Information Night Welcome Class of 2015

1. Information Night Welcome Class of 2015 Home of the Algonac Muskrats!

2. Algonac High School 5200 Taft Road Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4911 ext. 1282 kblair@acsk12.us www.algonac.k12.mi.us Mrs. Karen Blair School Counselor

3. Education • 1983 Graduate of Algonac High School • 1988 Graduate of Western Michigan University • Bachelor of Arts (Secondary Education – English) • 1997 Graduate of Wayne State University • Masters of Education (Guidance Counseling K-12) • Employment Experience (23 years in education) • Algonac, Anchor Bay, Chippewa Valley Schools 1988-1990 • (Substitute Teacher) • Capac Jr./Sr. High School 1990 – 1998 • (High School English Teacher) • Powell Middle School (Romeo Schools) 1998-2001 • (Middle School Guidance Counselor) • Algonac High School 2001 – present • (High School Guidance Counselor) Mrs. Blair’s Resume

4. School begins at 7:35 AM • School Ends at 2:20 PM • Teachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to begin their day no later than 7:15 AM • Teachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to end their day no earlier than 2:45 PM • Many teachers (including Mrs. Blair) arrive at AHS earlier than 7:15 AM and stay later than 2:45 PM. • Students are encouraged to meet with teachers and Mrs. Blair before or afterschool. AHS Hours of Operation

5. 1st Hour: 7:35-8:35 AM 2nd Hour: 8:40-9:38 AM 3rd Hour: 9:43-10:41 AM First Lunch: 10:41-11:11 AM 4th Hour: 11:16 – 12:14 PM Second Lunch: 11:16-11:46 AM 4th hour: 10:46-11:16 AM (lunch) 11:46-12:14 PM Third Lunch: 11:44-12:14 PM 4th hour: 10:46 – 11:44 AM 5th Hour: 12:19-1:17 PM 6th Hour: 1:22-2:20 PM High School ScheduleMonday, Wednesday & Friday

6. 1st Hour: 7:35-8:25 AM 2nd Hour: 8:30-9:20 AM SEMINAR: 9:25-9:55 AM 3rd Hour: 10:00-10:50 AM First Lunch: 10:55-11:25 AM 4th Hour: 11:30 – 12:30 PM Second Lunch: 11:30-12:00 PM 4th hour: 10:55-11:25 AM (lunch) 12:05-12:30 PM Third Lunch: 12:00-12:30 PM 4th hour: 10:46 – 11:55 AM 5th Hour: 12:35-1:25 PM 6th Hour: 1:30-2:20 PM Tuesday & Thursday Schedule

7. All students have a seminar. • After 2nd hour. • Tuesday & Thursday. • 30 minutes • Various topics including academic assistance, mentoring and character education. • Four (4) rotations a year. SEMINAR

8. Crisis Intervention (On-going counseling is referred) • Academic Interventions • 504 Plan Facilitator • Credit Checks/ Graduation Audits • Scheduling of Students • Peer Mediation • Career Counseling • TEC Placement • College Applications • Financial Aide Assistance • Local/National Scholarship Coordinators • Military Liaisons • And much more! School Counseling Services

9. Visit the AHS Counseling Center Website www.algonac.k12.mi.usclick on “Student Services”

10. ACT/SAT Information • College and Financial Aid Information • Info on College Savings Plans • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Contact Information on Counseling Agencies in our Community • All public and private colleges and universities in Michigan • Parenting Resources • Michigan Insurance Programs • Websites on Dating Violence Prevention • Scholarship Websites AHS Student Services Website

11. Students earn 6.0 credits a year from academics: 6x4=24 23.5 are required to graduate. 4 English 4 Math 3 Social Studies Class Status 3 Science Minimum Credits Required: 1 PE/Health Freshman 0 – 4.0 1 VPAA Sophomore 5.0 7.5 Electives Junior 11.0 Senior 16.5 Earning High School Credits

12. Extra-Curricular Activities (.25 Credit Each) • All Sports • Student Council • Quiz Bowl • SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions Extra Credits

13. Credit Recovery (E 20/20) • If your student loses credits in high school, in order to get back on track and graduate, they must make up those lost credits in “credit recovery”. • Minimum passing mark in 60% • Online classes (E20/20) • Mrs. Ann Marie Dusenberry – Credit Recovery Coordinator/Graduation Coach • (810) 794-4911 ext 3328 • adusenberry@acsk12.us

14. English all four years • Math all four years • Three years social studies • Three years science • Health/Gym • One credit Visual, Performing or Applied Art • The rest will be electives Required Classes

15. Math : Algebra, Geometry or Honors Geometry • Social Studies: United States History • English: American Literature or Honors American Literature • Science: Biology I/II Required Freshmen Courses20011/12 School Year

16. MICHIGAN MERIT CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS • English (4 credits) Core courses earning English credit are: American Literature (H), English Composition (H), World Literature, College Composition, IB English HL I, and IB English HL II. • Math (4 credits) Core courses earning Math credits are: Algebra, Geometry (H), Algebra II A/B, Algebra II, Core V (Senior Math), IB Mathematics SL I, IB Mathematics SL II, and Advanced Placement Statistics. • Science (3 credits) Core courses earning Science credits are: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, IB Chemistry, IB Biology HL I, and IB Biology HL II (Must take Chemistry or Physics) • Social Studies (3 credits) Core courses earning credit are: U.S. History, World History, Government/Economics A/B, IB History of the Americas HL I, and IB History of the Americas II. Graduation Requirements

17. Health and Physical Education (1 credit) .5 Health and .5 Physical Education. Core courses earning credit are: Health, Physical Education I, Advanced Fitness & Conditioning & Athletic Dimensions. • Visual, Performing and Applied Arts (1 credit) Core courses earning credit are: Drama, Chorus, Band, Drawing and Painting, Commercial Design, Yearbook, Writing for Publications, Software, and IB Music SL I, IB Music SL II. • World Languages (2 credits or an equivalent experience) 2016 Students who have attended The Algonac Community Schools in Elementary and Middle School will have met this requirement through a K-8 program of study (equivalent experience). • Students who have not met this requirement through and equivalent experience can do so by taking two credits of World Languages. Courses meeting this requirement are: French (IB or otherwise), Spanish (IB or otherwise), and Mandarin Chinese (offered through Michigan Virtual University). • Online Learning Experience There are several options to fulfilling this requirement. Sophomores at Algonac High School participate in a Career Pathway seminar. The Career Pathway seminar will fulfill this requirement. Other options include taking an E 20/20 course as a senior or Michigan Virtual University that uses an online component.

18. Is a record of all the class taken and grades earned in high school. • Middle school grades are not reported on the high school transcript. • The high school grade point average is cumulative, meaning that all grades are averaged together. • The GPA is unweighted. • 4-point scale • A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0 The High School Transcript

19. Each year students are honored for getting good grades. • The assembly is held in the fall and called “Academic Achievement Award Assembly” • Awards are earned based on grades earned in the “core classes”. • Students must earn at least a 3.5 each marking period. Academic Achievement Awards

20. Suma Cum Laude: 4.0 – 3.67 Magna Cum Laude: 3.66 – 3.3 Cum Laude: 3.29 – 3.0 Students in the Summa Cum Laude category will have an opportunity to compete for the opportunity to speak at graduation. The rubric is as follows: 1. Overall Grade Point Average 2. ACT Score 3. Class Selection Rigor Candidates will be invited to audition in front of a selection committee if they wish to be one of three speakers at graduation. AHS Ranking System

21. They are the other classes that you take besides what is “required”. • Some electives include – band, chorus, newspaper, yearbook, psychology, drawing & painting, drama, IB Psychology, IB Music, TEC and more. • You need 7.5 elective credits What are the electives?

22. The IB Plan An IB Diploma is one of the most prestigious accomplishments a high school student can achieve IN THE WORLD. Algonac High School is proud to offer this opportunity to our students and hope that you will consider accepting the IB challenge! Though rigorous, we believe that ANY motivated student can be successful in the IB Diploma Programme with proper work ethic and time commitment. Successful (good marks and attendance) completion of the IB Diploma Programme can lead to admission in some of the elite universities in the world. Students that score well on IB assessments can earn numerous college credits. Consult with the IB Coordinator or your guidance counselor if you have questions about the IB Diploma Programme at AHS.

23. As was written in the college preparatory curriculum schedule, you do not need to enroll in the entire IB Diploma Programme to take an IB course. IB courses are available to students that would like to take them on an individual basis (certificate classification). Please know that we encourage students to take the full IB Diploma curriculum as the benefits are immeasurable. Because of this, priority in scheduling is given to full diploma candidates.

24. Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner • Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule • American Literature (H) English Composition (H) • Geometry (H) Algebra II/AP Statistics • Biology Chemistry/Physics • U.S. History Government/Economics A,B • PE/Health Elective /AP Statistics • French I/Spanish II French II/Spanish III • Junior ScheduleSenior Schedule • IB English HL I IB English HL • IB Mathematics SL I IB Mathematics SL • IB Biology HL I IB Biology HL • IB History of Americas HL I IB History of Americas HL • IB Psychology SL I/Music SL 1/IB Chemistry IB Psychology SL II/Music SL III/IB Chem • IB Spanish SL I/French SL I IB Spanish SL II/French SL II • TOK – Seminar (Mandatory) TOK – Seminar (Mandatory)

25. Kids attend TEC during their junior and senior years • TEC counts as elective credit • Morning TEC students must be to AHS by 6:55 a.m. • PM TEC students return to AHS at 3:05 p.m. • Students are at AHS three (3) hrs and at TEC three (3) hrs • Lots of different programs including, auto body, welding, cosmetology, health careers, constructions, digital media technology and more! • You apply for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year. • Students are selected on grades & credits, attendance and behavior. St. Clair TEC

26. Freshman ScheduleSophomore Schedule American Literature 9 (H) English Composition Algebra/Geometry(H) Geometry/Algebra II A/Algebra II /AP Stats Biology Physics/Chemistry/A&P U.S. History Government/Economics A,B PE/Health Elective Elective Elective Junior ScheduleSenior Schedule World Literature/IB English College Composition/IB English Algebra II B, IB Math Core V (Senior Math), AP Statistics, IB Math Physics/Chemistry/World History Physics/Chemistry/World History TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner

27. More sample 4 year plans in the Newly Revised Algonac High School Scheduling Guide coming to the AHS Website soon! www.algonac.k12.mi.us

28. Sign up for Parent Connect. Parent Connect is a great way to see how your child’s grades are looking. Grades are updated daily, so it is always a good idea to look at it everyday. To sign up, bring a photo id and your e-mail address into the AHS main office. • Stay in contact with your students teachers. Teacher’s e-mail addresses can be found at the Algonac High School website. E-mail is a great tool because teachers can reply to e-mail’s through out the school day. In many cases, you will get a quicker response if you use e-mail. Teachers generally have to wait until their prep time Parents of Freshmen should …

29. The high school does not close its doors until 7 pm, and even later on nights when we have athletic events. If your student is constantly telling you that he or she does not have homework, they are not being truthful. Bring them up to the school and go through their locker. We have had many a parent amazed at what they find when they go through their child’s locker. • Our teachers are willing to meet with your student before school and after school, your student just needs to ask. Your student also has a 30-minute seminar every Tuesday and Thursday. Students can use this time to meet with their teachers for extra help. Student’s just need to prearrange this with their teachers.

30. A wealth of information can be found at the Algonac High School website. Our web address is www.algonac.k12.mi.us/ahs. • While high school students like to be independent from their parents, it is still critical that you be an active participant in their education. Take some time with them every night to look at their binders, papers and homework. While you may not understand what they are doing in math class or science class, it shows that you care and are willing to help them out if they need it.

31. Take challenging classes. • Get good grades! • Have good attendance. • Create a 4-year plan. • Develop good study habits. • Join a sport or club. • Get involved in school & community. • Explore careers. • Explore colleges and universities. What a 9th grader should do …