9 th Grade Orientation

1. Transition to High School The beginning of the end of your childhood – get ready! 9th Grade Orientation

2. Block Scheduling • A year is divided into two terms. • Term 1 lasts from August to 1st wk in January. (All classes except possibly skinny block end then.) • Term 2 lasts from January to May. Four new courses start in January and end in May. • Each term has four blocks & a skinny block. • Each block last about 80 minutes & the skinny block is about 45 minutes. • You will register for both terms at once.

3. Sample Bell Schedule The schedule for next year has not been determined & probably won’t be in this order!

4. Challenge Yourself! • You should take the highest level course in any subject area that you can handle. Ex: Good in math? Take upper level courses especially if your career choice requires it, even if your diploma does not. • WHY? • 1)You will be taking the ACT as part of your high school assessments. Also, it is required for university entry and scholarships. • 2) You will know more & be better prepared for college courses. • 3) Scholarships require higher ACT scores and honors level scores will help you. $$$$$ College is expensive!

5. Diploma Options The ALSDE recognizes only one diploma option for high school graduation. However, there are Pathways leading to your most probable choice after high school: 1) Work/Military/Technical; 2) 2 Yr College; 3) 4 Yr University. In addition, the BCPSS offers a higher diploma option that requires students to take the highest level of courses offered.

6. Alabama High School Diploma Minimum requirements ENGLISHMATHSOCIAL STUDIESSCIENCE English 9Algebra I(1or2) World History Biology English 10 Geometry(1or2) US History I Physical Science English 11 Algebra II US History II +2: (Marine, English 12 Gov’t & Econ Earth, Environ.) (4 credits of each of the core content subject areas) • Career Preparation – 1 credit • PE/JROTC/M. Band – 1 credit • Health - 0.5 (Taken in 10th grade & most pair with Driver Ed) • Career Technical Education – 3 credits from CTE courses, fine arts, foreign languages (Suggested to take 2 in sequence) • Other Electives – 2.5 Minimum Carnegie Units Required – 24 credits HOWEVER: You will be scheduled for 36 courses in high school unless you decide to exit early – making the total elective count: 14.5 courses

7. Hon. English 9 Algebra I Hon. World History Hon. Biology Hon. English 10 Geometry Hon. US History I Chemistry I APEnglish 11 Algebra II/TrigAP US History Physics APEnglish 12 Precalculus AP Govt/Economics Other Hon. or AP Calculus AP Science 4 credits for each content area except Math; Math – 5 credits PE/JROTC/M. Band – 1 Career Preparation – 1 Foreign Language – 2 Health – 0.5 (10th grade course) CTE – 1(Combination of foreign language, fine arts, CTE) Other Electives – 8.5 Minimum Carnegie Units Required – 30 College Prep + Distinction

8. Alabama State Department of Education Assessments At this time, proposed new assessments for the Class of 2017 include: • End of Course tests for all core classes (Eng., math, science, social studies) that average into your final grade. • PLAN test in 10th • The ACT in 11th • WorkKeys in 12th

9. How do you get there from here?.....Earn your credits each year! • CREDITS - 36 Possible in 4yrs • You must have 24 to graduate. • 6 credit min + Eng 9 10th grade • 12 credit min + Eng 10 11th grade • 18 credit min + Eng 11 12th • It is possible to graduate in 3 or 3 ½ years but it takes planning on YOUR part.

10. You must PAY for failed courses. $$$ • Make-up credits are costly: • Summer School or credit recovery -$350 • Now all make-up credits are on computer and are very difficult

11. Grade Point Average • All courses count ! • An ‘A’ in PE gives you the same number of quality points as an ‘A’ in Physics - however • Colleges may look at both your overall GPA & your core GPA. • Scholarships usually have a minimum GPA. • An “A” earns 4 points, a “B” 3 points, a “C” 2 points, a “D” 1 point, and an “F” 0 points. Honors level courses earn an extra .5 pts to each course passed.

12. Attend school regularly – good attendance brings success Get involved in school & or community activities Plan ahead Accept Your Responsibilities • Take responsibility for your education • Make sure your schedule is balanced • Pay attention in class • Complete assignments & study for tests

13. Let’s Register! • www.careercruising.com/login/bcbe • Username: Type “bcbe-” then the S******* number on your card. • Password: lunch number

14. Click on Choose My Courses (on left) • Click + next to subject area possible course choices for that subject will appear. • Click on your choice – the box will expand to give you a description of the course & at the bottom click on Add Course • This works well for English, Alg 4 Mastery, Science, Social Studies, PE/LIFE, Career Preparedness • MATH – To enter Algebra IA & Algebra IB (you must sign up for both), enter Algebra IA under the Math requirement button but enter Algebra IB under an Elective button.

15. Adding Electives • Once you click on an Elective +, you will need to click on the down arrow under the ‘Select’ dropdown box to choose the ‘Discipline’ from which you’d like to choose. • Refer to your paper Elective Course sheet because those are the 9th grade choices. Others are listed on the CC website but unless 9th grade is listed on the far right, you will not be scheduled into that class.

16. DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON!! • Once you do, you can’t make ANY changes until JULY. • In fact, you do not have to hit the Submit button at all – ever!! • Leave that to me. • If you do it anyway, you will have to wait until July to call me & have it fixed – no exceptions!! BE SMART. Don’t do it.

17. Career Cruising - public link • If you can’t remember the previous link. • Go to : www.careercruising.com • Username: robertsdalehs • Password: careers • Portfolio Username: bcbe-S_______ • Password: lunch number