These students are a wealth of

information and a great resource to

get help from. It is their job to be

aware of the students in their group

who are struggling and seek solutions

for them.

9th grade students need to speak to

their teachers and make sure that

they know when they are available

for help during Wildcat Hour.

We also have National Honor

Society students available for

tutoring in the media center every

day during both halves of Wildcat

Hour. These students are experts in a

number of subjects and a great

resource for 9th graders.

Parents we have many opportunities

for our freshman to improve their

grades and get assistance for classes

in which they struggle. It is very

important that we work together as a

community of learners to make these

students aware of all of these great

supports designed to enhance their

success.

Parents please do not hesitate to call

or email your child’s teacher,

counselor, or administrator when

there is a concern. We want our new

Wildcats to be a part of our

continued success at Arundel High

School.

Sincerely,

Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald

Assistant Principal

Parents,

Our commitment as a 9th

Grade Academy is to utilize a

team approach to develop a strong

community of learners focused on

academic achievement. We want to

assist every ninth grader in making

the transition to high school

academic standards, expectations and

procedures. At the same time, it is

our goal to have every student

prepared to take advanced placement

and rigorous courses while they

attend Arundel High School to

prepare them for the ever changing

world that awaits them after

graduation.

As we enter the second half

of the second marking period, I’d

like to bring you up to date on the

progress of our ninth grade class (aka

Class of 2017). Here are some

numbers that we use to assess our

progress and make decisions as we

move forward:

Total students in the 9th grade = 511

9th grade Overall GPA = 2.92

9th grade Males GPA = 2.76

9th grade Females GPA = 3.08

Discipline referrals for

September and October = 20

We are very proud of our

overall achievement of our 9th grade

class. They are off to a great start.

However as an organization, we need

to look deeper into the data

that is available with regard to our

students. We also found some areas

of need that we would like to share

with you and also make you aware of

how we intend to help our students

succeed. Here are our main concerns:

122 9th grade students failed a

total of 222 classes

61 students failed a Science

class

27 students failed an English

class

24 students failed a Social

Studies class

43 students failed a Math class

Our first priority is making sure that

all of these students understand that

they can still pass these courses if

they work harder during 2nd marking

period. They must pass the second

marking period and pass the final

exam. We ask that you share the

following information with your 9th

grade student to support them and get

them on the right track.

Start by reminding them of the

importance of using their Wildcat

Hour appropriately, and make sure

that they are filling out their WCH

matrix sheets and turning them into

their CATS teachers weekly.

9th grade students need to talk to

their AMPs (Arundel Mentors) about

classes that they need help with.

9th Grade Academy News

Calendar of Events December December 5 & 6 It’s A Wonderful Life Play, 7 p.m., Auditorium

December 7 S.A.T.

December 7 It’s A Wonderful Life Play, 2 AND 7 p.m., Auditorium

December 10 8th

Parent Articulation Night, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium

December 10 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102

December 11 Athletic Boosters Meeting, 7 p.m., Media

December 12 Winter Music Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium

December 13 Interims Distributed

December 13 Arundel S.W.A.T. Performance, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium

December 14 Craft Fair, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

December 16 – 20 Science Fair, During The School Day, Media

December 17 Parent Teacher Conferences, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m., Cafeteria & Media

December 17 – 20 2nd

Semester Senior Parking Permit Application Distribution During WCH,

Café Lobby

December 23 – January 1 School & Office Closed

January 2014 January 2 School Opens For Teachers and Students

January 7 – 9 High School Assessment Administration

January 7 PSAT/AP Potential Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium & Cafeteria

January 8 Boosters Meeting, 7 p.m., Media

January 11 Coffee With The Principal, 9 a.m., Media

January 14 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102

January 16 Dance Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium

January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Commemoration, School & Office Closed

January 21 – 24 High School Semester Exams, 2 Hour Early Dismissal

January 21 – 24 2nd

Semester Parking Permit Pick Up During WCH, Cafeteria Lobby,

21st (A – H), 22

nd (I – Q), 23

rd (R – Z), 24

th (all)

January 22 & 23 Mandatory Parking Meeting For First Time Parking Permits,

12:30 p.m., Cafeteria

January 24 End Of Marking Period

January 25 S.A.T.

January 27 & 28 School Closed For Students

January 29 Begin 3rd

Marking Period

February February 6 Report Card Distribution

February 6 Instrumental Music Feeder Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium

February 11 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102

February 12 Professional Development, 2 Hour Early Dismissal

February 12 Booster Meeting, 7 p.m., Media

February 13 2015 Class Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Media

February 17 Presidents Day, School & Office Closed

February 21 Arundel’s Got Talent, 7 p.m., Auditorium

February 26 Senior After Prom Parent Meeting, 6 p.m., Media

February 27 Arundel S.W.A.T. (Improv) Show, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium

SCHEDULING CLASSES FOR 2014-2015

December 10 – 6:30 PM Parent/Student Scheduling Information Night for Arundel & Crofton Middle Schools

at Arundel High School

December 11-13 – Arundel counselors will meet individually with Arundel Middle School students and

Sheets will go home for parent signature to be returned by December 19th.

January 9 – 6:30 PM Information Night for Arundel High Parents of rising 10th-12th grades on scheduling, AP

Potential, AP Panel (Student and Parent), AP and honors elective courses and global signature Program.

January 14 – Arundel counselors will meet individually with Crofton Middle school students.

February 18 – March 14- Counselors will meet individually with Arundel High Students. Course Selection

Sheets will go home for parent signature and returned to English teacher by the next English class.

EVENING WITH THE COUNSELORS – January 9 3 – 6 PM

Counselors will be available to answer questions about graduation requirements, college, scholarships and

any concerns you would like to discuss. Please note that staffing for the evening hours is done on a

rotating basis, so please confirm which evening your counselor will be working.

FINANCIAL AID – FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms can be accessed at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For

members of the class of 2014, FAFSA applications can be submitted beginning 1/1/14. Please note that the

deadline is 3/1/14 for Maryland colleges and universities. We recommend that all FAFSA’s should be in by

2/15/14. You can get assistance with filling out the FAFSA on our website.

SCHOLARSHIPS

It is never too early or too late to start looking for scholarship opportunities! Seniors: please check out

Arundel High School’s new scholarship blog, which will be updated regularly with new scholar-

ships. http://arundelscholarships.edublogs.org

Mr. Wilhelm is in the College and Career Center Tuesday thru Friday during Wildcat Hour to assist you in

searching colleges and scholarships!

NCAA Clearinghouse

Seniors expecting to play NCAA Division I or Division II college athletics MUST be certified by the NCAA

Clearinghouse. Please visit www.ncaa.org for more details on the certification process. This process

should start at the end of your junior year.

SCHOOL COUNSELING STAFF

Ms. Heck A-Dam

Mrs. Thomas Dan-Hog

Mrs. Young Hoh-Men (9th and 10th grade)

Mr. Wilhelm Hoh-Men (9th and 10th grade)

Mr. Diggs Meo-Scp

Mrs. Smith Scq-Z

Mrs. Sears School Counseling Secretary

Mrs. Roos School Registrar

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Now is the time to apply for summer internships, enrichment classes and workshops. These can be great

opportunities to explore a wide variety of interests like engineering, medicine and fine arts. Please visit

our website for more information.

GRADUATION BANNERS

The school counseling office is selling graduation banners as a fundraiser to benefit our program at

Arundel High School. The cost of the banner is $35. The banners will be posted in the hallway to honor

your graduating senior during the last quarter of the school year. Order forms are attached to this

newsletter and also posted to our website. Please return completed forms and fee to Ms. Sears by March

3rd.

NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE

We hope you will check out our website at www. arundelhigh.org> counseling office

Senior Banners

Celebrate your senior’s accomplishments with an Arundel High School Banner. They

will be displayed in the halls for the fourth marking period and given to the student to

keep at the end of the school year.

ORDER FORM

Student Name: ______________________________________

Phone Number: ______________________________________

Senior Picture Included: _________Yes __________ No

Line 1: ARUNDEL HIGH SCHOOL

Line 2: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________

Line 3: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________

Line 4: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________

Please enclose check for $35 payable to Arundel High School. Take order form and

check to the School Counseling Office. Last day to order: March 3, 2014

Questions: Call 410-672-4921

Invisible Children Week (Nov. 4-8) here at Arundel was a huge success. The student body raised

$275, which means are a little over 10% of the way to our ultimate goal of $2500 to help buy an

early-warning radio tower to thwart the LRA's efforts to abduct children and force them into slavery as

child brides and soldiers. Please stay posted for upcoming events and contact Mrs. Lange

(elange@aacps.org) to make a donation or for any fundraising ideas/suggestions!

Mrs. Erin Lange

Social Studies Teacher

Varsity Swim Team Coach

Class of 2016 Co-Advisor

Invisible Children Advisor

Arundel High School

1001 Annapolis Road

Gambrills, MD 21054

410-674-6500

The Chamber Choir is performing at the Assisted Living Center

right out on Annapolis Road on Friday, December 13 at 12

noon. They will leave the school at 11:20.

The play is December 4-6. Thursday, Friday at 7 and Saturday at 2 and 7 in the AHS auditorium. Admission is $5 for students and children as well as for AHS employees and $8 for General Admission. We have an Improv Show (Arundel S.W.A.T.) on 12/13 in the AHS auditorium at 6:30; admission is $5 a person.

Jennifer Dietrich

Theatre Director

Media Productions Teacher

Arundel High School

Dear Parents,

The scheduling process for the 2014-2015 school year will begin during the month of

December for incoming 9th graders and January for current Arundel High students. As you work

with your student to make selections for the 2014-2015 school year, I want to remind you of

the goals and values at Arundel High School. The school’s goal is to have every student enroll

in an Honors/Advanced Placement course and to be successful on the AP exam by achieving a

3 or better on the AP exam. Arundel values “high expectations and rigor” and this can be

reflected by the courses you choose for the upcoming school year. Students should be pushing

themselves to take the higher level course when they have been successful at the current level.

Your students’ commitment to challenge themselves and persevere will serve you well as you

move on to college.

We will be working with incoming 9th grade students to schedule for ninth grade for the

upcoming school year during the month December for Arundel Middle school students and

during January for Crofton Middle students. Incoming ninth graders will receive a course

selection sheet and Arundel High Program of Study from their English teachers. Middle school

teachers will make recommendations for what courses students should take. Then, Arundel

High counselors will meet with incoming ninth grade students to select appropriate courses

and electives. Middle school students will bring home a printout of what courses the student

selected with their counselors. Parents are to sign the sheet and return it to the middle school.

If you have any concerns or comments, please write a note on the printout and counselors will

follow up with the concerns.

For upperclassmen, on January 3rd, the scheduling process for the 2014-2015 school year will

begin. Upperclassmen will receive a course selection sheet and Arundel High Program of

Study from their English teachers. High school teachers in core classes will make

recommendations online for what courses students should take for the upcoming school year.

In February, Arundel High counselors will meet with the students to select appropriate courses

and electives. Students will bring home a printout of the courses the student selected with

their counselors. Parents are to sign the sheet and return it to the high school. If you have any

concerns or comments, please write a note on the printout and counselors will follow up with

the concerns.

In the spring, Arundel High School will send home another copy of the course selection for

students and parents to verify. If there are any concerns or comments, please write a note on

the printout and return it to the school. Otherwise, we will assume the selected courses are

acceptable.

Please take a moment to review the timeline for scheduling process:

2014-15 Scheduling Information

Articulation and Scheduling Calendar

2014-2015

Middle School Articulation Schedule

December 10th Arundel and Crofton Middle School Parent Information Night at 6:30 pm,

Auditorium

December 10-12th Arundel High Counselors meet with Arundel Middle Students

December 19th All forms from Arundel Middle schools need to be returned and forms need to be

signed by parents

January 14th Arundel High counselors meet with Crofton Middle School Students

January 21st All forms from Crofton Middle schools need to be returned and forms need to be

signed by parents

High School Articulation Schedule

January 6th Scheduling Information (Registration Forms and Arundel’s Program of Study)

distributed and discussed in CATS for upperclassmen

January 7th Parent Night-Course Selection, AP Potential, AP Panel (Student and Parent) DC

and Teachers Display Information for AP and Honor Elective Courses, Global

Signature Program at 6:30 pm

January 10th Course/Elective Fair – Gym, during Wildcat Hour

January 14th CATS teachers will collect course selection forms

February 18th Counselors begin to meet with students in library to discuss recommendations,

course selections and electives

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