Download Understanding High School

Articulation Schedule
• February 2015: Mrs. Haynes will visit all 8 th grade Math classes to share
the “High School 101” PowerPoint and answer any pertinent questions.
• February 27 (Friday): Rising 9 th Grade Twin Rivers Middle School
Assembly (for students only) with MVHS Administration at 9:30 am in the
large gym
• March 2 (Monday): Special Education informational meeting held at
MVHS at 6:00
• March 2 (Monday): 8th Grade Parent/Student Orientation Night at MVHS
at 7:00—this is a “DON’T MISS” meeting!
• March 2 (Monday): Course Selection Sheets distributed in homeroom
• March 6 (Friday): Course Selection sheets (with a parent signature!) must
be turned in to homeroom teachers.
Course Selection Form
• Step One: Teachers recommend students for specific
classes.
• Step Two: Parents have the opportunity to review the
recommendations made by teachers. While parents
should strongly consider teacher recommendations, the
final decision for class placement rests with the parent.
Parents will make any necessary changes to the course
selection form, sign it, and have their student return the
form to the homeroom teacher.
• Please note: not all classes are available to freshman
students and many require prerequisites. When
selecting classes, students will be limited by these two
criteria.
Summer PE and Health
• Rising freshmen have the opportunity to
take PE and Health over the summer in
order to create extra space in their
schedule for the fall.
• These classes are offered through the
Mountain View Community School (678407-7616) or the Gwinnett Online Campus
and have a fee associated with them.
Main Differences in Middle School and
High School
Twin Rivers Middle
School
Mountain View High
School
School Time
9:20-4:00
7:2o-2:10
Credit Recovery
AAP ($75.00)
or
Summer School (Free)
After School, Summer
School, or Online
Classes
$225-$250 per class
Lockers
In Homeroom
In Hallway
Counseling Department
By Grade Level
By Student’s Last Name
More Differences in Middle School and
High School
• Supervision
•
Students are not supervised before or after school unless they are involved in a
school-sponsored activity.
• Classes
•
Students will have six classes and an Advisement/Lunch period every day, which
means they will have seven different teachers each semester.
• Late Work
•
•
Late work is typically not accepted unless there is an excused absence.
Students have five days to make up any missed work. After five days, the grade is
entered as a zero.
• Freedom
•
•
•
Different consequences: citations and silent lunches are more of a “middle school
mindset”
No more walking with your class in the hallways
Students are responsible for getting to school and class on time.
Grading System
Numeric Grade
GPA Equivalent
90-100 (A)
4.0
80-89 (B)
3.0
74-79 (C)
2.0
70-73 (D)
1.0
69 and Below (F)
0.0
Mountain View Bell Schedule
Credits/Units
• For every class a student takes in high
school, he/she has the opportunity to earn
a “half credit” or “half unit.”
• To earn this half credit, students must
pass the course with a final average of 70
or higher.
• Each semester course is worth .5 units.
• To earn a full credit in a course, students
must pass the class both semesters!
So…
• Over the course of four years,
students have the opportunity to
earn 24 credits (or units).
• Twenty-three (23) credits are
required to earn a high school
diploma.
But wait!
• Those 23 credits must be earned in very specific areas!
Area of Study
Credits Needed
English/Language Arts
4
Mathematics
4
Science
4
Social Studies
3
Foreign Language/Fine Arts/CTAE
3
Health/PE
1
Electives
4
Total Credits
23
• Remember, one credit is equivalent to ONE YEAR of a course. (.5 credit is
earned each semester!)
When it Comes to Earning Credits, Each
Semester Counts!
Course Work
• Before we look at the specific course work for each subject, let’s talk
about some of the other words you might find in course titles.
Remember, course titles are printed on high school transcripts and are
often looked at by colleges during the admissions process.
•
CCGPS: Common Core/Georgia Performance Standards
•
Honors: A more demanding version of the course.
•
Gifted: Same classwork as Honors courses but requires eligibility in the gifted
program
•
Accelerated: Students in accelerated classes cover material at an accelerated pace.
Accelerated classes build on knowledge obtained in previous years.
•
AP: Advanced Placement. These are college-level courses that can lead to college
credit.
•
To earn college credit for an AP class, students must take an AP exam at the end
of the course and obtain the cut score determined by each specific college.
Math Sequences
Eighth Grade
Ninth Grade
Tenth Grade
Eleventh Grade
Twelfth Grade
Introduction to
Algebra and
Geometry
Algebra I CCGPS
Geometry
CCGPS
Algebra II
CCGPS
Pre-Calculus
CCGPS
Algebra I CCGPS
Geometry
CCGPS
Algebra II
CCGPS
Accelerated
Pre-Calculus
CCGPS
or
Pre-Calculus
CCGPS
AP Calculus AB
or
AP Calculus BC
or
AP Statistics
Accelerated Algebra
I CCGPS
Accelerated
Geometry
CCGPS
Accelerated
Pre-Calculus
CCGPS
or
AP Statistics
AP Calculus AB
or
AP Calculus BC
Advanced
Calculus II
or
Multi-Variable
Calculus
or
Dual Enrollment
Language Arts Requirements
Freshman Language Arts
Sophomore Language Arts
Junior Language Arts
Senior Language Arts
Science Courses
Biology*
Chemistry*
Physics
*These courses will be taken in reverse
order for most students with an IEP.
Science
Elective
Gifted Science Courses
Gifted
Chemistry
AP Biology
AP Physics I
concurrent
with AP
Chemistry
Science
Elective
Social Studies Credits
*Optional Elective: Law/Sociology or AP Human Geography
World History
US History
Economics and Political Systems
Other Required Courses
• Health (automatic enrollment in 9 th grade)
•
One Semester=0.5 credits/units
• PE (automatic enrollment in 9 th grade)
•
One Semester=0.5 credits/units
• CTAE Electives
•
•
•
•
Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education
Six Semesters=3 credits/units
Technology/Computer Classes, Fine Arts, Technical Education Classes
Foreign Language
• Foreign Language is NOT required for graduation but IS a requirement for most
college admission (at least 2 years)
• General Electives
•
•
Eight Semesters=4 credits/units
Additional PE courses, Student Aid, Peer Leading, Additional Academic Classes, etc.
Career Pathways
• Students have the opportunity to test drive a possible career by
pursuing a Career Pathway, which is a concentration of three to
four designated technical and/or academic courses that offer a
seamless path to postsecondary work in college or technical
school in a designated field.
• State law requires 9 th graders to select a Pathway to explore
during high school
• Pathways offered at Mountain View include:
• Advanced Academics
• Fine Arts
• World Languages
• Engineering
• Marketing
9th Grade Electives
•
Fine Arts
•
•
Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Art (2D/3D), Dance, Intro to Theater/Acting
Foreign Language
•
•
Spanish, French, Latin
Language Arts
•
•
Journalism
Leadership
•
•
Peer Leading (applications due to Dr. Rhodes by March 6)
Science
•
•
Environmental Science
Social Studies
•
•
Law/Sociology, AP Human Geography
Gifted Pairing (this takes two elective slots and is by application)
•
•
AP Human Geography AND AP Environmental Science
Technical Education
•
Beginning of Programming, Principles of Marketing, Foundations of Engineering, and Audio/Visual, Technology,
and Film
Four-Year Plan
• A Four-Year Plan is needed to ensure
students take all of the classes required
for graduation.
• The Four-Year Plan also allows students
to have a “big picture” view of their high
school career and plan for classes they
want to take during their time at
Mountain View.
Sample Four-Year Plan
*electives chosen must include 3 units of CTAE/Fine Arts/Foreign Language and 4 units of general
electives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
First Semester
First Semester
First Semester
First Semester
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
Health
____________
____________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
World History
____________
____________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
US History
____________
____________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
Political Sys.
____________
____________
Second Semester
Second Semester
Second Semester
Second Semester
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
PE
____________
____________
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
World History
____________
____________
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
US History
____________
____________
Lang. Arts
Math
Science
Economics
____________
____________
Sample Four-Year Plan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
First Semester
First Semester
First Semester
First Semester
Honors Fresh LA
Geometry CC
Honors Biology
Health
AP Human Geog
Law/Sociology
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Honors Soph LA
Algebra II CC
Honors Chem
AP World Hist.
Weight Training
Honors Spanish
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Honors Jr. LA
Acc PreCalculus
AP Physics
AP US History
Team Sports
Honors Span II
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Senior LA
AP Calculus AB
AP Environ Sci
Political Sys.
Psychology
Honors Span III
Second Semester
Second Semester
Second Semester
Second Semester
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Honors Fresh LA
Geometry CC
Honors Biology
PE
AP Human Geog
Law/Sociology
Honors Soph LA
Algebra II CC
Honors Chem
AP World Hist.
Weight Training
Honors Spanish
Honors Jr. LA
Acc PreCalculus
AP Physics
AP US History
Team Sports
Honors Span II
Senior LA
AP Calculus AB
AP Environ Sci
Economics
Psychology
Honors Span III
Promotion Policy
• Class placement is made at the beginning of each academic year and is
based on the number of credits/units earned at that time. Class
placement CANNOT be altered during the school year.
Example
1st Semester
2nd Semester
Subject
Grade
Credits
Earned
76
.5
Subject
Grade
Credits
Earned
LA
85
.5
LA
77
.5
MA
MA
69
.0
(1st semester)
SS
95
.5
SS
95
.5
SC
89
.5
SC
89
.5
PE
76
.5
Health
82
.5
2D Art
96
.5
3D Art
88
.5
Total
Credits
3.0
Total
Credits
2.5
Example, Continued
• So, at the end of the ninth grade year…
• This student has earned a total of 5.5 units
• This student must make up the second semester of 9th
grade Math in order to remain “on track” to graduate in
four years.
• Students cannot move forward in a sequence unless all
prerequisite credits have been earned!
• If the student does not recover the credit (through
summer school, after school programs, or online),
graduating in four years will cease to be an option.
Grades and Transcripts
• A transcript can be thought of as a “report card” for a student’s
ENTIRE high school career.
• For every class a student takes, that student’s final grade (good or
bad) will be recorded on his/her high school transcript.
• This includes classes taken during the regular school day, classes
taken in summer school, online, or during another credit recovery
option, classes taken at a high school other than Mountain View,
and any classes taken for a Carnegie Unit in middle school.
• Transcripts are used in the admissions process for universities and
technical schools, for admission into the military, in scholarship
applications, and are often requested when applying for jobs.
• ALL FINAL GRADES EARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL STAY ON A
STUDENT’S TRANSRCIPT FOREVER (THIS INCLUDES A FAILED
COURSE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED AT A LATER DATE.)
Earning Carnegie Units (Credits) in
Middle School
• Currently at TRMS, there are five courses in which students have
the opportunity to earn a Carnegie Unit.
• Accelerated Algebra I (EOC)
• Algebra I (EOC)
• High School Physical Science (EOC)
• Food, Nutrition, and Wellness
• Spanish I (must accept in credit in order to move to Spanish II)
• In May, students and parents will decide (based on academic
performance) if they wish to earn the Carnegie Unit for one or
more of these courses. THIS IS A NON-REVERSIBLE DECISION.
• A parent meeting will be held in May and more information will be
forthcoming.
Athletics
• To participate in the athletic program, students
must
• Pass 5 out of 6 classes EACH SEMESTER
• Be present in school for half of the day in order
to participate in that day’s practice or game
• NOT be assigned ISS or OSS on practice/game
days
• Have a current physical and proof of insurance
Sports Offered at MVHS
•
Cross Country
•
Equestrian Team
•
Lacrosse
•
Football
•
Cheerleading (Football, Basketball, Competition)
•
Softball
•
Volleyball
•
Basketball
•
Swim and Dive Team
•
Wrestling
•
Baseball
•
Golf
•
Tennis
•
Track
•
Soccer
Clubs and Organizations
Academic Club
Beta Club
Book Club
Dance Team
DECA
Environmental Club
FBLA
FCA
FCCLA
French Club
Interact Club
International Thespians
Key Club
Knitting Club
LASO
Latin Club
Literary Magazine
Mock Trial
Model UN
National Dance Honor Society
National Honor Society
Newspaper
NHS-Art
NHS-Spanish
One Act
Spanish Club
Step Club
Student Ambassadors
Student Government
Tri-M Music Honor Society
TSA
Yearbook
Academically and Socially!
Academic Support
• Begin with the end in mind
• Help develop a post-secondary plan with your
student!
• Help with organization and time management
• Emphasize work ethic and effort
• Teach your student to self-advocate
• Check your student’s grades using the portal on
a weekly basis and teach your student to check
his or her grades daily!
Social Support
• Know their friends!!!!
• Encourage extracurricular activities
• This looks good on college applications! 
• Monitor social media
• Engage in open communication about tough
topics
• Stay involved in school; volunteer!
How Can the Counseling Department
Help Me?
• Counselors can help coordinate meetings with school personnel or
connect you with community resources.
• Counselors can help ensure that students are on track for
graduation and offer options and support to help students meet
their academic goals.
• The “Den” is available for students to explore options after high
school
• College
• Career
• Scholarships
• Counselors often write letters of recommendation for students
applying for college admission and scholarships.
• ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNSELOR! 
TIME FLIES!
It takes you and your child being
aware of his or her status in order
to graduate successfully and on
time.