Ponchatoula High School

1. Ponchatoula High School Welcome

2. Faculty • 99 Educators • 63 Bachelor • 21 M. Ed. • 13 M. Ed. +30 • 2 Ph.D. • 6 National Board Certification

3. AP Courses • AP English Literature and Composition • Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science • Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1 algebra-based • Advanced Placement (AP)  Physics 2 algebra-based

4. Dual Enrollment/Early Start

5. Industry-Based Certifications • Pharmacy Tech • First Responder • Customer Service • ProStart • OSHA • Welding • Vet Tech Assistant • Microsoft Office Specialist

6. PHS Stats

7. How do I enroll my child? Champ Cooper and PJHS Automatically roll-over Other schools Make an appointment with your school counselor. Complete Majority-Minority Application (TPSS website). tangischools.org->resources->parents->forms Must reapply each year Available Feb 8/Deadline June 6 Complete new student enrollment packet (on website). tangischools.org/phs->academics->counselors->new student • Original Full Birth Certificate or a Certified Copy • Current Immunization Record - MCH 14 (White Card) Preferred • Social Security Card • Verification of Residence(Bills w/ a service location – Entergy, Gas, Water, Cable) • Proof of Guardianship (Domiciliary parent) • 8th grade report card • LEAP scores

8. What are the admission requirements for high school? Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) Students must score Basic or above in either English or math and Approaching Basic or above in the other subject on the LEAP to advance to the next grade.

9. Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) Students in 4th and 8th grade participate in the high stakes Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) test, which determines whether they will be required to attend summer school or be retained. The LEAP measures 4th and 8th grade students' knowledge and skills in English Language Arts, math, science and social studies. Students must score Basic or above in either English or math and Approaching Basic or above in the other subject on the LEAP to advance to the next grade.

10. The five achievement levels a student can earn on the LEAPare • Advanced A student at this level has demonstrated superior performance beyond the level of mastery. • MasteryA student at this level has demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter and is well prepared for the next level of schooling. • BasicA student at this level has demonstrated only the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for the next level of schooling. • Approaching BasicA student at this level has only partially demonstrated the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for the next level of schooling. • UnsatisfactoryA student at this level has not demonstrated the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for the next level of schooling.

11. How do I register my child for the LEAP test? If homeschool or private school student, must preregister with TPSS. Administered at PHS for SJS students. Phase 1 March 18, 2014 ELA Writing & Math CR Items Phase 2 April 7 & 8, 2014 Remaining ELA and Math Test Items

12. Once my child is a PHS student, what is expected of him/her? • Our goal is for students to become actively involved in both the academic and extra-curricular programs. • Join clubs. • Attend sporting events. • Attend our drama and musical productions. • Perform to the best of their ability academically. • Bellwork, Homework, Studying • Show exemplary behavior. • Hallway movement, courteous, polite

13. What are the educational options? • Louisiana Graduation Requirements • College Diploma • Career Diploma

15. What does each diploma allow?

16. End of Course Test Students must pass three End of Course tests to graduate. English II or English III Algebra I or Geometry Biology I or American History * EOC Test will count as 15% of the final grade.

17. Louisiana’s Taylor Opportunity Program for StudentsTOPS • A series of merit-based scholarships that award amounts equal to tuition, some including a stipend, at a state public college, university, community college or technical school, (or the weighted average of public school tuition at certain in-state private colleges). • TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards • 8 semesters of college tuition • TOPS Tech Award • 2 years of technical college tuition Source: http://www.osfa.la.gov/

21. Overview of TOPS Requirements

22. What is the Ninth Grade Academy?

23. PHS Map

24. ·Designed for FIRST-time freshmen §Helps students to transition from 8th grade into high school §Allows students to develop great learning habits §Assists students with making the right choices ·Students placed with a team of caring teachers who use the best instructional strategies to teach the curriculum ·Teams meet EVERYDAY in order to focus more on students’ individual needs ·Conferences are scheduled during teaming time §Students §Parents §Administrators/Counselors

25. What will the schedule look like?

26. 9th Grade Electives

27. Honors Course Criteria A student must meet three of the five criteria yearly for the subject area requested. 1. Minimum overall GPA of 2.8 2. Minimum subject area average of 3.0 3. Teacher Recommendation 4. Student Self-evaluation 5. Test Scores Mastery or Advanced on LEAP Excellent or Good on EOC test in subject area

28. Course Selection Please be sure to read the description of the elective before choosing. Please choose wisely, because we do not change electives once the master schedule is made. If you ask for a class and receive it, you are expected to stay there for the entire length of the course. Some courses require that you get special approval. Special approval means that you must get the teacher granting permission to sign your schedule request form. For example, band requires that the PJHS band director signs.

29. When will schedules be completed?SJS – 4/8PJHS – 4/16 & 4/17Champ Cooper – 5/2

31. Individual Graduation Plans According to the Career Options Law, every student must have an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) on file at the school. The plan is initiated in 8th grade and will be updated each year. The IGP shall be signed by the student and parent or legal guardian each year. The IGP reflects the curriculum pathway and the recommended sequence of elective courses. The IGP is flexible, yet sufficiently structured, to ensure that a student will meet the high school requirements for admission to a postsecondary education institution or enter the workforce.

34. PrincipalDanny Strickland Ninth Grade Academy Counselors A-D Denise Latour denise.Latour@tangischools.org E-K OrlisaDePhillips orlisa.dephillips@tangischools.org L-Q Katharine Meadors katharine.meadors@tangischools.org R-Z Tommie Robertson tommie.robertson@tangischools.org MelanieMonistere melanie.monistere@tangischools.org