Transcript Document

College Planning Night
For Parents of Students
In Grades 9 and 10
WELCOME
Introduce Guidance Staff Members
 Tonight’s agenda
 Copy of slides available at the end of
our presentation
 Time Flies—You have to start now!

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Completing the requirements to graduate
from high school is not enough to get
into college.
Colleges are looking for students who
complete more than just the minimum
requirements.
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Graduation Requirements:
 Language Arts—4 years
 Math—3 years
 Science—3 years
 Social Studies—3 years
 Health & Physical Education—4 years
 World Language—1 year
 Visual/Performing Arts—1 year
 21st Century Life and Careers or Technology—1 year
 Financial Literacy—1 Semester
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
A typical freshman schedule with academic
classes:
(Not in order)
1. Physical Education/Health 9
2. English 9 Academic
3. World History Academic
4. Integrated Science Academic
5. Algebra 1 Academic (with lab)
6. World Language (Spanish 2 for most students)
7. Financial Literacy/Business Elective
8. Study (or Band or Academic Support)
9. Lunch (or Chorus)
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
A typical sophomore schedule with academic
classes:
(Not in order)
1. Physical Education 10/Driver’s Ed
2. English 10 Academic
3. US History 1 Academic
4. Biology Academic
5. Geometry Academic (with lab)
6. World Language (Spanish 3 for most students)
7. Visual Performing Arts Elective
8. Study (or Band or Academic Support)
9. Lunch (or Chorus)
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
A typical freshman schedule with honors
classes:
(Not in order)
1. Physical Education/Health 9
2. English 9 Honors
3. World History Honors
4. Biology Honors (must also have Geometry)
5. Geometry Honors (no lab)
6. World Language (Spanish 2 for most students)
7. Financial Literacy/Business Elective
8. Study (or Band or Academic Support)
9. Lunch (or Chorus)
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
A typical sophomore schedule with honors
classes:
(Not in order)
1. Physical Education 10/Driver’s Ed
2. English 10 Honors
3. US History 1 Honors
4. Chemistry Honors (with lab/must also have Algebra 2)
5. Algebra 2 Honors
6. World Language (Spanish 3 for most students)
7. Visual/Performing Arts Elective
8. Study (or Band or Academic Support)
9. Lunch (or Chorus)
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Typical Math Sequence
Grade 9: Algebra 1 with Lab (Academic Only)
Grade 10: Geometry with Lab (Academic or Honors)
Grade 11: Algebra 2 (Academic or Honors)
Grade 12: Intro to College Math* or Precalculus*
*optional
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Accelerated Math Sequence
Grade 8: Algebra 1
Grade 9: Geometry (Academic with Lab or Honors)
Grade 10: Algebra 2 (Academic or Honors)
Grade 11: Intro to College Math or Precalculus
Grade 12: Academic Calculus* or AP Calculus**
*Academic Calculus is optional and SHU-PA credits may be
available.
**AP Calculus is optional and requires a teacher recommendation
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Typical Science Sequence
Grade 9: Integrated Science (Academic)
Grade 10: Biology (Academic or Honors)
Grade 11: Chemistry (Academic or Honors)
Grade 12: Physics* (Academic or Honors) or
AP Biology** or AP Chemistry**
*optional
**optional—teacher recommendation required
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Accelerated Science Sequence
Grade 9: Biology (Academic or Honors)
Grade 10: Chemistry (Academic or Honors)
Grade 11: Physics (Academic or Honors) AND
AP Biology*/AP Chemistry*/AP Environmental*
Grade 12: AP Biology*/AP Chemistry*/AP Physics*/
AP Environmental*
*optional—teacher recommendation required
SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING
Some final thoughts on schedules and scheduling:
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Choose challenging courses that are appropriate for
your son or daughter’s ability level.
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Teacher recommendations are usually on target.
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Talking Study vs. Quiet Study.
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Use “Study” time to get your work done.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
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PARCC (grades 9, 10, & 11)
NJ Biology Competency Test (grade 10*)
PSAT (grades 10 & 11)
SAT (grade 11 & 12)
*any year a student is enrolled in a
Biology class that is not AP
STANDARDIZED TESTING
PARCC (grades 9, 10, & 11)
 Partnership for the Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers
 Replaces HSPA
 Administered in March and May
 Students must pass PARCC or one
of the other transitioning graduation
requirements approved by the NJ
Department of Education
STANDARDIZED TESTING
NJ Biology Competency Test
 Administered in May
 Mostly grade 10
 All students who are in Biology are
expected to test unless they are in AP
Biology
STANDARDIZED TESTING
PSAT
 Administered in October
 All students in grades 10 and 11
 Paid for by Pompton Lakes Board of
Education
 Students with IEP’s or 504 plans can apply
for modifications
 Score reports mailed home in December
 Score report includes test preparation
suggestions for SAT
STANDARDIZED TESTING
SAT
 Administered 7 times per year
 Students with IEP’s or 504 plans can
apply for modifications
 Students register and take the test on
their own
 Super-scoring
 2-3 times between spring of grade 11
and fall of grade 12
STANDARDIZED TESTING
PSAT/SAT Redesign (Class of 2017)
 Elimination of writing section
 Optional essay
 Maximum score of 800 for critical
reading and 800 for math
 Revised scoring procedures
 Revised content
 More information is available at
www.deliveringopportunity.org
GRADES
Parent Portal
 Parents and students must check the
portal regularly
 Account access
 All text in blue is a link
GRADES
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All four years of high school count.
All students have a planner that is paid
for by the PTA.
Students who struggle MUST go for
extra help.
GRADES
What is on a transcript?
 Final grades only for all completed
courses
 Grade point average
 Rank in class
 Completed credits to date
 Graduation date
GRADES
The Power of a Zero
0
+100
100 / 2 = 50 F
0
100
+100
200 / 3 = 67 D
For every 0, a student needs 2 100’s to bring
the average back to barely passing.
GRADES
Three Failing Scenarios:
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Average falls below 65.
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F for quarters 3 and 4.
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F for more than 50% of the grading cycles.
GRADES
Be careful:
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Health and Driver’s Ed
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Summer assignments
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Summer school
GRADES
Athletic Eligibility:
 All freshmen are eligible for fall and
winter sports.
 In order to play a spring sport, students
must be passing 15 credits (6 courses)
at the end of second marking period.
 In order to play a fall or winter sport,
students must be passing 30 credits (6
courses) at the end of the school year.
GRADES
Athletic Eligibility:
Hypothetically, if a student fails a full year class like
English:
35
-5
30
Eligible and
promoted to the next grade
GRADES
Athletic Eligibility:
Algebra and Geometry are now 6 credits.
35
- 6
29
NOT ELIGIBLE!
NOT PROMOTED to the next grade
unless the student goes to
summer school!
ATTENDANCE
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Students should try not to be absent or late.
Students should try not to take vacations during the
school year.
When absences are unavoidable, students should
make every effort to get their make-up work.
Limits:
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20 for full year course
10 for semester
5 for quarter (health)
If a student exceeds these limits they will be
denied credit for the course (WAT).
ATTENDANCE
“Cutting” class
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3 cuts in the same class will result in denial of credit
for the course (WAT).
If a student accumulates 10 cuts over several periods,
the student will be denied credit for the 11th cut
regardless of which course it is.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Colleges are looking for students who do more after
school than just play video games.
Getting involved in the high school community makes
high school more fun.
Students who are involved in activities tend to be wellrounded and more successful academically.
Involvement in extracurricular activities forces students
to budget their time, which is a great life skill.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Examples:
 Athletics
 Clubs (list in planner)
 Community Service/Volunteer Work
 Religious Groups
 Boy/Girl Scouts
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LEADERSHIP and VOLUNTEER WORK are key
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Keep track of activities, awards, and leadership
participation.
Quality over Quantity
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Parents should monitor social networking sites for
appropriateness.
Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying Laws
Inappropriate posts on social networking sites can have a
serious impact on college applications and acceptances
as well as on future employment.
Appropriate posts on social networking sites are not
harmful.
ADVANCE COLLEGE OPTIONS
Advanced Placement Courses
Seton Hall University Project Acceleration
Challenger Program through Passaic County Community
College
On-Site Decision Days
ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
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Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
Economics
English
Environmental Science
European History
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German
Music
Physics
Spanish
Statistics
Studio Art
US History
ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS
Seton Hall University Project Acceleration
(SHU-PA) Courses
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Anatomy and Physiology
AP Spanish
Astronomy
Calculus Academic
Sociology
Techniques of Written Expression
ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS
Challenger
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Passaic County Community College in Wanaque
Approximately $300 per course
Elective courses on a college campus
4 courses per year
ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS
On-Site Decision Days
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Fairleigh Dickinson University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
William Paterson University
Kean University
East Stroudsburg University
Centenary College
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
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College Fairs (grades 9-12)
College Research (grades 9-11)
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Internet
Guidance Office Resources
Guidance Office Website
Visit Colleges (grade 11)
Some Colleges Visit PLHS (grade 12)
All applications must be submitted prior to
winter break of senior year.
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
College is expensive and the price increases every year.
Most students receive some sort of financial aid.
Based on 2013-2014 data:
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Average Public College in NJ: $12,634
Average Private College in NJ: $34,076
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Average Room and Board: $11,033
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COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Private colleges may have a higher sticker price, but they
may be able to give more scholarships.
Apply to variety of colleges with different price ranges.
Some students opt to start their post high school
education at a 2-year college.
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
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Scholarships are advertised online in the Senior
Newsletter.
Local Scholarships will be mailed home in spring of
senior year.
FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
Questions?
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
Don’t forget to take a copy
of the slides from
tonight’s presentation!