Sophomore Parent/Student Meeting Thursday, August 28, 2014.
-
Upload
hannah-knight -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
4
Transcript of Sophomore Parent/Student Meeting Thursday, August 28, 2014.
Sophomore Parent/Student MeetingThursday, August 28, 2014
Academic Basics : A Review• Graduation Requirements – 22 credits
– 4 English – 1 each year
– 4 Math – 1 each year
– 3 Science – freshman, sophomore, junior years
– 3 Social Studies – sophomore, junior, senior years
– 1 Fine Arts – any year
– ½ Health – freshman year
– ½ Physical Education – freshman year
– 6 Electives – all years
Academic Basics : A Review• Pre-College Curriculum
– Graduation Requirements
– 2+ years of same foreign language
• Highlands High School Advanced Curriculum – Pre-College Curriculum
– 10 Advanced Level Courses (these can be Advanced or AP) minimum
– 2 AP Courses minimum
– Minimum GPA of 3.75
Academic Basics : A Review• Major of Intensive Study
– Pre-College Curriculum
– Four courses in the intended area of study with a minimum grade of B/85
– Completion of Senior Seminar Course
• AP Capstone – Pre-College Curriculum
– Complete the AP Seminar/English II Course
– Complete the AP Seminar/Senior Seminar Course
– Four or more additional AP courses
Academic Basics : A Review• Credits for Promotion
– Freshman Sophomore Year = 5 cumulative credits earned
– Sophomore Junior Year = 10 cumulative credits earned
– Junior Senior Year = 16 cumulative credits earned
– Senior Graduation = 22 credits
Academic Basics : A Review• The Transcript
– Grades and credits earned through each year of high school
– Semester grades for each course taken
– Attendance Record
• Test Scores – Plan, PSAT, ACT, SAT, AP– Test scores are not on the transcript
– Must be sent to colleges and scholarships from the testing agency
Schedule Planning• Core Courses
– All students have to take a base of core courses
– Levels will vary by student
• Electives– All student have to take a variety of elective courses
– Choose courses where there is an interest (not necessarily your future career)
• Appropriate Level– Can’t OR Won’t?
Schedule Planning• Vocational School
– Grades 11 & 12 only
– Need to start thinking about early (have you had your fine arts?)
– Sign up at end of sophomore year - when scheduling
– 3 courses at Highlands/ 3 courses at McCormick
– MUST take Fine Arts elective as freshman or sophomore
– MUST be diligent about passing courses
• Areas of study: Autobody Repair, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Health Sciences, Masonry, Welding
College PlanningWhere Do I Begin???
College Fairs• National College Fair
– Sunday, Sept. 14
– 1:00-4:00pm
– Duke Energy Center
• Regional College Fair– Tuesday, Sept. 23
– 6:00-8:00pm
– NKU
• Visual and Performing Arts College Fair– Monday, Oct. 13
– 7:00-9:00pm
– Xavier University
Websites to Help the Search• Naviance
– Students have a log in
– Parents have a log in
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.actstudent.org
• www.kheaa.com
Testing• Plan Test
– Thursday, September 18
– No cost
• PSAT – Wednesday, October 15
– $14 (payable to HHS)
• On Demand – KPrep– Late May
• End of Course Assessments – EOC– English II – all sophomores
– Biology – all sophomores
– Algebra II – some sophomores
– US History – all juniors
– Late May
• ACT– Possibly in the Spring if you choose
– Register at www.actstudent.org
– $38 – without writing
– $54.50 – with writing
Benchmarks• What is a “benchmark” and why do my kids keep talking
about them?
The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses.
Benchmarks
College Course
ACT Subject-Area Test
ACT Explore® Benchmark Grade 8
ACT Plan® Benchmark
The ACT® Benchmark
English Composition English 13 15 18
College Algebra
Mathematics 17 19 22
Social Sciences Reading 16 18 22
Biology Science 18 20 23
What Should I Be Doing Now?ACADEMICALLY
• Refine your route: Look ahead to which 11th and 12th grade courses you might be interested in taking and plan to work on any prerequisites.
• Challenge yourself, but wisely: Create a balanced schedule. You want to strive for the best possible grades, but overtaxing yourself is bound to be counterproductive. Stressed-out brains don't work well.
• The Junior Year Transcript is what gets you admitted to college.
What Should I Be Doing Now?OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
• Participate in clubs, sports, activities, community service, jobs. It’s quality and not necessarily quantity.– “It's better to be involved in fewer activities wholeheartedly over time,
rather than 9 or 10 superficially."
• Put together a resume: Note your hobbies, jobs and extracurricular activities. For now, it's just a way to keep track. USE NAVIANCE!
What Should I Be Doing Now?PERSONALLY
• What Do You Like?
• What Are You Good At?– Complete some interest inventories online
– Naviance
– CollegeBoard
– ACT
What Should I Be Doing Now?• College Visits
• Summer Programs– Governor’s School for the Arts
– Check Guidance Website and College Websites for programs
• Enrichment Activities
• College Research – complete a college match (Naviance & CollegeBoard)– Where?
– Size?
– Academics
– Activities/Athletics
What are colleges looking for in an applicant?• Challenging Schedule
• Grades
• Standardized Test Scores
• Extracurricular Activities
• Application Essay
• Letters of Recommendation
• Other Factors – majors, auditions, socio-economic, etc.
What’s the “general” process?• The short answer:
– Submit application
– Submit test scores
– Submit transcript
– Submit additional materials
– Essay
– Letters of Recommendation
All schools are different so follow their instructions and ask lots of questions.
How Am I Going to Pay for This?• KEES $$
– www.kheaa.com
– Academic Common Market
• Scholarships– Unfortunately there is no “one place” for all scholarship information
– Naviance for local scholarships
– University based scholarships
– National scholarships
• Loans
What it Boils Down To…• Get Good Grades
• Take Academically Appropriate and Rigorous Courses
• Take College Admissions Tests – Prep if Needed
• Research, Research, Research
• Participate
• Enjoy Your High School Experience!
Reminders• Stay in contact with the Guidance Department :
– Guidance Website
– www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School Quick Links Guidance Department
– Naviance
– www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School Quick Links HHS Naviance
– @hhs_go
– Remind Text Messages
– Text @08617 to (616) 723-9589
Questions?Trinity [email protected]
Laura [email protected]
859.815.2622
*email will likely get you a quicker response.