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Independence HS Home of the Knights

Explore the comprehensive 2017-18 Academic Guide and Course Catalog online to learn about graduation requirements, endorsements, and the top 10% rule. Get ready for success at Independence High School!

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Independence HS Home of the Knights

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  1. Independence HS Home of the Knights Welcome Class of 2022 Parents!

  2. IHS Counselor- Rosalyn Greer E-K • I am from Wisconsin, Go Badgers! (I hope we beat Ohio State this weekend)! J • I have been married to my best friend for 38.5 years & we have 3 sons and 3 daughter-in-laws • The name I most love to be called is Mimi by my 3 amazing grandchildren!

  3. Academic & Course CatalogThe Academic & Course Catalogs are online! You can find the complete 2017-18 Academic Guide and Course Catalog online on the Frisco ISD website at: ***The 2018-19 course catalog is scheduled to be released on Dec. 22nd.

  4. What is a Credit in High School ? A student needs 26 credits in order to graduate. A half-credit is earned each semester for each class passed with a 70 or above average. All 9th grade students must be enrolled in eight class periods.

  5. Class of 2022 Graduation Requirements Subject Credits Required Courses English 4 English 1, 2, 3, 4 Math 4 Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, 4th math Science 4 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4th science OR Biology, IPC, Chemistry, Physics Social Studies 4 World Geo, World History, U.S. History, Government & Economics Foreign Language 2 Spanish, French, Chinese (online) P.E. 1 P.E., Athletics/Training, Fall Band, Fall Color Guard, Drill Team, Cheer, Dance 1 (not an option for athletes) Health .5 Health, Health Science(Prereq: Medical Terminology) Speech .5 Professional Communications Fine Arts 1 Art, Theater Arts, Choir, Band, Dance, Orchestra, 3-D Modeling, Elements of Floral Design (grade 10+) Technology 1 BIM, DM, 3-D Modeling, Computer Science, Computer Maintenance, Journalism, Photojournalism, TV Broadcast, Intro to Engineering Design Electives (Endorsements) 4 Total 26

  6. Endorsement Plans 4 Credits in Each Core Area: English, Math, Science, Social Studies Multidisciplinary All Career Pathways Arts & Humanities Political Science, World Languages, Cultural Studies, Literature, History, Fine Arts Business & Industry Information Technology, Finance, Architecture, Ag Science Public Services Doctor, Nurse, Criminal Investigator, Law Clerk, Teacher, Athletic Trainer STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

  7. IHS Counselor- Katie Puente • Married to my husband for 10 years—he is the boys soccer coach at rival Heritage High School • Mom of Cade (8) & Bella (3) • This is my 15th year in FISD • Born & raised in Illinois L-Q

  8. Rank in Class Policy Rank in class, honor graduate status, valedictorian and salutatorian determination shall be based on a weighted grade point average (GPA) system. Grades will be weighted according to the level of the course. Incoming 9th Graders will not receive a GPA and Rank until after the first Fall semester at Independence!

  9. Top 10% Rule (end of junior year) • Class Rank and GPA are used to determine if a student is in the “Top 10%” of the class. • Students who are in the top 10% of their class are automatically accepted into Texas public colleges. (UT Austin is now top 7% for Fall 2017 & 2018) • “Freshman grades count!” Start strong and do your best from your first day of high school.” For admissions purposes, rank at the end of junior year dictates the top 10% of the class.

  10. State Assessments for High School • 5 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Exams • English I • English II • Algebra I • Biology • US History

  11. Responsibilities of a PAP/AP Student • Actively engage with sophisticated concepts • Desire to be challenged • Ask questions during class • Seek help when clarification needed • Stay organized • Be judged by rigorous, college-level standards • More written vs. objective test • Open-ended questions • Faster pace • More depth • Complete longer and more complex nightly assignments • 30-50 pages a week of outside reading • 30 minutes to 1 hour of homework nightly

  12. Balance – There are only 24 hours in a day!  • Try not to overload yourself. We do not recommend that a student take all advanced-level classes, join numerous activities (band, athletics, student council…), and expect to be successful in EVERYTHING. • We all need some down time. Consider your well-being and choose classes and activities carefully.

  13. PAP/AP Six-Weeks Commitment • Students who sign up for a PAP/AP class will be required to stay the entire first six weeks. At the close of the first six weeks, students who wish to drop will meet with their teacher, parent and counselor to discuss the move. The grade at the end of the six weeks will go with the student to the new class. • Following the close of the first six weeks, students will not be allowed to drop the course until second term begins.

  14. Counseling Intern- Latresea Kennedy • Huge basketball fan – I love the Dallas Mavericks! • I worked in Marketing before I became a teacher. • I am married to Bryan, and 2 lovely kids Bryan Jr (5) and Layla (3)

  15. High School Schedule • Known as an A-B block schedule • 8 total classes • A Day = 4 classes; B Day = the other 4 classes • 30-minute lunch is based on student’s 3rd period class • School begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:15 p.m. • Each class is 90 minutes with 5 minutes between each class

  16. Block Schedule

  17. Typical Schedule for a Student in P.E. Class

  18. Typical Schedule for a Student in Band or Athletics Every Day *Girls Athletics is double-blocked 1st period each day. *Boys Athletics is double-blocked 4th period each day.

  19. Completing Other Requirements • Technology(BIM, DM, 3-D Modeling, Computer Science, Computer Maintenance, Journalism, Photojournalism, TV Broadcast, Intro to Engineering Design, Architectural Design) • Fine Arts(Art, Theatre, Technical Theatre, Elements of Floral Design, AP Art History, DGA, Music Theory, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Dance) • Health(or Health Science pathway which requires Medical Terminology) • Professional Communications (speech) Dance 1– Counts for Fine Arts and PE 3-D Modeling – Counts for Fine Arts and Technology

  20. Ways to Meet P.E. Credit • March in the Band- (fall PE credit only) • Make Color Guard (fall PE credit only) • Make an athletic team (football, volleyball, soccer, etc.) • Be an Athletic Trainer (+ Sports Medicine and application) • Make Drill Team • Make Cheerleading • Take Dance I (cannot take if in athletics) • Take PE class: • Personal Fitness • Aerobics • Team/Individual • Weightlifting • Adventure/Outdoor • Off-Campus PE

  21. Athletic Try-Outs • All students are free to sign up for any athletic class they wish, but they must make the team in order to stay in the class. PE teaches how to play various sports, but the athletic teams in high school are competitive and require you to already know how to play. • Try-outs are typically made the first two weeks of each semester. • Those not making the team will be moved to P.E. and to elective classes that are STILL OPEN.

  22. IHS Counselor- Randall Ford • Married 20 years, son Quinten (16), daughter Maddie (8) • Love family time • Cowboys fan • From St. Louis A-D

  23. BAND • Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band (top 2 groups), & percussion are double-blocked classes; Concert Band (third band) & color guard are single blocked classes. Variances are handled on a case by case basis in order to work with other campus programs. • All band students participate in marching band during the fall. • The band director and athletic coach must be contacted if a student wants to participate in both band and a sport.

  24. Foreign Language • We encourage all freshman to start their foreign language in 9th grade! • IHS currently offers Spanish, French, and Chinese. • FYI…Chinese classes are online.

  25. Programs Needing Applications We will bring with us to middle schools in January. Music Theory – Application Athletic Trainer – Application Partner’s PE- Application Off Campus PE – Contact Sally Turner at district Middle school will advertise drill team and cheer tryouts in the spring.

  26. Typical Summer School Options • The following courses MAY be offered in summer school for advancement: • Business Information Mgmt (1 credit/2 terms) • Digital Media (1 credit/2 terms) • Health (.5 credit/one term) • Professional Communications (.5 credit/1 term) • Medical Terminology (.5 credit/1 term) **Can take up to 1 full credit in summer school. Does not count in GPA calculation** ***FISD Summer School will probably be all online classes. Complete summer school details usually arrive to campuses in May. ***Summer school is always optional.

  27. Credit By Exams for Acceleration • Current 8th graders may be able to test at the end of school this year to ensure that grades are received in time for an accurate schedule at schedule pickup. • A student’s schedule will not change until grades have been received. • Grade does not count in GPA. • See middle school counselor if seeking this option.

  28. IHS Counselor- Jason Wooden • California-Raised • Graduated from the Tennessee State University • Addicted to peanut butter R-Z

  29. Your Four-Year Plan! • IHS counselors will meet soon with 8th graders to start sketching out a 4-yr plan. The purpose is to show what you have to take in high school and expose you to what you may want to take! “Four-Year Plans are a work in progress; it can change throughout your four years of high school. Changes are to be anticipated each year during spring registration!”

  30. 9th Grade Schedule Q&A • How does my student select courses for 9th grade? • Counselors will be back to the middle school next week to start the 4-year plan with students. • Counselors return in late January to specifically review 9th grade course requests. Students and parents will have the opportunity to make any needed changes. Students will have until April 13th to make any needed elective changes! • Will my student get every elective class we requested for 9th grade year? • Maybe, but there are no guarantees with high school scheduling! We love for the students to get every class they selected, but there are MANY factors that affect a student’s schedule. Don’t forget to list alternate choices on your course requests in January! No alternates listed on course verification form? We pick a new class for you (and unfortunately you can’t change it). Your student’s schedule may not work out as planned, and we prefer not to make that choice!

  31. Making a Schedule Change • Your last opportunity to change an elective is on or before: • April 13th, 2018 • Only approved program changes (in or out of athletics, band, etc) can be made during the first two weeks of the new semester. • PAP/AP students must complete the first six-weeks grade cycle before a change to on-level will be considered.

  32. Dates to Remember • Thursday, Dec.7th– 4 Year Plan Presentations @ middle school • Monday, January 29th– Rising Freshman Night, 6:00 p.m. @ IHS Auditorium • Monday, January 29th- Individual Meetings @ middle school • ***All course verification forms due back to the middle school counselors the following week • Feb. 7th- Dual Credit Night @ IHS • April 13th, 2018– Last Day for Elective Changes (Home Access open to view course requests- course request change form with middle school counselors) • May 29th- Aloha Pep Rally at IHS • August 2018– Knight in Training Camp

  33. IHS Counselor- Heather Mayfield • This is my 15th year in education • Born and raised in the Texas panhandle • Texas Tech Red Raider • Married to Taylor, with 3 daughters, Lily (13), Harper (8), and Stella (4)

  34. Freshman Parent Survey(Survey from current freshman parents of fall 2017) What is the biggest challenge(s) your freshman student has faced this year so far? • 52%- Time Management • 22%- Balancing extra-curricular activities & school work • 18%- Amount of homework • 8%- Social Situation/Peer Pressure

  35. Freshman Parent Survey What strategies have you found effective so far to assist your student with the above issue(s)? • Trying to use a planning calendar • A set time for doing homework everyday • Checking HAC updates from teachers • No phone during homework. Doing homework on Day it is assigned (A or B day) • Still working on it - conversation & encouragement! • I gave a 6-8 weeks transition time and gradually expected more. Earlier bed-time 1-2 times a week, when possible.

  36. Freshman Parent Survey What is something you wish you would have known about the transition to high school that you were not aware of? • The backpack policy • A & B day • Homework load on major/core classes • That is not a big deal like we were told. We thought it would be much worse. • The time demands of extra-curricular groups • Upper classmen may be in freshman classes; grade levels are mixed in lunch periods and building wings

  37. Freshman Parent Survey What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to a parent of an incoming freshman? • Set boundaries early. • High School is not as hard or difficult as they make it seem. • It will be fine! • BREATHE! Don't hover, they need to figure it out. Sometimes they need to fail to learn. • Make sure you have a good support group of other parents you are friends with, and trade off on carpooling to and from various meetings and activities.

  38. Freshman Parent Survey What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to a parent of an incoming freshman? • You don't have to push all AP/Pre-AP classes at first...slowly build up. • Be patient with your sons. Guess what, they don't like to give 100%?! Wait what? They'll come around. • Ask questions…talk to them about any concerns. • Help your student to understand how smart they are and to not get tied up in percentages of class rank. • Speak up. If you don’t understand or need help finding something ask directly, email, something until you get answers.

  39. Freshman Parent Survey What has your student enjoyed the most about IHS? What do you appreciate the most about IHS as a parent? • Teachersand school spirit! • Great Campus environment and great teachers. • Variety/options of classes; communication from teachers in key classes. • He LOVES athletic program and we appreciate the coaches. As well as teachers. • The ladies in the front office are extremely nice and supportive, and most teachers are also.

  40. Freshman Parent Survey What has your student enjoyed the most about IHS? What do you appreciate the most about IHS as a parent? • Only having 4 classes a day… he loves the block scheduling as it allows for more time. • Meeting new people • We love the staff, the school spirit, the administration, and we love that even with that many students, it still feels small. And the kids love seeing admin at events. I know my kids both love the APs and the counselors. • My student enjoys all the Independence. She enjoys making her own decisions. I appreciate IHS’s communication.

  41. Freshman Parent Survey • 78% of parents regularly and routinely enforce a bedtime for their freshman. • Barriers to sleep: studying for exams or homework • Solutions: Guide with time management; balance activities; analyze course load each semester • 84% of parents regularly and routinely monitor their child’s technology. • Helpful methods: • No device at bedroom • Designated times for use • Access to all passwords • Software called “Our Pact” to monitor usage

  42. Questions? Email Heather Mayfield at: mayfieldhe@friscoisd.org

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