High School 101

WELCOMERiver Hill High School

National Blue Ribbon School

PrincipalWilliam Ryan

Our Mission

The mission of River Hill High School is to provide a personalized, high-

quality education that connects academic excellence to real-life

experiences. Our staff, students, parents, and community members

will collaboratively model core values essential to a diverse and

democratic society.

Our Goals

• Goal 1: River Hill will meet state standards set by the year 2006 and eliminate all achievement gaps by ensuring that all student subgroups meet state standards by 2007.

• Goal 2: River Hill teachers will design high quality, hands-on, differentiated implementing the Howard County essential curriculum while emphasizing real life applications.

• Goal 3: River Hill teachers will communicate and collaborate with parents to establish a strong partnership to foster each students growth.

• Goal 4: River Hill teachers will convey a sense of caring and model core values so that students believe that teachers share a stake in student learning.

National Blue Ribbon School

• Outstanding student performance

• Highly accomplished staff

• Fantastic parental involvement

• Award winning co-curricular and extra-curricular programs

Web Presence

William_Ryan@hcpss.org

(All staff follow the same algorithm)

www.hcpss.org/rhhs

Our website

www.eschoolnewsletter.com

Weekly Principal’s Update

Scheduling

Assistant PrincipalDr. John DiPaula

Scheduling Timeline

• Course selection sheets must be returned to the respective middle school (January).

• High School counselors input requests into system (February).

• Students receive a printout of confirming their 7 requested courses (March 4, 2009).

• Master schedule is built based on student requests and staffing (March / April).

• If there are conflicts (usually not many for freshmen) counselors contact students to resolve (April - June).

• Students receive a copy of their 7 confirmed classes (May 27, 2009).

• Student schedules are mailed home (August 1, 2009).

Policy 8010

Any student in grade 8 must meet the following requirements or automatically be considered for retention:

• A student must pass all courses and receive a final grade of not lower than “C” in the core subjects (English, social studies, reading, math, and science).

• A student who does not meet this requirement may be recommended to attend summer school.

Policy 8010

• A student who is below grade level in reading and/or math at the end of the 8th grade (as shown on the student’s report card) will be required to participate in appropriate interventions such as summer school and/or designated reading and/or math intervention courses in 9th grade.

Guidance

Mr. Phil VangeliMr. Phil Vangeli

Guidance Counselors

• Danny Ives A - Do

• Annette Jackson Dr - J

• Marianne Pizzo K - N

• Phil Vangeli O - R

• Kareef Overton S – Z

• Neyda Moulier Newcomers

Question 1:

What are the graduation requirements for the Class of 2013?

Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2013

Career Preparation

Service Learning

Credit Requirements

High School Assessments

Credit Requirements

English 4 credits Health1/2 credit

Social Studies 3 credits Fine Arts 1 credit

Math 3 credits Tech Ed 1 credit

Science 3 credits Program Choice2 - 4 credits

Lifetime Fitness1/2 credit Electives

1 - 3 credits

2 credits

2 credits

4 credits

ForeignLanguage

AdvancedTechnology

Career &TechnologyCompleter

Program Choice

or or

Algebra

Biology

American Government

English

High School AssessmentsStudents must score a total of 1602 on the four exams.

Four Year Plan

Mock Interview

ResumeCareer

Preparation

Service Learning• 75 hours of service which

includes planning, action, and reflection

• Most HCPSS students complete in middle school

•12 merit courses

•3.0 GPA

MeritMerit with

Honors

Merit with

Distinction

Certificate of Merit

•15 merit courses

•1 GT/AP

•3.4 GPA

•15 merit courses

•3 GT/AP

•3.75 GPA

Question 2:

What are the Career Academy options?

Career Academy Programs

• Architecture and Engineering

• Biotechnology and Health Services

• Business and Entrepreneurship

• Culinary Arts and Hotel Management

• Energy, Power and Transportation

• Multimedia Arts and Technology

• Human Resources

Question 3:

How does my child select classes?

Teacher makes course

recommendation

The Course Selection Process

Student take course request

form home

Parent reviews, signs, and

returns

Middle school counselor reviews

and sends to high school

Question 4:

What is the parent’s role in course selection?

3. Encourage your child to take the most rigorous courses while enjoying other aspects of high school.

1. Talk with your child about goals for the next four years.

2. Review course recommendations and make the best decision for your child.

Question 5:

What is the typical academic schedule for a 9th grade student?

English 9

U.S. History

Mathematics

Science

Health/ Lifetime Fitness

World Language

Fine Art or Tech Ed

A Typical 9th Grade Schedule

Question 6 :

What does the high school schedule look like?

High School Schedule

Start End Class Time

Period 1 7:25 8:15 50 minutes

Period 2 8:20 9:10 50 minutes

Period 3 9:15 10:05 50 minutes

Period 4A and 4B

10:10 12:25Includes

30 minute lunch

Period 5 12:25 1:15 50 minutes

Period 6 1:20 2:10 50 minutes

Question 7 :

What are weighted and unweighted grade point averages?

Unweighted Grade Point Average

• Add the quality points for each course

A = 4 points

B = 3 points

C = 2 points

D = 1 point

E = 0 points

• Divide by the number of credits attempted.

Weighted Grade Point Average

Weighted GPA is used for college admissions and scholarship applications only.

Grade Standard Honors GT/AP

A 4.0 4.5 5.0

B 3.0 3.5 4.0

C 2.0 2.5 3.0

D 1.0 1.0 1.0

E 0 0 0

Question 8:What is the attendance

policy for high school students?

• All students are expected to attend regularly in accordance with public school laws.

• Any student with unlawful absences of more than 5% of the course may be considered for denial of credit.

Question 9:

What is academic eligibility?

• Governs student participation in all voluntary extracurricular activities.

• Student must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and no failing grades for the marking period prior to the start of the activity.

• All incoming 9th graders are academically eligible for fall extracurricular activities.

Question 10:

What are some other important aspects of high school?

Extracurricular

Activities

Athletic Teams

School Clubs

Cheerleading/Dance/Poms

School PlaysMusicals

Service Clubs

Class Boards

9th Grade Team Leader

Mrs. Jaime MunfordMrs. Jaime Munford

Ninth Grade Team

• 9th Grade Wing

• Team Members– 20 Teachers – including 1 Special Education– 1 Instructional Assistant– Administrator– Guidance Counselor

Why 9th Grade Teams?

• Data – GPA of 9th Graders

• National trend to break High Schools down into smaller workable groups

• Interdisciplinary teaching and planning

• Seamless transition from Middle Level to High School

Transition is a process…..

…..NOT an Event!

Orientations

• January RHHS staff visit middle schools

• June Annual RHHS Student Life Expo

• June 3 Middle school students visit RHHS

• August 9th Grade Orientation Day

• September Back-To-School Night

Activities

• August 9th Grade Dance

• September Back to School Dance

• Sept/Oct Homecoming

• January Midterm Exams

• March/April HSA Extended Day Program

• June 9th Grade Awards

• June Final Exams

• Ongoing Data Discussions and suggestions for student support

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. BE PREPARED FOR THE SCHEDULE!

2. AS PARENTS…. STAY INVOLVED IN THE SCHEDULING PROCESS!

3. GET INVOLVED IN EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES!