Lake Highlands High School Class of 2021 Sophomore

Lake Highlands High School Class of 2021 Sophomore Guidance SET YOUR COURSE…

Meet your Counselors… A-Bri Brj-Der Des-Gile Gilf-Jai Jaj-Mar Mas-Oro Orp-Roc Rod-Tha Thb-Z Patty Mc. Kay Marianna Hogue Shameka Brackens Rhonda Boston Culus Williams Kelly Wallace Judy London-Young Joycelyn Anderson Maggie Karnowski

Other counselors you need to know… College/Career Coordinator Robin Finklea Student Assistance Janice Counselor Eichelberger Intervention Specialist Quincy Ham

When you need to see your counselor… 1. Find a poster that looks like this: 2. Using a QR reader app on your phone, scan your counselor’s QR code. 3. Answer the questions on the Google form from your cell phone & click “Submit. ”

If you don’t have a QR reader or a cell phone… … there are instructions in the counseling office on how to download a QR reader app to your phone. and … there is a laptop in the counseling office you may use to request an appointment with your counselor. You can also use Snap. Chat as a QR reader

Every SOPHOMORE should know that. . . • • • Your SOPHOMORE year counts!!! • • • Self-reliance & personal initiative are important. • Get Organized!!! Use a planner or organizational device! Pass your classes. ATTEND Your Classes. You are building workplace skills. Stay on course for graduation! You must meet deadlines!!!!!! How do you manage your time? ? ?

Check your grades and attendance frequently… Go to: https: //focus. risd. org By default, your Focus username and password is the same as your RISD network username and password. Your username typically consists of the first initial of your first name, plus the first initial of your last name, plus your sixdigit student I. D. number. For example: jd 123456 Focus usernames are not case-sensitive, so you can enter all letters in lowercase. Focus passwords are case-sensitive, so if your password contains uppercase letters, they must be entered as uppercase letters when you log in. If your password includes a space at the beginning and/or at the end, it will not work with Focus. … For assistance see a librarian …

Graduation Requirements Credits Attendance Staar EOC Tests

How many credits do you need to be a … Sophomore Junior 12 Senior 6 18 to Graduate 26

Alternative Ways to Earn Credit Summer School Night School Online Courses Virtual School Dual Credit

Attendance • Texas state Law requires that you must be in attendance 90% of the time to receive credit for the class. • Which means if you have more than 9 absences, you may not receive credit for your class(es). • Notes must be turned into the main office within 3 days of an absence in order for it to be excused. However, even an excused absence counts toward the 9.

STAAR EOC Tests State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness The STAAR program emphasizes “readiness” standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the grade or subject that follows and for college and career. 9 th Grade English 1 Algebra 1 Biology 10 th Grade English 2 11 th Grade US History

It’s not too early to start planning for what you will do after you graduate! College? Career? Military?

Use this college planning tool to help you prepare for college…

Exams for College • PSAT/NMSQT Taken in the fall of 9 th, 10 th, 11 th grade • ACT and SAT College entrance exams taken Spring of 11 th --may retake fall of 12 th • AP Exams Taken in May of the year you take course • TSI Assessment Spring or summer of 12 th if needed (may be exempted based on other test scores)

Free Lunch Application • Students who are eligible for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program are also eligible for: 1. 2. 3. 4. Fee Waivers for both the SAT and ACT Tests College Admission Fee Waivers A fee reduction for AP tests Students are also eligible for reduced summer school fees • Parents MUST apply for the Federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program EACH year in order for their children to be eligible. • Parents can also apply at www. schoollunchapp. com

GPA – Grade Point Average • GPA is the cumulative average of your semester grades for each class. It is recalculated after each full semester (not summer). • Currently, RISD calculates rank on both a 100 point scale and a weighted 5. 0 scale. • Existing class rank was removed from Naviance on the first day of school, August 20, 2018. • All students will receive their GPA in Naviance at the conclusion of the school year, following the Spring 2019 semester. • Quality points will remain the same with AP worth 10 points and all other Dual Credit, On. Ramps, Pre-AP and Honors courses will be work 5 points.

RISD FREE College Credit Options Course Registration for the 2019 -2020 School Year will begin in January 2019. Look for upcoming College/Career Readiness January Parent Sessions for more information to get started!

Top 10% Rule for College Admission • Students who are in the top 10% of their senior class will automatically be admitted to a Texas public school • Exception—UT Austin--6% • Many schools have automatic admissions between 15 -25% • If you are not automatically admitted, that does NOT mean you are automatically denied, they just look at more information

What do colleges look at besides GPA and test scores? Extracurricular Activities Employment Talents Summer Programs Internships Awards and Honors Community Service

Community Service is becoming more and more important in determining college admissions and scholarships… RISD Service Learning Award Students who complete 60 hours of community service in grades 9 -12 including 30 hours their senior year will receive the service learning award. ➢ Some clubs and organizations at Lake Highlands High School have a community service component. ➢ Hours do not have to be completed in connection with a school organization in order to earn credit for the Service Learning Award.

Things you need to know about bullying… • A single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power. • It involves written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct (which occurs in situations over which the school has jurisdiction) and • Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property; • Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; • Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or (iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school; and includes cyberbullying.

If YOU are being bullied: 1. Make sure you are safe. 2. Tell a trusted adult –Staff Member, teacher, administrator, counselor. 3. Do not wait to report.

Staying Connected & Being Successful at LHHS • Counselor Webpage: https: //schools. risd. org/domain/2013 • Check your grades and attendance frequently on Focus. • LHHS PTA link: http: //www. lhhspta. org/ • Wildcat Weekly-to receive weekly Wildcat e. News via email; send an email to: lhhs-subscribe@listserver. risd. org • Follow the counselors on Twitter @LHHS_Counselors. – Teacher/Staff email: first. last@risd. org – See your teachers for tutoring times.

Naviance Log into Naviance to obtain your GPA (refer to your Naviance login instructions). Complete the 10 th grade Naviance tasks: 1. Take the What is the Game Plan Survey 2. Use the Super. Match college search to find the best fit colleges. 3. Start the Resume Builder.

Class of 2021 GO WILDCATS!! Add survey link here