Welcome OTMS to Ridgeland High School Home of

Welcome OTMS to Ridgeland High School Home of the Titans

RHS Administrators and Counselors Principal Mr. Eric Brooks Assistant Principals Mr. Jonathan Anderson Mr. Teague Burchfield Mrs. Carla Ray School Website www. rhstitans. com Counselors (By Last Name) Mrs. Tiffany Mc. Kinnon Mrs. Selena Henry Mr. James Berry A-G H-O P-Z

So what should you know about being a student at Ridgeland High School ?

What courses will you need to take next year at RHS?

Required courses for all 9 th graders: Your first 5 class periods will be used to take: 1. English (English I or Accelerated English I) 2. Math (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II) 3. Science (Intro to Biology, Physical Science, or Biology I) 4. History (all 9 th students take Miss Studies/World Geography) 5. Technology (all 9 students take Freshman Focus or a Career Academy) th Then you select the remaining 3 class periods from 6. “Elective” course(s) 7. “Elective” course(s) 8. “Elective” course(s)

So, tell me about the 3 “Technology” courses 9 th graders can choose from? • Freshman Focus • Orientation to Culinary Art • Engineering Fundamentals Each 9 th grader will choose one of these three classes. Technology classes require only 1 class period in your schedule!

Freshman Focus is a class designed to introduce 9 th grade students to career pathways and career decision-making. The content areas that will be covered by this class include self-development, career clusters, career pathways, college planning, financial planning, and presentation and research skills. At the conclusion of this class, students will develop a 6 year plan that will guide them in making decisions about high school courses, college courses, and their future careers.

Orientation to Culinary Arts is part of the RHS Career Academy program and is designed for those students that have an interest in Culinary Arts (food preparation, restaurant management, hospitality & tourism, etc. ) To qualify to take this class, 8 th grade students must: • Have an overall “C” average; • Have no major discipline issues; • Complete an “application” to enroll in this class; • and be approved for admission to the program

Engineering Fundamentals is another RHS Career Academy program and is designed for those students that have an interest in the field of engineering and the careers associated with this field. Through this program, students will also learn the foundations and fundamentals of robotics, electronics, engineering and materials. To qualify to take this class, 8 th grade students must: • Have completed STEM and school robotics • Have an overall “B” average; • Have no major discipline issues; • Complete an “application” to enroll in this class; • and be approved for admission to the program

What Are the Elective Course Subject Choices for 9 th ? (a 1 credit course is a full year; a ½ credit course is one-semester only) Arts • • • Visual Art II Ceramics II Drawing I Photography II Theatre II ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit • • • Choral Music General Music Band 1 credit Business • • Business Law Personal Finance ½ credit • Business Fundamentals 1 credit • Public Speaking ½ credit • • Debate Oral Communication 1 credit Communications Foreign Language • • French I Latin I Spanish II 1 credit

Elective Courses (continued) Science Health • Contemporary Health Environmental Science Geology ½ credit • • 1 credit Sports ½ credit Journalism • Foundations of Journalism • Military Science • JROTC I Child Development Drug Education Family Dynamics Nutrition & Wellness Resource Management Physical Education 1 credit ½ credit ½ or 1 credit (can take either one or both semesters) • Driver Education ½ or 1 credit (sports may be either one or both semesters) PE & Personal Development • • • 9 th Grade Sports ½ credit Study hall • No more than one study hall per semester may be taken and NO CREDIT is awarded for study hall.

RHS Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2020 (24 credits total) • • • 4 credits of English 4 credits of Mathematics 4 credits of Social Studies 4 credits of Science ½ credit of Health ½ credit of Physical Education 1 credit of Technology 1 credit of Fine Arts 5 additional credits of Elective courses

College Entrance Requirements in Mississippi • For a 2 -year Junior/ Community College • Any RHS student who earns his or her high school diploma and has taken the ACT is eligible for Freshman entrance into a 2 -Year college in Mississippi. No specific ACT score is required. • To attend a 4 -year College or University • Any RHS student who earns his or her high school diploma, has a minimum score of 18 or higher AND has taken 2. 0 credits of additional “Required Electives” is eligible for entrance into a Mississippi 4 -year college or University. The list of courses a student may choose to fulfill the “Required Electives” are as follows: • 1 credit must be taken from first year of a Foreign Language or Advanced World Geography • The remaining 1 credit must be from the second year of a Foreign Language, an additional credit of math above Algebra II, or an additional credit of Labbased Science.

When completing your Pre-Registration Form • Please be neat and print legibly • Please fill out ALL Information – Including Alternate courses. • Please return form ON TIME – Due on Wednesday, January 27 th. • Please choose your selections CAREFULLY – Talk with your parents about your choices. – Talk with your teachers and school counselors.

RHS Pre-Registration Timeline for 8 th Graders • January 14 th • January 21 st • January 27 th Olde Towne Middle School students visit RHS for a campus tour & will receive pre-registration information for their 2016 -2017 classes Olde Towne 8 th Grade Parent Meeting at RHS Auditorium to discuss high school offerings RHS Counselors will go to OTMS and help the 8 th grade students input their 2016 -17 course requests into the computer during English classes

What else should I know about RHS? What type of clubs, activities or sports are available to me next year?

RHS Clubs and Organizations Band Choir JROTC Yearbook School Newspaper Student Government Association • RHS School Ambassadors • RHS Junior Diplomats • • Academic Competition Team • Forensics Team • Anime Club • Art Club • Beta Club • Campus Life • Environmental Club • Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Clubs and Organizations (continued) • French Club • Future Business Leaders of America • Honoraries: – Mu Alpha Theta – National Honor Society Junior Classical League Key Club Spanish Club Technology Student Association (TSA) • Titans Against Bullying (TAB) Club • Volunteer Club • • Information about participation in these clubs and organizations will be given to incoming 9 th grade students at the beginning of Fall semester.

RHS Athletics and Activities Archery Baseball Basketball Bowling Cheerleading Cross Country • Dance Team • Football • • Golf • Power Lifting • Soccer • Softball Slow Pitch & Fast Pitch • • Swimming Tennis Track Volleyball

So there’s a LOT to look forward to at RHS next year, but first things first! Right now you should focus on: 1. Choosing the best courses for you to take next year as a 9 th grader; 2. Working hard to learn and make the best grades you can now… so you will be prepared for taking your high school classes; and 3. Thinking about the clubs, organizations, and sports you might like to be involved with next year at Ridgeland High School!

So enjoy your tour of RHS and what we have to offer … and we’ll see you again (with your completed choice sheets) at OTMS on Wednesday, January 27 th!!