Welcome to Freshman Orientation

1. Welcome toFreshman Orientation Union County High School 2016-2017

2. Agenda… • Graduation Requirements, Credits, and Transcripts • GPA and Class Rank • ECA (End of Course Assessment) testing • Athletic and Social Eligibility • Scheduling • Elective Areas • Role of a School Counselor

3. Graduation Requirements

4. High School CreditsStaying on track… In order to receive a high school diploma… You MUST accumulate at least 40 Credits! (47 Credits for Academic Honors/Technical Honors diplomas) 12 credits = Freshmen 24 credits = Sophomore 36 credits = Junior 40-47+ credits = Senior Each class/course = 1 CREDIT! Study Hall does NOT count as a credit!

5. Credits are recorded on a Transcript • Document that details a student’s academic achievement (grades and credits for each course taken) in grades 9-12. • Transcripts also include: • Cumulative GPA and Class Rank • Attendance • State graduation test scores (ECA) • College test scores (PSAT, ACT, SAT)

6. GPA and Class Rank • Cumulative GPA • average of student’s grades beginning Freshmen year (Algebra 1 in 8th grade) • 4.0 scale: 4.0 A 3.0 B 2.0 C 1.0 D • Weighted courses: AP (Advanced Placement) A = 5.0 • Honor Roll • Summa Cum Laude Highest Honors: GPA of 3.9 and above • Magna Cum Laude High Honors: GPA of 3.7 - 3.8999 • Cum Laude Honors: GPA of 3.5 - 3.6999 • Class Rank • based on GPA, shows where you stand in relation to other members of your class. • Example: 1/139… Ranked first, highest GPA in a class of 139 students.

7. ISTEP+ Grade 10 Graduation Examination Transition • Beginning in 2016-17, the ISTEP+ Grade 10 English/Language Arts and Mathematics tests replace the End of Course Assessments in Algebra I and English 10 as the graduation examinations. Every Indiana student in the graduating class of 2019 and beyond must demonstrate mastery of the Indiana Academic Standards measured by the ISTEP+ Grade 10 English/Language Arts and Mathematics assessments.

8. Athletic and Social Eligibility • Extra-curricular (sports, dances, leadership positions) eligibility is based on passing at least 5 courses at the 9 week (midterm) and 18 week (semester) grading periods. • 7 classes per semester… • If enrolled in 7 classes… MUST pass 5…. Can only NOT pass 2 courses. • If enrolled in a study hall… student is only enrolled in 6 courses… MUST pass 5 courses… can only NOT pass 1 course. • Clean Start… However, Fall Athletics and the Homecoming Dance are dependent of first nine week grading period!!!

9. Example of a Freshman Schedule • English 9 (or Honors English 9) • Alg 1 (or Honors Geometry if completed Algebra 1 in 8th grade) • Earth Space or Biology • World History • Computer Applications • Health • PE • Spanish 1 • Electives

10. PE Alternative Credit • PE Alternative Credit grades are recorded on a student’s transcript and impact honor roll, GPA, and class rank. • Deadlines: • Winter and Spring sports are due the last day of Second Semester. • Summer and Fall sports are due the last day of First Semester… including Summer Marching Band!!

11. Elective Areas • Agriculture • Business/Computer Technology • Fine Arts: Art • Fine Arts: Vocal & Instrumental Music • Family & Consumer Science (FACS) • Technology/Engineering • Multidisciplinary: RtI (Response to Intervention) and BSD (Basic Skills Development)

12. RtI and BSD • RtI (Response to Intervention) • Support for struggling students in the area of Math and English • BSD (Basic Skills Development) • Support for students on an IEP • For more information on RtI or BSD… see your Guidance Counselor.

13. Schedule Changes • Schedule CAREFULLY! • Most changes are made to balance classes or meet graduation requirements. • Few schedule changes are made because students “change their mind”, as class supplies are purchased based on the number of students registered for a course. • You may refer to your handbook for the “schedule change policy.” • A “Petition to Drop/Add Course” form must be completed with the appropriate signatures in order for a schedule change to be considered. • No schedule changes are made after the first 3 days of the semester!!!

14. Daily Schedule

15. CALL (Advisory/Bonus/Homeroom/Senior Exit) (Celebration of Advisees as Lifelong Learners) • Compile portfolio throughout your high school career • Complete 40 hours of Community Service • Present a Senior Exit Oral Presentation • 1 Required elective credit towards UCHS graduation! • Community Service credit on transcript

16. A School Counselor is a Student Advocate • High school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. Secondary school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

17. Counselors provide: -Social and Emotional support…The guidance office is somewhere you can CONFIDENTIALLY share your thoughts and feelings. -Academic and Career guidance and support…The guidance office is a resource for college and career planning. Counselors Collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents, colleges, as well as community resources.

18. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or visit the Guidance Office website. • Mr. Tony Duritsch, Guidance Counselor • (students with last names beginning with letters A-J) • tduritsch@uc.k12.in.us • 765-458-5136 ext. 3205 • Ms. Robin Durham, Guidance Director (students with the last name beginning with letters K-Z) rdurham@uc.k12.in.us 765-458-5136 ext. 3206 • Mrs. Pam Abernathy, Guidance Secretary • pabernathy@uc.k12.in.us • 765-458-5136 ext. 3207