welcome creekside students & parents january 8, 2013 woodstock high school auditorium 7...

Welcome Creekside Students & Parents

January 8, 2013Woodstock High School Auditorium7 o’clock p.m.

Principal’s Message

Mr. Corey Tafoya

Woodstock High School

WHS is an amazing school!• U.S. News and World Report identified

WHS as the #51 school in Illinois

• Highest rated school in the county

• In the top 6% in the country

• Silver Award of Distinction

• Based on test scores & AP tests

Woodstock High School

WHS is an amazing school!• Most Advanced Placement (AP) classes in

McHenry County• Tremendous athletic and activity opportunities• Amazing teachers and coaches.• Class of 2012 earned over $3 million in

scholarships to the universities they selected.• Freshman Academy• Music programs consistently rate among state

elite year after year in band and choir.

Principal’s Top 10 for Parents

• 10. Plan a challenging schedule and know that recommendations are not referrals. You will decide your level.

• 9. Find room to schedule electives.• 8. Get involved in athletics & activities.• 7. Stay involved in your student’s

education. • 6. You will take a college

preparatory schedule even if you don’t know whether you plan to go to college.

Top 10 for Parents (cont.)

• 5. Don’t over rely on study hall.• 4. Set your sites for Cum Laude graduation.• 3. It’s ok not to be an expert – ask

questions and use our website.• 2. It’s never too early to start planning

for career and post-secondary options.• 1. Understand that high school is about

earning credits that let you graduate. Earning credits=success!

Become a Cum Laude graduate

• Meet or exceed standards on the PSAE test or exhibit PLAN to ACT test score growth. (11th)

• Participate in one sport, club or activity during your high school career. (9-12)

• Demonstrate community involvement. (9-12)• Earn at least 260 credits during high school – 40

of which must be electives. (9-12)

Cum Laude continued . . .

• Earn a 2.50 GPA or higher. (9-12)• Be a good citizen: no suspensions or good

conduct violations. (9-12)• Maintain a 95% attendance rate during

both junior and senior years. (11-12)• Successfully complete at least one

capstone course, as identified within each department, or one Advanced Placement course. (10-12)

Counselor’s Message

Ms. Shannon Landwehr

The School Counseling Staff

Mrs. Grady - CounselorMs. Landwehr - Director

Ms. Winterton - Counselor

The Role of the High School Counselor

• Academic

• Career

• Social/Emotional

Scheduling Timeline

• Start to complete your Course Requests worksheet tonight

• Turn the Course Request worksheet and all completed white sheets in your packet to Creekside’s office by Friday, Jan. 11, 2013– Computer Usage– Military Recruiters– Use of student name/photo/original work

Counselor visits to Creekside

• We will meet with students at Creekside to finalize their requests on Tuesday, January 15

Course recommendations

• Listed on your Course Request worksheet that you received tonight

• Based on your current class placement & your abilities within each subject area

• If you would like to try a different course, please write the new course on your sheet and talk with the counselor on Tuesday.

Required Courses

• English – 4 years• Math – 3 years (including a geometry course)• Social Studies – Geography (1 semester),

World History, & US History • Physical Education – 6 semesters (plus Driver’s

Ed & Health)• Skills Lab - required for those students who

demonstrate a need for additional support in math and/or reading

Course Choices

• Science - 2 years starting with Geoscience or Biology

• Electives – 2 or 3 choices available each year

• Study Hall - a quiet environment for homework completion

9th Grade Educational Plan

• Complete:– Career interest

– Core courses

– Electives

– Alternate courses

Important Tips for Success

• Work hard from the start – very little extra credit in high school classes

• If you want to take Driver Ed – you must pass your classes

• Use your Curriculum Guide – course descriptions, Career Clusters (p. 17-32), details about a variety of topics

• In the fall, please attend your parent-student-counselor 4-year planning mtg.

Additional things to keep in mind

• What 2- & 4-year colleges

& technical schools

are looking for:– 4 years of English

– 3 years of Math

– 3 years of Science

– 3 years of Social Studies

– 2 years of the same World Language

Getting ready for the year to begin

• Registration– Mail in – information provided in June– Physicals & Immunizations

• New Student Orientation– Usually the day before school begins– Learn about clubs, sports, & activities– Presentation– Chance to check out your locker– Run through a mini-day

• Find all of your classes & meet your teachers

Your chance to find out about elective options

• Art• Business• Driver Ed • Family & Consumer Sciences• Industrial Technology• Project Lead the Way• Music• World Languages

Questions?

Counselors will remain to answer any individual questions.

Woodstock High School

• Art in D263• Business in B233• Driver’s Ed/PE Aud.• English in B234• Family/Con.Sci.,

B133• Industrial Tech, D178

• Math in B221• Music in E293• Project Lead the Way

in D267• Science in B223• Social Studies, A219• World Languages,

LRC