ROCKDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

1. ROCKDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Rising 9th Grade Parent Night

2. Athletics Welcome to Bulldog Country • RCHS offers 21 different sports: • Fall • Football, cheerleading, cross country, girls volleyball, fast pitch softball, girls flag football • Winter • Basketball, cheerleading, wrestling, swimming • Spring • Baseball, soccer, track, golf, tennis, boys volleyball

3. 9th Graders Are Automatically Eligible on Day 1 Athletics • Must pass 5 classes each semester to maintain eligibility • Must be cleared on Privit to participate • Research shows that athletes have: • Higher grades • Better Attendance • Better Discipline • Better Social Skills • More Healthy Lifestyles

4. Most Pressing Dates Athletics • Spring Football – starts May 2 • Girls Volleyball Tryouts – starts May 2 • Softball Tryouts – starts May 6 • Physical Day – April 23 in RCHS Gym Lobby 3:30-6:00pm • Follow us on Twitter @RCHSBulldogs TO STAY CONNECTED • Email AD Coach Suddeth with questions – csuddeth@rockdale.k12.ga.us

5. Language Arts Curriculum • Ninth Grade Gifted Literature/Composition- This course offers rigorous planned lessons for students who have tested above the norm on national standardized testing.  This course offers the pathway for future AP classes course work and beyond. • Ninth Grade Excel Literature/Composition- This course offers advanced placement for students who wish to plan for AP course work and beyond. • Ninth Grade Literature/Composition- This course is a regular class placement that offers course credit towards the English program

6. Technology Resources that support the English Curriculum • 1.  Achieve 3000- this program introduces informational readings and measures Lexile reading levels. • 2. USAtestprep.com- this program offers support of standards through online activities. • 3. The textbook is online for students to access through Pearsonrealize.com • 4. Star 360- Helps to measure Lexile reading levels along with Achieve 3000, and it offers activities for student reading comprehension improvement.

7. Major Assignments Assigned to Rising Freshmen • Major Assignments include Summer Reading and assigned activity; this information can be found on the County and school’s website. • DBQ Writing Task (1 per semester) 

8. 9th Grade Track Math Options 8th Grade Math: Normal Track • Coordinate Algebra • Analytic Geometry • Advanced Algebra • Senior options: Pre-Calculus, College Readiness Math, Statistics, AP Statistics, or Dual-Enrollment 8th Grade Math: Coordinate Algebra • Analytic Geometry • Advanced Algebra • Pre-Calculus • Recommended: AP Calculus • Options instead of AP Calc: College Readiness Math, Statistics, AP Statistics, or Dual-Enrollment

9. Coordinate Algebra Support • Support Classes are yearlong • Teachers supplement the Coordinate Algebra content and provide support with skills necessary for success in the CA content • Elective credit is earned • Placement is determined by 8th grade final grades and End-of-Grade performance

10. Technology Support for Math Curriculum • Star 360 (Gap placement test) • Kahn Academy • Delta Math • USA Testprep

11. 9th Grade Class Offerings • Biology- the study of life • Environmental Science- the study of organisms and their environments

12. Course Outlines Biology • 9th grade content standards • Daily work in class that supports the development of mastering content standards • Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note-taking skills, and basic writing • Regular homework that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills • Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material) Environmental Science • 9th grade content standards • Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses • Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note-taking skills, and basic writing • Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing • Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material) • Most work will be completed in class, with homework for students who need additional time in class, or have difficulties using time in class wisely BOTH • Strong emphasis on interpreting data in graphs, charts, and tables • Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing including lab reports • Strong emphasis on students making informed decisions to solve real world problems using data and inquiry and NOT opinions. • Emphasis on student inquiry and application of content knowledge to personal life and community • Use of school issued personal laptop

13. Other Sciences offered • Conceptual Physics • Physics • Chemistry • Forensic Science • Human Anatomy and Physiology • AP Chemistry • AP Biology

14. Social Studies9th Grade Class Offerings • American Government • Excel Government • AP Government and Politics

15. American Government Government • 9th grade content standards • Daily work in class that supports the development of mastering content standards • Inclusion of vocabulary development, basic note-taking skills, and basic writing • Most work will be completed in class, with homework for students who need additional time in class, or have difficulties using time in class wisely • Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material) Excel • 9th grade content standards • Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses • Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing • Regular homework that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills • Use of school issued personal laptop (USATestPrep and other material) Advanced Placement (AP) • 9th grade content standards • Focused on further developing the skills needed to succeed in future AP courses • Strong emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and evidence based writing • Nightly homework (1 hour/night) that helps master content standards and strengthens reading and writing skills • Use of school issued personal laptop • Should plan on taking the AP Exam in May

16. Advanced Placement Class Additional outside reading and interpretation is a MUST to guarantee success in the course. Comparative analysis of documents, events, etc... happen on a regular basis. It's more than the who what when where why of social studies.  Requires constant revision and updates. It's a living class: facts change daily because it involves real life situations Interpretation of charts, maps and diagrams for the purpose of drawing conclusions and making projections as well

17. Food, Nutrition and Wellness Food For Life Food Science Nutrition and Food Science Pathway • Centered on Healthy Food and Lifestyle Choices • Investigate relationships between food and health • Nutritional Needs of the Human Life Cycle • Start from Pregnancy through adolescents to adulthood • Focus on Real Life Situations • Focuses on how science affects food preparation, processing and storage • ServSafe Food Handlers Certification

18. Business & Technology Entrepreneurship Human Resource Management Business Pathways Designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to be an asset to the collaborative, global, and innovative business IBT Business & Tech Business Comm Focuses on recognizing a business opportunity, starting a business, operating and maintaining a business IBT Business Law Entrepreneurship Equip students with operational knowledge of hiring, managing, and firing employees IBT Business Law HR Management

19. Web & Digital Design Programming Information Technology Pathways Designing a professional looking web site using graphical authoring tools that contains multimedia elements IDT Digital Design Web Design Designed for high school students to strategize, design, and develop games and mobile and desktop applications that can be produced in the real world IDT Computer Science Principles Programming, Games, & Apps

20. Graduation requirements for the Class 2023 • One diploma • English – 4 units • Math – 4 units • Social Studies – 4 units • Science – 4 units • CTAE/Foreign Language/Fine Arts – 3 units • Health & Personal Fitness – ½ unit of each • Electives – 4 units • Total of – 24 units • For pathway completion, students must complete three courses (units) in the same sequence or pathway • Students planning to attend a college or university must take a minimum of two years of the same Modern Language or Latin to meet admission requirements.

21. Modified Block Schedule A – DAY Meets every Monday and Wednesday • 1st Block – 90 minutes • 2nd Block – 90 minutes • 3rd Block– 90 minutes + 25 minute lunch • 4th Block – 90 min B – DAY Meets every Tuesday and Thursday • 1st Block – 90 minutes • 2nd Block – 90 minutes • 3rd Block– 90 minutes + 25 minute lunch • 4th Block – 90 minutes

22. Susie’s Schedule A Day • 1st Block – Coordinate Algebra • 2nd Block – English 9 • 3rd Block– Personal fitness/Health • 4th block – MJROTC (Elective) B Day • 1st Block – HS 101 • 2nd Block – Environmental Science • 3rd Block– Government • 4th block – Coordinate Algebra Support

23. Grading and transcripts • Grades are given at the end of each semester. That is the grade that will go on the student’s transcript (permanent record). • Unlike middle school, grades are final at the end of each semester and DO NOT average together at the end of the year. Each semester stands alone.

24. HOPE Scholarship • HOPE Scholarship • Students will receive 90% tuition with a HOPE GPA of 3.0. If the student does not have a 3.0 HOPE GPA by graduation, a student can earn it back ONLY once. • Zell Miller Scholarship • Students with a 3.7 or higherHOPE GPA will be eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship program . In addition to the HOPE GPA of 3.7 or higher, they also must have received a score of at least 1200 combined on the Critical Reading Score and Math Score on the SAT or have received a score of at least 26 on the ACT. These students will receive full tuition at Georgia’s public institutions and the full private HOPE award at Georgia private institutions. Students must have 4 courses from the Rigorous course list to be eligible for the HOPE Program.

25. Top 10 Skills for High School Students • Time Management • Good Study Habits • Set Attainable Goals • Concentration • Good Note-Taking • Complete Assignments • Review Daily Notes • Organizational Skills • Motivation • Commitment

26. Questions?? • Jermaine Blakely– Graduation Specialist • jgleaton@rockdale.k12.ga.us • 770-483-8754 ext. 28273 28132 • Brandi Thompson – College Advisor • bthompson@rockdale.k12.ga.us • (770) 483-8754 ext. 28115 • Therese Owens– Career Resource Center Coordinator • towens2@rockdale.k12.ga.us • 770-483-8754 ext. 28133 • Dustin Allen – Counselor A-D dallen1@rockdale.k12.ga.us 770-483-8754 ext. 28118 • Jewell Jackson– Counselor E-K (19-20) jjackson3@rockdale.k12.ga.us 770-483-8754 ext.  28119 • Francene Breakfield –Counselor L-R fbreakfield@rockdale.k12.ga.us 770-483-8754 ext. 28116 • KhalishaSabree- Counselor S-Z ksabree@rockdale.k12.ga.us 770-483-8754 ext. 28117