10 th Grade Information

1. 10th Grade Information TMHS 2012-2013

2. Planning for the 2013-2014 School Year

3. Agenda • Course Selections • 4 x 4 Graduation Plans • AP & DC Courses • PSAT • End of Course Testing • Post Secondary Planning • SAT & ACT • Scholarships • Reminders Graduation Plans and Course Information are available online through the TISD website on Parent & Student Sections under 2012-2013 High School Course Description Guide Sample Course Selection Sheets are available online through the TMHS Counseling Teacher Web http://teacherweb.com/TX/TomballMemorialHighSchool/Counseling/

4. Counselor’s Corner • Counselors are available daily during all lunches to visit with students, give them helpful information, answer questions, etc. • Sheri Forsyth • A-G • Emily Nichols • H-O • Lashelle Nix • P-Z

5. Course Selections for 2013-2014

6. Course Selection for 2013-3014 • January 24-25, 2013 (Thursday/Friday) • Students will meet with TMHS Counselors to select their courses for the 2013-2014 school year • Please review this information with your student • Course selection change deadline is MARCH 1, 2013 • See TMHS Counseling Teacher Web for 2013-2014 Sample Course Selection sheets

7. High School Course Description Guide • Available on-line through TISD website at www.tomballisd.net • Link available through Student and Parent sections from TISD homepage • Helpful to learn about courses offered, prerequisites, and more information about graduation requirements/plans

8. Graduation Requirements for both Recommended and Distinguished Plans • 4 English • 4 Math • 4 Science • 4 Social Studies • 1.5 PE or PE waiver • .5 Health • .5 Communication Apps (speech) • 1 Fine Art • 1 Technology 26 Required Credits for Graduation

9. Graduation Plan Comparison Recommended Distinguished 3 Foreign Language *Science (IPC elective credit only) 2.5 electives 26 Total Credits 4 Advanced Measures • 2 Foreign Language • 3.5 Electives 26 Total Credits

10. Recommended or Distinguished? • Both are for college bound students • College credit can be earned with either plan • Distinguished Advanced Measures earned by: • College credit with a grade of “B” • AP Exams with a score of “3” or higher • PSAT score (National Merit Scholar = 1 measure) • Original Research Project

11. English III & U.S. History Options • Regular • Advanced Placement (AP) • Dual Credit (DC) – 3 College hours per semester: • Fall: 1301 ENGL / 1301 HIST • Spring: 1302 ENGL / 1302 HIST

12. Math Options for Recommended Option 1 Option 2 Algebra Geometry (Regular or PAP) Algebra II (Regular or PAP) 4th Math Pre-Cal (Regular or PAP) College Algebra Dual Credit College Prep Math • Algebra • Geometry (Regular or PAP) • Math Models (allowed if taken prior to Algebra 2) • Algebra II (Regular or PAP)

13. Math Sequence for Distinguished • Algebra • Geometry (Regular or PAP) • Algebra II (Regular or PAP) • Pre-Cal (Regular or PAP) • Additional Math Options: • Calculus I (AP or DC) • Calculus II (AP or DC) • Statistics (AP or DC)

14. Science Options for Recommended/Distinguished • Biology (Regular or PAP) • Chemistry (Regular or PAP) • Physics (Regular or PAP) • Lab Science (See Course Selection Sheet @ Counseling Teacher Web) *If IPC was taken in 8th grade, it WILL count as an ELECTIVE under Distinguished Graduation Requirements.

15. Other Language ExpectationsSpanish, French, or German • Recommended Plan • Two years of the same language • If not previously started, this is the year! • Distinguished Plan • Three years of the same language • College-bound to a competitive school • Additional years of a language is a plus!

16. Options Open to only Juniors/Seniors • Career Prep (Work program) • Earns 3 elective credits • Required to work 15 hours per week • Allows juniors to leave campus 6th and/or 7th period to work • Waives last ½ PE requirement if needed • Instructional Practices in Education & Training • Field-based internship that provides students with background knowledge of child and adolescent development as well as principles of effective teaching and training practices. • Students will be transported by bus to other campuses to work with mentor teachers and students

17. Health Science2 periods/2 credits • Clinical Rotation • Application Required • Course also requires fee (not to exceed $100). See Course Selection Guide for details. • Waives last ½ PE requirement if needed • Practicum Certificate Programs • Application Required • Waives last ½ PE requirement if needed • Costs range from $200 to $400 for certifications • CNA – Certified Nursing Assistance • EMT – Emergency Medical Technician • Pharmacy Tech • Registered Dental Assistant (new!)

18. Local Credit Options • Office Aide • Duty Assignments made by Assistant Principal • No State Credit awarded, local credit only • Does not figure into GPA calculation • Student must be in good standing with attendance and discipline

19. Credits for Grade Classification • Junior – 12 credits • Senior – 18 credits • Graduation – 26 credits (meeting state requirements)

20. Behind in credits? • Repeat course during school year • Summer School • Grad Lab • Night School • Correspondence • Credit By Exam *Student should see counselor for more information and if credit recovery is needed

21. Course Request/Changes • Parent review of courses selected is encouraged • Changes must be in writing and turned in to appropriate counselors office • Students wanting Dual Credit courses should attend DC meeting and get started on the Lone Star College exceptional admit process. • Final schedule change requests due in writing on March 1, 2013

22. Can I take courses during the summer? • Core classes are not allowed to be taken for original credit during the summer. • Core course options only for students who have failed a core course and need to recover credit. • Health, Speech, PE, and BIM are offered for original credit during the summer. • Government and Economics are also offered for original credit, but must be taken the summer prior to the senior year. No advanced options, only level credit offered. • Summer information will be announced late April.

23. AP and Dual Credit Courses

24. Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit (DC) • Both can give you college credit • Colleges can award a student credit based on AP exams given in May. The student must be enrolled in the college before requesting credit from the college. • Lone Star College awards credit on a transcript at the end of the semester the student is enrolled in the college course. • Both give 15 quality points per semester toward high school GPA Course Selection Guide provides course descriptions and requirements www.tomballisd.net

25. Advanced Placement (AP) • AP Courses are open enrollment • Expectation is that all students take the AP Exam during the first two weeks of May. See www.collegeboard.com for specific test dates. • College credit is based on AP exam scores. Scores range from 1-5. Most colleges require a 3 or higher. Check with college for required score. • College credit is granted by mostcolleges/universities. Check with your university for details.

26. Dual Credit (DC) • Student dually enrolled in TMHS and Lone Star College • Courses taken on TMHS campus • Tuition is reduced for dual credit students • Grade and credit posted on both high school and college transcripts • Credits generally accepted by Texas state colleges and universities. Check with college/university for credit transfer details.

27. Dual Credit • DC Courses Require • Lone Star College application and orientation • Qualifying placement scores • High School approval • College registration • Payment of college fees • Mandatory student meeting (student must attend one) • January 30th, 3-3:30 pm in LGI • January 31st, 7:15 -7:45 in LGI • College Registration Deadline will be on April 5, 2013

28. Making an informed decision AP vs. DC • Professes interest in subject selected • Research what colleges are accepting and requiring, as well as degree requirements • Research the expectations of each course • Don’t overextend yourself! • Carefully considers time commitments and balances academic load with extracurricular activities, family life or outside commitments

29. Informed Decision cont. • Is the student self motivated? • Does the student persevere when faced with challenging material? • Does the student plan and work ahead on long term projects? • Talk to current subject teacher in courses considering AP/DC

30. More Dual Credit Information Needed? Mrs. Forsyth will be giving a Dual Credit presentation following this meeting at 7:30 in the TMHS Auditorium

31. PSAT/NMSQT

32. PSAT/NMSQT • Students received individual score reports in December/January • Scores reported on scale of 20 to 80 • In 2012 average score for 10th graders was: • 43 in Critical Reading • 43 in Mathematics • 41 in Writing • Selection Index (sum of 3 scores) included on score report used to determine eligibility in National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs (NMSC). Range is from 60 to 240. Average Selection Index for 11th grade is about 142. Only students in 11th grade are eligible for NMSC Scholarship programs

33. PSAT cont. • Score reports include percentiles to allow comparison of your scores with others in same grade level who have taken PSAT • See Score Report Plus for more information about your score report on www.collegeboard.org • Practice is key! Make sure your student uses this years PSAT booklet to practice • Next October’s PSAT is very important!

34. End of Course Testing

35. EOC Exams, Spring 2013 • April 3, 2013 – English 2 Writing • April 4, 2013 – English 2 Reading • May 7, 2013 – Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 • May 8, 2013 – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics • May 9, 2013 – World History

36. Post Secondary Planning

37. Get on the highway to your future!

38. Post Secondary Options • College/University • Community College • Military • Trade/Technical School • Employment • Certificate programs

39. Explore your options • Explore your interests in choosing courses in your schedule • Determine what type of degree/certification is needed for you post secondary plans • Make a list of schools and the entrance requirements

40. College Prep Checklist • Take Challenging Courses • Make good grades • Volunteer and keep records of hours • Read, read, read! Enhance your vocabulary! • Expand extracurricular activities/summer enrichment activities

41. College Prep Checklist cont. • Discuss where you want to attend college with your parents, teachers, and counselor • Parents/students together consider all costs and how to pay for college • Look into scholarship options • You don’t have to wait until you’re a senior to begin looking for scholarships!

42. All Grade Levels Take advantage of free on-line help! • www.collegeboard.org • My College Quick Start with PSAT access code • Question of the Day • www.act.org • www.collegeforalltexans.com

43. What if my student isn’t sure what they want to do after graduation?

44. Post-Secondary Exploration • Determine Interests and Aptitude through Kuder • See your counselor for access codes for testing on KUDER • ASVAB Test (March 26 @ TMHS) • Quick Start (collegeboard.com, access code with PSAT score results) • Internet Research • NACAC National College Fair (Tuesday, April 11, 2013 @ Reliant Center)

45. Post-Secondary Exploration continued… • Visit colleges in person – check for school sponsored events or schedule a visit day (11th/12th grade students have 2 excused college visit days) • Satellite Offices in Houston for UT, A&M, and Texas Tech • College Night @ Lone Star College each fall • Gather info from colleges who visit TMHS during lunches

46. Big Future @ collegeboard.com • College, careers, and major search section • Videos from experts and students • Paying for college section • Step by step plans to assist in college planning • Making school count section Visit www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

47. Helpful College Search Websites • www.collegeboard.org • www.collegeforalltexans.com • www.petersons.com • www.princetonreview.com • www.findchristiancollege.org • www.technicalschools.org • www.tstc.edu (Texas State Technical College)

48. What to expect as Juniors • Junior Rank is given in Fall and again in Spring (4 semesters/5 semesters) • PSAT in October (determines National Merit Finalists/Scholars from junior class) • Counselors meet with juniors to discuss courses/college planning in the spring of the junior year • EOC testing in the spring semester • Recommend SAT and/or ACT test(s) during the winter/spring of the junior year. Look ahead to make sure there is enough time to retake an exam if needed

49. Need a transcript? • Order from Mrs. Erwin in the Registrar’s office • $2 for official transcript • $1 for unofficial transcript • Please allow 2 to 3 days for processing

50. SAT and ACT