A Student’s Guide to preparing A Student’s Guide to preparing for the 9for the 9thth grade year grade year

Success in High School (more than just good grades)…

1. Form relationships early with teachers—you’ll need an inside source

2. Familiarize yourself with the high school website—lots of great information for all sorts of topics

3. Organization--Keep an assignment notebook or an agenda, as well as a folder for each class with a “need-to-do” and an “already done” pocket

4. School is more than schoolwork—consider extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities

(Colleges do!)

5. Check out job-related experiences—COOPs and internships

6. Monitor motivation—keep track of grades and check in with teachers periodically; Parents can also use Pinnacle Viewer

7. Start college in High School

8. Choose a next step toward college—choose two possible colleges this year—avoid the senior year rush

(Source: “7 steps to stay ahead” by Brian Taylor)

Begin with the end in mind…

What college do you want to go to?

What do you want to study?

What kind of career goal(s) have you set for yourself?

What kind of life do you want for your family?

Picking your classes for next Picking your classes for next yearyear

High School Schedule:

--Students schedule 7 classes total—Choose classes with

your future in mind

--Each class lasts 45 minutes

--Some upper level activity-based classes meet for two

consecutive periods

--Some classes change at thesemester (Health, Comm. Apps., Keyboarding, etc.)

A Quick, Important Definition:

Credit:

A credit is what you receive when you pass a full year of one subject. Passing

one semester (or half a year) will earn you a ½ credit.

EX: If you need 1½ credits of a class to graduate, you need to take (and pass) one

year and one semester of that class.

You need a total of 26 credits.

Graduation Requirements:

Page 4 in the Course Guide

--4 years of each core subject (4 x 4)--more core classes translates to fewer electives, so more thorough planning is important

CoursesGraduation Requirements 2011 – 2-15

Recommended Distinguished

English (I, II, III, IV) 4 Credits 4 Credits

Mathematics4 Credits

(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II + 1 other)

4 Credits (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II + 1 other)

Science4 Credits

(Biology, Chemistry, Physics + 1 other)

4 Credits (Biology, Chemistry, Physics + 1

other)

Social Studies

3 1/2 Credits (W. Geography, W. History, US History, Government)

3 1/2 Credits (W. Geography, W. History,

US History, Government))

Economics 1/2 Credit 1/2 Credit

Physical Education 1 1/2 Credits 1 1/2 Credits

Health Education 1/2 Credit 1/2 Credit

Other Language 2 Credits (same language) 3 Credits (same language)

Technology Applications

1 Credit (same course) 1 Credit (same course)

Fine Arts 1 Credit (same course) 1 Credit (same course)

Communication Applications

1/2 Credit 1/2 Credit

Total Core Subjects 22 1/2 Credits 23 1/2 Credits

General Electives 3 1/2 Credits 2 1/2 Credits

Total Credits 26 Credits 26 Credits

Distinguished Plan:

--Requires 3 years of a world language (Spanish, French, German)

AND…

Four Advanced Measures:

A combination of four of the following:

1.AP Classes with scores of three or better on the AP exam or Dual Credit classes with a B or better.

2.National Merit Commendation (PSAT)

3.Tech Prep classes (only one counts toward the total) with a grade of B or better

4.A research project done through an independent study class

Freshman Core Classes

English: PreAP, GT or Regular English

Math: Algebra 1, Geometry, PreAP Algebra I or PreAP Geometry

Social Studies: PreAP, GT or Regular World Geography

Science: PreAP or Regular Biology

Sequence of English Courses

Language Arts English I English II English III English IV

PreAPLanguage Arts

PreAP English I

PreAPEnglish II

AP-English III

Courses Offered at Level

English I (9)English II (10)English III (11)English IV (12)PreAP English I (9)PreAP English II (10)AP English III (11)AP English IV (12)

8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

AP-English IV

Gray boxes indicate required courses for graduation

Courses must be taken one at a time, in order

Students are not bound to stay on one track or another (ex.

students can move into PreAP with teacher and parent approval.

PreAP Algebra I

PreAPGeometry

PreAPAlgebra II

PreAPCalculus

Math 8

Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Precalculus

4th Year of Math TBA

Math Models

Algebra II

PreAPAlg. I

PreAPGeometry

PreAPAlgebra II

PreAPCalculus

APStatistics

APCalculusAB/BC

Geometry Algebra II Precalculus 4th Year of Math TPB

Courses Offered at Level

Algebra I (9)PreAP Algebra I (9)Geometry (9-10)PreAPGeometry (9-10)Algebra II (10-12)Pre-AP Algebra II (10-12)Mathematical Models (11)Precalculus (10-12)PreAP Precalculus (11-12)AP Statistics (10-12)AP Calculus AB/BC (11-12)

9th Grade 10th Grade 11thGrade 12thGrade8th Grade

Sequence of Mathematics Courses

Sequence of Science Courses

PreAP Biology

PreAP Chemistry

PreAP Physics

Biology 4th year

TBD

Physics

Chemistry

One Credit must come from each area of science listed:Biology, AP Biology,Chemistry, AP Chemistry, orIB ChemistryPhysics, AP Physics, or IB PhysicsAnd a fourth science credit from a higher level science course approved by the state.

AP Biology

AP Chemistry

AP Physics

N

IPCN

ChemistryN

4th year TBD

Sequence of Courses

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

World History PreAP

World Geography

PreAP

Government AP

Economics AP

US History AP

World Geography

World History

Government

Economics

US History Courses Offered at Level World Geography (9) Pre-AP World Geography (9) World History (10) Pre-AP World History (10) US History (11) AP US History (11) Government (12) Economics (12) AP European History (11-12) AP Government (12) AP Economics (12) AP Human Geography (9-12) Sociology (10-12) Psychology (10-12) AP Psychology (11-12)

Sequence of Social Studies courses

Electives

Reminder: 7 total classes + 3 alternates

PLAN AHEAD!!!

Over 4 years:

--2 1/2 to 3 1/2 electives

--2-3 years World Language (Spanish, French, or German)

--1 Technology applications credit (Keyboarding, Communications

Systems don’t work)

--1 Fine Arts credit

--1 semester each: Communications Applications and Health

PE Credits: 1½ needed for graduation

PE Foundations (1/2 credit)

PE Individual Sports (1/2 credit)

PE Team Sports (1/2 credit)

Marching Band

Cheerleading

Dance/Drill Team

Athletics

Technology Applications: 1 credit needed for graduation

Computer Science 1 or 2

BCIS 1 or 2

Computer Applications

Yearbook 2 or 3

Multimedia

Business Computer Programming

Web-Mastering

Fine Arts: 1 credit needed for graduation (please note: many of these can also count for PE credit if more than one level is taken)

Art

Dance

Sidekicks

Band

Theatre

Art History (AP)

Music Theory (AP)

What about Pre-AP Courses: How many should I take?--Only you can determine this!--What are my strengths?--Outside activities?--How important are these to me?--How will these prepare me for my future?Some classes require work during the summer prior to 9th grade (check the website)

PLEASE NOTE PLEASE NOTE PREREQUISITESPREREQUISITES FOR FOR EACH!!!EACH!!!

Deadlines:

Preregistration forms are due to the middle school counselor – Medlin Feb. 18th, Pike Feb. 19th, Chisholm Feb. 20th

June 12, 2008—Last day to change classes

First 10 days of semester: changes due to academic misplacement only

Some things to think about…Some things to think about…

Every class you are in counts!!

At the end of the semester, every class with a grade above 70 you receive ½ a credit.

Every class with a grade below 70 you receive 0 credits.

Your goal: ½ credit in every class you take each semester you are in high school.

How credits are awarded

To be promoted:

You need a total of 6 credits at the end of your freshman year.

Basically, that means passing 6 of your classes first semester and 6 of your

classes second semester.

Remember that more than nine absences in any class could cause you to lose credit.

Attendance is important!!!

Remember it takes 26 credits to graduate and

you can only earn 28 in your four years

at NHS!!

Remember -

Every class counts!!!

Your semester grade……is the average of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd six weeks

grades and your grade on the semester test

…is how you earn or deny yourself a ½ credit

…is important to your GPA

Moral: If you had a rough time this six weeks, there is still time to turn it around in the 2nd and 3rd six weeks. For more information, see your teacher

Get a Jump on High School

Summer School Courses for Advancement:

Health

Keyboarding

Physical Education

Communication Application

Correspondence CoursesCorrespondence Courses

Students can take up to 2 whole classes Students can take up to 2 whole classes this way (4 semesters). this way (4 semesters).

Course assignments are mailed to the Course assignments are mailed to the student and tests are mailed to the NHS student and tests are mailed to the NHS testing coordinator. Students make an testing coordinator. Students make an appointment to take the test at NHS.appointment to take the test at NHS.

This is a good way to earn credits This is a good way to earn credits outside of the normal school year.outside of the normal school year.

Texas Tech Outreach and Extended Texas Tech Outreach and Extended Studies Studies

website:http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/website:http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/

Dual CreditThrough our partnership with North Central Texas College, we offer a variety of courses

through which a student can earn simultaneous credit for their high school and college course.

For example: A student taking dual credit English will earn English 4 credit, as well as two

semesters of credit for NCTC’s freshman English class.

Note: These classes are usually taken during 12th grade, with few exceptions

The most important thing you The most important thing you can do for your future.can do for your future.

Athletic Information Night

February 18th

Texan Gym

For more information…

Athletics— Gary Prescott at gprescott@nisdtx.org or Teresa Smith at tsmith@nisdtx.org

Band—Scott Lewis at slewis@nisdtx.org or Paul Elder at pelder@nisdtx.org

Ag/Career/Tech—Tony Neely at tneely@nisdtx.org

Sidekicks—Heather Allen at hallen@nisdtx,org

Cheer—Tammy McClure at tmcclure@nisdtx.org

Choir—Vicki Jones at vjones@nisdtx.org

Theater—Alva Hascall at ahascall@nisdtx.org

Student Council—Mary Whittenberg at mwhittenberg@nisdtx.org

Contact your student’s counselor for more details:

9th

A-K Mike HaysL-Z Kerry Jones

10th-12th

A-Ek Jennifer MartinezEl-Li Gayle Binder

Li-Roe Amber WardRof-Z Jamie Farber

For questions about GPA’s and Transcripts, contact Hollie Bierlein at 817-215-0238

Information (including this PowerPoint) will be available on

the Northwest Counseling Website.

Visit us today at

http://www.nisdtx.org/12082073195920780/site/default.asp

In closing…

Some thoughts from a professional football locker room…

Blame No One

Expect Nothing

Do SomethingAuthor Unknown

Success depends on what you are willing to invest in yourself…

…and, more importantly, the people around you.