Presented by: Eileen Sisolak

LA PLATA HIGH

SCHOOL 2018

8TH GRADE

TRANSITION

PRESENTATION,

COURSE SELECTION

REVIEW, &

SCHEDULING

EXPOSITIONTHIS PRESENTATION IS INTENDED FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO WILL BE ENTERING THE

9TH GRADE FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2018 -2019

The most important step in preparing for high school is:

Knowing the enrollment requirements for a smooth transition Knowing the eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities/

athletics in high school Knowing the graduation requirements needed to earn a Maryland high

school diploma Knowing how to earn high school credit, achieve promotion status, and

receive academic awards Knowing which courses are available & required for ninth grade students

*This presentation is intended to give you information to be prepared for high school next year. For more comprehensive information, please visit the Charles County Public Schools website to view the CCPS Program of Studies athttp:/ /www.ccboe.com/ss/high -schoo l-program-of- studies. *This website is included on the course selection sheet & the course selection instruction sheet.

TRANSITIONING FROM

MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL

Proofs of Domicile

In order to officially enroll in high school, you will need to submit the following to your middle school counselor before the end of 8th grade:

Two current Proofs of Domicile- Any proof of domicile, bill, or other document must be in its entirety with parent/guardian name and both the residence/service address as well as the mailing address including city, state, and current date (within 45 days).

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

The attendance policy in high school is strictly enforced and has serious penalties (Policy 5122)

Any absence requires a note within three days

Two unlawful absences from any class and the student may fail that class for the marking period

An unlawful absence notification can be issued for an absence or multiple tardies

Continued absence from school (with or without notes) may result in referral for an administrative attendance review

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students who wish to participate in extra -curricular and/or athletic activities in high school will need to meet the following eligibil ity requirements:

Must have earned a 2.25 GPA from the previous quarter

Must have no failing “F” grades from the previous quarter

Must have no more than 4.5 days absent from the previous quarter

*Incoming 9 th graders who wish to participate in a Fall sport or extra-curricular activity next year MUST meet these eligibility standards by the end of this current 4 th quarter!

EXTRACURRICULAR AND ATHLETICS

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Clubs/Activit ies

B a n d / O r ch e s t r a C h e s s C l u b C h o i r C o m m u n it y S e r v i c e G r o u p s D a n c e / S t e p Te a m s D e s t in a t i o n I m a g i n a t io n D r a m a C l u b F a s h i o n /M o d el i n g C l u b F u t u r e B u s i n e ss L e a d e r s o f A m e r i c a

( F B L A) F u t u r e E d u c at o r s o f A m e r i c a ( F E A ) G a m i n g & A n i m é c l u b s Key C l u b M a t h Te a m M o c k Tr i a l S A D D S t u d e n t G o v e r n m e n t A s s o c i a t i on

(S G A ) Wo r l d L a n g u a ge C l u b s Ye a r b o o k

Sports

Basebal l Basketbal l Cheerlea ding Cross Country Field hockey Golf Lacrosse Indoor track Soccer Softbal l Swimming Tennis Track & Field Unified Sports Volleybal l Wrestl ing

CLUBS/ACTIVITIES/SPORTS

Charles County Public Schools require several parental consent and medical clearance forms to be completed in order to participate in interscholastic athletics

All forms must be submitted to the high school athletic director for final clearance prior to student tryouts or practice

All forms may be accessed online on the CCPS website under “Students” and then “Athletics” at http://www.ccboe.com/index.php/athletics

ATHLETICS REQUIREMENTS

Students interested in competing in athletics during their initial year of college must meet the eligibil ity requirements set by the NCAA including specific high school coursework, minimum Grade Point Average and ACT/SAT scores*

Eligible coursework and GPA calculations begin in the 9 th grade of high school**

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*Parents and/or potential students athletes are strongly encouraged to find out more detailed information about the NCAA athletic guidelines by either consulting the NCAA website at www.ncaa.org or by contacting the NCAA directly by phone at 317-917-6222.

**You can speak with your school counselor on what courses offered next year meet the guidelines or you can log onto http://www.ncaa.org/student -athletes/future/core -courses to see all the courses offered at La Plata High School.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)

GRADUATION

REQUIREMENTS

To be awarded a diploma, a student shall be enrolled in Charles County

Public Schools and have earned a minimum of 23 credits 4 Credits of English

3 Credits of Math (2 in algebra, 1 in geometry), but must take Math all 4 years in High School

3 Credits of Science (1 Earth Systems, 1 Biology and 1 other lab sciences)

3 Credits of Social Studies (LSN Government, US History, World history)

1 Credit of Financial Literacy

1 Credit of Fine Arts

½ Credit of Health and ½ Credit of Fitness for Life

1 Credit of Technology Education

AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

*2 Credits of World Language & 4 Credits of academic electives OR

*2 Credits of Advanced Technology & 4 Credits of academic electives OR

*6 Credits through the completion of a state approved career and technology education program(CTE) & academic/career electives

Student Service Learning (SSL)

MSDE graduation requirement

Components of SSL are embedded in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9 th

grade course work

9th Grade component will be completed in the required 9 th

Grade Local State & National Government course.

The Maryland High School Assessments (MHSA’s)

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS CONT.

MHSA Requirement

PARCC Alg I Achieve a passing score of 725

PARCC Eng 10 Achieve a passing score of 725

MD Integrated Science Assess (MISA) Achieve a passing score - TBD

HSA Govt Achieve a passing score of 394

PROMOTION STATUS

10th Grade – Minimum of 6 credits

11th Grade – Minimum of 12 credits

12th Grade – Minimum of 16 credits and the completion of at least three years of high school

Note: Students are able to earn high school credits in middle school for both Math and Foreign Language coursework. These courses are included in the totals for promotion status.

PROMOTION STATUS

GRADING SYSTEM

Semester grades wil l be determined at the completion of the second quarter and again at the completion of the fourth quarter . These grades are calculated by averaging the numerical % grades from the previous “2” Consecutive Quarters.

Final Grades wil l be determined at the completion of al l four quarters . These grades are calculated by averaging the “2” semester % grades. Final grades are the only grades displayed on the students high school transcr ipt .

Quarterly grades wil l be calculated by deriving a quarter ly ar ithmetic average, then translating that average into a letter grade using the scale below:

A Superior (90 -100%)B Above Average (80 -89%)C Average (70-79%)D Below Average (60 -69%)F Failure (0-59%)

Weighted Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

Weighted classes are identified with the code “W” on the High School Transcript

Designated Honors(H) courses are weighted by adding one -half point (.5) for each grade. (i.e. A=4.5, B= 3.5, C= 2.5, D=1.0 and F=0.0)

Designated Advance Placement(AP) courses are weighted by adding one full point (1) for each grade (i.e. A=5.0, B=4.0, C=3.0, D=1.0, and F=0.0)

NOTE 1: No weighted points are given for a “D” or “F” failing grade

NOTE 2: No AP courses are available to students until 10 th Grade

GRADING SYSTEM, CONT.

ACADEMIC LETTER S t u d e n t s m a y b e a w a r d e d a n A c a d e m i c L e t t e r i f t h e y h a v e b e e n e n r o l l e d i n t h e s c h o o l

i s s u i n g t h e l e t t e r f o r a m i n i m u m o f t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e s e m e s t e r s a n d h a v e a w e i g h t e d G PA o f 3 . 5 o r h i g h e r w i t h n o D o r F g r a d e s f o r a n y q u a r t e r o r s e m e s t e r

CLASS RANKING

S t u den ts a r e r a n ke d b a s e d o n t h e w e i g h t ed c u m u l a tiv e G r a d e Po i n t Av e r a g e (G PA ) a c h i ev e d i n a l l c o u r s e w o r k t a ke n i n h i g h s c h o o l

C l a s s r a n k i s r e c orded o n t h e h i g h s c h o ol t r a n s cr i p t a n d i s a c k n o w l e d ge d i n a c a d e m i c a w a r d s

T h e c u m u l a ti v e G PA i s t h e a v e r a g e o f a l l f i n a l g r a d es e a r n ed i n h i g h s c h ool , r o u n d e d t o t h e h u n d r e d - t h o u sa n d t h s p l a c e

M i d d l e s c h ool s t u d e n t s a r e a b l e t o t a ke a d v a n c ed c o u rs es i n m a t h em a tic s a n d w o r l d l a n g u a g e t h a t c a r ry h i g h s c h ool c r edi t b y e a r n i n g a g r a d e o f “ D ” o r h i g h e r a n d w i l l b e r e c orded w i t h a “ P ” o n t h e s t u den t h i g h s c h ool t r a n s cr ip t . T h e s e c r e d i t s a r e n o t i n c l u ded i n t h e h i g h s c h ool G PA a n d d o n o t c o nt r ibu te t o c l as s r a n k i n g

C r e di t m a y b e e a r n ed o n l y o n c e f o r a n y c o u r s e l i s t e d i n t h e C C P S H i g h S c h o o l P r o g r a m o f S t u d ie s

REQUIREMENTS FOR

ACADEMICS AWARDS OF

DISTINCTION

Certificate of Merit

Students may be awarded a Charles County Certificate of Merit based on a student's weighted cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher w/ no fail ing grades during high school

Charles County Public Schools Scholars Course of Study

(a) Earn 17 advanced credits which must include:

4 English (Honors, Advanced placement)

3 Lab Sciences (Honors, Advanced placement)

3 Social Studies (Honors, Advanced placement)

4 mathematics- taken in 9 through 12 (Honors, Advanced placement)

3 World Language- at least two in the same language

( credit can be awarded based on successful completion of designated high school level World Language courses taken during middle school.)

1 additional advanced course

(b) Achieve accumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 (weighted)

REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARLES COUNTY

ACADEMICS AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

Maryland Scholars

The Maryland State Department of Education ( MSDE) has partnered with the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education to acknowledge students who have completed a course of study beyond the basic requirements for graduation

4 credits of English

4 credits of Math including Algebra1, Geometry, Algebra I I

3 credits of Lab Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics (preferred)

3 credits of Social Studies, Us History, World History, Government

2 credits of the same World Language

Students must attain a 3.0 weighted cumulative GPA or higher to qualify

REQUIREMENTS FOR

ACADEMICS AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

English I

Mathematics(Recommended Sequence in POS on page 55)

Earth Systems NOTE: I f you choose to start either one of the two PLTW completer programs next year, Biology-H is a prerequisite and must be taken concurrently. The middle school counselors wil l verify the students enrollment into one of these programs and make the adjustment from Earth Systems to Biology – H for those students schedules. These students wil l then take Chemistry w/ Earth Systems (new course) during their Sophomore year, so they wil l be prepared to take the MISA assessment at the end of the Sophomore year.

L/S/N Government

REQUIRED COURSES FOR 9TH

GRADERS

Students are to select 3 elective courses and 2 alternates . The fol lowing are the elective areas avai lable to 9 th graders:

Physical Education / Health (Fit for Life/Health are ½ credit -semester courses. They must be taken together consecutively. )

World Language (Spanish I & I I, Latin I)CTE Completer Programs (Please refer to the Graduation Pathways

Options Sheet that was included with your course selection sheet)Computer Technology -Programming (Computer Applications and

Concepts, Exploring Computer Science, Web Design & Development)Fine & Performing Arts – Visual (Art I)Fine & Performing Arts – Instrumental (Concert Band I, Symphonic Band

I*, Symphonic Orchestra I *)Fine & Performing Arts – Vocal (Woman’s Choir I, Men’s Choir I, Chamber

Choir I*, Show Choir I *)Fine & Performing Arts – Theatre (Theatre Arts)JROTC (Navy JROTC- there is a required dress code for this course )Technology Education (Foundations of Technology)*These courses are honors level and students are required to audition.

Please speak to your counselor on how this process takes place.

ELECTIVE COURSES

FOR 9TH GRADERS

All CTE programs available to La Plata High School Students: (Please Refer to the Graduation Pathways Options for elective course recommendations for 9th Grade) Academy of Health Professions: Pharmacy Tech* (starts in 11th) Academy of Health Professions: Physical Rehabilitation* (starts

in 11th) Automotive Technician* (starts in 11th) Business Management & Finance (starts in 9th or 10th) Career Research & Development* (starts in 11th) Computer Science (starts in 9th or 10th) Fire Science/Firefighting* (starts in 11th or 12th) Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC* (starts in 11th) Interactive Media Production* (starts in 11th) PLTW Biomedical Sciences (starts in 9th or 10th) PLTW Pathway to Engineering (starts in 9th or 10th) Teacher Academy of Maryland* (starts in 10th)

NOTE: Only programs in red are available to freshmen – please check POSand course selection sheets for prerequisites

CAREER & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

COMPLETER PROGRAMS (CTE)

Parents, teachers and students will help select the student’s courses for their freshman year

Your course selection sheet must be completely filled out, including teacher’s initials,circled course numbers, parent telephone number, Student cell phone number, student signature, and parent’s signature

COMPLETING YOUR COURSE

SELECTION SHEET

Advanced Placement (AP ) courses are designed for the student who has demonstrated the ability to move beyond the honors level courses and aspires to become a critical reader of college -level texts and strengthen the effectiveness of his/her writing through close reading and frequent practice at applying rhetorical strategies. Extensive reading and writing outside of the classroom are required.

Honors (H) courses are designed for the student who has an interest in English, has the ability to move beyond grade level in content, and wishes to be prepared to enter a competitive four -year college or university at the end of his/her high school career.

A Level (A) courses are designed for students who wish to improve their reading and writing skil ls and whose plans may include entry into postsecondary education or significant employment.

COURSE LEVEL

RECOMMENDATIONS

Teachers will give their recommendations for course level placement.

If you disagree with the teacher ’s recommendation , your parent should contact the teacher to discuss their concerns.

If you wish to override the teacher recommendation , a written request from the parent should be attached to the course selection sheet with the understanding that the parent request will be honored by the High School Counselor when the schedule is prepared.

In these situations, requests for schedule changes in the Fall will only be considered after a parent conference is held and an action plan for student improvement is put into place.

NOTE Schedule changes in 9 th grade are made only in extreme circumstances, such as errors in academic placement and no schedule changes are considered for elective or alternate choices. Procedures and guidelines for schedule changes can be found on page 12 of the High School Program of Studies.:

COURSE LEVEL

RECOMMENDATIONS –CONT.

All public college or university in Maryland, you will be required to take a math class at the Algebra II level or higher in your senior year of high school , even if you earned a math credit while stil l in middle school. This is also true for most out of state colleges/universities. Please refer to page 52 of your Program of Studies when selecting math classes next year.

In addition, most colleges require two credits in the same foreign language. Many colleges prefer 3 credits of foreign language .

If you are planning on going to college, it is very important to take challenging classes (Honors & AP). You should seriously consider taking one or more honors course in your freshman year, if you plan to attend collegeafter high school.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO CONSIDER

WHEN SELECTING COURSES:

Completed course selection sheets are to be turned into your Middle School Counselor upon their completion.

I f you have addit ional questions about course offerings, please contact your 8 th Grade Counselor or you may contact the La Plata Guidance Office and ask to speak with one of our counselors: (301) 934-1100 or (301) 753-1754 .

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED

COURSE SELECTION SHEET

SCHEDULING EXPOSITION

REPRESENTATIVES