Ross S. Sterling HS

1. Ross S. Sterling HS Welcome Parents Class of 2015

2. RSS Administration Principal Dr. Don Beck Academic Dean Julie McReynolds Assistant Principal: Ryan Rodriguez / Ext. 245 Secretary: Laura Morris / Ext. 240 Counselors: A-L- Leah Veazey/ Ext. 234 M-Z- Clara Monroe/ Ext. 229 Fax: (281) 420-4974

3. Sterling Vision of Excellence

4. Ross S. Sterling High School-COLLEGE AND CAREER READY - RIGOR, RELEVANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS - SAFE ENVIRONMENT - TEAM ATMOSPHERE “ATTIDUDE IS EVERYTHING”

5. Student Connections / Advisory • Student Connections • There are over 40 Clubs and Organizations • Club and Organization “Wall” • Advisory • 30 Minutes every Friday • Stay with same teacher all four years

6. RSS Ninth Grade Plan“Finding Nemo” Smaller Learning Communities • 4 academic teams consisting of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers • Ninth grade classrooms all together in one part of the building with easy access to main office and guidance office, limiting ninth graders’ movement throughout the building • Academic team members with one conference period and one team planning period • Clear expectations for team members and training related to ninth grade goals • Administrative office located nearby to better serve and support students, parents, and teachers • A school-wide advisory program • “Fish Camp” for incoming freshmen

7. PRINCIPAL ------------------------------- ACADEMIC DEAN ---------------------------------------------- GRADE LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR OR COUNSELOR ---------------------------------------------------------------- TEACHER Communication Pyramid

8. Communication Tips “What do I do if my child has a problem in a class?” • Contact the teacher. Because no one knows the situation better than your child and the teacher, it is imperative that parents and teachers communicate with each other. Call the school and leave a message for the teacher; find out the teacher’s conference period and make an appointment; and/or email the teacher if possible. Please allow the teacher at least 24 hours to return your call. • If you have conferenced with the teacher but feel the issue has not been resolved, contact the grade level administrator or counselor to set up an appointment. Bring with you any documents (student work, progress report, notes) that might help to explain the situation. • If you have conferenced with the administrator or counselor but still feel the issue has not been resolved, contact the academic dean’s office to make an appointment for a telephone or office conference. • If you have conferenced with the academic dean but continue to feel the issue has not been brought to some kind of resolution, contact the principal’s office to make an appointment for a telephone or office conference.

9. “Who do I call for what?” • Call the teacher for all types of issues regarding the classroom. All teachers have voice mail that can be accessed when you call the main office at 281.420.4500. • After you have talked to the teacher, contact the Grade Level Administrator ( Ryan Rodriguez) concerning administrative issues such as discipline, textbooks, absences. OR • After you have talked to the teacher, contact the Grade Level Counselor ( Clara Monroe or Leah Veazy) concerning academic and personal issues such as grades, credits, schedules, and social and physical problems. • Ms. Julie McReynolds, Academic Dean • Mr. Don Beck, Principal

10. EVERYTHING COUNTS! Beginning with the first day of ninth grade year, the RSS computer system will keep track of: • Your attendance—excused and unexcused absences, • All your grades, • The credits you earn, and • Your discipline record. These records are kept all four years!

11. Attendance • You must be present at least 90% of the time in order to receive credit for taking a class.

12. GRADUATION PROGRAMS All students who enter ninth grade beginning in 2007 must complete at least the 26 units of credit and receive a passing score on each section (English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) of the Exit-Level TAKS. Each student will graduate under one of the following graduation plans. To qualify for top ten local honors, students must complete the Recommended (REC) or Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP). College Board Advanced Placement courses may be substituted for requirements in appropriate areas.

13. Students may graduate on the Distinguished Achievement Program by completing the state’s Distinguished Achievement Program course requirements and, in addition, earning four (4) advanced measures. Students may earn the four (4) required advanced measures in any combination from TEST DATA, COLLEGE COURSES, OR ORIGINAL RESEARCH/PROJECT. EARNING THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

14. IMPORTANT!!!! ATTENDANCE + PASSING GRADE = CREDIT In order to obtain official Sophomore standing, you must have at least 5.5 credits by the end of this school year.

15. What if I get my schedule and it’s wrong? • Don’t panic! • Follow the schedule as it is printed. • Schedule change request forms will be available the first week of school in the Commons. • Return completed forms to the Freshman Office by 3:00 Friday, August 26th.

16. Grade Point Averages(GPA) College GPA - 4.0 non-weighted A student’s GPA reported to colleges will be computed on a 4.0 non-weighted scale (4.0 = 90-100; 3.0 = 80-89; 2.0 = 70-79). Reporting GPA on a 4.0 non-weighted scale is now required by the NCAA and is the stated preference of colleges and universities. This computation will include all state approved courses that the student attempted. Academic Class Rank (ACR) – 5.0 weighted: The GPA used to calculate the student’s class rank (ACR) and student honors will be determined by dividing the number of core academic courses, third year language courses other than English, and AP courses into the grade points earned on the district’s weighted grade point scale. Beginning with freshman class of 2009-2010, dual enrollment courses will be included in a student’s academic class rank (ACR). Excluded from these calculations are credits earned through local credit courses, and all courses attempted under the following instructional arrangements: credit by exam, correspondence, and computer assisted instruction, night school, and SMARTS (Summer Migrant Access Resources through Technology).

17. Courses to Be Used For Determining Academic Class Rank The class rank reported to colleges will be known as the Academic Class Rank (ACR). The ACR will be determined by dividing the number of courses attempted from the following list into the number of grade points earned on the District’s Weighted Grade Point Scale. This list consists of state-approved foundation courses (English, mathematics, science, social studies), third (3rd) year of languages other than English and College Board Advanced Placement courses. This list also represents Resource, Deaf Education, Regular, and Pre-AP courses of the same title where applicable.

18. Courses to Be Used For Determining Academic Class Rank * These classes will earn the student AP and/or Dual Enrollment grade points. + The Pre-AP sections of these classes will earn the student Pre-AP grade points. AP courses are scheduled depending on student enrollment and teacher availability.

19. Weighted Grade Point Scale Courses earn grade points based on the requirements (rigor) of the curriculum. The following chart shows grade points earned for categories of courses. This weighted scale will be used to determine student honors and a student’s class rank reported to colleges (ACR).

20. High School Credits That Can Be Earned In Junior School ***Algebra I **Health and Communications Application **SpanishI and II – Student may earn credit for high school by enrolling for Credit by Exam through their junior school counselor. **Keyboarding – Junior school student may earn ½ high school credit for Keyboarding upon successful completion of junior school keyboarding and scoring a 90 or better on the keyboarding credit by exam. (Keyboarding elective does not take the place of the year long Technology Application credit needed for graduation.) **These courses are excluded in the calculations for GPA and class rank. ***This course is included in the calculation for GPA and class rank; however, it may not be used in calculating GPA for NCAA eligibility requirements.

21. Things to Remember • ATTENDANCE • Must bring note within 3 days of absence • DRESS CODE • Change • ID BADGES • $5.00: Badge • $2.00: Case • $1.00: Lanyard • $1.00: Temporary Badge • CELL PHONES • 48 Hours / $15.00 • LATE ARRIVAL • Thursday / 9:10AM

22. TIPS FOR A GREAT YEAR! • Come to school! • Work hard! • Get involved! • Meet new people! • Communicate! • Smile! . . . AND REMEMBER . . .

23. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!