Transcript 1/2 credit - Northwest ISD

A Student’s Guide to preparing
for the 9th 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
year
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 the
semester (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:
Courses
Recommended
Distinguished
4 Credits
4 Credits
4 Credits
(Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra II + 1 other)
4 Credits
(Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra II + 1 other)
4 Credits
(Biology, Chemistry, Physics +
1 other)
4 Credits
(Biology, Chemistry, Physics + 1
other)
3 1/2 Credits
(W. Geography, W. History,
US History, Government)
3 1/2 Credits
(W. Geography, W. History,
US History, Government))
1/2 Credit
1/2 Credit
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)
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
26 Credits
26 Credits
English (I, II, III, IV)
Page 4 in the
Course Guide
Mathematics
Science
--4 years of each
core subject (4 x 4)
--more core classes
translates to fewer
electives, so more
thorough planning is
important
Graduation Requirements 2011 – 2-15
Social Studies
Economics
Physical Education
Communication
Applications
Total 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
8th Grade
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
PreAP
Language Arts
PreAP English
I
PreAP
English II
AP-English III
AP-English IV
Language Arts
English I
English II
English III
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.
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)
Sequence of Mathematics Courses
8th Grade
9th Grade
PreAP
Algebra I
10th Grade
PreAP
Geometry
11thGrade
12thGrade
PreAP
Algebra II
PreAP
Calculus
Algebra II
Precalculus
Math 8
Algebra I
Geometry
Courses Offered at Level
4th Year of
Math TBA
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)
Math
Models
Algebra II
AP
Statistics
PreAP
Geometry
PreAP
Algebra II
PreAP
Calculus
PreAP
Alg. I
Geometry
Algebra II
Precalculus
AP
Calculus
AB/BC
4th Year of
Math TPB
Recommended High School Science
Course Sequence
Sequence of Science Courses
12th Grade
8 Grade
9 Grade
10 Grade
11 Grade
AP Biology
AP Biology
PreAP
8th Grade
Science
PreAP
PreAP
Biology
Biology
PreAP
PreAP
Chemistry
Chemistry
PreAP
PreAP
Physics
Physics
AP
AP
Chemistry
Chemistry
th
th
th
th
AP Physics
AP Physics
8 Grade
Science
th
Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Chemistry
N
IPC
IPC
Physics
Physics
N
Chemistry
Chemistry
4th year
th
4TBD
Year
TBD
N
4th year TBD
4th Year TBD
One Credit
come
from:from
One
Creditmust
must
come

Biology,
AP
Biology,
or IB Biology
each area of science listed:
Two Credits must come from:
Biology,
AP Biology,
 Integrated Physics and
Chemistry,
AP Chemistry,
or will
Chemistry
(“IPC” this course
IB Chemistry
be phased out of the RHSP and
theAP
DAPPhysics,
by 2011-2012)
Physics,
or

Chemistry,
AP
Chemistry,
or IB
IB Physics
Chemistry
And a Physics,
fourth science
credit from a
AP Physics, or IB Physics
higher
level
science
course
And a fourth science credit
approved by the state.
Sequence
of SocialofStudies
Sequence
Coursescourses
9th Grade
World
Geography
PreAP
10th Grade
World History
PreAP
11th Grade
US History
AP
12th Grade
Government AP
Economics AP
World
Geography
World
History
US History
Government
Courses Offered at Level
Economics
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)
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 PREREQUISITES FOR
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…
How credits are awarded
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.
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 Courses
Students can take up to 2 whole classes
this way (4 semesters).
Course assignments are mailed to the
student and tests are mailed to the NHS
testing coordinator. Students make an
appointment to take the test at NHS.
This is a good way to earn credits outside
of the normal school year.
Texas Tech Outreach and Extended
Studies
website:http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/
Dual Credit
Through 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
can do for your future.
Athletic Information Night
February 18th
Texan Gym
For more information…
Athletics— Gary Prescott at [email protected] or
Teresa Smith at [email protected]
Band—Scott Lewis at [email protected] or Paul Elder
at [email protected]
Ag/Career/Tech—Tony Neely at [email protected]
Sidekicks—Heather Allen at hallen@nisdtx,org
Cheer—Tammy McClure at [email protected]
Choir—Vicki Jones at [email protected]
Theater—Alva Hascall at [email protected]
Student Council—Mary Whittenberg at
[email protected]
Contact your student’s counselor for more
details:
9th
A-K Mike Hays
L-Z Kerry Jones
10th-12th
A-Ek Jennifer Martinez
El-Li Gayle Binder
Li-Roe Amber Ward
Rof-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/1208207319592078
0/site/default.asp
In closing…
Some thoughts from a
professional football
locker room…
Blame No One
Expect Nothing
Do Something
Author Unknown
Success depends on what you are willing to invest in yourself…
…and, more importantly, the people around you.