WelcomeFCS Class of

2017

FCS Mission Statement• Florida Christian School, a private non-

denominational school, exists to provide quality Christian education for pre-school through 12th grade. Our mission is to develop well-rounded students through excellent academic and extra curricular activities, while seeking to win the lost to Christ and equip Christians with the skills and knowledge to change the world for Christ

Ninth Grade…Being and Becoming

• The start of a four year journey of seeking to be and to become good and honorable men and women

A Learning Community• Dr. Robert Andrews – Headmaster

• Mr. Jim Arnold – High School Principal

• Mr. Scott Stemmer – Director of Student Activities

• Mr. George Gulla – Dean of Students

• Ms. Griselda Bain – Director of College Counseling

• Mrs. Janet Mattern – Head Guidance Counselor

Academic Expectations

• In a college preparatory program students arrive on time for classes, prepared with the necessary materials and with a ready mind to engage in active learning

• Florida Christian Students are not passive receptacles for knowledge, but learners actively engaged in asking and answering questions, gaining skills, and applying learning to new situations.

Academic Expectations

• Your work is your own! Questions about plagiarism or collaboration should be addressed to your teachers before trouble arises.

• Deadlines are serious and are regularly enforced. Work is due the day it is assigned for, and during the period in which you have the class.

Academic Expectations• Homework helps solidify learning of the day

or prepare for the learning of the coming day. Students who do not take homework seriously should not expect to reap the same results in learning and grades as those who do.

• Assignments missed due to absences (school related or otherwise) are the responsibility of the student to keep track of and to complete.

Attendance

• Studies show that regular attendance is the single most important indicator for predicting academic success.

• Our goal is to successfully encourage families to avoid all elective absences.

• Doctors notes are required on return to school who are absent more than three days (unexcused until the note is received).

Attendance

• 9 day rule: Students absent for more than 9 days in a semester are subject to losing credit for the semester (except for SA and doctor excused illness).

• 18 day rule: Students absent from school more than 18 days in one school year are subject to losing credit and in danger of failing the year.

School Day Communications• Cell phones are to be completely silenced or turned

off during class periods.• Laptops or I-Pads are to be used during class time

for class work only with teacher approval• Work to become a community which values

electronic devices as tools. We understand that every tool has appropriate and inappropriate uses.

• No I-pods or MP3 players allowed during the day. Lock them up in a secure place.

Multi-tasking

• 1. Synthesizing multi-tasking can be good: doing several related tasks to solve a single complex problem.

• 2. Distracting multi-tasking interrupts deep thinking processes: writing a paper while receiving IMs, doing math assignments while socializing on the phone, trying to comprehend new material in a text while watching TV, etc.

Think About It

• You have to go to High School anyway, so you might as well…

• MAKE IT COUNT

• The choices that you make in the 9th grade will affect the opportunities that you have after graduation.

• You will have lots of choices to make that will affect the next four years of High School.

• The Choices that you make will become your habits

• Your habits will affect the choices you’ll have for the rest of your life

• Remember! Everyone, in every kind of job, needs to be able to write and speak clearly, listen carefully, understand what is written and spoken, and use math effectively

Make Your Classes Count

• Pay attention to everything said in class

• Join in class discussions

• Ask questions! If you don’t understand something, chances are others don’t understand either

• Keep up with the class assignments. Finish them before they due.

• Ask for help

• Look for ways to sharpen your basic skills in each class. Don’t compartmentalize your skills.

• Learn to take good class notes. You’ll be taking lots of notes throughout the rest of your life.

• Learn to proofread, correct, and rewrite your written work

• Develop your test-taking skills

• Read, read, read – develop your reading comprehension

Self-Discipline – The Keys to Success

• Self-discipline may beat smarts as key to success

• See the big picture – sacrifice the short-term pleasure for long-term gain

• Self-discipline is the royal road to building academic achievement

• Self-disciplined students outperform their more impulsive peers on every academic-performance variable

Everything Counts

• All of your courses, grades, and credits earned will be on your transcript.

• Your freshmen grades will be used in determining your GPA (grade point average)

Know the School Policies

• Attendance/Tardy Policies – The Importance of regular attendance cannot be over emphasized!

• When you miss school, you miss lectures, notes, discussions, homework explanations, quizzes, assignments, and tests.

• It doesn’t matter how conscientious you are about making up your work, you can never make up everything you miss

• In order to get good grades, you need to be in school every day

• You are responsible for finding out what you’ve missed and for getting the work made up

• Good attendance will not guarantee you good grades.

• You are, however, pretty much guaranteed bad grades if you have poor attendance.

Know How To Get Good Grades

• Be Organized

1. Write assignments down in an assignment agenda

2. Have a separate folder for each class

3. Check RenWeb or call classmates for missed assignments

4. Keep your locker and backpack neat

5. Get organized for the next day before you go to bed.

• Manage your time well

1. Use class time to get started on homework

2. Create a study plan that’s going to work for you.

3. Break large assignments down into smaller parts.

4. Don’t wait to the last minute to do your work.

• Be Successful In The Classroom

1. Learn how to adapt to different teachers

2. Learn each teacher’s class rules and procedures

3. Be in school, on time, every day

4. Have everything you need with you when you go to class

5. Always do your homework

6. Participate in class, be an active listener

7. Be a good group member

8. Treat others with courtesy and respect

9. Do extra credit work whenever possible

• Take Good Notes

1. Be an active listener

2. Learn to recognize and write down important information

3. Get any lecture notes if you are absent.

• Learn to read a textbook

1. First, scan the assignment

2. Then, read the assignment

3. Finally, review by scanning the assignment again.

• Study Smart

1. Organize your study time

2. Prioritize your work

3. Use a computer, always save what you print.

Summary

• 1. You need to be in class

• 2. You need to be an active participant in the class

• 3. You need to stay current with your homework

• 4. In actuality the single greatest determiner of success is EFFORT.

Preparing for College

• An important part of your high school years includes preparing for college

• When you apply to college, they will want to know all about your high school years: 9-12th grades

• Each year of high school has important tasks for you to complete

Preparing for College

• During your next four years there are 4 important things to keep in mind:

• Academic performance

• School involvement

• Volunteer service

• Test taking skills

Naviance

• In 9th grade you will be introduced to Naviance, the FCS college guidance website

• You will take a personality test and start to explore careers

• Throughout the rest of high school you will continue to participate in tasks that will prepare you for the college process

• The FCS website has a section under the tab academics for college guidance

• http://www.floridachristian.org

• On this site you will find timelines for each year of high school

• Make the most of your high school experience by:

• Staying focused on Academics

• Getting involved in school

• Volunteering your time and building your community service hours

• Growing spiritually by developing your relationship with God

HAVE

A

GREAT YEAR