Kingwood High School Welcomes The Class of 2014

Kingwood High School Welcomes The Class of 2014

What will Kingwood High School offer you? • New opportunities • New responsibilities • New challenges • New privileges • Mustang Spirit

How do you decide which classes to take? • • • HISD Course Guide Course Request Card Power. Point Presentation Group Conference with KHS Counselors Individual Conferences with KHS Counselor for 4 year plan & registration

Why are there 2 course sheets? • • White practice copy “Official” blue card -Teachers recommend core class & Spanish 2 (if you are in Spanish 1) levels - You choose other 3 classes

How do you complete your blue course sheet? • Select 7 total credits • A combination of semester-long &/or year-long courses • 2 alternate courses • Parent signature

Course English – 4 credits Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 English III English IV World Geography World History U. S. History Government/Economics Math – 4 credits Science – 4 credits Social Studies/Eco – 4 credits Foreign Language 2 or 3 credits* *The Distinguished Achievement Program requires a third year of foreign language and four advanced measures.

What is in the High School Course Guide? • • • Graduation Requirements Recommended Course Placement Award of Credit Grade Point Explanation Policies & Procedures Course Descriptions

What happens when? KHS Counselors work with you on 4 -Year Plans @: • CMS: Feb. 3 • RMS: Feb. 1 Course Selection Sheets Due: • CMS- Feb. 10 • RMS- Feb. 10 Meet with KHS Counselors about course selections: • CMS Feb. 12 • RMS Feb. 12

What classes do you need to graduate? • 4 years each of: English, Math, Science & Social Studies • 2 years of one Foreign Language • 1 semester of Communication Applications (Speech) • 2 semesters of PE/Athletics/Substitute • 1 year of a Fine Art • 5. 5 credits of electives

How do you earn credits? • You earn a credit for each semester of a course that you pass. – Semester credit – Grade Averaging credit

What are GPA & Class Rank & why do they matter? Colleges use your GPA & Rank in their admissions decisions. It counts as soon as you begin 9 th grade! • GPA = Grade Point Average Grade points are assigned based on the level of your classes: honors, level, modified. • Class rank comes from your GPA. Every grade is part of your GPA & your GPA determines your class rank. NOTE: Classes taken in 8 th grade for high school credit do not go into GPA or rank (Algebra 1 & Spanish 1)

Who can give you advice about choosing classes? Your: • • Parents Teachers Counselor College Admissions Counselor

English • English 1: – Level – Pre. AP – Gifted and Talented Both Pre. AP & GT earn honors grade points. Additional requirements: English 2 - 4

Math • Requirements: – – Algebra 1 – no Honors available Geometry, Level or Honors Algebra 2, Level or Honors An additional upper level math like Algebra 3, Pre. Calculus, AP Statistics, Calculus

Science • ALL freshmen take Biology (Level or Honors) • Additional requirements for graduation: – Chemistry – Physics – An additional 4 th lab science

Social Studies • ALL freshmen take World Geography (Level or Honors) • Additional requirements: – – World History, Level or Honors US History, Level or AP Government (. 5 credit) Level, Honors or AP Economics (. 5 credit) Level, Honors or AP

Languages Other Than English 2 years of one Language are required • • • Spanish 1 through 5 French 1 through 4 German 1 through 4 Latin 1 through 4 American Sign Language 1 through 3 * DAP requires 3 years – not 2 * Most offered as Level, Honors & AP (2 – 5) & Dual Credit (3 – 5).

Fine Arts One year required • • • Art Theater Arts Band Choir Orchestra Dance

Electives 5. 5 credits required • any state credited courses not required for graduation: – – – Technology Applications Business Management & Admin. Family & Consumer Science Agriculture Architecture & Construction Additional courses in any required subject area – And many more!

NJROTC Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps • Navy Science 1 – 4 for freshman through senior year • Focuses on: leadership, citizenship, maritime heritage • Participate in: community service, drill competition, marksmanship & military training

AVID • • • (Advancement via Individual Determination) prepare for college eligibility & success take advanced classes counts as elective & speech credit must take 1 Honors course open to incoming 9 th graders

Why take Honors/AP classes? • • think, read & write critically & analytically college success additional grade points possible college credit

Who does well in Honors/Pre-AP classes? Students who are: • Self-motivated, hard-working & who enjoy academic challenge & rigor • Capable of success with challenging material presented at a faster pace • Willing to take assignments beyond basic requirements • Able to have time to devote & still be kids!

Should you take Honors/Pre-AP classes? • Yes, if you currently have at least § 80 in Honors Classes § 90 in Level Classes • Honors to level & level to honors schedule changes happen only at: § § Three (3) weeks Six (6) weeks Semester May change your other classes

Is there a lot of homework? • Level classes: – Approximately 30 minutes per class every night • Honors/AP classes: – Approximately 45 minutes per class every night

What if I change my mind? • Change requests: – Turn in to current Counselor with parent signature. • No changes will be made after the last day of school.

What Comes Next? • Lots of options! – Dual Credit – International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program – Special Courses • There are many programs offered to you through HISD. Please review your High School Course Guide to begin planning what you will take in future years.