 8th grade LEAP testing history & 8th grade classroom performance)

•Technical Writing A

•English I

•English I (Honors/GT)

Math(Scheduled based on 7th and 8th grade LEAP testing history & 8th grade classroom performance)

• Math Essentials A

• Algebra I

• Algebra I (Honors/GT

• Geometry (Honors/GT if Algebra credit received in 8th grade)

*If a student was enrolled in 8th Grade Algebra, and he/she has less than an “A”, the student has the option to retake the course at the high school level. See your counselor for details.

Social Studies

•World Geography (OL/H) **

**If a student is considering the Jumpstart Pathway, he/she may want to choose an elective instead of World Geography because World Geog is not a graduation requirement for the Jumpstart diploma track

Science

•Environmental Science (recommended for the Jumpstart Diploma)

•Physical Science (recommended for the TOPS University Diploma)*

*Necessary if planning to take Chemistry

** Only one of the two sciences above is required for the Jumpstart diploma. Biology, the other required science (to be taken later), is mandatory.

Foreign LanguageIf you are on TOPS University, Foreign Language courses are required (but recommended later in your high school career). Foreign Languages are NOT required for Jumpstart.

If you were in French Immersion, you may have already received your credits. Check with your 8th grade counselor.

ElectivesElectives for Incoming Freshmen:

Art I PE I (Required)Band Nutrition and FoodChoir SpeechCyber Society Quest for Success* IBCA* NCCER Core*

*Quest for Success (Graduation requirement for Jumpstart)*IBCA (Certification in Word and Powerpoint)*NCCER Core (required before you can take Welding, Carpentry, and/or Electricity at Career Campus)

INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION PLAN

SCHEDULE FORM

SCHEDULE FORM (back)

PII CONSENT FORM

Parent’s Signature

• Students will be held responsible for schedule requests.

• If you do not turn in this form, your counselor will make your schedule, and you will not be able to change any of the courses that your counselor schedules for you.

• It is YOUR responsibility to turn in this form if you want to make your own choices!!!

• Parents must sign this form before turning it in.

• Please submit registration form prior to leaving tonight or to your 8th grade counselor by Tuesday, April 2!

Receipt of Schedule

• Next step:

• We will go into the main mall area and schedules will be sorted by alphabet.

• Look for the first letter of your last name on the wall behind the tables.

• Please sign the sheet that you attended the meeting and received your schedule.

• You can turn in your schedule tonight in the guidance office or turn it in to your counselor at your school.

• Thank you for attending!