WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU TRANSITION

TO HIGH SCHOOL

Valley Ridge Academy

December 5, 2017

Pacetti Bay Middle School

December 13, 2017

ALLEN D. NEASE HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES

Principal: Mrs. Lisa Kunze

Assistant Principal: Mr. Ted Banton

Registrar: Mrs. Vanessa Power

Academy Coordinator: Mrs. Jaime Combs

IB Coordinator: Mrs. Missy Kennedy

School Counselor: Mrs. Daphne Harden

Teachers: Mrs. Tina Willis, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Senyszyn

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORSCounselors are organized by last name:

A-DeMrs. Cindy Vartanian

Di-JMrs. D’Erica Gibbs

K-MMs. Vanessa Mayor

N-SeMrs. Michel Gledhill

Sh-ZMrs. Daphne Harden (Dept. Chair)

STANDARD DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTSIn order to graduate with a standard HS Diploma, students in Florida must earn a minimum of 24 credits:

English – 4 credits

Mathematics – 4 credits (Alg EOC 30% Must Pass EOC, Geo – EOC 30%)

Science – 3 credits (Biology – EOC 30%)

Social Studies – 3 credits (World History, US History-EOC 30%, US Government & Economics)

Fine Arts and Performing Arts, Speech and Debate, or Practical Arts – 1 Credit

Physical Education – 1 credit (HOPE-Health Opportunities through Physical Education)

Electives – 8 credits

Virtual Course (at least one of the above courses must be taken online-DIT and HOPE on Nease campus will meet this requirement)

Cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

State Assessment Requirements◦ Must score a level 3 or higher on ELA FSA (Florida Standard Assessment)

◦ Must pass Algebra 1EOC

◦ Must take the Geometry EOC, Biology EOC

◦ Must take an EOC if enrolled in American History (does not include AP or DE)

DIPLOMA DESIGNATIONS

ScholarALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD DIPLOMA PLUS

STATISTICS (OR EQUALLY RIGOROUS COURSE)

MUST PASS BIOLOGY 1 EOC

CHEMISTRY OR PHYSICS

MUST PASS US HISTORY EOC

2 CREDITS IN THE SAME FOREIGN LANGUAGE

MUST EARN ONE AP, IB, AICE, OR DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSE CREDIT

MeritALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD DIPLOMA PLUS

STUDENT PURSUING A MERIT DESIGNATION MUST USE ELECTIVE TO ATTAIN ONE OR MORE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS

TYPICAL 4 YEAR STANDARD SCHEDULESubject Area 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

English English 1 English 2 English 3 English 4

Math Algebra 1 Geometry or

Liberal Arts 1

Algebra 2 or

Geometry

Probability &

Statistics Honors or

Advanced Topics in

Math or Financial

Algebra

Science Environmental

Science

Biology Physical Science

Earth Space

Marine Science

Anatomy

Chemistry

Earth Space

Marine Science

Anatomy

Social Studies World History US History Economics & Gov

Elective HOPE Elective Elective Elective

Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective

Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective

TYPICAL 4 YEAR HONORS/AP SCHEDULESubject Area 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

English English 1 Honors English 2 Honors English 3 Honors

AP English Lang

English 4 Honors

AP English Lit

Math Algebra 1 Honors

Geometry Honors

Geometry Honors or

Algebra 2 Honors

Algebra 2 Honors

Pre- Calculus

Pre- Calculus

AP Statistics

AP Calculus AB

Science Biology Honors or

other Honors Science

course

(depends upon math)

Biology Honors

or

Chemistry Honors

Chemistry Honors

Physics Honors

AP Biology

AP Chemistry

AP Environmental

AP Physics

Anatomy Honors

Marine Science

Honors

AP Biology

AP Chemistry

AP Environmental

AP Physics

Social Studies World History Honors

AP World History

AP Human

Geography

(Elective)

US History Honors

AP US History

Econ Hon/Gov Hon

AP Econ/AP Gov

Elective HOPE Elective Elective Elective

Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective

Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH LEVEL OF ACADEMIC RIGOR IS BEST FOR MY CHILD?

Characteristics of successful students in Honors, AP, and PIB coursework

Highly motivated

Communicate

Knowledgeable

Time management

Inquirers

Organized

9TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION8th grade teachers recommend academic courses for high school using district guidelines that include: student grades, FSA scores and EOC scores.

When FSA scores are received in early June; adjustments will be made to students schedule if criteria for honors/AP courses are not met.

Parents/Guardians will be able to review the academic course recommendations and also help the 8th graders choose their elective courses.

Changes can be made to these course recommendations at the registration meeting with the Nease Counselor. If honors criteria is not met, parent can sign a waiver form, but student will remain in the course the entire year.

Please understand that you are making a year-long commitment to these courses and after Friday, June 29th, we cannot accept requests for changes to courses.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH AN ACADEMY TIMELINE…..

Jaime Combs

Academy Coordinator

Some of the following information may be a little different at other high schools in St.

Johns County

JANUARY 18TH

Academies offer focused elective courses that allow students to explore their passion or potential career.

Academies are OPTIONAL.

High schools will be visiting middle schools and presenting the academies - Middle School Blitz Pacetti Bay MS – December 13th

Valley Ridge Academy – January 12th

Parents and students are invited to the county-wide Academy Showcase at World Golf Village on January 18th from 3:00pm until 7:30pm.

Academy opportunities at all St. Johns County high schools will be on display and will have staff available to answer questions.

Begin the process to apply to participate in an Academy

ACADEMY NIGHTS

After the county-wide showcase, each high school will have an academy night on their campus for students and parents to visit the academy program they are interested in.

NHS - January 30th Mark your

CHS – February 5th calendar!

SAHS – January 23rd

SJTH – January 23rd

BTHS – January 22nd

PMHS – February 1st

PVHS –February 6th

APPLYING TO AN ACADEMY

If you would like to apply to a St. Johns County Academy:

Must complete an online application by the

deadline February 8th by 5:00 p.m.

May apply to more than one academy but no more than three.

Must be presently in 8th or 9th grade to apply – cannot apply after your 9th grade year in high school.

Cannot apply after the deadline.

ACADEMY CONT. District transportation is NOT provided to an academy outside your zoned high school. At Nease, parking passes are only sold to juniors and seniors.

8th grade families may not contact a high school or a high school coach about sports until they are accepted into an academy at that High School.

Please Contact our Academy staff if you have any questions: Mrs. Kennedy– IB

Missy.Kennedy@Stjohns.K12.fl.us Capt. LaRochelle – NJROTC

Scott.LaRochelle@stjohns.k12.fl.us Mrs. Combs– Engineering, Communications, and

Hospitality Jaime.Combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

Application Process

Can I be in IB and another academy?

IB vs Honors/AP

IB is a 2 year diploma program

Questions: Academy Showcase, Nease Academy Night January 30th

rotation. Email.

Acceptance Feb 22nd.

A TYPICAL PREIB/IB SCHEDULE OVER 4 YEARS WILL LOOK LIKE THE FOLLOWING:

IF I AM IN AN ACADEMY HOW WILL THIS IMPACT MY ELECTIVES?

NO SCHEDULE OR COURSE CHANGES WILL BE PERMITTED AFTER JUNE 29TH

MIDDLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR HIGH SCHOOLHigh school counselors will come to your middle school to help answer any questions and review the academic/elective/academy course selections in February. Parents are invited to attend.

February 22-23rd – Valley Ridge Academy

Feb 26th, 27th and March 2nd – Pacetti Bay MS

Please help your student with their electives. They will choose 4 electives and rank their preference.

Choose academics and electives carefully, you are making a year-long commitment to these courses. We cannot accept requests for changes to courses after Friday, June 29, 2018.

GPA IS IMPORTANTEvery grade you earn counts toward your GPA !

If your student is currently taking a high school course in middle school, once they enter high school their high school GPA will already exist.

Middle school students who have taken high school courses may receive grade forgiveness if they have earned a grade or the numerical equivalent of a C, D or F. In such cases, the district forgiveness policy must allow the replacement of the grade with a grade or the numerical equivalent of a C or higher, earned subsequently in the same or comparable course. For a grade of A or B, the course and grade cannot be forgiven, will appear on the student’s high school transcript, and will be used in the calculation of high school grade point average and for Bright Futures. (1003.428(4)(d), F.S.)

If your child earns a C in Algebra 1 Honors or Spanish 1 we STRONGLY encourage your child to repeat in 9th grade. This will help their gpa, but more importantly will give them a stronger foundation for all future courses.

Colleges will look at all course selections and transcript grades you have earned in 9th 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

Only final grades will appear on your transcript. (no quarter grades)

THE HIGH SCHOOL DIFFERENCE(9TH GRADE TEACHERS)

Homework in High School does count

Teacher gradebook setup

20% Formative/80% Summative

Retakes are at teacher discretion.

Get Involved

9TH GRADE LINK CREW ORIENTATION IN AUGUST

Link Crew is a group of junior and senior student leaders that are interviewed and trained to be mentors to 9th graders. They organize and lead the student orientation and continue to mentor students throughout their freshman year.

Orientation: Last Names A-L: Monday, August 6th from 5-8pm Last Names M-Z: Tuesday, August 7th from 5-8pm Small groups of 9th graders will be assigned to each

Link Crew group leader Orientation will open with an academic pep rally in the

Gym. Link crew leaders will tour their small groups around campus, help them find their classes and answer any questions they may have about high school

There will be a parent meeting at 5pm in the auditorium each night.

LINK LEADERS AND FRESHMEN START BUILDING THE MENTOR

RELATIONSHIP AND FRESHMEN RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIGH SCHOOL

• High School Orientation

• Academic Follow-Ups

• Social Follow-Ups

• Leader Initiated Contacts

NO SCHEDULE OR COURSE CHANGES WILL BE PERMITTED AFTER JUNE 29TH

SPORTS INFORMATIONAll Nease sports information is available at www.neaseathletics.org. All students interested in participating in sports must complete FHSAA required paperwork each year. All required paperwork is under the Forms tab on the website. Nease offers sports physicals in May for student athletes for $20. Physicals are good for 365 days.

There are three sports seasons…Fall, Winter, and Spring. All sports tryout information and dates are posted on the website. (Cheer and Dance tryouts are held in April.)

We hope you will join us for this event.

MARK YOUR CALENDARSJanuary 18th – online academy application opens

January 18th – HS Showcase at World Golf Village from 3-7:30pm

January 30th – Academy Night at Nease HS

February 8th – online academy application closes at 5pm

February 22nd – Academy acceptance letters are mailed home

February TBA- 8th Grade Registration Information Night at Nease

February 26, 27 & March 2 – Nease counselors at PBMS registering students for courses for 9th grade (Parents are welcome.)

February 22nd & 23rd – Nease counselors at VRA registering students for courses for 9th grade (Parents are welcome.)

Friday, June 29th – LAST DAY to request a schedule change

Saturday, August 4th – “Get Ready for School” – schedule, textbooks, locker Last names A-L from 8am to 9:30am

Last names M-Z from 9:30am to 11am

Monday, August 6th – Link Crew Orientation for last names A-L, 5-8pm

Tuesday, August 7th – Link Crew Orientation for last names M-Z, 5-8pm

Friday, August 10th – 1st day of 9th grade!

THANK YOU FOR COMING……If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

Mrs. Lisa Kunze, Principal

Mrs. Abbey Mander Asst. Principal: Abbey.Mander@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Mr. Ted Banton, Asst. Principal: Ted.Banton@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Mrs. Vanessa Power, Registrar: Vanessa.Power@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about Registration)

Mrs. Angie Stricklin, Athletic Secretary: Angela.Stricklin@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about Athletics)

Mr. Matt McCool, Athletic Director: Matt.McCool@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about Athletics)

Mrs. Jaime Combs, Academy Coordinator: Jaime.Combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about Academy)

Mrs. Missy Kennedy, IB Coordinator: Missy.Kennedy@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about IB)

Captain LaRochelle, JROTC Instructor Scott.LaRochelle@stjohns.k12.fl.us (qts about JROTC)

Nease High School Website: http://www-nhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us

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