Eagle Mt. Saginaw ISDFreshman Registration

Information for the Class of 2016

Selecting Your 9th Grade Courses

Begin with the end in mind:

• What do you want to study?• What are your career goals?• Do you want to attend the Career

Center?

Four Year Plan

• Refer to your Four Year Plan often and update as necessary.

• You can access it Online through Kuder with the login you were provided.

High School Life• Get involved!• Join clubs and organizations.• Participate in fine arts and

athletics.• Take harder courses whenever

possible.

Colleges are looking for well-rounded students!

Daily Schedule• 2 semesters

• 7 classes—Choose classes with your future in mind

Approximately 52 minutes per class

• 6 minute passing periods

• 30 minute lunches

• Some classes change at the semester (i.e., Health, Professional Communications, etc.)

Semester SystemEnglish 1A English 1B

Algebra 1A Algebra 1B

Biology 1A Biology 1B

World Geography 1A World Geography 1B

PE A PE B

Spanish 1A Spanish 1B

Art 1A Art 1B

Semester 1Semester 2

A quick definition…• Credit:

– A credit is what you earn when you pass one full year of one class.

– A one semester class will earn ½ credit when passed.

– English 1 = 1 credit = year-long class– Professional Communications= .5 credit =

semester class– You will need a total of 26 credits to

graduate

Grade Classification• In high school you move up grades

according to credits, not years.– Freshman Promotion from 8th grade– Sophomore 5.5 to 11.5 credits– Junior 12 to 18.5 credits– Senior 19 plus credits

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SELECTING CLASSES

A Few Main

• Better preparation for college• Better preparation for SAT/ACT• More scholarship opportunities• AP classes can help you earn

college credits• Extra points added to your GPA

Pre-AP and AP classes are available to all students. Discuss taking these courses with your parents and teachers. Check the district website for the summer reading assignment.

Pre-AP and AP? What are the Benefits

What if I decide Pre-AP or AP is not for me after school starts?• You must stay in the class a minimum of 3

weeks.• You must attend tutorials.• You cannot have any zeros.• A meeting will be held with your parents,

your teacher, your counselor, an administrator and you.

• During the meeting, a decision will be made whether it is in your best interest to drop to a lower level or to stay in the class with an improvement plan.

Pre-AP and AP classes take extra time and effort and a commitment from you!

Pre-AP Classes• English I Pre-AP• English II Pre-AP• Algebra I Pre-AP• Geometry Pre-AP• Algebra II Pre-AP• Pre-Calculus Pre-AP• Biology Pre-AP• Chemistry Pre-AP• Physics Pre-AP• World Geography Pre-

AP

• Art I Pre-AP• Art II Drawing Pre-AP *• Art III Drawing Pre-AP• Art III Graphic Design Pre-

AP• Art III Photography Pre-AP• Art III Sculpture Pre-AP• French III Pre-AP• German III Pre-AP• Spanish III Pre-AP• Spanish V Literature Pre-AP

for Spanish Speakers *• Computer Science Pre-AP

AP Classes• English III AP• English IV AP• AP Calculus AB• AP Calculus BC• Statistics AP• Biology AP• Chemistry AP• Physics AP• Environmental Science

AP• Human Geography AP• World History AP• U.S. History AP

• U.S. Government AP• Economics AP• Art IV Drawing Portfolio AP • Art IV 2-D Design Portfolio

AP• Music Theory AP• French IV AP• German IV AP• Spanish IV AP• Spanish V Literature AP• Computer Science AP

Students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take the AP exam in May.

Students may gain college credit for AP test scores of 3 or above. The awarding of college credit is based upon individual university policies and standards.

• Cost of exam - $80 • Fee-reduced exams – College

Board and the State of Texas will pay a portion of the fees for students who are currently receiving free or reduced lunches. See your counselor or college access specialist for eligibility requirements.Exam costs and funding of fee reduced exams are subject to change.

Dual CreditA partnership between Tarrant County College Northwest Campus and Eagle Mountain -Saginaw ISD provides opportunities for students to gain both high school and college credit at the same time.

Eligibility:• Completion of high school sophomore

year• Overall grade “B” average• Obtain permission from the high

school• Enroll at the college/university

offering the course(s)• Meet the entrance requirements of

the college/university including the required placement exams

Classes offered on campus:• Junior English• Senior English• U.S. History• Government• Economics• College Algebra /Trigonometry• Business Information Management 2• Advanced Aircraft Technology

Cost:• Approximately $150 per three hour

class (based upon current Tarrant County College tuition rates)

• Textbooks

Students who wish to take other courses through an accredited college or university must have prior approval to receive dual credit. Not all courses offered by colleges meet the requirements for awarding of high school credit.

Grade Point Average

• Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by averaging the semester grades you earn in every class you take for state credit towards graduation.

• Pre-AP and AP classes give you extra points per semester calculated into your GPA.

Automatic College Admission

(Top 10% Rule)• Earn a grade point average (GPA) in the

top 10% of graduating class– Top 8% for University of Texas at Austin

• Recommended or Distinguished Plan• Satisfy ACT college readiness benchmark

or score 1500 of 2400 on SAT• Meet all application and transcript

submission deadlinesPage 6

Graduation Requirements

For Students Entering High School 2011-2012 and After

Recommended Graduation Plan Requirements

• English 4 credits√ English 1- regular or Pre-AP√ English 2 - regular or Pre-

AP√ English 3 - regular, dual

credit or AP√ English 4 - regular, dual

credit or AP

Requirements cont.• Math 4 credits

Algebra 1 - regular or Pre-AP Geometry - regular or Pre-AP Algebra 2 - regular or Pre-AP 1 state-approved math credit -

regular, dual credit or AP Math Models, if selected, must be

taken prior to Algebra 2

Requirements cont.• Science 4 credits

Biology - regular or Pre-AP Chemistry - regular or Pre-AP Physics - regular or Pre-AP 1 state-approved science

credit – regular or AP

Requirements cont.• Social Studies 4 credits

World Geography - regular or Pre-AP; or AP Human Geography

World History - regular or AP U.S. History - regular, dual credit

or AP Government - regular, dual credit

or AP (.5) Economics - regular, dual credit

or AP (.5)

Requirements cont.• Other Languages

Recommended Plan = 2 credits Distinguished Plan = 3 years

GermanFrench Spanish

Requirements cont.• Fine Arts

– Band (full year) – requires tryout– Dance - requires tryout for Drill Team

but not for dance class– Art– Theater Arts– Technical Theater Arts– Choir – open to all students but

requires tryout to determine which choir you will be placed in.

• PE/Athletics 1 credit May be fulfilled by:

– Athletics – Marching Band (1st semester)– Drill Team (1st semester)– Cheerleading– Gymnastics– ROTC– Aerobic Activities (taken with Dance 1)Students may earn a maximum of 4 state physical education credits through any combination of physical education courses and/or substitutions.

Requirements cont.

• Baseball • Basketball • Cross Country• Golf• Football • Soccer• Gymnastics• Softball• Swimming • Tennis • Track • Volleyball• Wrestling

Athletics

Coach approval is required for all sports. Please be listening for announcements about tryouts.Remember, in high school, sports are played on a competitive level. Some sports hold summer camps with required participation. Before and after school practices and attendance at games are mandatory.

Requirements cont.• Speech .5 Credit (Professional

Communications or Communication Applications)

• Electives 5.5 credits 4.5 on Distinguished Achievement

Program

Distinguished Achievement Program:Recommended Program with Specific Acceptable Math and Science Courses3 Levels of the Same Language4 Advanced Measures ADVANCED MEASURES

# ALLOWE

D

 APPROVAL

Score of 3 or above on an AP exam (AP exams taken during the senior year will be verified after graduation.)

1-4 None

Original research/project of professional quality as judged by a panel of experts

1-2 Prior

Score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition as a Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation; as part of the National Hispanic Scholar Program of the College Board; or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship program for Outstanding Negro Students of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

1 None

College academic courses, advanced technical credit courses, and dual credit courses, including local articulation, with a grade of A or B

1-4 Prior

Testing RequirementsFor students entering high school in 2011-2012 and after, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

STAAR™ includes 12 end-of-course (EOC) course assessments: Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, English I, English II, English III, biology, chemistry, physics, world geography, world history, and U.S. History.

In order to graduate, students on the Recommended High School Plan must meet a cumulative score requirement in each of four core content areas and must also perform satisfactorily on the Algebra II and English III assessments.

Students on the Distinguished Achievement Plan must meet a cumulative score requirement in each of four core content areas and must also perform satisfactorilyon the college-readiness component of Algebra II and English III assessments.

The Course Description Handbook

Keep your book in a safe, easy-to-access place.

The book is also online for you to access or save to your computer.

The Course Description Handbook

• General organization of the book:

– Page 1 Table of Contents– Pages 3-11 Information you should

know– Pages 12-18 Educational and Career

Planning Guide– Pages 19-75 Course Descriptions

Course Selection• Choose your courses carefully.• ALL courses count in your GPA except office,

counselor, teacher, library assistant, driver’s education or physical education credits awarded by alternative sources.

• Check Programs of Study for elective choices based on possible career choices.

• Make sure you have the prerequisites.• Any changes need to be completed by

June 15 so the master schedule can be built and teachers can be hired.

You must fill out a registration worksheet

regardless of plans to move next year. We will reserve

your classes in case something changes.

Completing the Selection Worksheet• Use a pencil.• Complete the top section.

Circle the school you will be attending and fill out the demographic information neatly. (If we can’t read it, we can’t schedule you for the classes that you want.)

Completing the Worksheet cont.• Choose your core courses.

English A B____ ____ 1010 English I____ ____ 1015 English I Pre-APMake an X on the A and B column for the English class that you

would like to take.

Mathematics A B____ ____ 1210 Algebra I____ ____ 1215 Algebra I Pre-AP____ ____ 1220 Geometry____ ____ 1225 Geometry Pre-AP

If you are in Algebra 1 now, you may choose Geometry or Geometry Pre-AP. If not choose either Algebra 1 or

Algebra 1 Pre-AP.

X X

Completing the Worksheet cont.• Choose your core courses

Science A B____ ____ 1310 Biology I____ ____ 1315 Biology I Pre-AP

Choose either Biology 1 or Biology 1 Pre-AP.Social Studies A B____ ____ 1410 World Geography____ ____ 1415 World Geography Pre-AP____ ____ 1475 Human Geography AP

You may choose one of these three classes. Be aware that Human Geography is an advanced placement class and is taught at a more rigorous level.

Completing the Worksheet cont.

• Choose 3 credits of elective classes. You may choose 3 year long classes or a combination of year long and semester classes. Freshmen are encouraged to take elective courses such as : Career and Technology Classes Fine Arts Foreign Language Physical Education or Athletics Professional Communications

Completing the Worksheet cont.

• Choose at least 3 alternates. Write in the name of the desired class and the course number.It is possible that the courses that you choose will fill up or will not work with your schedule, so it is very important to pick at least three alternates. If you do not write down alternates, we will choose them for you.

Registering for Classes Discuss the courses you are choosing with your

parents tonight. You and your parents must sign and date the

registration worksheet. Double check to make sure 7 credits of courses are

selected (or 14 x’s are in the blanks). Make sure you have listed 3 alternates. Bring your completed/signed form with you at your

assigned time. Counselors will meet with you individually to

answer questions and help in any way needed.

Registration Deadlines

If you want to make a change to your requests, you may pick up a Schedule Change Request form from the counseling office after spring break.

All changes to requests must be returned to your high school by June

15, 2012.

You are selecting specific courses, not teachers, periods, or terms.

If there is a scheduling conflict with elective requests, an alternate will be chosen, so choose alternates very carefully. You will be notified if conflicts arise that cannot be resolved.

Students will not be allowed to drop elective courses after the June 15th deadline. This includes academic electives like Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Sciences, AP Languages, etc., regardless of whether or not the course is needed for graduation.

Points to Remember