Scheduling for Incoming 9 th graders

1. A Presentation for 8th Grade Students and their Parents/Guardians Scheduling for Incoming 9th graders

2. Scheduling Timeline 8th grade parent meeting Class presentations in 8th English classes Parent(s)/Guardians discuss course selections with students Course Request forms (with parent signature) due May 6th to Mrs. Prizio Individual/small group scheduling meetings with Mrs. Prizio to finalize schedule

3. Your student will bring home… Eighth Grade Planning Guide Grade 9 Course Selection Instructions Course Selection Sheet and Teacher Recommendations—Please sign and return by May 6th to Mrs. Prizio

4. Agenda • New QRHS Initiatives • College entrance requirements • NEW Graduation Requirements • 9th Grade Course Choices • How will my choices impact my future? • Scheduling Process

5. New Initiatives • Advisory • LINK Crew Mentors

6. Schedule Comparison High School Schedule

7. Minimum Admission Requirements To 4-Year State Colleges • 4 Years of English • Weighted Courses • AP Courses • Honors Courses • 3 Years of Math • 2 Years of the SAME World Language • 3 Years of Science • 2 Years of Social Studies • 2 Years of College-level electives

8. Quabbin Req. State College Minimum Req’s • 4 Years of English • 4 Years of English • 4 Years of Math • 3 Years of Math • 3 Years of Science • 3 Years of Science • 3 Years of Social Studies • 2 Years of Social Studies • 2 Years of the SAME World Language • 2 Years of the SAME World Language • 2 Years of College-level electives • 2 Phys. Ed; 2 Health • 1 Year of the Arts • Senior Capstone • Proficiency in accessing on-line coursework • 140 Credits to graduate Pass MCAS: Math, English and Science

9. Highly Selective Colleges may Require… • Weighted Courses • AP Courses • Honors Courses • They check the number • offered against how • many you take • Get INVOLVED! • Take summer programs! • 4 Years of English • 4 Years of Math • 3-4 Years of the SAME World Language • 4 Years of Science • 2-4 Years of Social Studies • 2 Years of College-level electives

10. MCAS Graduation Requirement

11. Quabbin’sWeighted Courses Course Levels • Unphased: Not a college preparatory class • Phase 3: College Prep Courses • Phase 4: College Prep 2 Courses • Phase 5: Honors • Phase 6: Advanced Placement (AP) (AP Courses mandate that you take the AP Exam)

12. Quabbin’sWeighted GPA Weighted 4.0 GPA: This is a cumulative Grade Point Average, giving a heavier weight to higher level courses. Your class percentile is based on your weighted GPA. Only Levels 3, 4, 5 & 6 are counted in a student’s GPA.

14. Minimum GPA/SAT Requirements for State Schools

15. Why??? • Why should I take the highest level courses I can? • To better prepare myself for school or work. • To have more options when I graduate. • Because colleges & employers care that I challenge myself. • It improves my grade point average, increasing my chances of getting accepted to my college of choice and possibly getting more financial aid. • All of the above.

16. Typical 9th Grade Schedule Each Block  5 credits & 85 minutes of instruction Students can earn 20 credits/semester; 40/year

17. Promotion Requirements

18. Course Recommendations Alt. Elective 1: __________________ Alt. Elective 2: __________________ Alt. Elective 3: __________________ Alt. Elective 4: __________________

19. English Department English Requirements: English 9, English 10 and 2 Literature Electives English 9 Course Selections

20. Math Math Requirements: 10 Algebra Credits, Geometry, & at least 1 Math Elective Grade 9 Math Courses Please Note: We rely heavily on 8th Grade math teacher recommendations as placement depends on each student’s content knowledge. Students with knowledge gaps will have difficulty succeeding in higher level math courses and students with ability but lack of effort need to be placed in a class that challenges appropriately.

21. Science Grade 9 Science Science Requirements: IPS, Biology, 1 other lab science

22. Social Studies Social Studies Requirements: World History, US History I & US History II Grade 9 World History

23. Health & Phys. Ed. PE/Health Requirements: PE 1, PE 2, Health 1, Health 2 PE 1 and Health 1 Course Requirements

24. Additional Requirements Possible for Grade 9 Schedule • You may be required to take some courses that would take up some of the elective slots. • If your child has special needs, we will assign any special education classes according to his/her Individual Education Plan • Foundations in English may be required for students with significant gaps in their English language, reading and/or writing skills. This class takes up one elective course in the freshman year.

25. Electives • In four years students take 160 credits/32 blocks • Total requirements: 100 credits/20 blocks • Total electives: 60 credits/12 blocks • If you enjoy playing music or really want to be in NJROTC, take it in your freshman year too! • Do you plan to take AP/Honors courses in science or World Language? If so, planning is important.

26. Electives in World Language Grad Requirement: 2 Years of the SAME World Language

27. Grade 9 Art & Music Electives

28. Grade 9 Art & Music Electives

29. Other Grade 9 Electives

30. Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

31. Benefits For Life • Lifelong friends • Advocates • Free SAT Prep Course • Interactive Learning Environment • Peer Tutoring • Structure & Organization • Physical Fitness/Wellness • Once in lifetime opportunities (Field Trips)

32. Activities • Drill Team & Color Guard: Student run. Teaches discipline, attention to detail, most importantly - - loads of fun • Academic Team: Participate in knowledge competitions with other JROTC schools from across the nation. • Rifle Team: Teaches importance of patience and precision. Shoot from three positions: Standing, Kneeling, and Prone.

33. Personal Development • Leadership Skills and Applications • Self Confidence • Communication Skills Development • Team Building • Critical Thinking • Problem Solving

34. Opportunities • Orientation • Basic Leadership Training • Leadership Academy/Sail Training Newport RI/Two Weeks Extensive Leadership Training Small Sail Boat Qualification Silver Cord • Field Trips: Norfolk/Virginia Beach, CIA/Washington D.C., USCG/Boston, Maine/White Water Rafting • Six Flags!

35. Scheduling Timeline • 8th grade parent meeting (tonight) • Class presentations in 8th grade science classes (next 2 weeks) • Individual/small group scheduling meetings (to be completed by mid-April)

36. Your student will bring home… Eighth Grade Planning Guide Grade 9 Course Selection Instructions Course Selection Sheet and Teacher Recommendations—Please sign and return by May 6th to Mrs. Prizio

37. College Study 2004 study by Jerry Trust and Claudia Hutchinson Data from 1988-2000 included 5,257 people over 12 years The strongest effects (on bachelor degree completion) were from the academically intensive science and math courses that participants took in high school. Other influences included: • Good attendance • Participation in extra curricular activities • Parental involvement For the full report go to: www.umass.edu/schoolcounseling/PDFs/ResearchBrief2.1.pdf

38. Teacher Recommendations • If you have a question about an 8th grade teacher’s recommendation or about which course phase your child should take, please contact your child’s teacher or Mrs. Prizio.

39. Subject/Content Questions • English: Ms. Vasseur: cvasseur@qrsd.org • Math: Mr. Guertin: fguertin@qrsd.org • Social Studies: Ms. Varin, kvarin@qrsd.org • Science/Tech: Mr. Kolesnik: rkolesnik@qrsd.org • World Language: Dr. Fisher, mfisher@qrsd.org • Art: Ms. Adams, cadams@qrsd.org • Music: Ms. Brown, tbrown@qrsd.org • NJROTC: Capt. Brennock, dbrennock@qrsd.org • Business: Mr. Kane, kkane@qrsd.org

40. Thank you for coming. General Questions? Mark Pellegrino, High School Guidance Director mpellegrino@qrsd.org or call (978) 355-4651 Pamela Prizio, 8th Grade Guidance Counselor pprizio@qrsd.org or call (978) 355-5042