Parent NightClass of 2014

September 22nd, 2010

Home of the Muskrats!

To Contact To Contact Your Your

Counselor…Counselor…Mrs. Coss

Freshman Students

(810) 794-4911 ext. 1281

ncoss@algonac.k12.mi.us

Office Hours:

Tuesday and Thursday

10:00 am – 2:45 pm

Counseling Services

• Crisis Intervention• Academic Issues• 504 plan Facilitators• Credit Checks/

Graduation Audits• Scheduling of

Students• Peer Mediation

• Career Counseling• TEC Placement• College Applications• Financial Aide help• Local/National

Scholarship Coordinators

• Military Liasions• And much more!

Visit the AHS Counseling Center Website

Website:

http://www.protopage.com/ahscounselingcenter

AHS Counseling Center AHS Counseling Center WebsiteWebsite

ACT/SAT Information College and Financial Aid InformationFAFSA (Free Application for Federal

Student Aid)Contact Information on Counseling

Agencies in our CommunityAll public and private colleges and

universities in Michigan Transfer guidesMuch more

High School Schedule

• 1st Hour: 7:35-8:35• 2nd Hour: 8:40-9:38• 3rd Hour: 9:43-10:41• 4th Hour: 10:46-12:14

Note: 3 Lunches are included in this time. Lunches are determined by the 4th hour teacher

• 5th Hour: 12:19-1:17• 6th Hour: 1:22-2:20

NOTE: Tuesdays and Thursdays will vary slightly due to our seminar rotations.

SEMINAR

• All students have a seminar on Tuesday & Thursday.

• 30 minutes

• Various topics including academic assistance, mentoring and character education.

• Four (4) rotations a year.

How many credits do you earn per class/per year?

• You earn .5 credit for each semester class. So … you should have 6 credits at the end of your freshman year but you can have 5.5 and still be on track.

Semester 1 Semester 2English 9 (.5) English 9 (.5)Core II (.5) Core II (.5)Biology (.5) Biology (.5)World History (.5) World History (.5)Elective (.5) Elective (.5)Elective (.5) Elective (.5)= 3 credits = 3 credits

6 credits a year multipled by 4 years = 24 credits

How many credits do you need to graduate?

• You need 23.5 overall credits to graduate

• You earn 6 credits a year x 4 years of high school = 24 credits

• Many kids graduate with more than 23.5 credits!

Additional CreditsAdditional Credits

Extra-Curricular Activities (.25 Credit Each)

All Sports Student Council

Quiz Bowl

Grade Level Status

• Students are only promoted to the next grade level when they have attained the required number of credits.

• You must have at least 5 credits by the end of your freshman year to be a sophomore!

What classes do you have to take?

• 4 English (English all four years)• 4 Math (Math all four years)• 3 Social Studies – World History, US History,

Federal Gov’t & State/Local Gov’t (9th, 10th, 11th grade)

• 3 Science • Health/Gym• One credit – Visual, Performing or Applied Art

What are the electives?

• They are the other classes that you take besides what is “required”.

• Some electives include – band, chorus, newspaper, yearbook, psychology, drawing & painting, drama.

• You need 6.5 elective credits

Required Freshmen Courses20010/11 School Year

• Math :

Core Plus II or Core Plus II Honors

• Social Studies:

World History

• English:

English 9 or

English 9 Honors

• Science:

Biology I & Biology II

The High School Transcript• Is a record of all the class taken and grades

earned in high school.

• Middle school grades are not reported on the high school transcript.

• The high school grade point average is cumulative, meaning that all grades are averaged together.

• The GPA is unweighted.

• 4-point scale

• A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0

AHS Ranking SystemAHS Ranking SystemBeginning with the class of 2007,

AHS put in place a new ranking system: Suma Cum Laude: 4.0 – 3.67 Magna Cum Laude: 3.66 – 3.3

Cum Laude: 3.29 – 3.0• Ten (10)Summa Cum Laude speakers will be selected to

compete for the opportunity to speak at graduation. The rubric is as follows:

1. Overall Grade Point Average2. ACT Score3. Class Selection Rigor

• These ten candidates will be invited to audition in front of a selection committee if they wish to be one of three speakers at graduation.

Here are a few pointers for parents…

• Sign up for Parent Connect. Parent Connect is a great way to see how your child’s grades are looking. Grades are updated daily, so it is always a good idea to look at it

everyday. To sign up, bring a photo id and your e-mail address into the AHS main office.

• Stay in contact with your students teachers. Teacher’s e-mail addresses can be found at the Algonac High School website. E-mail is a great tool because teachers can reply

to e-mail’s through out the school day. In many cases, you will get a quicker response if you use e-mail. Teachers

generally have to wait until their prep time

• The high school does not close its doors until 7 pm, and even later on nights when we have athletic events. If your

student is constantly telling you that he or she does not have homework, they are not being truthful. Bring them

up to the school and go through their locker. We have had many a parent amazed at what they find when they go

through their child’s locker.

• Our teachers are willing to meet with your student before school and after school… your student just needs to ask. Your student also has a 30-minute seminar every Tuesday

and Thursday. Students can use this time to meet with their teachers for extra help. Student’s just need to

prearrange this with their teachers.

• A wealth of information can be found at the Algonac High School website. Our web address is

www.algonac.k12.mi.us/ahs.

• While high school students like to be independent from their parents, it is still critical that you be an active

participant in their education. Take some time with them every night to look at their binders, papers and homework.

While you may not understand what they are doing in math class or science class, it shows that you care and are

willing to help them out if they need it.

What to Accomplish in 9th Grade?• Take challenging classes.

• Get good grades!

• Create a 4-year plan.

• Develop good study habits.

• Become involved in school and community.

• Explore careers.

• Explore colleges and universities.

Check Out College Websites

• 9th grade is not too early to begin college planning. • Your student should check out the websites of

schools that he/she is considering.• They are full of a wealth of information including

suggested, recommended or even required high school courses.

• Visit the AHS Counseling Center Website for a list of links to all two and four year collges and universities in Michigan.

St. Clair TEC • Kids attend TEC

during their junior and senior years

• TEC counts as elective credit

• Morning TEC students must be to AHS by 6:55 a.m.

• PM TEC students return to AHS at 3:05 p.m.

• At AHS 3 hrs/TEC 3 hrs

• Lots of different programs including, auto body, welding, cosmetology, health careers, constructions, digital media technology and more!

• You apply for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year.

Need Help?Need Help?• Mrs. Coss and Mrs. Blair are always happy

to help.

• Students can see their counselor by requesting an appointment in the counseling center.

• Thanks for coming.