SCHOLARS ACADEMY

9th Grade Orientation Meeting: April 7th, 2014

Mission Statement: The Scholars Academy seeks to provide a diverse group of highly motivated students with a truly world-class secondary education that prepares them for life in a global scholarly community.

Mr. Guthrie: Lead teacher Scholars Academy Mr. Donohue, Principal Mrs. Larkin: AP for Scholars Academy Mr. Rodriguez: IB Coordinator Ms. Chain: IB/Scholars Secretary Mrs. Williams: Scholars Academy Counselor Mrs. Sahwell: CAP Advisor Mrs. Shelley Groff: Parent Advisory Board Scholars Student BoardScholars/IB Office—Room 708305-532-4515 ext. 2708dguthrie@dadeschools.net

WELCOME!

Paperwork Needed: Blue Contract Form– most have completed;

check with Ms. Chain; drop off or mail Schedule for next year – feeder schools have

completed; private/charter need to complete◦ Get form and complete tonight after general session or

call for appointment Registration and Transfers

◦ Feeder students are automatically futured if in area◦ Transfer students need form FM3281 from home

residence high school and submit to MDCPS◦ Transfer students cannot be registered until transfer

granted by MDCPS

Colleges are getting much more rigorous in their admission requirements.

Admission has become more highly competitive.

Scholars students should take a rigorous schedule of classes to have the best opportunity for successful acceptance.

Research shows a correlation in completing the HIGHEST level of courses and elite college admission.

Need For Rigor in High School

High School Course RigorWhen researchers control for as many observable

characteristics as are available, they find a consistent positive association between curricular intensity and the following:

Student test scores (Attewell and Domina 2008), College entry (Long et al. 2012) Type of college entry (Attewell and Domina 2008) College grades (Klopfenstein and Thomas 2009) College graduation, (Adelman 2006; Attewell and

Domina 2008) Wages (Altonji 1995; Rose and Betts 2004).

Academic Preparation for CollegeEvidence on the Importance of Academic Rigor in High SchoolMichal Kurlaender, Associate Professor of Education, University of California at DavisJessica S. Howell, Executive Director of Policy Research, The College Board

HS Diploma Enrolled in College Enrolled in Highly Selective 4 – Year CollegeBasic Math or Pre-Algebra 61.3% 30.4% 0.2% Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II 86.3% 61.5% 2.7% Trigonometry, Statistics, or PreCalculus 98.6% 89.3% 18.9% Calculus 99.6% 97.3% 52.2%

Typical Example of Rigorous Course Selection: From US DOE Longitudinal Study:

Source: Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Education Longitudinal Study of 2002(ELS : 2002).

SA students should strongly consider taking the most rigorous courses in all core areas.

Calculus and Physics are highly recommended and required for STEM

AP and IB are preferred over dual-enrollment Show how you “stand out” in leadership and

community service Test scores are important College writing ability and character

qualities are predicted from your essay

What Highly Selective Institutions Recommend:

Must take English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language all 4 years, regardless of FLVS or summer classes

Must complete Math through PreCalculus Must take a minimum of 1 AP class in 9th grade

(AP World History) Must take a minimum of 1 AP class in 10th grade

(AP European History) Must take a minimum of 2 AP classes in each of

the 11th and 12th grades IB Diploma students meet the requirements

Scholars Academy Requirements:

Scholars Academy students must maintain a minimum un-weighted GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing.

Students who fall beneath this requirement are placed on academic probation and must return to a “B” average to remain in the academy and receive their senior graduation cords.

School begins at 7:20 and ends at 2:20

You must wear uniform and ID at all times at MBSH

You are allowed a maximum of 5 absences in a semester

course and 10 absences in a year course. Because of block schedule, each day’s absence is actually counted as 2 absences missed!

The uniform includes solid red or white tops and black, khaki or blue jean pants or slacks; outerwear should be red or white.

Electronic devices (BYOD) are allowed for research only at teacher’s discretion.

SCHEDULE: 8 periods spread over even and odd days

ODD: 1 7:20 – 9:003 9:05 – 10:355 10:40 – 12:10 11:15 – 12:457 12:50 – 2:20EVEN: 2 7:20 – 9:004 9:05 – 10:358 10:40 – 12:10 11:15 – 12:458 12:50 – 2:20Lunch at 10:40 – 11:10 or 12:15 – 12:45

Scholars Academy students must meet the highest standards of academic integrity. MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH STUDENT HONOR CODE:

I affirm that all work I submit is mine alone, and that I will give proper credit to others when I use their words or ideas. I will neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance on any assignment, and I commit myself to academic conduct that will reflect well upon my school, my community and myself at all times. I understand that there are severe penalties for violating this affirmation.

Available at the school website student tab.◦ Must complete the reading and take annotated

notes which can be used during the essay writing the first week of school.

Eng I and Eng I Honors Choices (All Students must read one of the four choices) :

1) The Farming of Bones – Edwidge Danticat

2) The Alchemist - Paolo Coelho 3) Anthem - Ayn Rand 4) Days of Grace - Arthur Ashe

Summer Reading Assignment:

Registration hours from 7 – 11 AM◦ Contact the registrar for additional information

DO THE SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT! FLVS classes require counselor approval and

must be completed prior to enrollment to be placed in the proper class next year.

Summer orientation and pizza lunch on Monday, August 11th, 9am –noon◦ Get schedule◦ Get acquainted, find classrooms, meet peer-tutors

UPCOMING Important Events:

Newsletter: Scholars Scribe Available at the MBSH website:

miamibeachhigh.schoolwires.com

Thanks for your continued support!

Students needing schedules can work on them now.Contact the Scholars Office or email us individually for other questions…dguthrie@dadeschools.net

305-532-4515 ext. 2708