9 th & 10 th Grade Parent Night

1. 9th & 10th Grade Parent Night Chattahoochee High School August 31, 2010

2. A Tradition of Excellence… • Graduation Rate in 2010: 97% • Ranked in top 5% of all public schools in US by Newsweek Magazine • 24 AP courses offered • Over 90 clubs & sports • Check out our website! www.chattcougar.com (Email Addresses; Blogs; Upcoming Events; Home Access Ctr)

3. Meet the Assistant Principals! Assistant Principals are now assigned to students based on the first letter of the student’s last name. Please take a moment to identify your Assistant Principal. A – G Mr. Guy Crotsley H – M Mr. Tim Corrigan N – Z Ms. Camille Carmen

4. Meet the Counseling Staff!! Counselors are assigned to students based on the first letter of the student’s last name. • A - Fi Ms. Lauren Corbett • Fl - Lem Ms. Julie Gracey • Len - Sa Ms. Deborah Blount • Sc - Z Ms. Leigh Lynott • Records Coordinator Ms. Art Leftenant • Graduation Coach Ms. Rebbie Lichliter • College & Career Center Ms. Collyn Alford • School Social Worker Dr. Benjamin Downs • Bilingual Parent Liaison (Korean) Ms. Lynda Kim • Bilingual Parent Liaison (Latino) Ms. Elizabeth Smith

5. Individual and small group counseling Academic advisement Scheduling/Enrollments Classroom Guidance Post-secondary planning Career planning Administer school-wide standardized tests Consultation for teachers and parents Parent Programs New student programs Internships and apprenticeships Junior and Senior Newsletters Scholarships Information Nights College Visits What can we do for you?

6. Do you need to contact your child’s counselor? Please feel free to email your counselor with any question/concern. Email addresses can be located on www.chattcougar.com or on the counseling website!

7. Coming Soon!Home Access Center to replace Parent Connect • Home Access Center is a web-based home-to-school collaboration resource that allows parents/guardians to examine up-to-date information on their child’s grades, attendance, discipline, unofficial transcripts, and more through a secure online link to school records. • Parents/Guardians can pick up log-in and password information by a showing photo ID in the main office. Home Access Center can be found at www.fultonschools.org -> Parents -> Parent Login.

8. Use the blogs!!www.chattcougar.com -> Teacher Blogs

9. English 4 credits Mathematics 4 credits Science 4 credits Social Studies 3 credits Health/Personal Fitness 1 credit Foreign Language/Fine Art/Career Tech 3 credits Electives 4 credits Semester-long class= 0.5 credits; Year-long class= 1.0 credit **23 total credits required to graduate** GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSClass of 2013 & Class of 2014

10. Track your student’s graduation status!

11. Retention Policy 5 credits to be promoted to the 10th grade 11 credits to be promoted to the 11th grade 17 credits to be promoted to the 12th grade Making Up Failed Courses In schedule Night School PLATO Fulton Virtual School Georgia Virtual School Summer School What if a class is failed?

12. No Pass, No Play • To participate in sports, students must have passed FIVE classes the previous semester • Must be on track to graduate (Not retained in a lower grade)

13. How do Honors Points work? COURSEGRADE GRADE ON TRANSCRIPT • Lit/Comp H 90 97 • Algebra 1 90 90 • Biology H 90 97 • Political Science 90 90 • Intro to Art 90 90 • Spanish 190 90 Total 540 554 Grade Average 90.0 92.3

14. Career Technology Elective Pathways • Interactive Media • Healthcare Science • Financial Management/Accounting • Business • Graphic Communications • Marketing • Engineering • Drafting/Architecture • Transportation (Automotive)

15. TESTING GHSGT!SAT! EOCT! ACT! PSAT!

16. End of Course Tests (EOCT) • As of December 2003, the Georgia Department of Education requires students to take an End of Course Test (EOCT) in certain courses. 9th grade courses with EOCTs 10th grade courses with EOCTs Integrated Advanced Algebra Integrated Geometry 9th Grade Lit/Comp Physical Science Biology • Counts 15% of final course grade • Students who take the courses listed above during Night School, Summer School or Online must take the End of Course Test as well. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/curriculum/testing/eoct.asp

17. Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) • Students must pass all portions of the test in order to graduate from a Georgia high school. • Students have 5 opportunities to test in high school; however, they can continue to test, if needed, after graduation. • Students will test for the first time in 11th grade. • The schedule for testing is as follows: • September Writing • March English/Lang. Arts Math Science Social Studies

18. What are colleges looking for? • GPA (academic core) • Rigor of courses taken (difficulty level) • Test Scores (SAT and/or ACT) • Class Rank • Extracurricular Activities • College Application Essays • Letters of Recommendation • Interviews/portfolios

19. When to take the SAT/ACT… • We typically recommend that students take the SAT and/or ACT for the first time in the spring of their 11th grade year (after they have reviewed their PSAT results) • 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students take the PSAT each October (this year: October 13th) • For now, sign up for the “SAT Question of the Day” at www.collegeboard.com

20. How do I interpret PSAT results?www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/quickstart.html

21. the SAT… An overview of the ACT… Structure of Test • Math section: covers math classes through trigonometry • English section • Reading section • Science section • Writing section Penalty for Wrong Answers? NO Score Range 1-36 • Structure of Test • Critical Reading section • Math section: Algebra 1, Algebra II, Geometry • Writing section • Penalty for Wrong Answers? YES • Score Range • 600-2400

22. FREE online SAT prep course • www.satonlinecourseschool.com • Funded by the state • Available to 9th-12th graders • Must create collegeboard account to access course • Individual student passwords available in the Counseling Office

23. Preparation & Registration for the SATwww.collegeboard.com

24. Preparation & Registration for the ACTwww.actstudent.org

25. What is the HOPE Scholarship?? • Public institutions in GA : covers tuition, HOPE-approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance. • Private institutions in GA : you may be eligible for a $3,500 per academic year scholarship for full-time study or $1,750 for half-time study (6-11 hours).

26. What are the eligibility requirements for the HOPE SCHOLARSHIP? • Be a U.S. Citizen and legal resident of GA (for at least 12 months) • Be a high school graduate • Earn a 3.0 core GPA (on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by Georgia Student Finance Commission)

27. Which classes are considered core? • All Mathematics classes • All Science classes • All Social Studies classes • All English/Language Arts classes • All Foreign Language classes

28. Tips for ParentsImproving Your Child’s Study Habits • Provide a proper study setting (free from distractions) • Plan a regular time for studying each day (1 ½ hrs/day) • Ask to see your child’s homework and/or agenda frequently • Check Home Access Center and/or contact teachers if needed • Help your child with organizational skills • Encourage your child to talk with you about school • Proper sleep, diet, and exercise with help with alertness • Be sensitive to your child’s frustrations about schoolwork

29. What Resources Are Available in the College & Career Center? • Information regarding careers, options for after high school, scholarships, and summer opportunities • The virtual Georgia Career Information System (GCIS) is available for research in the above areas • SAT/ACT information and study guides • www.GACOLLEGE411.org • A limited number of appointments are available during your student’s Lunch/Homeroom period

30. Georgia Career Information System(GCIS) www.gcic.peachnet.eduUser name: chattahoocheehs Password: gcis458

31. Education • Programs of Study - Describes admission requirements, course work, and instructional programs • Georgia Schools - Provides detailed information on schools in Georgia (2-year, 4-year, technical, and vocational) • U.S. Schools - Offers detailed information about national 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities • Financial Aid - Examines forms of financial assistance, such as scholarships, grants, and loans as well as tips, descriptions, links, and deadlines • ROTC - Describes military training programs for college students • Program Profiles - Provides a first-person perspective about programs of study and training

32. Careers Occupations - Contains descriptions of hundreds of occupations Job Search - Offers advice about creating résumés and looking for a job Keep That Job - Provides information about real-life skills & good habits Self-Employment - Examines how to start and run your own business Military Employment - Describes career options in the military Industries - Describes Georgia and national industries Career Profiles - Provides a first-person perspective about occupations

33. Exploration • Occupation Sort - Generates a list of occupations that use your abilities and interests • SKILLS Assessment - Links occupations with self-assessed skills • Interest Profiler - Identifies work activity interests and matches them with GCIS occupations • Undergraduate School Sort - Creates a list of undergraduate schools that match your preferences • Graduate School Sort - Creates a list of graduate schools that match your interests • Financial Aid Sort - Generates a list of financial awards that match your preferences • IDEAS™ - Provides an assessment tool that identifies career-related interests and matches them with GCIS occupations • Reality Check - Compares costs of living with career and educational goals • Career Cluster Inventory - Matches your interests to the 16 Federal Career Clusters and GCIS Occupations • Assessment Link - Links results of common assessments with GCIS occupations

34. GAcollege411.org

35. GAcollege411.org • High School Planning – gives you a planning timeline for all of high school. For each grade, it mentions a few things on which you should focus. • College Planning – has links where you can look at a college planning timeline, see answers to college questions, entrance requirements for colleges in GA, etc. • Financial Aid Planning – gives you a planning timeline, information on planning a financial aid package, you can complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and you can apply for HOPE • Career Planning - interest profiles and surveys, career exploration and search tools, and information on building a resume’, practicing for a job interview, etc. You can also find detailed information on specific careers and which state schools offer the necessary education

36. Testing for TAG Each fall and spring we test students for eligibility in the gifted program: • Mental Ability – CogAT test at 96%ile • Achievement – PSAT or ITBS at 90%ile or Honors/AP course grade of >85% 3) Creativity – TCTT at 90%ile 4) Motivation – >85% in Honors/AP course * Students identified for testing must take both the CogAT and TCTT tests when administered.

37. Freshman Focus Seminar • Made up of small groups of students (26 or less) • Meet only 4th or 5th – will not interfere with academic classes; only homeroom/lunch once per week) • Focus on transition to high school: time-management, stress-management, organization, social skills, personality and learning types. • Questions: H117 – pairp@fultonschools.org www.chattcougar.com – Departments - TAG

38. 9th Grade TAG Options

39. 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade TAG Options

40. "I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.” • Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect Thank you for coming!!!