RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL RISING FRESHMAN PARENT /STUDENT COURSE REGISTRATION ORIENTATION 2015-16

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL!!

AGENDA FOR THE EVENING

Rising 9th Grade Program

Scheduling Overview/OrientationAuditorium

6:45 – 7:20 pmPresenters:

Doug Anderson, Principal, Rob Yarborough, Director of School Counseling

Curriculum FairCafeteria

7:20 – 8:20 pmPresenters: All Subject Department Chairs

WE ARE RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Mr. Doug Anderson – Principal Mr. Rob Yarborough – Director of School

Counseling Mr. Matt Oblas – Athletic Director Ms. Charlene Mosesso - Bookkeeper

WE ARE RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Lynn Davies –Social Sciences

Nick Worek-Health & PE

Dawn Blubaugh- MathAJ Talboo- Science Bram Smith- Music Carole Belkin-Learning Resources

Cheryl Daley-Career & Technical Ed

Kira Kristan–English

James Fetterman-World Language

WHERE DO WE START?

“Begin with

the end

in mind.”

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleby Stephen R. Covey

HELPING YOUR YOUNG ADULT PLAN FOR THE FUTURE:

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OPTIONS

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OPTIONSIn Virginia, diploma options available to all

students student’s in the class of 2019:

Advanced Studies Diploma 26 Credits/9 Verified Credits

Standard Diploma 22 credits/6 Verified Credits

Standard Diploma w/Credit Accommodations 22 Credits/6 Verified Credits Only students receiving learning services

and have IEP’s can qualify for this diploma

Credits

Students earn units of credit in high school by successfully completing all of the course requirements with a passing

mark.

Semester courses earn ½ unit of credit – 70 seat hours.

Year-long classes earn 1 unit of credit – 140 seat

hours.

Verified Credits

A verified credit is earned by successfully earning a credit, and passing the associated Standard of Learning (SOL) test for a subject.

Students must earn a specified number of verified credits to earn a

diploma in Virginia, depending on the diploma type.

High School Courses with an SOLWorld Hist/Geog 1; World Hist/Geog 2; US History

Algebra 1; Geometry; Algebra 2Earth Science; Biology; Chemistry

English Reading; English Writing (during Eng. 11)

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMAAcademic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits

English 4 2Social Science(World Studies (2), US/VA Government, and US/VA History)

4 2

Mathematics(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or above level of Algebra II)

4 2

Science(From 3 of the 4 disciplines: Biological, Chemical, Physical, Earth)

4 2

World Language (3 years of one language or 2 years each of two different languages)

3 or 4 0

Health/Physical Education 2 0Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education 1 0

Economics & Personal Finance 1 0Electives 3 0Student Selected Verified Credit 0 1Total (depends on foreign language option) 26 9

STANDARD DIPLOMA

Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified CreditsEnglish 4 2Social Science(World Studies, US/VA Government, and US/VA History)

3 1

Mathematics(Algebra I, Geometry, Functions, Algebra II or above level of Algebra II)

3 1

Science(From 2 of the 4 disciplines: Biological, Chemical, Physical, Earth)

3 1

Health/Family Life/Physical Education 2 0World Language, Fine Arts, or CTE 2 0

Economics and Personal Finance 1 0Electives (Must include 2 sequential electives) 4 0Student Selected Verified Credit 0 1Total 22 6

HOW DOES YOUR STUDENT DECIDE ON WHICH DIPLOMA? Choose the most challenging courses in which you can

get mostly A’s and B’s.(This gives you a strong high school transcript and a solid grade point average)

Aim for the highest diploma you think you can achieve.(You can always “back off” later, but it’s difficult to catch up once you are behind in course work)

Take “core classes” every year.(English, social studies, math, science; and for competitive college admissions, foreign language)

Consider your previous academic and SOL test performance.(If you are having trouble passing the required number of courses or SOL tests, you may need to choose a different diploma. Your counselor can help you make that decision.)

HMMM…WHAT CLASSES DOES YOUR STUDENT SIGN UP FOR NEXT YEAR?

COURSE REGISTRATION PROCESS 2015-16

Students initial course registration will happen at each receiving high school.

Course registration info. will be forwarded to Riverside HS to process.

Feel free to consult with your students current counselor or call Rob Yarborough with questions.

Course change deadline is June 16! The last day of school.

COURSE CHANGES

Deadline is June 16 to make course changes for next year.

Due to staffing projections it is imperative that we have student schedules in place.

Please plan accordingly with this deadline. Requests to change courses after this date will be only

be made if there was error in course level/placement or a students does not meet a course prerequisite

Once school starts we will expect students to remain in their selected course unless there are extenuating circumstances. There will be a process established to work through the concerns.

7 CREDIT COURSES IN GRADE 9

English 9 World History/Geography I Earth Science (a few may elect Biology Honors)

Math Health/PE 9 World Language or Elective Elective Study Hall (Not for Credit)

“BLOCK” SCHEDULING SAMPLE SCHEDULE

“A” Day “B” Day1 – English 9/H 5 – World History I/A

Flex Period – 20 Minutes Flex Period – 20 Minutes

2 – Health/PE 9 6 – Study Hall

3 – Theater Arts 1 7 – German I

4 – Earth Science/H 8 – Algebra 1

THINK ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS ABILITIES. Consider their

academic strengths and challenges.

Consider previous grades and test scores.

What is THEIR academic motivation?? Goals??

CONSIDER YOUR INTERESTS What is your students

favorite subject? In what subject(s) does

your student do well in?

In what subject(s) does your student not do well in?

What are your students hobbies?

What career(s) is your student considering?

ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, & SCIENCE OPTIONS:Most 9th grade courses are offered at

two levels: Academic Honors or Pre-AP

Reading level and work ethic are a key factors in deciding which level of courses a student should take in grade 9.

Strongly consider teacher and counselor recommendations.

SCIENCE – EARTH SCIENCE OR BIOLOGY

A small number of 9th grade students elect to take Research Biology Honors instead of Earth Science Honors.

It is still recommended to take Earth Science as the normal 9th grade science sequence.

Both Earth Science and Biology are taught at the Academic and Honors Level.

However, Biology can only be taken at the Honors level for 9th grade students.

MATH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 9TH GRADE

Grade & SOL for current class

2013-2014

Math 8

Algebra I

Geometry

Algebra 2/Trig

“A” or “B”

AND Passed

SOL

Algebra I

Geometry

Algebra 2

Advanced Algebra/Precalculus

or Mathematical Analysis

“C” or “D”

OR Failed SOL

Algebra 1

Expunge MS course

Algebra I

Expunge MS course

Geometry

Expunge MS course

Algebra 2/Trig or

Algebra 2 “A” in

Algebra I & Geometry

AND Pass both

SOLs

N/A

N/A

Algebra 2 or

Algebra 2/ Trig

N/A

WORLD LANGUAGEMost four-year colleges prefer that you have a minimum of

three (3) years of a World Language. Very competitive colleges will want 4 or 5 years.

Spanish, French, German, and Latin are offered through the Advanced Placement

(AP) level in Loudoun County.

American Sign Language is offered for 3 years

ART 1

INTRO TO BUSINESS & MARKETINGCOMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEATER ARTS 1TECHNICAL THEATER 1JOURNALISMNEWSPAPER JOURNALISM 1PHOTOJOURNALISM 1

FASHION DESIGN & MERCHANDISINGGOURMET FOODSHUMAN DEVELOPMENTHOUSING/INTERIOR DESIGN

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 1FRENCH 1, 2 & 3GERMAN 1, 2, & 3LATIN 1, 2, & 3SPANISH 1, 2, 3

MUSIC APPRECIATIONMUSIC THEORYBANDCHORUSORCHESTRAGUITAR

TECHNICAL DRAWING AND DESIGNTECHNOLOGY FOUNDATIONS 1

9th Grade Elective Course Options

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE AS YOU HELP PLAN FOR BEYOND NINTH GRADE…

Monroe Technology Center and the Loudoun Governor’s Career & Technical Academy

Advanced Placement (AP) Classes

MONROE TECHNOLOGY CENTER ANDLOUDOUN GOVERNOR’S CAREER & TECHNICAL ACADEMYStudents seeking

highly technical andindustry-level

certification and/orlicensure will want toexplore the programs

offered at MonroeTechnology Center

•Administration of Justice

•Auto Collision Repair Technology

•Building Construction

•Computer Integrated Engineering & Design

(CIED)

•Computer Network Administration (CNA)•Advanced Computer

Networking

•Computer Systems Technology (CST)

•Cosmetology

•Culinary Arts

•EMT

•Firefighter

•Graphic Communications

•Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning

(HVAC)

•Masonry

•Nail Design Technology

•Television Production

•Welding

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses that students complete while in high school.

These courses allow students to develop the reading, writing, critical thinking, organizational, and analytical skills needed for college. They also require a substantial investment of student effort and time.

In May of each year, students take AP exams for these courses. Colleges may award college credit for completion of these AP courses if students earn a qualifying score on the exam.

The first AP course students are eligible to take is AP World History in grade 10. We highly recommend that students hoping to pursue this course take Pre-AP World History/Geography 1 in grade 9 so that they will have the skills necessary to be successful in a college-level course in their sophomore year.

BENEFITS OF AN AP COURSE

Gain invaluable academic skills Experience a college-level course and test Be more competitive in college admissions Study topics at greater depth Earn college credit or placement Save $$$ on college tuition Earn an additional 1.0 in your quality points for

your grade point average

OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Expunging high school credits and grades taken in middle school

EXPUNGING HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS…

Students entering the ninth grade for the first time have a one-time chance to remove high school classes/credits that are earned in middle school.

Students/parents will be given a form later this year to complete if they want to take advantage of this opportunity. Forms must be completed and returned no later than mid August 2015. Once high school begins, this opportunity ends.

CAMPUS PROGRAM Rising freshmen apply Focus on students historically

underrepresented in higher education and first-generation students

Provide enrichment opportunities throughout high school for students to learn about post-secondary educational and scholarship opportunities---such as college campus visits, special presentations on careers, colleges, and scholarships, etc.

Students begin building a portfolio in ninth grade to prepare them for life after high school

EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENTTHERE WILL BE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Choral GroupsEnvironmental Club

Knitting ClubModel UN

French ClubDECA

Art & Literary Magazine ClubSpanish ClubDebate TeamChess Club

Muslim Student AssociationNewspaper

FCCLAStudent Council Association (SCA)

German ClubTechnology Student Association

Walking Club

Drama ClubJapanese Manga &Anime Club

PEERFuture Educators of America (FEA)

Art ClubFuture Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Step TeamLatin Club

Marching BandAcademic Team

Color GuardJazz Ensemble

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)Dance TeamFishing Club

Battle of the BooksField Hockey Club

ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT

Fall Winter SpringFootball Basketball Baseball

Golf Wrestling Softball

Cross-Country Swimming Soccer

Volleyball Gymnastics Lacrosse

Cheerleading Cheerleading Tennis

Track & Field

FEBRUARY 9 & 10 - MR. YARBOROUGH TO BELMONT RIDGE MS

FEBRUARY 12 – CURRICULUM FAIR/OPEN HOUSE AT BELMONT RIDGE AT 6:45PM

MARCH ? – EXPO/ACTIVITIES FAIR

JUNE 16 – LAST DAY TO MAKE CHANGES TO SCHEDULES

Important Dates for Rising 9th Graders

ANYONE FEELING OVERWHELMED?

Everything will be okay.

We are here to help you.

The Program of Studieshas all of this information and more!

See the Index of Courses in the back of the POS

You will have four years to become an “expert” on all of this information.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT….