Welcome to High School

1. Welcome to High School Making the next 4 years COUNT!

2. OMHS Guidance and Counseling Center Who’s Who? • Kristi Wade- 9th & 10th A-K • Jerry Riggins- 9th & 10th L-Z • Bobby Deavers- 11th & 12th A-K • Pat Holder- 11th & 12th L-Z Leigh Huff- Office Manager Extraordinaire

3. OMHS Guidance and Counseling Center What do we do? Help students primarily in 3 areas: • Academic planning • College and Career Planning • Social / Emotional Needs

4. OMHS Guidance and Counseling Center How do I see my counselor? • Stop by and make an appointment • Parents can phone the office / 682-5201 • Email – email links can be found on the OMHS website

5. One more thing… • Check out our blog at: http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/omhs-counselors/

6. Today’s Main Topic:Planning for tomorrow Importance of 9th grade

7. Vocabulary 101 for High School Students • Transcript • Grade Point Average • Quality Points / Credits • Core Courses • Honor Courses • Advanced Placement (AP) Courses • Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA • Term GPA vs. Cumulative/Rank GPA

8. What is a transcript? -- Your high school transcript records all of the courses you have taken during high school, including credit awarded and grades earned -- Credit is awarded at the end of each semester.

9. Vocabulary Quality Points – The numeric value awarded to grades within a certain range Standard/ Unweighted GPA – GPA is calculated by dividing the number of quality points earned by the number of classes taken. Weighted GPA – The GPA earned when extra weight for honors and AP classes is included

10. Vocabulary • Semester/Term GPA – Includes classes taken for only one semester • Cumulative/ Rank GPA – Includes all classes taken since the 1st semester of 9th grade • Credits -- You earn ½ credit for each class you pass at the end of every semester. You can earn up to 3.5 credits per semester. • Core Classes – Required classes everyone has to pass

11. Example

12. Extra Weight Added to • You earn ½ extra quality point for honors classes. • You earn 1 extra quality point for AP classes. • You do not get extra quality points for dual enrollment classes 

13. OMHS Grading Scale • A 90-100 General 4.0 Honors 4.5 AP 5.0 • B 89-90 General 3.0 Honors 3.5 AP 4.0 • C 70-79 General 2.0 Honors 2.5 AP 3.0 • D 60-69 General 1.0 Honors 1.5 AP 2.0 • F 0-59 General 0 Honors 0 AP 0

14. Computing Grade Point AveragesYes…Grades really do matter! 3 3 3.5 4 4 2 0 19.5 / 7 = 2.7857 (2.79)

15. How to Calculate Semester Averages • 1st 9 weeks grade = 40% • 2nd 9 weeks grade = 40% • Semester Exam = 20%

16. How to Calculate Semester Averages • Eloise has earned the following grades in geometry: • 1st 9W = 95 95(.40)= 38 • 2nd 9W= 82 82(.40)= 32.8 • Exam= 75 75(.20)= 15 • Semester Avg.= 85.8= 86

17. Why GPA’s Matter Take a look at the Sample Transcript for OMHS Student *Something to remember* Colleges look at the first six semesters (3 years) to determine entrance eligibility.

18. Where do we go from here? • Keep in mind that you have: • The rest of THIS 9 weeks (40%) • +2nd 9 weeks (40%) • +Semester Exam (20%) to bring your grades up BEFORE your 1st Semester Transcript is complete

19. Also keep in mind… * To be able to participate in extracurricular activities, Shelby County has an “Academics First” policy. * The Alabama High School Athletic Association has strict guidelines that we must follow concerning academic achievement and eligibility.

20. Before I forget…… • Grade level is determined by total credits earned. • Freshmen: 0 to 5.5 credits • Sophomores: 6 to 11.5 credits • Juniors: 12 to 17.5 credits • Seniors: 18 + credits

21. Before I forget…… • You must earn 24 credits AND PASS all required courses and assessments to graduate…..

22. Let’s Practice….. • Archie has the following grades. Calculate his semester average in both classes… GeometryHon. Eng 10 1 9W = 75 85 2 9W = 92 79 Exam = 79 92

23. Let’s Practice….. • Archie has the following grades. Calculate his semester average in both classes… GeometryHon. Eng 10 1 9W = 75 (.40)=30 85 (.40)=34 2 9W = 92 (.40)=36.8 79 (.40)=31.6 Exam = 79 (.20)=15.8 92 (.20)=18.4 Sem. Avg.= 82.6=83=84

24. Let’s Practice… • Edith earned the following grades this semester. Calculate her sem./term GPA… • AP English 11 =78 • Hon Alg. 2 with Trig = 89 • AP US History 11 = 92 • PE Lifetime Sports = 100 • Environmental Science = 69 • Dual Enrollment Psychology = 95

25. Let’s Practice… • Edith earned the following grades this semester. Calculate her sem./term GPA… • AP English 11 =78 3.0 • Hon Alg. 2 with Trig = 89 3.5 • AP US History 11 = 92 5.0 • PE Lifetime Sports = 100 4.0 • Environmental Science = 69 1.0 • Dual Enrollment Psychology = 95 4.0 • Total= 20.5/6= 3.41667=3.42

26. Who’s the Fastest….. • How much credit was earned for Coop Ed 1st sem. Of grade 12? _____ • What is the term GPA for 2nd sem. 9th grade? _____ • How many credits were earned during grade 10? ______ • What is this student’s class rank? ____ • What is the student’s cumulative/rank GPA? _____ • How many AP & honors classes were taken? ______

27. Who’s the Fastest….. • How much credit was earned for Coop Ed 1st sem. Of grade 12? 1 credit • What is the term GPA for 2nd sem. 9th grade? 3.43 • How many credits were earned during grade 10? 7 • What is this student’s class rank? 257/428 • What is the student’s cumulative/rank GPA? 3.34 • How many AP & honors classes were taken? 2

28. Computing Grade Point AveragesYes…Grades really do matter! Overall weighted GPA Number of courses with A’s _____ X 4 = _____ + added weight _____ = _____ Number of courses with B’s _____ X 3 = _____ + added weight _____ = _____ Number of courses with C’s _____ X 2 = _____ + added weight _____ = _____ Number of courses with D’s _____ X 1 = _____ + added weight _____ = _____ Number of courses with F’s _____ X 0 = _____ + added weight _____ = _____ Total number of quality points __/___ Divided by total number of courses = Overall weighted GPA _____

29. Questions???