Freshman Parent Meeting Class of 2018

August 26, 2014

Etowah High School

WELCOMEMs. Penny Valle

Assistant Principal

Etowah High School PTSA

President:

Ms. Shannon Bates

Etowah High SchoolAdministration

Principal:

Mr. Keith L. Ball

Assistant Principals:

Mr. Bob VanAlstyne (A-C)

Dr. Amanda Ruiz (D-H)

Ms. Penny Valle (I-M)

Mr. Dan Snipes (N-S)

Ms. Jessica Whitley (T-Z)

Etowah Counseling Staff• Ms. Whitney Minton (A-C) 10th grade activities

• Ms. Amanda Findley (D-H) 12th grade activities

• Ms. Lisa Shull (I-M) 9th grade activities

• Ms. Michele Dowd (N-S) 11th grade activities

• Ms. Kelly Brangan (T-Z) Lead Counselor /

Testing Coordinator

Counseling Front Office:

Ms. June Pollack

Ms. Silvia Holmes

Helpful Information and Contact List

ETOWAH HIGH SCHOOL:

Front Office 770.926.4411

Front Office Fax 770.926.4157

Counseling Office 770.926.1109

Counseling Office Fax 770.926.0539

Student Agenda

• Free to each student, received 1st day of school

• Provides consistency from middle to high school

• Promotes time management skills

• Builds positive study skill habits

• Includes important school information– EHS Mission Statement and School Beliefs

– Policies including Attendance and BYLD

– Clubs and Organizations

– Rules and Discipline Policy

– Community Service Guidelines

Attendance Policy • Excuse notes (parent/guardian, doctor, etc.) must be received in the

attendance office (front office) within FIVE school days after returning to school.

• Attendance is taken in each class period.• At 7 or more absences (excused or unexcused) and a passing grade,

an appeal is generated, reviewed by the Attendance Committee and approved by the Principal before credit is awarded.

• Appeals are automatically generated by the attendance office. There is no action on your part, other than encouraging better attendance for your student.

• EHS has incentives for good attendance (i.e., drawing for a bicycle) and consequences for excessive absences (i.e., TADRA).

Pages 5 - 9 in the Etowah Student Agenda

B.A.L.D. Eagle Program• Bring Your Own Learning Device• Internet Acceptable Use Policy• Texting allowed during transitions and lunch• Headphones at lunch only – NOT in class or

during transitions• No phone calls during the Instructional Day from

8:15 AM – 3:15 PM• No photos or videoing without explicit

permission from teacher or administrator

Pages 12 - 15 in the Etowah Student Agenda

Get Involved!

• Extra-Curricular activities can help your

student feel connected to the school and are

a factor in the college admission’s process.

– Clubs

– Sports

– Community Service – not a graduation

requirement

From the Counseling Office

Ms. Lisa Shull, Counselor

I – M

9th Grade Activities

Class of 2018• Classes are divided into two semesters

– 1st Semester August – December

– 2nd Semester January - May

• A student will take 6 classes each semester

• Each semester course is worth .5 units of credit per class

• Credit is issued at the end of each semester (December & May)

• Students must earn 23 units to graduate

Requirements for 2018 Graduates • 4 Units of English

• 4 Units of Math

• 4 Units of Science (must include Biology and a Physical Science)

• 3 Units of Social Studies (must include World Hist, US Hist, Econ/Govt)

• 1 Unit of Health (.5) and Personal Fitness (.5)

• 3 Required Electives (World Languages, Fine Arts and/or Technical classes)

• 4 Miscellaneous Electives

• 23 Total Units

Teachers As Advisors• TAA gives and additional layer of support to students• 27 minutes every Monday with advisors• Students can earn .5 elective credit each academic school year• Develop strong bonds w/a group of peers and advisors • Focus

• academic• career • character education• personal/social

topics

• Goal• Who am I? • Where am I going? • How am I going to get there?

Subject Units 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

English/Literature 4 9th Lit/Comp (H) 10th Lit/Comp (H)

11th Lit/Comp (H)

or

AP Language/Comp

12th Lit/Comp (H)

or

AP Literature/Comp

Mathematics 4

CCGPS Coord Algebra

or

Honors CCGPS Coord Alg

or

Acc. CCGPS Coord. Alg/

Analytic Geom A

CCGPS Analytical Geom

or

Acc CCGPS Analytical Geom B/Adv. Alg

CCGPS Adv. Alg

or

Acc CCGPS Pre-Cal

4th Mathematics Options Vary

Science 4

Physical Science

or

Biology (H)

or

Environmental Science

Physical Science

or

Biology (H)

or

Chemistry (H)

Or

Environmental Science

Chemistry (H)

or

Physics (H)

or

Environmental Science

or

Earth Systems

4th Science Options Vary (including

CTAE)

Social Studies 3 X World History (H, AP) US History (H, AP)Government (H, AP)

Economics (H, AP)

Health

Pers. Fitness1

Personal Fitness

Health

or

3 JROTC

X X X

Required Electives

(*Foreign Language, Fine Arts,

Career/Tech)*Required for 4-Yr colleges

3

World Language

Fine Arts

Career/Technical

World Language

Fine Arts

Career/Technical

World Language

Fine Arts

Career/Technical

World Language

Fine Arts

Career/Technical

Misc. Electives

(ex. Academic, PE, CTAE over 3)4 Elective Elective Elective Elective

Total Needed 23

Beyond 2018

• 4 year colleges/ universities currently require a minimum of two years of the same World Language

• Technical Colleges currently do not require a World Language

Parents ask……• My student made all A’s and B’s in middle school. Why is he/she not doing

well now? • My student is having difficulty in a class. Can they get extra help at school?

– Teacher– Before and/or After School Tutoring– Mandatory Lunchtime Tutoring – Academic Saturday School

• My student said that report cards / progress reports were not sent home because the computers were down. Should I be suspicious?

• How can I get in touch with my child’s teacher?– E-mail teacher (first.last@cherokee.k12.ga.us)– 770.926.4411 Main Office– Complete list of teachers:

• http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/etowah-hs/staff/Staff/faculty.aspx

– See 2018 FAQs

Zero CreditCredit may NOT be issued if:

• A student has 7 or more absences per semester

– Absences are counted in each class period

• A student does not pass the class with a grade of 70 or higher

• A student does not take the required Georgia Milestones – EOC

To be Promoted to a 10th Grade Homeroom

• A student must earn at least 5 total units of credit by the end of their freshman year.

• Three of these units must be in the following academic areas:

1 unit of English

1 unit of Math

1 unit of Science

Mandatory Lunchtime Tutoring

• Cost free assistance, Monday – Thursday

• Begins September 4th, 2014

• Required for grade-level Literature, Algebra, and Science if average grade is less than 74

• Qualifying students attend tutoring with a subject area teacher for first half of their lunch period

• Students earn their way out – stabilize grade of 74 or higher and teacher approves their progress

Saturday School• Cost free Academic assistance• Etowah teachers facilitate (it may not be your

student’s teacher, but EHS certified staff)• Media Center resources and computer labs

available• 8 AM until noon (enter through C bldg-lobby)• Students/parents must provide transportation• First semester dates:

– Sept 6, 27– Oct. 4, 18, 25 – Nov 1, 8, 15– Dec. 6, 13

Credit Recovery OptionsCredit Connect • APEX computer based program• 7 AM – 8AM M-F (18 weeks)• 3:30 – 5:30PM M-Th (9 weeks)• $200.00 per ½ credit (subject to

change)

Polaris Evening Program (PEP)• Recover .5 credit per quarter• 2 hour classes @ Woodstock HS• 4:00, 6:00 and 8:00 start times• $200.00 per ½ credit (subject to

change)• PEP can be utilized while enrolled

at EHS or full-time enrollment

Summer School• Recover 1 credit max• 3-4 Weeks in June• 8:00 – 4:00 M-F• $200.00 per ½ credit (subject to

change)

Online Options (BYU, GAVS, etc.)• See Counselor for options• Must get advanced approval by

counselor/administrator• Cost can vary

Retake class during school day• No cost involved• May delay graduation

Family Portal• Provides Real-Time Access• Grades • Attendance• Student Schedule

For information/troubleshooting E-mail:• parent.support@cherokee.k12.ga.us

– Automatically created from your school contact records– Subject line type: Request login information for family portal– Your email must include: your name, students name and the

school currently attending – We must have an accurate and updated email address

Georgia Milestones - EOCEnglish

9th Grade Literature

American Literature

Math

Algebra

Geometry

Science

Physical Science

Biology

Social Studies

Economics

US History

Georgia Milestones - EOC

An EOC counts for 20% of the FINAL COURSE GRADE (second semester “B” course)

Passing the EOC is not required to graduate. However, passing the required course is necessary for graduation.

Georgia High School Writing Test

• Students are required to take and pass the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT).

• Students will take the GHSWT in their junior year.

Sample Freshman Transcript

• Each Semester: You OWN it!

• Grades are cumulative

• Aug-Dec (Semester 1) - posted to

your transcript, ex: 9th Grade

Lit/Comp A

• Jan-May (Semester 2) posted to

your transcript, ex: would say 9th

Grade Lit/Comp B

• Notice that Physical Science has

earned a passing grade, but not

received credit. Why not?

Attendance is taken every period,

students must meet grade

requirements and attendance

requirements.

PSAT• Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Etowah High School

• All 10th and 11th grade students

• 9th Graders may take the PSAT for a fee. Students must register online via the College

Board web site; it will cost $16 paid at time of registration (online), results will be

distributed with all PSAT results in January. Registration information will be available

by Sep.1st at 8 AM; it will be on the student support services section of the EHS web

site or visit www.Total.Registration.net/PSAT/113306

• Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills

• Prepares students to take the SAT, shows AP Potential

• In 11th grade, PSAT scores are used to qualify students for the National Merit

Scholarship

SAT Changes Spring 2016

• The essay will become optional and have a separate score

• The guessing penalty will be eliminated

• The overall scoring will return to the original 1,600 point scale

• Vocabulary definitions will be those most commonly used in college courses instead of obscure terms

• Will become more like the ACT

HOPE and the Zell Miller Scholarship (as it Currently Exists)

• HOPE Scholarship:– 3.0 academic GPA, covers approximately 90% of the 2010/2011 tuition rates

• Zell Miller scholarship:– 3.7 academic GPA—covers 100% of current tuition rates– 1200 combined Critical Reading/Math on SAT or 26 Composite on ACT– Rigor requirement (at least 4 classes meeting requirements)

• GPA’s are NOT rounded for HOPE eligibility!

• Track your student’s HOPE GPA throughout high school using www.GAcollege411.org(Georgia Student Finance Commission)

This information is subject to change based on the Georgia Legislature• The most current information about changes to HOPE can be found at:

https://secure.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/HOPE_Program/Georgia_s_HOPE_

Scholarship_Program_Overview.aspx

www.gacollege411.org

Georgia College 411

http://gacollege411.org/

Frequently asked questions regarding HOPE

• Do all classes count?

• Do 7th or 8th grade classes count?

• Do you get to keep the extra points added for Honors or AP classes?

• Why should my child take the harder classes and not get the extra points?

• How can I keep up with my student’s HOPE?

Other Opportunities for RigorAdvanced Placement Courses (AP)

• EHS currently offers 21 AP courses available throughout the 4 years of high school

• Requires the recommendation from previous subject area teacher based on classroom performance

• Student remains on campus with an EHS teacher trained by College Board

Other Opportunities for RigorDual Enrollment

• Dual enrollment (DE) is available to only juniors and seniors who are on track to graduate. Their course selection at the college/university must align with their high school graduation requirements

• Grade earned in college class is posted to HS transcript, but also part of student’s college record. Georgia Milestones – EOC must still be taken and are 20% of student grade on HS transcript

• There are costs associated with DE: books, food, transportation, fees, etc.

Class of 2018!

Mr. Keith L. BallEtowah High School Principal

Graduation:Friday, May 25, 2018

at 4:00 PM First Baptist Church of Woodstock