9 TH GRADE ORIENTATION

1. 9TH GRADE ORIENTATION WELCOME TO UHS: HOME OF THE HAWKS!

2. SGA • PRESIDENT: Tyler Pearre • SGA ADVISORS: Mr. Stephen Ward and Mr. Matt Ferrante • 9th GRADE CLASS ADVISORS: MS. BOBBI YUSKO & MS. IDA DAVIS

3. High School is the place where… • Academic expectations are raised significantly. • Academic exploration takes on a new sense of urgency. • Academic choices open and close doors of opportunity. • Personal character is created, tested, and, as necessary, recreated.

4. Administration Mr. Jay Berno, Principal Mr. Mike Chavez, Assistant Principal (all students A thru G) Mr. Jack Sclar, Assistant Principal (all students H thru O) Ms. Christine Stone, Assistant Principal (all students P thru Z) Ms. Brenda Harne, Pupil Personnel Worker Student Services Mr. Jon Walton, Guidance Dept. Chairperson Counselor (Last Names K – Mi) Mrs. Erin Hill, Counselor (Last Names A – Dh) Mr. Matthew Rudmann Counselor (Last Names Di – J) Mrs. Mardy Holt, Counselor (Last Names Mo – Sa) Ms. Ellen Ruby, Counselor (Last Names Sb – Z) Ms. Leigh Ann Young, School Support Teacher Introducing the UHS Team

5. Today’s Agenda1:00 – 1:15 Welcome! • STUDENTS * STATION ONE 1:20 – 1:35 * STATION TWO 1:40 – 1:55 * STATION THREE 2:00 – 2:15 * STATION FOUR 2:20 – 2:35 • PARENTS ---PTSA ---Athletics ---Hawkfest ---Nuts & Bolts ---Academics ---Q & A ---Join PTSA

6. PTSA MEETINGS • August 13 • September 17 • October 15 • November 19 • December 17 • January 14 • February 18 • March 18 • April 15 • May 20 PRESIDENT: Eric Fairbanks VICE-PRESIDENTS: Heidi Rosencrantz & Nicole Robertson TREASURER: Terry Besch SECRETARY: Shari Austin

7. PTSA FOCUS: 2014 - 2015 • ACADEMIC EXCELLANCE AWARD • NAVIANCE: COLLEGE READINESS • STEM CAREER DAY • HAWKFEST SUPPORT: ONE URBANA • TEACHER APPRECIATION & SUPPORT

8. Fall Sports Football Soccer Volleyball Golf Cross Country Cheerleading Field Hockey Winter Sports Basketball Wrestling Indoor Track Swimming Cheerleading Spring Sports Baseball Lacrosse Track and Field Tennis Softball Unified Sports at UHS Fall Unified Tennis Winter Unified Bocce Spring Unified Track UHS AthleticsAthletic Director, Ryan HinesAssistant Athletic Director, Michelle Hill

9. Student Athletes & Attendance When a student athlete is late to school during the day or leaves early (after 9:00 AM) while in their athletic season he/she must have a doctor’s note in order to play in a game or practice ----- Students will need to come to the Attendance Office to get a stamped pass to give to their coach -----

10. Season Passes • Available for sale August 26th at Back to School Night & at the beginning of each season • For all home games ONLY –does NOT include Post Season games • Family Annual Pass: $200.00 • Family Season Pass (Fall, Winter$100 each) • Student Pass: $35.00 • Sport Specific Pass – Depends on how many home games are scheduled • Senior Citizens do not need pass- they are admitted free ! 

11. Cultural Events • Students may participate in vocal and instrumental music groups, theatre productions, and the dance company. All are award winning! • A student Talent Show is held every year to showcase our students’ abilities. • Student art work is always on display and submitted for juried exhibitions. • UHS students publish a literary magazine.

12. UHS MINI-THON • Saturday March 14, 2015 • 5:00-11:00 p.m. (UHS Auditorium) • UHS Mini-Thon is based off of Penn State’s THON – a student philanthropist organization. • All proceeds benefit the Four Diamonds Fund which is based out of Hershey Hospital. • The Four Diamonds Fund donates money to Pediatric Cancer Research. • All UHS students are allowed to participate after signing a Dance Commitment and Pledge form • UHS Mini-Thon is the culmination of a year-long fundraising campaign through a variety of school spirit activities.

13. HAWKFEST 2015 • When? Saturday, April 25, 201511-4 PM --- Hawkfest Chairs: Mr. Stephen Ward & Ms. Noelle Tepper --- Hawkfest is a festival that celebrates UHS and our community. Last year’s festival featured 30 + events from UHS clubs, 25 craft vendors, food, live music, games, prizes, inflatable attractions, a petting zoo and more! --- We are in need of parent volunteers for Hawkfest Committees. There are forms for Hawkfest available today. --- Monthly meetings will be held. Information will be sent out on UHS Find Out First.

14. CLUBS • Over 50 Clubs are available to students. These include: Model UN, Chess, NHS, Mock Trial, “One Urbana” and many more. • Clubs meet once per month, during or after school. • Information and sign-ups will be during lunch shifts early in September

15. ATTENDANCE • Students must present a written excuse within two school days from a parent/legal guardian to the Attendance Office or their 1st Block teacher • Parents should always call the Attendance Office if their child will be absent. • (240-236-7736) • An attempt will be made to contact parents at work if a call is not received .

16. ATTENDANCE REGULAR DAILY ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED AND CRITICAL TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS! • A student shall fail or lose credit if unlawful absences exceed: 5 days in a term OR 10 days in a semester. • A note from a doctor, dentist, court official or counselor may be required for all absences beyond 10 days.

17. ATTENDANCE Chronic Illness To avoid unexcused absences contact your child’s physician and ask that he/she provide a “Doctor’s Note” to excuse absences and/or late arrivals to school to cover the entire school year for a chronic health condition. The “Blanket Doctor Note” will be filed in the Attendance Office. Parents will need to reference the doctor’s note on file when they write a note of excuse for their child’s absence/lateness due to chronic illness.

18. Late Arrivals to School • Students who arrive between 7:30 – 7:44 report directly to class. -Teachers will issue a consequence after two warnings. • Students who arrive after 7:44 must report to the Attendance Office for a pass. - A 90 minute After School Retention will be issued after two warnings. • Students should always have a note explaining why they are tardy.

19. EARLY DISMISSALS • Students leaving early must have a note from their guardian with a phone number where he/she can be reached, the specific reason for leaving early & the time: (Dentist appointment, Doctor appointment etc.) This must be turned in to the Attendance Office in advance. Students will then receive a pass to leave. • Students must show the pass to their teacher and sign out from the Attendance Office before leaving.

20. DRESSED TO LEARN • THE UHS DRESS CODE: Students need to make good choices. Parents will be contacted if students choose to wear clothing that does not follow the UHS Dress Code. • To ensure that students are identifiable when they move through the school no head gear is to be worn in the building (hats, caps, etc.) • Shirts should meet pants/skirts to avoidbare midriffs

21. THE UHS DRESS CODE • Shirts are to conceal what is underneath: No low-cut shirts (at neckline or underarm), skimpy-strapped tank tops or tube tops, strapless shirts or dresses, or muscle shirts. • Pants are to be worn above the hips to avoid exposing underwear or skin.

22. THE UHS DRESS CODE • Shorts and skirts should not be too short or revealing (finger-tip rule) as students walk up and down stairs or sit at desks. • Offensive or obscene language on clothing, pictures or words depicting sex, nudity, drugs, alcohol or weapons will not be tolerated in our school.

23. Creating a Safe School Environment • Weapons Policy • Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco Policies • Discrimination/Harassment Policy --FCPS prohibits harassment/bullying for any reason including race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender.

24. School Disciplinary Consequences • Warning/Discussion With Student • Parent Contact • Teacher Detention • ASR (After-School Retention)— 90 minutes • Saturday School Detention (3 ½ hours) • In-School Suspension & Out of School Suspension—letter placed in student’s permanent record, per state mandate

25. Cell Phones & Other Portable Electronic Devices Shall Not: • Disrupt the learning environment • Pose a threat to academic integrity • Violate confidentiality or privacy rights of others during the school day as well as during after-school activities • Create safety concerns • Be used to take or transfer any image at any time on school property Regulation 400-18

26. BYOD Goals of FCPS’ Bring Your Own Device: • Improve student learning by seamlessly integrating the use of technology in schools • Expand learning beyond the classroom • Promote greater collaboration and feedback with students, staff and families • Promote the use of a variety of technology tools and cloud-based applications to analyze data and solve problems • Teach Digital Citizenship through the appropriate, responsible use of technology

27. INTERNET SAFETY HELPFUL HABITS: • Set up privacy features to protect your child's identity as well as his/her accessibility to inappropriate material. • Teach your child not to share personal information online. NEVER use your full name, birth date, or address in a profile. • Keep computers in a central location & check the browser history to know where your child goes online.

28. INTERNET SAFETY • Limit your child’s online time, especially at night. • Remind your child repeatedly that anything posted or forwarded in cyberspace is out there FOREVER! • Familiarize yourself with texting language. • Know what Apps your child has on his/her device and what these Apps are used for. Make sure you are on your child’s FRIENDS list.

29. INTERNET SAFETY • Don't be afraid to review your child's posts/texts on a regular basis. • DO NOT DELETE inappropriate or threatening texts or photos. These can be important evidence if further action is taken. This is especially true if your child receives a sexually inappropriate picture of a minor. Take the phone/device directly to the police.

30. FCPS Medication Authorization • A medication form must be completed in order for staff to administer meds (whether prescription or over-the-counter). A new form must be completed each school year or anytime there is a change in dosage or time of administration of a medication. • Students are prohibited from transporting medication. • Medication will be kept locked in the health room and administered by the school nurse, health technician, or school administrator. • Parents may bring medication to school to give to their child in the health room. • Be sure to check the expiration date on the pharmacy label . Maryland law allows prescription medication to be used only for 1 year beyond the date of issue or expiration date indicated on the medication, whichever comes first. FCPS Regulation 400-23

31. School Bus Riders • Bus routes will be posted on the FCPS web site after 5 PM on August 15. • Busses drop and pick up students at the front of the school. • Car riders will meet parents in the Auditorium or Gym lot ONLY! • No cars are to be in the bus area in the front of the school before school or between the hours of 1:00 PM and 2:45 PM

32. Students’ First Day of High School • Report to the cafeteria until 7:15 a.m.; Class begins at 7:30 a.m. BREAKFAST WILL END AT 7:25 a.m. • Block 1 teacher will issue updated schedules. Students are assigned four 90-minute classes each semester. • Lunch Shift is determined by block 3 class. Everyone is to report to their Block 3 class before lunch. • Lockers may be requested in the Assistant Principal’s office. • School dismissal is at 2:15 p.m.; Buses depart by 2:25 p.m. Students may not remain in school after 2:25 unless supervised by an adult. • Look for important information cards and a variety of paperwork requiring your signaturethe first week of school.

33. Bell and Lunch Schedule • Block 1: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. • Block 2: 9:05 – 10:35 a.m. • Block 3: 10:40 – 12:40 *(includes lunch) * LUNCH SHIFTS Lunch 1: 10:35 – 11:03 Lunch 2: 11:07 – 11: 35 Lunch 3: 11:39 – 12:07 Lunch 4: 12:11 – 12:40 • Block 4: 12:45 – 2:15 p.m.

34. FCPS Meal Prices • Breakfast: $1.60 Federal Reduced Breakfast Program: $.40 • Lunch $2.30 • Federal Reduced Lunch Program: $.40 • Milk: $.50 • Prepay with credit or debit card at: MyschoolBucks.com • Student’s name and ID number are required to sign up For additional infocontact FCPS Food Services at: food.service@fcps.org

35. UHS Academic Expectations • Students with high attendance usually earn better grades. • Being on time is another key to success. (Classes begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 2:15 p.m.) • Courses should challenge students to think at higher levels. • Form a partnership with your child’s teachers, counselor & administrator.

36. Academic Goals/Honors STUDENTS MUST: Complete 25 credits, plus pass all four state assessments to earn A Maryland diploma -- (HSA’s in Biology, & Government; PARCC Assessments in Reading and Mathematics) If students maintain a 3.0 (“B”) or higher grade point average they will earn Honor Roll status. Students may gain induction into the National Honor Society if they demonstrate exemplary academic performance, citizenship, service and leadership. If students earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA (on a weighted scale) they will earn special honors at graduation.

37. NAVIANCE • Naviance is a college and career readiness software program. • Assesses strengths, setting goals & creating personalized learning plans • Use of technology to find resources to prepare academically and discover their own path • Career exploration & course planning using FCPS course catalogue • College search & admissions & status of applications, letters of recommendation etc.

38. Signature Program at UHS • The International Baccalaureate Diploma program offered at UHS is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of highly motivated students. • See your child’s school counselor for more information.

39. Communication is KEY • Encourage your student to use their agenda book! • Require your student to check Pinnacle Internet Viewer for Online Grades Weekly. (Each student will be given a personal password.) • Check the Urbana High School Website: http://uhsmd.org/ • Sign up for UHS Find out First • Join the PTSA & VOLUNTEER!

40. How to Read A Schedule PD Course-Sec. Description Marking Days Room TEACHER Period 1 663141 – 11 Dance 1 M1, M2 M,T,W,R,F F116 Weigelt 1 344070 – 15 Foundations M3, M4 M,T,W,R,F C108Mayne of Tech 2 263021 – 12 Spanish 3 M1, M2 M,T,W,R,F C215 Gomez 2 131111 – 16 English 9 Honors M3, M4 M,T,W,R,F C221 Hayes 3 461020 – 13 Health M1 M,T,W,R,F P – 1 Watsic 3 461030 – 23 Fitness For Life M2 M,T,W,R,F E101 Stuart 3 161101 – 17 Government M3, M4 M,T,W,R,F B213 Levin Honors *LUNCH SHIFT (1-4) IS DETERMINED BY THE PERIOD 3 CLASS 4 193001 – 14 Chemistry Honors M1, M2 M,T,W,R,F C103 Beech 4 231111 – 18 Geometry Honors M3, M4 M,T,W,R,F B117 Mills Term 1,2 = Semester I (Aug. thru Jan.); Term 3, 4 = Semester II (Jan. thru June) Term 1 only or Term 2 only = a nine-week course (1/2 credit) Students take end-of-course exams from the county (CRES) and state (HSA)

41. SCHEDULE CHANGES • Any schedule change request must originate with the completion of a schedule change sheet (included in the July 23 mailing to you from the Guidance Department) • Return this to the office or scan a copy and email to counselor—print clearly! • If you need to meet with counselor request appointment when change sheet is submitted • Schedule change days: Aug. 4, 6, 11 & 13 • We are unable to accept walk-in appointments due to the high demand for our time • Schedule change requests received after Aug 13 will be completed the first day of school

42. Maryland High School Assessments (HSA) • 2 tests: Biology and Government • Passing Scores: Biology 400 Government 394 • Students can retake an HSA two times to earn a passing score • HSAs are given in January, May, and July/August.

43. Global Scholar What? It is a computer adaptive assessment designed to determine students’ levels of understanding and make informed judgments about next steps for instruction. When? It will be administered at least 2 times during the semester at the high school level. Year-long 9th grade English & Algebra classes will take the assessment 3 times. Why? It is a valuable educational tool used to help assess student progress and guide instruction in Common Core Algebra, Geometry, and English.

44. Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers -- More challenging than current tests -- Next-generation design -- Measures college and career readiness -- Aligned to the Common Core State Standards -- Measures writing across grades -- Timely data for students and teachers -- Supports different learning styles and abilities -- Comparable scores across states

45. PARCC:MATHEMATICS Students will be expected to: • Apply mathematical ways of thinking to real-world issues and challenges • Develop a depth of understanding of mathematics and demonstrate an ability to apply math concepts and skills to new situations

46. PARCC: ELA LITERACY Students will have to show they can: • Analyze complex passages • Conduct research and apply that to solve problems or address a particular issue • Identify areas for research, narrow those topics and adjust research methodology as necessary • Evaluate and synthesize primary and secondary resources, then develop and defend conclusions • Communicate findings verbally and in writing

47. PROJECTED TIMELINE • SPRING 2015 • First Administration of New Tests • SUMMER 2015 • Establishment of Cut Scores • FALL 2015 • Release of Diagnostic and Formative Assessments • FALL 2016 • Use of Cut Scores for IHE Placement

48. After-School Tutoring Opportunities • The following after school programs are provided to UHS students for academic Support ----------------------------------------------------------------- • Ms. Hackett: HSA tutoring • Ms. Ross: HSA English tutoring • Math Lab • In addition, academic assistance is offered by UHS teachers by appointment.

49. What You Can Do To Support Your Children… • Remind them to dress appropriately and bring all materials the first day and each following day. • Encourage them to view school as a job: they have duties and responsibilities but they will be fairly compensated. • Help them to understand that their teachers want them to be successful. • Help them set realistic and worthy goals and to go for them! • Help them to organize; they will need to study both in school and at home. • Contact their teachers & counselor if they are not being successful. Arrange after school tutoring for them as needed.