Sophomore Parent/Student MeetingThursday, August 28, 2014

Academic Basics : A Review• Graduation Requirements – 22 credits

– 4 English – 1 each year

– 4 Math – 1 each year

– 3 Science – freshman, sophomore, junior years

– 3 Social Studies – sophomore, junior, senior years

– 1 Fine Arts – any year

– ½ Health – freshman year

– ½ Physical Education – freshman year

– 6 Electives – all years

Academic Basics : A Review• Pre-College Curriculum

– Graduation Requirements

– 2+ years of same foreign language

• Highlands High School Advanced Curriculum – Pre-College Curriculum

– 10 Advanced Level Courses (these can be Advanced or AP) minimum

– 2 AP Courses minimum

– Minimum GPA of 3.75

Academic Basics : A Review• Major of Intensive Study

– Pre-College Curriculum

– Four courses in the intended area of study with a minimum grade of B/85

– Completion of Senior Seminar Course

• AP Capstone – Pre-College Curriculum

– Complete the AP Seminar/English II Course

– Complete the AP Seminar/Senior Seminar Course

– Four or more additional AP courses

Academic Basics : A Review• Credits for Promotion

– Freshman Sophomore Year = 5 cumulative credits earned

– Sophomore Junior Year = 10 cumulative credits earned

– Junior Senior Year = 16 cumulative credits earned

– Senior Graduation = 22 credits

Academic Basics : A Review• The Transcript

– Grades and credits earned through each year of high school

– Semester grades for each course taken

– Attendance Record

• Test Scores – Plan, PSAT, ACT, SAT, AP– Test scores are not on the transcript

– Must be sent to colleges and scholarships from the testing agency

Schedule Planning• Core Courses

– All students have to take a base of core courses

– Levels will vary by student

• Electives– All student have to take a variety of elective courses

– Choose courses where there is an interest (not necessarily your future career)

• Appropriate Level– Can’t OR Won’t?

Schedule Planning• Vocational School

– Grades 11 & 12 only

– Need to start thinking about early (have you had your fine arts?)

– Sign up at end of sophomore year - when scheduling

– 3 courses at Highlands/ 3 courses at McCormick

– MUST take Fine Arts elective as freshman or sophomore

– MUST be diligent about passing courses

• Areas of study: Autobody Repair, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Health Sciences, Masonry, Welding

College PlanningWhere Do I Begin???

College Fairs• National College Fair

– Sunday, Sept. 14

– 1:00-4:00pm

– Duke Energy Center

• Regional College Fair– Tuesday, Sept. 23

– 6:00-8:00pm

– NKU

• Visual and Performing Arts College Fair– Monday, Oct. 13

– 7:00-9:00pm

– Xavier University

Websites to Help the Search• Naviance

– Students have a log in

– Parents have a log in

• www.collegeboard.com

• www.actstudent.org

• www.kheaa.com

Testing• Plan Test

– Thursday, September 18

– No cost

• PSAT – Wednesday, October 15

– $14 (payable to HHS)

• On Demand – KPrep– Late May

• End of Course Assessments – EOC– English II – all sophomores

– Biology – all sophomores

– Algebra II – some sophomores

– US History – all juniors

– Late May

• ACT– Possibly in the Spring if you choose

– Register at www.actstudent.org

– $38 – without writing

– $54.50 – with writing

Benchmarks• What is a “benchmark” and why do my kids keep talking

about them?

The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses.

Benchmarks

College Course

ACT Subject-Area Test

ACT Explore® Benchmark Grade 8

ACT Plan® Benchmark

The ACT® Benchmark

English Composition English 13 15 18

College Algebra

Mathematics 17 19 22

Social Sciences Reading 16 18 22

Biology Science 18 20 23

What Should I Be Doing Now?ACADEMICALLY

• Refine your route: Look ahead to which 11th and 12th grade courses you might be interested in taking and plan to work on any prerequisites.

• Challenge yourself, but wisely: Create a balanced schedule. You want to strive for the best possible grades, but overtaxing yourself is bound to be counterproductive. Stressed-out brains don't work well. 

• The Junior Year Transcript is what gets you admitted to college.

What Should I Be Doing Now?OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

• Participate in clubs, sports, activities, community service, jobs. It’s quality and not necessarily quantity.– “It's better to be involved in fewer activities wholeheartedly over time,

rather than 9 or 10 superficially."

• Put together a resume: Note your hobbies, jobs and extracurricular activities. For now, it's just a way to keep track. USE NAVIANCE!

What Should I Be Doing Now?PERSONALLY

• What Do You Like?

• What Are You Good At?– Complete some interest inventories online

– Naviance

– CollegeBoard

– ACT

What Should I Be Doing Now?• College Visits

• Summer Programs– Governor’s School for the Arts

– Check Guidance Website and College Websites for programs

• Enrichment Activities

• College Research – complete a college match (Naviance & CollegeBoard)– Where?

– Size?

– Academics

– Activities/Athletics

What are colleges looking for in an applicant?• Challenging Schedule

• Grades

• Standardized Test Scores

• Extracurricular Activities

• Application Essay

• Letters of Recommendation

• Other Factors – majors, auditions, socio-economic, etc.

What’s the “general” process?• The short answer:

– Submit application

– Submit test scores

– Submit transcript

– Submit additional materials

– Essay

– Letters of Recommendation

All schools are different so follow their instructions and ask lots of questions.

How Am I Going to Pay for This?• KEES $$

– www.kheaa.com

– Academic Common Market

• Scholarships– Unfortunately there is no “one place” for all scholarship information

– Naviance for local scholarships

– University based scholarships

– National scholarships

• Loans

What it Boils Down To…• Get Good Grades

• Take Academically Appropriate and Rigorous Courses

• Take College Admissions Tests – Prep if Needed

• Research, Research, Research

• Participate

• Enjoy Your High School Experience!

Reminders• Stay in contact with the Guidance Department :

– Guidance Website

– www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School Quick Links Guidance Department

– Naviance

– www.fortthomas.kyschools.us Highlands High School Quick Links HHS Naviance

– Twitter

– @hhs_go

– Remind Text Messages

– Text @08617 to (616) 723-9589

Questions?Trinity Walshtrinity.walsh@fortthomas.kyschools.us859.815.2605

Laura Schnitzlerlaura.Schnitzler@fortthomas.kyschools.us

859.815.2622

*email will likely get you a quicker response.