Welcome to Holland High School

1. Welcome to Holland High School 8th Grade Parent Meeting

2. Tonight's Goals: • Highlight the academic, social, as well as college and career planning opportunities at HHS. • Look at grade level course requirements and class selection. • Focus on 9th grade information to help meet the specific unique needs of your teen.

3. The Big Picture

4. 2011 Graduation Requirements For classes 2010 & Beyond The following requirements must be met to receive a Holland High School diploma:

5. College Preparation Curriculum • English – 4 years required • Math– 4 years required • Biology/Physical Science – 3 years required • History and Social Science - 3 years required; 1 year of American History and 1 year of World History is strongly recommended • Foreign Language – 2 years required; 3 years strongly recommended • Fine and Performing Arts – 2 years strongly recommended • Computers – 1 year recommended

6. Trimesters and Credits 1 class = .5 credits 3 trimesters + 5 classes daily = 15 classes a year 15 classes = 7.5 credits earned each year.

7. 9th Grade Class Requirements • Math • English • Social Studies • Science • Technology/Career Exploration

8. Electives Course Request Worksheet - Grade 9 Each Student Chose 5 Electives 9th Grade Band (pg. 46) Concert Orchestra (pg. 47) Choir – Concert (Boys) (pg. 48) Choir – Treble (Girls) (pg. 47) *Health 1 (pg. 53) *Working on Wellness (pg. 53) *PE – PE A (pg. 59) PE B (pg. 59) PE C (pg. 60) Intro to Graphic Design (pg. 51)

9. Tips Given When Students Chose Electives • Bolded classes are required sometime before students graduate. • Foreign language is required for college. (You may take if you are getting an A or B in 8th grade Communication Arts.) • Band, choir, and orchestra require auditions.

10. Your Unique Student Core classes are offered at different academic levels.

11. Math Options/Levels for 9th Grade • Extended Algebra 1 (3 trimesters) • Algebra 1 (2 trimesters) • Geometry (2 trimesters) • Honors Geometry (2 trimesters) • Algebra 2 or FST Pre-Calculus (2 trimesters) *For PATH students testing out of Algebra and Geometry

12. English Options/Levels for 9th Grade • Extended English 9 (3 trimesters) • English 9 (2 trimesters) • Honors English 9 (2 trimesters)

13. Social Study Options/Levels for 9th Grade • Extended World History(3 trimesters) • World History(2 trimesters) • AP World History(Prior approval needed)

14. Science Options/Levels for 9th Grade • Extended Biology (3 trimesters) • Biology (2 trimesters) • AP Biology *For students who have taken PATH Biology and passed HHS Biology exam.

15. 9th Grade Sample Schedule

16. 9th Grade Sample Schedule

17. Programs To Help All Be Successful • ELL • Special Education • 9th Grade Transition Academy • AP Academy (2 honors classes freshmen year.) • Operation Graduation • Summer School for Pre-Algebra • Study Tables at Lunch

18. Weighted Grades Beginning with the Class of 2009, all AP courses will be based on a 5 point honor scale. 4.0 Honor Scale5.0 Honor Scale (AP Classes Only) A = 4 A = 5 B = 3 B = 4 C = 2 C = 3 D = 1 D = 2 E = 0 E = 0

19. Schedule Change Information • February 2nd thru March 2nd - Parents may contact 9/10 counselors with questions and changes for student schedules. • IEPs for special education students always override preliminary schedule.

20. Ninth Graders, "Who are They?" F I A • Ninth Graders Want: • Freedom • Independence • Attitude • and. . . • Ninth Graders Need: • Family • Inclusion • Affection/Acceptance

21. 9th Grade Influences: • Parents/Family • Friends/Media • School/Other Adults • Research shows that parents still have by far the most influence in the lives of their teens.

22. Parent Resources • Holland High School website • Teacher voicemail & e-mail • Get to know your student’s school counselor • Academic Boosters Club (ABC)

23. To Do List Your Freshmen Year • Meet with your counselor to plan out your 4 year course schedule. • Ask both counselors and teachers to keep you informed of any special programs or extracurricular activities that are available. • Make a list of academic & personal goals. • Get to know your teachers, so they get to know you. (At some point you may need recommendations for scholarships and college recommendations.)

24. To Do List Your Freshmen Year • Keep your eyes open for cool activities or opportunities such as: summer programs, camps, academic or athletic contest. • Start thinking about scholarship opportunities. • Keep a paper file of information together – awards, experiences, special projects, volunteer hours, etc. • Find ways to volunteer.

25. Checklist for College Planning When to BeginWhat To DoHow To Do It This is a good resource to help explore & prepare!

26. Standardized Testing 9th Grade – MEAP Social Studies Test 10th Grade - PLAN (Pre-ACT) 11th Grade – PSAT, ASVAB, and MME, (Michigan Merit Exam), which includes the ACT

27. Future Opportunties • Career Line Tech Center • Community Classroom • Coop • Advanced Placement Classes (College Credit)

28. Career Cruising Organize all your son or daughter’s information in their EDP, (Education Development Plan) found in www.careercruising.com Username: Holland Password: Dutch

29. “The good thing about being a freshmen is that all your choices are in front of you. . . you just have to make the right ones.”

30. Clubs & Activities • Academic Challenge • Amnesty International • Band • Close-Up • Dutch Dance • Fellowship of Christian Athletes • Rocketry Team • Theater • US First Robotics

31. Athletics • All 8th grade students are eligible for sports. • Some sports begin practice in the summer. • After first trimester grades, students are only eligible if they pass 4 out of 5 classes. • If a student receives 2 E’s, they many not compete for 90 school days.

32. Thank you for partnering with us! We look forward to getting to know your student and encourage your continued involvement! Sue Hemmeke (A-L) 494-2213 Tonia Lans (A-L) 494-2213 Sue Williams (M-Z) 494-2212

33. Questions