Class of 2016Parent Orientation

What We Ask Of Transitioning

8th Grade Students Leave their old school. Enter a larger school with older

students. More classes and extra curricular

activities. Have more freedom and

responsibility. No longer the oldest kids on the

campus but the youngest.

Areas of Concern: The Middle to High School

Bridge Getting lost in the

school buildings Bullying Mean teachers Having time to go

to locker Being late to class

Fitting in- finding a group

Amount of homework

Graduation Extra curricular

activities Don’t know how to

find help

Transition is a process:

not an event!

How will we help?Communication

Parent• 8th Grade Parent Orientation Night• Summer visitations• Summer mailing• Freshman Orientation BBQ

Students• Registration process• Freshmen 101• Freshmen Orientation in August• Link Crew

How will we help? Supports Link Crew and High School Orientation

Additional class supports – Guided Study, AVID, Academic Lab, Extended

School, & Bilingual Tutoring Various academic support classes Athletics Associate Student Body Activities

Big Blue Weekend, Clubs Student Support Team Intervention/Dropout Specialists Hispanic Student/Community Liaison Drug and Alcohol Counselor Support groups

Four Steps to Graduation

1. Earn the required number of credits in high school classes (22 credits)

2. Pass the HSPE (High School Proficiency Exam- formally WASL) for Reading & Writing; and pass End of Course exams in Math (Algebra & Geometry) and Science (Biology)

3. Create a High School and Beyond Plan

4. Complete a Culminating Project

Credit RequirementsWalla Walla High SchoolGraduation

Requirement4 credits English3 credits

Mathematics3 credits Social

Studies2 credits Science. 5 credit Health1.5 credits PE1 credit Fine Arts1.5 credits Career &

Technical Education

5.5 credits Electives22 credits Total

Minimum entrance requirements to WA’s public 4-year colleges

4 credits English 3 credits Mathematics

(math during their senior year)

3 credits Social Studies

2 credits Science 2 credits World

Language, ASL or Native Am. Language

1 credit Fine Arts

What is a ‘credit’? A credit is earned when you received a

passing grade in a class. Example: 9th grade year

English (passed both sem.) 1.0 cr. Algebra 1.0 cr. Social Studies 1.0 cr. Freshmen Science 1.0 cr. Health/P.E. 1.0 cr. Band 1.0 cr. Total credits earned 6.0 cr.

Recommended Credits Per Year 9th grade year 6.0 credits 10th grade year 6.0 credits 11th grade year 6.0 credits 12th grade year 6.0 credits Total 24 credits (22

credits required for graduation)

If students fail a year long class their freshman year, they would have to take 6 credits their junior or senior year or do summer school.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Maintain good grades…9th grade year is extremely important!

Example: 9th grade year English C = 2.0 Algebra D = 1.0 Social Studies A = 4.0 Freshmen Science C = 2.0 P.E. B = 3.0 Band A = 4.0 Cumulative GPA 2.67

Cumulative GPA

9th grade year 2.67 10th grade year 3.67 11th grade year 3.83 12th grade year 3.83Cumulative GPA 3.50

Course Selections:Make a Plan

Students need to:o know the graduation requirementso know the college entrance

requirementso not take the easy way outo try out various areas of study

Registration Process:Make Choices

Students need to: Choose a schedule:

6 classes: Periods 1 – 6 (7:30 am – 2:00 pm) or Periods 2 – 7 (8:30 am – 3:15 pm)

7 classes: Periods 1 – 7 (7:30 am – 3:15 pm)• Give careful consideration when choosing which schedule will best suit your learning

style and family needs. We don’t make a general recommendation that our 9th grade students enroll in 7 classes.

Select appropriate level courses: 8th grade teacher signature required Navigate through the Course Catalog

o Prerequisiteso Course Offering Chartso Read descriptions o Graduation information

Registration Process:Honors Classes

Teacher Recommendation Needed Honors Courses: Math, Science, English Open Enrollment Rigorous – consider class load Year long classes Outside requirements – summer reading

Registration Process:Summer School

Pre-Algebra option Will receive information soon

Registration Process:Assistance

Work with 8th Grade Teachers Select Alternate Choices On-line Course Selection week of March 26-

30• March 27 = Garrison• March 28 = Pioneer• March 29 = Sager

Schedules mailed home first week of August Create Wa-Hi Four Year Plan

What can WE do to help our students succeed?

Student Success

Parents

StudentSchool

School Let parents know how students are doing –

progress reports, on-line grades, email, phone calls.

Help with class selection to meet student’s goals for after high school.

Check student’s credit history to make sure he/she is on track for graduation.

Provide support and assistance to struggling students.

Provide opportunities for interventions, remediation, and credit recovery.

Student

Tell parents how school is going. Do your best. Have high expectation for

yourself. Ask for help whenever needed. Talk to

teachers, counselors, and administrators. Be involved. Get connected. Attend Link

Crew Orientation. Go to Big Blue Weekend. Education is not a spectator sport. You must

participate to achieve. Come to school every day ready to learn.

Parents Connect school to your student’s future.

Share examples from your own job. Discuss your student’s plans for after high

school. Help him/her set future goals. Have high expectations. Be involved in course selection. Check his/her academic progress. Provide a study place at home. Seek help if your teen is struggling. Attend school activities. Be involved in

school functions.

Link Crew & BBW

Freshmen Orientation Wednesday, August 29

• Parent/Student BBQ

Big Blue Weekend October 12-14

Contact InformationName Email Responsible for:

Pete Peterson ppeterson@wwps.org Wa-Hi

Stacy Estes sestes@wwps.org Student Services

Ron Higgins rhiggins@wwps.org Registration

Mindy Meyer mmeyer@wwps.org Freshman Transition

Mark Pickel mpickel@wwps.org CTE

Don Wilkins dwilkins@wwps.org Athletics

Melito Ramirez mramirez@wwps.org Summer Visits

Bunny Baker bbaker@wwps.org Counselor

Carol Franklin cfranklin@wwps.org Counselor

Eva Hanson ehanson@wwps.org Counselor

Elaina Renius erenius@wwps.org Counselor

Jeanne Ruecker jruecker@wwps.org Counselor