What Every Successful Student Should Know

1. What Every Successful StudentShould Know

2. What does it take to be successful in high school? • Answer the following questions: • #1 - How many credits are required for graduation? • #2 – What creates the highest number of discipline referrals for students? • #3-7 - List five things/actions it takes to be successful during high school.

3. Know your School Counselors • Laura King and Jennifer Collins • Counselor office is located in the front office • lking@jefcoed.comand jhcollins@jefcoed.com • Sign up to see the counselor in the office • Your counselor addresses your concerns: academic, personal, and social • Counselors keep information confidential or on a need to know basis, unless you or someone else is getting hurt • Remember your counselor is there to help

4. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Actually study for tests. Studying should be an on-going process. Do not cram. Study in numerous short sessions. • Ask for help if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in and out of class. • Be prepared for class. • Book – notebook – pencil – paper.

5. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Come to school. Be on time to class and to school. Know the tardy policy and consequences. • Do your best from the beginning so you aren’t playing catch-up your entire high school career. • Do your work. Your own work! • Don’t believe, start or spread rumors. • Don’t procrastinate. • GPA STARTS COUNTING NOW!!

6. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities • Students entering the 9th grades must have passed during the last two semesters in attendance and summer school, if applicable, at least five new subjects with a minimum composite numerical average of 70 in those five subjects. • Students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades must have passed during the last two semesters in attendance and summer school, if applicable, at least six new units with a minimum composite numerical average of 70% in those six units. • Four core curriculum courses must be included in those units passed and averaged. (English, mathematics, science and social studies are core curriculum courses. Any combination of these courses is accepted.) • Any student that accumulates more than four units of core courses per year may earn less than the required four courses during the next school year and be eligible as long as the student remains on the track for graduation with his/her class. • No pass. No play.

7. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Figure out the best times to go to your locker. Don’t carry all of your books with you all day long. If you have locker trouble ask a teacher, counselor, administrator, or custodian for help. • Find a homework buddy for each class in case you are absent or forget something at school. You can call that person for the missing assignment. • Follow the dress code. • Grades count!

8. Semester Grades • Progress Reports • 4 ½ Weeks • 9 Weeks • 13 ½ Weeks • Report Card - at the end of each Semester • This grade is posted on your transcript and will count toward your grade point average (GPA). • Your will earn ½ credit at the end of each semester.

9. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Get involved at school and in the community. It helps to build your resume. • Get to know your peers. • Go to school events. • Use the ACPS Kuder system-it helps with work interests and values, finding colleges that fit you, scholarships, etc.

10. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Keep a sweatshirt at school –some rooms are freezing. • Keep your cell phones OFF and in your locker. • Know what it takes to graduate. Keep track of your own credits.

11. Graduation Requirements

12. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Organize your locker and your notebooks. • Pass your classes the first time around. • Pay attention in class. Even take a note or two. • Pay attention to your teachers. They know what they are talking about! They have something important to tell you. • It’s important to take school seriously but still enjoy it.

13. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Read the Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and Course Description Guide to know what is expected of you. • Show respect for classmates, adults, and school property. • Stay out of trouble.

14. 9th Grade Discipline Summary Discipline infractions beginning August 2013 Top 6: • Nonconformity to dress code- 25 • Defiance of Authority/Disrespect-11 • Harassment/Sexual harr/bullying-7 • Tardies/Unauthorized absence-6 • Bus infraction-4 • Electronic devices-3

15. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Take good notes in class. It is helpful to take notes even if not required by the teacher. • There are no study packets at the end of the year to bring up your grade. This is not middle school! • Turn in your work on time! If you miss the due date, turn it in just in case your teacher gives partial credit. Turning in work shows the teacher what you know.

16. Helpful Hints from Upperclassmen • Understand that people can change a lot during high school… you will probably change too! • Use your planner to keep track of assignments and due dates. • Your Freshman and Sophomore years lay the foundation for your high school career and is just as important, if not more important than your Senior year.

17. Keep a firm grasp of the steering wheel. • Don’t ever just sit there and let things happen to you. • Remember, you are driving your own car. • Take charge of your own life and don’t count on your parents, your teachers, and your counselor to do it for you. • In doing so, you will be preparing yourself for the time when you are on your own – in college or in the workplace.

18. What does it take to be successful in high school? • Answer the following questions: • #1 - How many credits are required for graduation? • #2 – What creates the highest number of discipline referrals for students? • #3-7 - List five things/actions it takes to be successful during high school.