FCA UNDERCLASSMEN PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

OBJECTIVES10TH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHT

What are graduation requirements?

New Jersey College GPA averages?

Preparing for Standardized tests?

UNDERCLASSMAN ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM & ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Principal – Graig Weiss

Underclassman School Administrator

& Instructional Dean – Jennifer Osemwegie

Leader of Student Culture – Glenn Burns

Dean of Students – Carla Hill

Underclassman Academic Advisor – Christina Mangus

HIGH SCHOOL EXPECTATIONSOUR MISSION ...is to ensure that all of our students secure the

academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation’s finest colleges and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility and honesty.

All courses and extracurricular activities are geared toward obtaining college acceptance.

✔FCA scholars are expected to aspire to greater academic heights and higher personal standards for decorum

✔Yes it is true that we expect our students to obtain an acceptance letter from a 4year college.

✔Yes it is true that all students obtain 40 hours of community services.

✔Yes it is true that our students feel prepared and ready for college when they graduate.

NJ VS. FCA GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS OF 2018

NJ Graduation Credits Total 120

FAC Graduation Credits Approximate Total 160

English: 5 Credits each Level 9-12, 1 course / year

English: 10 credits - 9th-11th, 5 credits - 12th Level 9-12, 1 course / year

PE/Health: 3.75/1.25 each Level 9-12, 1 course / year

PE/Health: 3.75/1.25 each Level 9-12, 1 course / year

Math: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years

Math: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years

Science: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years

Science: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years

Social Studies/History: 5 Credits each 3 courses over 4 years

Social Studies/History: 5 Credits each 4 courses over 4 years

World Language: 5 Credits each 1 course over 4 years

World Language: 5 Credits each Minimum 2 courses over 4 years

Electives: Credits vary must total 15 # of courses vary

Electives: Credits vary Mandatory: College Prep, Music, Financial Literacy

Course NJ Requirements- “Standard Diploma”

Harvard University Requirements

Foundation Collegiate Academy – “Offered Collegiate Diploma”

Credits Courses Courses Credits Courses Offerings English & Language Arts

20 4 4 35 4 English 9 English 11 English 10 English 12 AP English

Mathematics

15 3 4 25 4 Algebra I Algebra II Integrated Math Geometry Pre-Calculus Statistics AP Calculus

Science

15 3 4

20

4 Biology Chemistry Anatomy & Physiology Physics

Social Studies/History

15 3 3 20 4 World History US History 1 US History II AP U.S. History

Language

5 1 4 20 (2018

graduate) 4

Option 1 Option 2 Spanish I Spanish III French I French III Spanish II Spanish IV French II French IV

P.E./Health

3.75/1.25 1/year

While not required for entrance,

Harvard among other

competitive colleges seeks scholars who are able to

perform inside as well as

outside of the classroom.

3.75/1.25 4 (1/year) Physical Education (Annual) Health & Wellness (Annual)

Visual and Performing Arts

5 1 10 4 Orchestra I-IV Levels: Beginner Academy Honors

Career Education, Family, Life Skills

5 1 11.25 4 College Prep Grade 9-12 Career Exploration

Additional Electives from Core Content (or) Arts Areas (or) Tech Areas

20 4 20 4

Project Lead the Way Humanities of the Arts / Humanities of Literature Topography & Geography STEM Extension Senior Research Project College or University Course Enrollment

Technology

Integrated into content areas

Integrated into content areas

Community Service n/a 40 hours

Co-Curricular Participation

n/a 1 activity annually

Language Club Basketball Student Government Soccer Peer Mediators Cheerleading Poetry Club GSA

GENERAL PLANNING BY YEARSophomore Year:

Career Readiness & Planning Developing an academic plan to create success Career Shadowing College Trips/Tours

Junior Year: Testing Timetable – PSAT, SAT, ACT, PARCC Parent Transcript Meeting College Trips tailored to GPA Challenge self with more difficult courses such as Honors & AP

Senior Year: College/scholarship applications Financial Aid Information Night Finalizing Community Service Hours MCCC Courses

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GPAGPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated based on the FCA

Grading Scale.

FCA GPA IN COMPARISON TO NJ COLLEGES

The GPA sent on college applications includes your 9th, 10th, and 11th Grades.

NJ Colleges GPA of Accepted Applicants

FCA Letter Grade

Princeton 4.0 A average

TCNJ / Stockton / Stevens

3.8 A- to A average

Rowan / Rutgers 3.5 B+ to A- average

Montclair / Monmouth 3.0 B average

Rider / Kean / NJIT 2.8 B- to B average

Fairleigh Dickinson / NJCU / Caldwell / William Paterson

2.5 C+ - B- average

Bloomfield / Georgian Court

2.0 C average

STANDARDIZED TESTINGPSAT : Preliminary SAT - October

– It is recommended that students have completed Geometry

– Taken during Junior year in order to compete for National Merit Scholarships

ACT and SAT Tests: Tests typically required for college acceptance

– Taken during winter & spring of Junior year

SAT Subject Tests: Taken dependent on college’s requirements

– Taken after completing accelerated courses in math, science, foreign language, world

history, and literature

– Some university programs require specific SAT Subject Tests to be considered for

admission

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: Taken May after majority of course being completed

• New FCA Handbook with updated policies & course descriptions!

• Some new policies include: • no more than 2 summer classes will be accepted•minimum 2.0 GPA to progress to next grade level

• Parent Access Link to School Brains to view student’s grades!

GRADE LEVEL CHAIR

Erin Gallagher – Sophomore Grade Level Chair

What is a grade level chair?

What occurs at the Grade Level meetings?

How you, as the parent may be involved?

Christina MangusUnderclassman Academic

Advisory609.331.5162

cmangus@foundationacademy.org