Alpharetta High School ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT NIGHT FOR 8 th GRADE PARENTS Class of 2016 Building the Foundation Course Registration & Scheduling for 2012-13.

Alpharetta High SchoolACADEMIC ADVISEMENT NIGHT FOR 8th

GRADE PARENTS

Class of 2016 Building the Foundation

Course Registration & Scheduling for 2012-13 Alpharetta High School will be nationally competitive in academics, arts, athletics,

and service to the community.

ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT NIGHT FOR 8th GRADE PARENTS

Presented January 24th and 25th

Alpharetta Theater

Alpharetta High School will be nationally competitive in academics, arts, athletics, and service to the community.

TAG Information Session 6:30 pm• AHS TAG Program Tracey Eick, TAG Teacher (Tuesday) Allison Tubiak, TAG Department Chair (Wednesday) • Presentation http://prezi.com/vgzlnw5vnvlg/ahs-tag-program/

Academic Advisement 7:00 pm• Welcome Shannon Kersey, Principal• AHS Athletics Kirk Alexander, Athletic Director• A Word of Advice Reuben Lack, Student Body President• School Information & Course Clair Greenaway, Assistant Principal & Scheduler Registration for School Year 2012-13

Guided Tour & Activities Fair 7:40 pm• Tour Raider Ambassadors• Q&A Table AHS Counselors

NEXT STEP: NEXT STEP: HIGH SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL

HOW TO MAKE THE MOSTOF YOUR RISING

FRESHMAN’SHIGH SCHOOL YEARS

Alpharetta High School will be nationally competitive in academics, arts, athletics, and service to the community.

Class of 2016The freshman class of 2012-13 will be made up of students from Webb Bridge Middle School and Hopewell Middle School. Students who have attended private schools and local charter schools through eighth grade will also join your student for freshman year.

What to Expect: Daily Life Class Schedule– 6 periods every day and students take 6 classes– Classes are 57 minutes long with 5 minutes in between classes– Lunch is 45 minutes during 4th period

• 4th Period Class / Lunch• Lunch / 4th Period Class

– Some of your student’s classes will be yearlong• 9th Grade Lit, Math, Biology, World Languages and some electives

– Some of your classes will be just a semester• American Government/Civics, Health, and some electives

What to Expect: Academics

• Homework is assigned every day in most classes.• AHS has very rigorous classes so it is important for students to stay on top of their assignments.

Recommendations: Agenda for assignments Teacher’s syllabus and website Home Access Center - check it regularly Extra help sessions with teacher

What to Expect: More Academics

Highly Competitive – Honors and AP (Advanced Placement) courses provide rigorous preparation

for college– Excellent Career Tech Training– Great Test Scores:

• Third Highest SAT Score of Fulton Schools • Third Highest ACT Score of Fulton Schools

– Named one of the Top All Around High Schools by Atlanta Magazine

• Ranked Seventh among Atlanta area schools

What to expect: Faculty & StaffAdministration: Duties & Responsibilities

• Discipline (An Assistant Principal assigned to just the Freshman class)• Supervision of Instruction/Curriculum• Textbooks • Lockers

Counselors: Students in grades 9 – 12 are assigned a counselor by their last name:

• Dee Webb A – CHN• Keisha Iton CHO – GRAM• Matt Garrett GRAN – LED• Shari Frankel LEE – O• Susan Chamberlin P – SH• Karen Bolt SI – Z

• Individual Counseling• Classroom guidance• College & Career Planning• Coordinate Conferences with Parents, Teachers and Students • Scheduling / Registration• Information Nights• Academic Advising• Study Skills support

What To Expect FromYour CounselorsA hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.... Forest Whitcraft

Graduation Requirements23 units of credit required for graduation:• 4 units of ENGLISH• 4 units of MATHEMATICS• 4 units of SCIENCE• 3 units of SOCIAL STUDIES• 3 units required from: WORLD LANGUAGE* and/or

CAREER TECHNOLOGY and/or FINE ARTS • 1 unit in HEALTH/PERSONAL FITNESS• 4 units of ELECTIVES

* Students planning to enter or transfer into a 4-year college in Georgia must take at least 2 units of the same World Language

Each year students have the potential to earn 6 credits

What to expect: Graduation Requirements

Required Tests for graduation:• Must pass the GHSGT-Writing• Must pass the courses that require the End of Course Tests (EOCT). They must take the EOCT and it will count as 20% of the course grade.

EOCT is comprised of the following content area assessments:English Language Arts – 9th Lit/Comp and 11th American Lit/CompScience – Biology and Physical ScienceMathematics - CCGPS Algebra and CCGPS GeometrySocial Studies - United States History and Economics

What if a class is failed?

Retention PolicyTo be promoted to the next grade, students need the following number of credits:

• 5 units = 10th grade• 11 units = 11th grade• 17 units = 12th grade

STAY ON TRACK to graduate all 4 years by PASSING THEIR CLASSES

Making Up Failed Courses• In schedule• Online• PLATO• Summer School

Advanced Level Courses

• Honors/Gifted (Gifted - available to 9th and 10th graders in the TAG program)

• Advanced Placement (AP)

• College Courses

Seven (7) additional points are added at the end of each semester to passing grades in

advanced level courses.

TAG Program In 9th grade, take a seminar OR course in area of

interest• Seminar – mini-courses that meet once a week and rotate through

class periods• Course – Freshmen in the TAG Program pick ONE area of interest

out of four areas: English - Gifted 9th Lit/Comp H Math - Gifted GPS Accelerated Geometry H or Gifted GPS

Accelerated Pre-Calculus H Science - Gifted Biology H Social Studies - AP Government/Politics – U.S. or AP Human Geography GIFTED COURSES are taught using the honors curriculum for

the course with enhancements and enriched activities – research component

TAG Program

10th Grade and Beyond…

• Seminar• Courses: Gifted and AP• Internships• Directed Studies• Individual Projects

Look for updates at the TAG Department Website

Advanced Placement (AP)

• Available to 9th – 12th graders

• Program of college-level courses

• Opportunity to receive exemption or credit in college through successful completion of an AP exam

• Required to take the AP exam if taking and passing the course

Language Arts4 Units

• 9th Grade Lit/Comp

(On-level, Gifted, or Honors)

• 10th Grade Lit/Comp

(On-level or Honors)

• 11th American Lit/Comp (On-level, H, AP Lang)

• 12th Grade Lit/Comp

(On-level, AP Lit, College English)

COURSE PREREQUISITE9th Grade Lit/Comp None; 8th Grade Language Arts

9th Grade Lit/Comp Honors

85+ in Advanced or TAG 8th Grade Language Arts or 95+ in on-level 8th Grade Language Arts and 8th Grade Language Arts teacher recommendation

Gifted 9th Grade Lit/Comp Honors

Same as 9th Grade Lit/Comp Honors plus enrollment in TAG Program; application/ selection as content area for gifted participation

*FOR GIFTED COURSE PLEASE NOTE: The student has to be recommended for honors where appropriate; for example a TAG student who was recommended for

9th Lit, can’t select science as their area and take Gifted 9th Lit Honors

Mathematics4 UNITS

9th GRADE 10th GRADE 11th GRADE 12th GRADE

CCGPS Algebra & Algebra Support

GPS Geometry & Geom. Support

GPS Advanced Algebra

GPS Pre-Calculus or AMDM

*not required for SEC

CCGPS Algebra GPS Geometry GPS Advanced Algebra

GPS Pre-calculus or AMDM or AP Statistics

CCGPS Accelerated Algebra Honors

GPS Accelerated Geometry Honors

GPS Accelerated Pre-Calculus

Honors

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BC or

Dual Enrollment

GPS Geometry Honors

GPS Advanced Algebra Honors

GPS Pre-Calculus Honors

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BC

GPS Accelerated Geometry Honors

GPS Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or

BC or Dual Enrollment

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BCor Dual Enrollment

GPS Accelerated Pre-Calculus Honors

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or

BC or Dual Enrollment

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or

BC or Dual Enrollment

AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BC or

Dual Enrollment

COURSE PREREQUISITECCGPS Algebra Passed Math 8 or Math 8 Advanced

CCGPS Algebra Support Passed Math 8, level 1 on CRCT, take with CCGPS Algebra

CCGPS Accelerated Algebra Honors Passed Math 8 Adv, level 3 on CRCT; Passed Math 8 with 90+, level 3 on CRCT

GPS Geometry Passed GPS Algebra

GPS Geometry Honors GPS Algebra Honors; 9th grade students only

GPS Accelerated Geometry Honors Passed GPS Accelerated Algebra Honors

GPS Gifted Accelerated Geometry Honors

Passed GPS Accelerated Algebra H; TAG Program; application/selection as content area for gifted participation

COURSE PREREQUISITEGPS Advanced Algebra Passed GPS Geometry

GPS Advanced Algebra Honors

GPS Geometry Honors; 10th grade students only

GPS Accelerated pre-calculus Honors

Passed GPS Accelerated Geometry Honors

GPS Gifted Accelerated pre-calculus Honors

Passed GPS Accelerated Geometry Honors; TAG Program; application/selection as content area for gifted participation

Science4 UNITS

•Biology (on-level/Gifted/Honors/AP)

•Physical Science or Physics (on-level or AP)

•Chemistry (on-level/Honors/AP),

Earth Systems, Environmental Science, or Human Anatomy•4th Science

Social Studies3 UNITS

9th Grade

American Gov/Civics• On-level or AP (1 semester)

10th Grade

World History • On-level or AP

11th Grade

U.S. History • On-level or AP

12th Grade

Economics • On-level or AP Macroeconomics

(1 semester)

No honors classes in SS

COURSE PREREQUISITEAmerican Government/Civics NoneAP Government/Politics (Freshmen)

Freshman; 85+ in advanced or 95+ in on-level 8th Grade Language Arts and 90+ in 8th Grade Social Studies; ITBS reading score above the 85th percentile; Teacher Recommendation; AP Commitment Contract

AP Human Geography (Freshmen)*Not a required social studies class for graduation but the course can be taken as an academic elective

Freshman; 85 or higher in advanced or 95 or higher in on-level 8th Grade Language Arts and 90 or higher in 8th Grade Social Studies; ITBS reading score above the 85th percentile; Teacher Recommendation; AP Commitment Contract

WORLD LANGUAGE and/or CAREER TECHNOLOGY and/or FINE ARTS

3 UNITS

Graduation Requirements

World LanguageStudents planning to enter or transfer into a 4-year Georgia

college must take a minimum of 2 units of the same world

language

World Languages offered at AHS• Chinese • French• German

• Latin• Spanish

WORLD LANGUAGE

Ni hao

Salve

COURSE PREREQUISITEChinese 1 NoneChinese 2 Chinese 1Chinese 2 H 90+ in Chinese 1; Teacher Recommendation

French 1 NoneFrench 2 French 1French 2 Honors 90+ in French 1; Teacher RecommendationGerman 1 NoneGerman 2 German 1

German 2 H 90+ in German 1; Teacher Recommendation

COURSE PREREQUISITELatin 1 NoneLatin 2 Latin ILatin 2 Honors 90+ in Latin I; Teacher

RecommendationSpanish 1 NoneSpanish 2 Spanish 1Spanish 2 Honors 90+ in Spanish 1; Teacher

Recommendation

General Health/Personal Fitness

1 Unit

General Health (1 semester)

Personal Fitness (1 semester)

CAREER TECHNOLOGY

Career Pathways

o Architectural Engineering Drawing & Design o Broadcast & Video Production o Business & Computer Scienceo Culinary Artso Engineering

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT• Music

– Band – Orchestra – Chorus– Guitar

• Drama/Performing Arts • Visual Art23 classes offered (4 Advanced

Placement Classes)

Electives 4 UNITS

• Art • Orchestra• Band• Guitar• Chorus• Drama• Business• Engineering• Journalism

• Culinary Arts• Architectural Engineering Drawing & Design• Computer Science• Broadcast & Video Production• Physical Education (P.E.)• Speech/Forensics• World Language

What to Expect: The Registration Process

Academic Courses: • Window of February 6th to February 10th (date to be determined by middle school) the student will walk their academic registration forms around to their teachers for their recommendationsElective Courses: • The student will receive their elective registration forms and their elective selection guides• The student will take these home to go over them with their parents and return them to school on Friday, February 10th

First Semester Second Semester9th Grade Language Arts 9th Grade Language ArtsMath MathBiology BiologyAmerican Govt/Civics General HealthWorld Language or Elective

World Language or Elective

Elective ElectiveStudents receive grades at the end of each semester that is reported on the transcript; the two semester grades for a yearlong class are not averaged together for a yearlong grade

What to expect: The Registration Process

• Course verification forms will be sent home with students in early March for the students and their parents to review their academic courses and the electives they have selected• It is important to make sure the student would be happy in any of the electives the student selects because AHS will use his/her registration sheet to pick back-up electives if the student did not get his/her first choice• Schedules will be given to students the week before school starts on Alpharetta High School’s Information Day

What to expect: Recs and Waiver Forms

• Students are placed in courses based on specific criteria. Prerequisites reflect skills and levels of achievement needed for success in a desired course.• Proper academic placement is essential for academic success; therefore, students will not be placed in courses in which the prerequisites have not been met.• Course placement is contingent upon the final unweighted course grade. If a student fails to meet a prerequisite unweighted grade requirement by five points or less and has fulfilled all other prerequisites, a parent may request placement in the desired course by completing a placement waiver.• This is the only circumstance for which placement waivers will be offered.

What to expect: Events

Middle School Nights• Tuesday, January 24th at 7:00 pm• Wednesday, January 25th at 7:00 pm• TAG Information Sessions will be held at 6:30 pm each night

AP Night• Monday, February 6th at 6:30 pm

High School Tour Field Trip • Thursday, March 8th at 9:00 am

What to expect: Ways to Get Involved

Clubs– Beta– Speech / Debate– Fencing– Equestrian– Student Council– Math Club– Environmental Club– FBLA– FCA– Raider Ambassadors– Key Club

– Friend’s Club– Habitat for Humanity– Medical Club– Students Against

Destructive Decisions (SADD)

– National Honors Society– Drama– Science Olympiad– French Club– and many more…

What to expect: Ways to Get InvolvedAthletics (AAAAAA)

• Baseball• Basketball• Cheerleading• Cross Country• Football• Golf• Ice Hockey• Lacrosse

• Soccer• Softball • Swimming & Diving• Tennis• Track• Volleyball• Wrestling

What to expect: Athletic Eligibility

• All students entering the 9th grade in the Fall of 2012 are immediately eligible for the fall semester

• Coaches will look at the student’s 8th grade grades and discipline to determine if they want the student on their team

• To participate in any sport, the student must pass 5 out of 6 courses the preceding semester – summer school is considered an extension of spring semester

• All athletes must be on track to graduate at the beginning of each school year

• Remember: STUDENT comes first in STUDENT-ATHLETE

What to expect: Ways to Get Involved

Student-Centered Arts• Marching Band• Color Guard• Jazz Band• Symphonic Band• Show Choir• Choral Ensembles• Orchestra• Chamber Orchestra• Drama & Musical Theater

Making the Most of Your Student’s High School Years

High School Success• Good Attendance is essential• Proper Placement in classes• Completing Homework• Studying• Being organized (Keep an agenda)• Seeking help when needed• Getting involved

The End

Q & A

AHS website:www.ahsraiders.comIt is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity or service.

See you See you Next Year!Next Year!

Guided Tours of AHS- Raider Ambassadors

Activities Fair- Main Hallway