9th Grade Registration Welcome to Prior Lake High School!

Prior Lake High SchoolCLASS OF 2024

Counselor Assignments

Mr. Larsen A-C

Ms. Hager D-Ha

Ms. Nelson He-La

Ms. Nagle Le-Pa

Ms. Super Pe-Sk

Mr. Gutshall Sl-Z

People to Know

▶ Social WorkersMs. Van Horne Students A-LMrs. Meade-Anderson Students M-Z

▶ DeansMr. Cradit Grades 9 & 11Ms. Stone Grades 10 & 12

People and Places to Know

▶ PrincipalsPrincipal, Dr. John Bezek

Asst. Principal, Chad Thorp Students A-F

Asst. Principal, Mark Paulsen Students G-L

Asst. Principal, Heather Fitzloff Students M-Q

Asst. Principal, Joe Kuboushek Students R-Z

▶ Student Services▶ Health Office

Dr. John BezekPLHS Principal

PL Activities Website

Russ ReetzActivities Director

”The best way to make our big school feel small is to get involved with one of our 60+ co-curricular sports, activities, fine arts & student clubs. We have something for everyone. Find your niche and start creating lifelong memories & friendships!”

https://www.plhsactivities.org/page/show/546626-home

Resources

Guidance Website

▶ Course Information▶ Mental Health Resources▶ Graduation Requirements▶ ACT Prep▶ Tutoring Options

▶ NCAA

▶ Financial Aid

▶ College Application Tips

▶ Counselor Contacts

http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/schools/PLHS/guidance-office/index.aspx

Words to know...

Transcript – Record of coursework in high school.

GPA – Grade Point Average

Class Rank – Your cumulative GPA in relation to others in your class.

Prerequisite – A course which must be successfully completed before taking another course.

Credit – A measure of credit earned in a course. .75 credit = one quarter in a course.

Graduation Requirements

12 Credits of English

9 Credits of Math

9 Credits of Science

10.5 Credits of Social Studies

3 Credits of Fine Art

1.5 Credits of Health

1.5 Credits of Phy Ed

+ 16.5 Elective Credits

= 63 total credits(.75 credit per quarter class)

Graduation Requirements

English 9 (3 credits)

English 10 (3 credits)

English 11(3 credits)

English Electives(3 credits)

Communications

Science

Physical Science(3 credits)

Biology(3 credits)

Chemistry or Physics (3 credits)

Geography (1.5 credits)

World History (3 credits)

US History (3 credits)

Government (1.5 credits) & Econ (1.5 credits)

**(3 credits)

**(3 credits)

**(3 credits)

Social Studies

Math

= 12 credits

= 9 credits

= 10.5 credits

= 9 credits

RULES & EXPECTATIONS

● Students must be enrolled in 6 classes for 4 quarters.● Students may only change quarter classes during the

schedule change window BEFORE Q1 and Q3.● NO SCHEDULE CHANGES BEFORE Q2 AND Q4!

● Year long changes can be done at the end of each quarter.○ Will require parent & teacher signature

● Classes cannot be changed once the quarter started.

MathFreshmen must take a full year of math (3 credits).

Students should talk to their current math teacher for a recommendation on the appropriate level.

English

Freshmen must take a total of 3 English credits.

▶ English 9▶ English 9 Honors

Science

Freshmen must take a full year of Science 9

▶ Physical Science 9 ▶ Science 9 Honors

Social Studies

Freshmen must take either Geography (semester) or

Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography

(year-long).

AP Human Geography AP Human Geography is an internationally recognized curriculum that studies the relationship between humans and our environments.

This course:

● offers teacher stability all year long ● offers the opportunity to pass an exam for college credit● sets students up for success and on track for college preparation● is accessible for students who are at or above grade level in reading/writing● offers skills that translate to all other subjects ● fits with most scheduling

GENERAL VS. HONORS VS. AP VS. CONCURRENT

● General○ Grade level class taken by the majority of the student body

● Honors○ Faster paced than general level, more in-depth○ Potential Summer Homework ○ GPA Bump: 10%

● Advanced Placement (AP)○ National Curriculum○ Possibility to earn college credit○ Potential Summer Homework○ GPA Bump: 10%

● Concurrent Enrollment (CE, CIS, S2S, some MNCAPS)○ Take class at PLHS and earn college credit○ College Curriculum ○ GPA Bump: 10%○ Potential Summer Homework

Electives

▶ Fine Art (3 credits total)▶ choir, band and some IT, English, Business and

FACS classes count!

▶ Health (1.5 credits total)▶ .75 Health 9

▶ Phy Ed (1.5 credits total)▶ .75 Phy Ed 9th grade year

▶ Two full years of the same language are recommended for four-year college entrance requirements.

▶ Credits are not required to graduate from Prior Lake High School.

WORLD LANGUAGE

Spanish ISpanish IISpanish IIISpanish IV *Spanish IV CE*Spanish V CESpanish VIAP Spanish Spanish for Spanish Speakers

French IFrench IIFrench III*French IV CIS*French V CIS

German IGerman IIGerman III*German IV CIS*German V CIS

American Sign Language IAmerican Sign Language IIAmerican Sign Language IIIAmerican Sign Language IV

*Concurrent Enrollment

Zero Hour

- If there is no space for Health/P.E. classes because of 3 year long classes, zero hour is an option- Ex. student takes band/choir, foreign

language, and AP Human Geography- Zero hour class runs from 7-8 am

- Student must provide their own transportation

Sample 9th Grade Schedule

Things to Consider

▶ Was my grade good enough to continue in a sequence?

▶ What are my interests?

▶ How do I know if Honors or AP is appropriate?

▶ Talk to current teacher for level recommendations

▶ What is the right balance?

Reminders

▶ Your grades count! Grades impact GPA and class rank and will become a permanent part of your transcript.

▶ Your GPA is calculated on a 4-point scale.

Grade GPA PointsA 4.0

A- 3.66

B+ 3.33

B 3.0

B- 2.66

C+ 2.33

C 2.0

C- 1.66

D+ 1.33

D 1.0

D- .66

The Great GPA Race

Name

Matt

Kelly

Avg.GPA

3.4

2.7

9th

GPA

3.5

2.1

11th

GPA

3.3

3.3

Where will you

be?

10th

GPA

3.3

3.3

Avg.GPA

3.4

2.9

* You will be sending your transcripts to

colleges after your Junior year!

Study Tips!▶ Time management is critical!

▶ 90 minutes of studying a night is recommended.

▶ Always communicate with teachers when you don’t understand an assignment, are sick, or need to make up a quiz or test.Please advocate for yourself!

▶ Review your notes daily.

▶ Use a planner!LIMIT SCREEN TIME

Filling out your Registration Sheet:

Tips for filling out your sheet

- Put alternate courses that you are serious about!- Do not put year long classes as your alternates- Make sure you check the prerequisites

- EX. must take Intro to Art before Sculpture, Pottery, Painting, Drawing

- Check out our Course Registration Guide on the Prior Lake High School Guidance website under “Course Registration”

- Has descriptions of every class and the requirements

We will be back on February 13th to register you for your 9th grade classes!

Questions?