The Sophomore Year: Should you stay or should you go?

1. The Sophomore Year:Should you stay or should you go? Understand the offerings from Tech Prep, RG Drage (Career Day November 22nd at RG Drage - Open House in the evening), Tuslaw High School (College Prep classes), and CC+ (mandatory meeting on Dec. 8th at 7:30pm in the cafeteria for BOTH parents and students taking classes at THS and on the college campus - see Mrs. Derheimer to schedule an individual meeting if you can’t attend).

2. What is RG Drage? • A career technical center where students receive training in specific areas (20 programs) • Created in 1977 with a 6 school partnership—Tuslaw, Minerva, Malvern, Fairless, Northwest and Louisville • RG Drage provides all academics that are needed to graduate (except Health, Computer and PE - you need those classes prior to attending RG Drage. Speak with Mrs. Derheimer if you do not have those classes).

3. Mythbusting • Students who choose RG Drage or Tech Prep cannot attend college (Many programs highly recommend that students go on to college) • Students who choose Tech Prep or RG Drage cannot participate in athletics or activities here at THS • The only way to be successful is to stay at Tuslaw and go to college • There are MANY successful people who have attended Career/Technical Schools. Many of those people make more money than those who go to college. Ex: Mr. Kuhlins, Creszence Brothers, Shanklin Heating, etc.

4. Mythbusting (Con’t) • Classes are easy - Due to the nature of the programs, you may not have as much homework as you currently do. However, students preparing for State Board test and licensure tests need to know a lot of detailed information. EX: Cosmetology students need to know all of the bones in the face and the hands along with the names of skin diseases, etc. Precision Machining students need to know PreCalculus concepts. • I won’t see my friends - You are invited back for Pep Rallies, can visit at any time, are able to attend all THS events, will still be able to be involved in clubs and activities here. This is all IF you choose. Those who want to stay involved are able to! You will also make new friends/meet new people at RG Drage…. And you will meet NEW people!

5. Did you know? • According to the Stark Educational Partnership there is a 1:2:7 Ratio of jobs • For every 1 job that requires a Master’s Degree, there are 2 jobs that only require a Bachelor’s Degree • For every 2 jobs that require a Bachelor’s Degree, there are 7 jobs that require a two year degree or certificate • Only 33% of jobs in 2018 will require a 4-year degree with 57% of the jobs requiring skilled training

6. Career Search and Exploration • www.ohiomeansjobs.com • Go To: “Explore It” and then “Industry Search” for salary information, job openings per year, education needed, etc. • Go To: “Explore It” and then “Career Cluster Inventory” to complete an interest inventory. You will answer questions about your likes/dislikes and a list of occupations will be generated for you.

7. Band and Choir • Many students want to continue to participate in band and choir during their Junior and Senior year • Students are able to do so IF you have room in your schedule at RG Drage. Some programs do not have extra periods in the day to allow you to do this… Example - Cosmetology has more time in lab than other programs and you do not have time in your day to do this. • Students are able to do so IF you are not credit deficient. IF you have classes to make up from your freshman and sophomore year, you will not be able to participate in band or choir

8. Band and Choir (Con’t) • You can’t participate in both. You will not have room in your day to do so. • RG Drage doesn’t have schedules set until the end of summer. Therefore, many students do not know until next school year if this will work in your schedule or not. • In order to have this on your schedule, you MUST sign up for band and/or choir during our scheduling time in the computer lab. You also MUST tell Mrs. Derheimer that you are interested.

9. What am I going to do after high school? • This is the time to come up with a plan for after high school…. • IF you plan to stay at Tuslaw High School, you will not be qualified to do much other than go to college. • IF you think that you want to get a job after high school, you need to have training. For some that training comes at the college level and for others is comes through RG Drage or other Tech Prep Programs. • ALL jobs require training of some kind. Where do you want to get that training? Who will pay for the training?

10. Benefits of a Career Tech Program • You don’t have to pay for college/training • You can go right into the work field (that is an extra 2-4 years of pay you will be earning while working - instead of being in college) • You won’t have to work fast food or retail when you graduate high school • You will have the opportunity to try a field and see if it is a good fit. After your senior year, if you do not like your chosen field you can choose something else and will not have any money invested You can work during your senior year - if you have good grades/good attendance - instead of being in class • You are ACTIVE and learning something you like… there is only a little bit of book work in most classes • RG Drage has connections with area business and they work to get you jobs during your senior year!

11. RG Drage Programs • Animal Science & Management Technology/Pre Vet - Tech Prep • Auto Collision Technology • Auto Services Technology • Bakery/Pastry Operations • Building Construction Technology • Cosmetology • Culinary Arts • Dental Assistant/Hygienist • Early Childhood Education

12. RG Drage Programs • Graphic Communications • Health Technologies (Nurse’s Aid/Pharmacy Tech) • Heavy Truck/Diesel Technology • Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R-) • Marketing - (offered at Louisville) • Metal Fabrication • Power Equipment Engineering Technology • Precision Machining Technology • Sports Medicine - (offered at Lousiville)

13. Programs are Offered at Louisville • RG Drage hosts 2 programs that are not actually housed at R.G. Drage • Sports Med and Marketing are offered at Louisville • You must provide your own transportation. This costs a lot of money for gas and a lot of additional time in your day. • Your day will not coincide with the school day at THS. • You can’t take classes at BOTH Tuslaw and Louisville. All of your classes will be at Louisville. • Students going to Louisville may take the bus to Drage, then get on the Louisville bus from there • This takes additional time in the day and you may not be able to take all of the classes you would like to take. • This is nearly impossible to be back to THS in time for sports and extra-curricular activities.

14. How do I apply to R.G. Drage? • After our visit on November 24th, you will receive an application. The application will be passed out on the way home (look for it!) Forms are due to Mrs. Derheimer by December 14th. • Complete the FRONT and BACK of the application. • You will have three choices of program on the application. • Rank your choices in order from your first - last choice. If you only have one program that interests you, only write one. • The second and third choices are listed in case you do not get into your first choice, you will then be placed into your second choice. • Students will find out if they are accepted into a program by December 17th.

15. What do I have to do to get into a program? • Students are accepted into the program based upon their GPA and attendance during the freshman and sophomore year. • Students are ranked based on the above criteria. If students are not placed in their first choice program, they will be placed in their 2nd or 3rd choice. If a spot opens up in the first choice program, you will be able to move to that program (this may not happening until the beginning of next year).

16. How do I get into a program (con’t.) Students MUST have earned 8 credits (by the end of your sophomore year). Of those 8 credits you must have earned 5 total core credits. At least 2 core credits freshman year and at least 2 core credits sophomore year. Core credits include English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Credits made up during summer school and PLATO do count! You will not be placed in a program unless you meet this criteria. No exceptions!

17. How do I get into a program (con’t) • Students who apply and are accepted into a program are able to change their minds until the last day of school this year. After the last day of school students will be in that program until the 5th day of school (Junior year). After 5 days, you may return to THS if RG Drage isn’t a good fit. • Remember: It is easier to get into a program now than to decide next year you want to get into a program because many programs do fill up quickly. Next year will be too late to change your mind (program full or too late to enroll). Students can’t join a program after Sept. 15th.

18. 5 Day Rule • What is the 5 day rule? • RG Drage and the feeder schools have instituted a 5 day rule. • When applying students and parents sign that they are aware of the rule • The rule states that after our last day of school (May 29th), students are not able to drop a program at Drage and come back to THS. At this point, students must spend the first 5 days of school at R.G. Drage. On the 6th day of school, the student may return to THS. • Your THS schedule will NOT be held for you over the summer if you are at R.G. Drage

19. College Credit Plus • RG Drage is now offering CC+ Courses • What is CC+ - Students receive both college and High School credit while taking a course in the high school setting • DC+ Courses offered at RG Drage - English Composition I and II, Medical Terminology, Early Childhood Education, Computer Apps., Educational Technology, Dental Terminology, College Algebra, and more to be offered in the future. Most of these courses are 3 credit hours (at the college level). • More courses may be added! • Students interested in this option MUST take the ACT this year. See Mrs. Derheimer for Info.

20. Popular Career Tech Programs (not offered at R.G. Drage) These programs are not offered at R.G. Drage (must provide your own transportation and must be accepted into the program) Fire Science/Emergency Medial Service — GlenOak Interactive Media and Productions Technology — Massillon Criminal Science — Timken Engineering Manufacturing Technologies – Massillon http://www.starkstate.edu/techprep **If a program is offered at RG Drage, Tuslaw students must attend that program. Students may attend other programs IF they are not offered at RG Drage.

21. How do I apply to a Tech Prep Program? • Ask Mrs. Derheimer for the application • Complete the application (with parent signature) • Return the application to Mrs. Derheimer • The other program will look at your transcript (grades/attendance) IF they have room. • Students from their school and others in their compact get first priority (just as we do at R.G. Drage) • THS students will be considered only if there is room in the program

22. Tech Prep Programs • For a full range of programs and career options associated with those programs, go to http://www.starkstate.edu/techprep • To obtain more information about RG Drage, visit www.rgdrage.org • Course descriptions are offered • Can contact program instructors to ask specific questions • View video of each program

23. Final Thoughts… • The choice is yours - not your friends’ • Do what is best for you (not others) • Look into all options and don’t rule anything out until you have fully explored the option • Next year may be too late to change your mind and choose a different path • You must have a full schedule during your junior and senior year. That means you will need to be taking difficult courses and 4th level courses that you may not want to take. We do not offer a lot of different options as electives.