Cypress Falls Counseling Department

1. Cypress FallsCounseling Department Safety Openness Academics Recognitions Freshman Guidance Lesson 2006-2007

2. Cy-Falls HS Counselors & Assistant Principals COUNSELORSASSISTANT PRINCIPALS A-B Brandi Blomquist A B W June Copeland C-D Patti J. Moore C - F Sharon Farrah E-Han Diana Villarreal G - J Raul Lopez Hao-K Judy Hooper K - L Brent McDonald L-M Norma Fernandez N - R John Zimmermann N-Re Christy Taylor S - V Wanda Figueroa Rf-S Nicole Rao-Flores X Y Z Wanda Figueroa T-Z Maria Lewis CoordinatingCounselor - Lori Ivey

3. Counselors’ Corner • Equal Access • Sign-up at Counselors’ Corner • Check often for new information • Be specific on counselor request form • Obtain information about programs & opportunities • Visit with a counselor • various aspects of high school Counselor • learn about your responsibilities

4. Counselor’s Role • Help students succeed! • Assist with • academics and career exploration • future planning • personal and social situations • Referrals • From teachers, parents, friends due to concerns • Self-referral • Sign-in and out of counselors’ office • Come without a pass……Leave without a pass

5. Counselors’ Role (cont.) • Safety • No harassment policy • Tell an adult (teacher, counselor, assistant principal) if you’re being harassed • Crisis • a life-threatening situation • Tell an adult immediately • Confidentiality • Danger to self or others

6. Graduation Requirements

7. Graduation Requirements

8. Graduation Requirements • Required and Elective Credits • 24 credits - Recommended Graduation Program • House Bill 1144 • TAKS Tests • 9th Grade TAKS • February 21, 2007 - Reading TAKS • April 18, 2007 - Math TAKS • 10th Grade TAKS • 11th Grade TAKS - Exit Level; required for graduation

9. College Entrance Exams • PSAT - Taken in 10th & 11th grade; 11th grade determines National Merit Scholars • ACT, SAT I & II - Measures how well students have developed academic skills that are necessary for college work • Choice of tests will depend on which colleges you apply to • THEA - Texas Higher Education Assessment • Must take prior to any collegiate-level courses

10. The Texas Grant • State program that provides free money to pay college tuition and fees at all Texas public colleges • Requires Recommended or Distinguished High School program • Apply to Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Must demonstrate financial aid need

11. CFISD Schedule Change Policy • Changes can be made during first three weeks of a semester for the following reasons: • The student does not meet prerequisite(s) for the course. • The student does not meet the grade placement requirement for the course. • The student already has credit for the course. • The student is placed in an inappropriate level. • The student has not met the requirements for K-level, AP, Dual Credit, or Horizons placement.

12. Schedule Changes • Second Semester • Schedule changes occur due to balancing • Be flexible and expect a change • Invalid reasons for schedule changes • Always check out of previous teacher’s class before checking into new class when changes are made • Changes can only be made during first 3 weeks of semester • Texas State Law mandates 90% attendance

13. K-Level Changes • 3 weeks and 6 weeks • Require teacher/parent approval/notification • D’s and F’s in K level - automatic removal • Again, always check out of previous teacher’s class before checking into new class when changes are made

14. Grading System A (90-100) Excellent Progress B (80-89) Good Progress C (75-79) Normal Progress D (70-74) Poor Progress F (Below 70) Failing Earning Credits: Semester grades are computed by allocating a weight of 2/7 for each six weeks’ grade and 1/7 for the semester exam.

15. Grade Points and GPA K Level Regular Level A = 7 A = 6 B = 6 B = 5 C = 5 C = 4 D = 4 D = 3 F = 0 F = 0 • Honor Graduates - Three Levels • Summa Cum Laude - 6.5 GPA or higher • Magna Cum Laude - 6.25 GPA or higher • Cum Laude - 6.0 GPA or higher • GPA is cumulative by semester • Freshman year is important • Unofficial Class Rank and GPA can be ready by following school year

16. What Happens if I Fail a Semester? • Year Long Courses: • Failing 1st semester, passing second semester • Eng I 65 75 = 1 credit • Alg I 68 71 = 1 credit • Passing first semester, failing 2nd semester, • IPC 75 65 = 0.5 credit

17. Options for Gaining Credit • Summer School • Costs $150 per semester; $300 per one credit • Course information and dates become available in April • Listen to announcements • Visit Counselor Corner to check for registration information • Houston Community College • Costs $140.00 per semester, $240 per one credit • Zero hour courses • Before School – 6:20 am

18. Options for Gaining Credit (cont.) • District Credit By Exam • Windfern High School • Make-up credit - can test only two times per subject ($30.00 each test) • Original credit - can test one time per subject • Correspondence • Texas Tech or UT Austin • Student pay for tuition and books • $125 or more per semester • Can only earn 2 credits by correspondence course • Afternoon/Evening School • Costs the same as summer school

19. Classification Of StudentsBy Grade Levels • 9th Grade - Promotion from Middle School • 10th Grade - One year of attendance and five (5) credits including English 1 and Algebra 1 • 11th Grade - Two years of attendance and ten (10) credits including English 2, IPC or Biology, Geometry and World History • 12th Grade - Three years of attendance and sixteen (16) credits including all of the above named courses and English 3 • 90% Attendance is required by law

20. Registration for Next Year’s Courses • February • counselors present new/revised course descriptions • students select all courses for next year • parent input is required/recommended • teachers are hired based on students’ registration • schedules are finalized by last day of school

21. Transcripts • Permanent academic record • Seen by colleges, employers, the military • What’s on the transcript? • Semester grades • GPA • Class Rank • Attendance • Graduation Plan • Test scores - TAKS, SAT, ACT, PSAT

22. Why is Education Important? Average Annual Income by Education Attainment US Census Bureau, 2006

23. To Sum It Up: • Ninth grade is the year to : • Improve grades and study habits • Read, Read, Read • Attend tutorials during Advisory and after school • Get involved in clubs and organizations • Volunteer in the community • Begin building a portfolio (History of school and community activities) • Recognize and realize YOU CAN MASTER THE GAME!