Getting Ready for Penn High School

Are you ready to send your child to high school?Ready or not, here they come!!! 1Topics to CoverIntroductionsImportant DatesFreshman GuidebookDiploma OptionsTestingGetting InvolvedWhat Makes Penn so special?We have excellent teaching staff who have gone through professional development training for many years. We earned an A school rating from the Indiana Department of Education.97% graduation rate for 2014.Our Freshmen Academy makes a large school feel small.Our Achievement Academies make our education relevant to life after high school.60 class offerings freshmen year by senior year, students will have over 800 class offerings.We have a variety of clubs, sports, and academic teams Extracurricular Activities

Important DatesPenn ShowcaseMonday, December 8 6:30-8:00 p.m.Tuesday, December 9 6:30-8:00 p.m.

PARENTING IN THE 21ST cENTURYTuesday, January 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Penn High School CPA (enter through Door C)Tony Garascia is licensed in the State of Indiana as a Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Addiction Counselor. He will be addressing the mental well being of teenagers today.Eric Tamashasky is a law enforcement officer. His focus will be on cybercrime andcybersecurity issues.Both will have presentations for parents and will be open for questions.

Eric TamashaskyTony GarasciaFreshman Guidebook(course descriptions)Each student was given a Freshman Guidebook and course selection sheet

Freshmen AcademySmaller Learning Community (Students typically share the same group of teachers for English, Math, Biology, and Geography called Houses)

The teachers within a house often collaborate on assignments, plan field trips/community service projects, and discuss students in need of additional support.

Achievement AcademiesAchievement Academies are chosen sophomore, junior, and senior year. Students choose an area of interest and the academy is designed to bring focus and relevance to coursework.STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math)Fine Arts and Communication AcademyManagement and Business AcademyHealth and Human Service Academy

STEM chemist, veterinarian, computer programmer, engineer; Fine arts journalism, photographer, graphic designer, musician; MBA entrepreneur, fashion merchandiser, financial manager, accountant; Health and Human Services- law enforcement, teacher, chef, nurse, counselorGraduation RequirementsEarning CreditsReport cards are issued in January and June.Students will earn 1 credit each semester for each class passed (A, B,C,D).Monitor HAC for the most up to date information.Students who fail required courses must repeat them.

DIPLOMA OPTIONS*Course and Credit RequirementsEnglish/LanguageArts8 creditsEnglish 9, 10, 11, 12Mathematics6 credits2 credits: Algebra I2 credits: Geometry2 credits: Algebra II

All students are required to take a math or physics course during their junior or senior year.Science6 credits2 credits: Biology I2 credits: Integrated Chemistry-Physics or Chemistry I2 credits: any Core 40 science courseSocial Studies6 credits2 credits: Geography/History of the World2 credits: U.S. History1 credit: U.S. Government1 credit: EconomicsDirected Electives5 creditsWorld LanguagesFine ArtsCareer/TechnicalPhysical Education2 creditsHealth and Wellness1 creditElectives*6 credits (Career Academic Sequence Recommended) 40 Total State Credits Required

For the Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma, students must:Complete all requirements for Core 40Earn 2 additional Core 40 math creditsEarn 6-8 Core 40 world language creditsEarn 2 Core 40 fine arts creditsEarn a grade of C or better in courses that will count toward the diplomaHave a grade point average of B (3.0) or betterComplete one of the following:Earn 4 credits in 2 or more AP courses, and take corresponding AP examsEarn 6 college credits in dual credit coursesComplete a combination of AP (2 credits) and dual credit (3 credits)Earn a combined SAT score of 1750 or higher and a minimum score of 530 on each (critical reading, math, and writing)Earn a 26 or higher on the ACT (including the writing section)

For the Core 40 with Technical Honors, students must:Complete all requirement for the Core 40 diplomaEarn 6 credits in career preparation courses and either get a certification or take 6 dual creditsEarn a grade of C or better in all of the courses that count toward the diplomaEarn a grade point average of B (3.0) or better

Complete one of the following:One of the additional requirements for earning the Academic Honors DiplomaTake the Accuplacer and receive minimum scores of Writing 80, Reading 90, Math 75Take the Compass and receive minimum scores of Writing 70, Reading 80, Algebra 66

ISTEP TESTINGAll 9th grade students take ISTEP

In addition to the other graduation requirements, students must pass the ISTEP test given in the 10th grade.SCHEDULINGSample Schedule

HONORS CLASSES

English 9 Honors, Biology Honors & World Geography HonorsThese courses are rigorous Pre-AP courses. Students should have A's or high Bs in their core subjects. (Suggestion: if you are in doubt talk to your childs current teacher.)Students should be strong readers and able to understand fairly complex material. Concepts are in depth and comprehensive.Students should have a strong work ethic and desire to take an honors course. (English Honors will have suggested summer reading. A letter will be given to students toward the end of the year.)

Math Level PlacementMath 8 (Pre-Algebra) -> Algebra IGrades of D or below in Math 8 should also take Algebra EnrichmentMath 8 Accelerated -> Geometry or Geometry HonorsStudents who do not pass the ECA or have a grade of a B- or below will need to repeat Algebra IGeometry Honors -> Algebra II Honors

Additional support for English and AlgebraYour childs counselor and teacher will help determine if either or both of these classes are appropriate for your child:Read 180 or Contemporary Literature I is for students who struggle in Language Arts, consistently do poorly on standardized tests and receives a Lexile score below 875.Algebra Enrichment is for students who struggle in math 8 (grades below a C), as well as looking at test scores.ElectivesStudents should choose electives in which they think they may be interestedStudents should NOT choose electives because their friends are choosing them (they will probably not be in the same class with them anyway)Elective choices are not guaranteed Make sure to choose alternates that they are interested in taking because we often have to use their alternate classWe rarely make schedule changes, unless it is for a course level.*Some elective courses require prerequisites.

Use course sequence pages in the Freshman Guidebook for reference. The POS online has all of the classes available for grades 9-12

Summer School June 8-26 Session 1July 6-24 session IIStudents can pick up the summer PE registration form in their middle school guidance office.Registration forms are due by December 19, 2014Students interested in summer PE will be put in a lotteryStudents will be notified the week of February 2nd if they were selectedIf selected, money is due in the Penn bookstore by February 23, 2015

How to sign up for your classesStudents will fill out the course selection form together with you.You and your child will log on to HAC and add the desired classes. (If you do not have internet access at home, students may schedule on HAC when they meet with their counselor.)Students will turn in the form to their middle school counselor by December 19.Middle school counselors will meet with each student individually to review the plan during the months of January and February.Demonstrate how to sign up for classes via HACYou dont know your HAC passwordCheck with your middle school counselors for your login ID and password.

HAC is a great resource for checking grades, attendance, discipline, and now you have the capability to register for your classes.Freshman Mentors

Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities

Clubs and Organizations

Sign up for E-GUIDANCEGet all the latest and greatest information from Penn High School sent right to your email!Sign up here on sheet or email mwatkins@phm.k12.in.us to be added to the Class of 2019Find out what our Freshman Mentors are doing each week, assemblies your student is attending, and important scheduling informationYou will get crucial info such as SAT dates, PSAT sign up, FAFSA information, scholarship information, and timelines as your student enters their junior and senior year

Penn High School Open House Choose your classes carefully Get involved E-GuidanceREVIEWThank you for coming!

We will stay after for individual questions

Glenn Northern is here to answer any Band questions