Presented by the WGHS Guidance

Department

THE TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL &

COLLEGE PREP AT WGHS

¡ Transitioning to High School

¡ High School Requirements

¡ College Readiness

¡ Resources at WGHS

¡ Questions?

AGENDA

What is the difference

between Middle School and High School?

TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

¡  New “Block” Schedule

TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

Self-Advocacy is KEY! Why?

Almost 1,700 students on campus 75 teachers

35 students in each classroom 5 Administrators

1 Academic Counselor 1 YWCA Counselor

TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

¡ Self-Advocacy in the classroom: § Ask questions (when appropriate) § Don’t leave class without knowing what homework/projects were assigned

§ Meet with teachers during Office Hours (or after class, at lunch, after school) § Develop a good rapport with teachers § Visit Infinite Campus frequently (students AND parents) § Doing it wrong is better than not doing it at all § Power of the ZERO!

TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

¡ Complete 240 credits ¡ Pass the CAHSEE

§  California High School Exit Exam §  English & Math

¡ Complete State Requirements: § Safety/First Aid

§ Drivers Education

§ Health Certificate

§ Algebra 1

¡ Complete 40 community service hours

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

¡ 5 credits per semester class (x) ¡ 6 classes a semester (=) ¡ 30 credits a semester (x) _____________________________________________________________________________________________

¡ 2 semesters a year (=) ¡ 60 credits a year (x) ____________________________________________________________________________________________

¡ 4 years of high school (=) ¡ 240 total credits needed to graduate

HOW WILL I GET 240 CREDITS?

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

•  English, 4 years

•  Math, 3 years

•  Science, 3 years (2 lab)

•  Social Science, 3 years

•  Physical Education, 2 years

•  Language Other Than English, 2 years

•  Visual Performing Art, 2 years

•  Electives, 50 credit

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

9TH GRADE MATTERS! ¡ Must pass ALL classes to earn credits to graduate

¡ EVERY class prepares for the next

¡ Classes fulfill “A-G” requirements

¡ C= college eligible, D= diploma only

¡ Credit recovery is limited, expensive, and time consuming

COLLEGE READINESS

¡ Graduating from high school doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be eligible to apply to all colleges (CSU’s, UC’s, Private)

¡ You must follow the High School

Requirements as well as the “A-G” (College) Requirements

COLLEGE READINESS

¡ What are “A-G” Requirements? § The courses you

need to take and pass with a C- or better in order to be eligible to apply to a Cal State or UC college

A = HISTORY

¡ GRADUATION: 3 years required -1 year World History (10th grade) -1 year U.S. History (11th grade) -1 year Govt/Econ (12th grade)

¡ COLLEGE: 2 years

B = ENGLISH

¡ GRADUATION: 4 years

¡ COLLEGE: 4 years

Example Courses: § English 1/2 § Accelerated English 3/4 § Honors English 5/6 § CSU Expository Reading & Writing § AP English Language & Literature

C = MATH

¡ GRADUATION: 3 years § (beginning with Algebra 1)

¡ COLLEGE: 3 years § (beginning with Algebra 1) § 4 years recommended

Example Courses: §  Algebra I & II, Alg II/Trig §  Geometry §  Pre-calculus §  AP Calculus, AP Statistics

D = LAB SCIENCE

¡ GRADUATION: 3 years -  2 years of lab science

¡ COLLEGE: 2 years -  1 year Biological Science -  1 year Physical Science -  3 years total recommended Example Courses: Biology/Bio Honors (Bio) Chemistry/Chem Honors (Phys) Physics/ Physics Honors (Phys) Physiology (Bio) PLTW Biomed Strand (Bio) AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics

E = FOREIGN LANGUAGE

¡ GRADUATION: 2 years ¡ COLLEGE: 2 years -  must be the SAME language -  3 years recommended

Example Courses: Spanish 1-6 French 1-6 Spanish for Native Speakers 1-6 AP Spanish Language & Literature AP French

F = VISUAL/PERFORMING ART

¡ GRADUATION: 2 years ¡ COLLEGE: 1 year Example Courses: Multimedia Arts Draw/Paint/Design Sculpture & 3D Design Photography Drama Choir & Jazz Singers Dance Performance Band Guitar

G = COLLEGE PREP ELECTIVES

¡ GRADUATION: need 50 elective credits ¡ COLLEGE: 1 year Example Courses:

§  Any college prep course that you take beyond the minimum requirements count as electives

§  TA, Yearbook, Leadership & Psychology credits only count towards graduation, not college

§  Students participating in school team athletics can earn 5 credits per season, for high school credits only

PE (NOT A-G)

¡ Only need it for graduation §  2 years required/ 20 credits

Example Courses: PE 1 and 2 PE Dance Team athletics

Community Service (not A-G) ¡ 40 hours required for graduation ¡ Although not a REQUIREMENT for college

eligibility, it is recommended and adds to the “College Resume”

COLLEGE READINESS

¡ What are colleges looking for? § Academic performance in high school courses § Rigor of your coursework selections § Minimum of 3.0 GPA for UC & most privates § Minimum of 2.0 GPA for CSU eligibility

§ SAT or ACT exam scores § Recommendations § Essay § Activities

COLLEGE READINESS

¡ WGHS is an “A-G” school § All of the WGHS courses are approved by UC and qualify

as “A-G” courses §  Except for TA, Leadership, Yearbook

¡ Advanced classes at WGHS § Advanced Placement (AP) – college level curriculum

taught at the high school level. Curriculum designed by the CollegeBoard and used nation-wide. Receives a “weighted” grade by some colleges.

§ Honors – District approved curriculum that explores subject content more deeply and at a quicker pace. Receives a “weighted” grade by some colleges.

§ Accelerated – District approved curriculum that explores subject content more deeply.

COLLEGE READINESS

¡  ENGLISH §  Accelerated 3/4 §  Honors 5/6 §  AP English Language §  AP English Literature

¡  SOCIAL STUDIES §  AP World History §  AP US History §  AP Macroeconomics §  AP US Government

¡  MATHEMATICS §  Accelerated Algebra II §  Honors Pre-calculus §  AP Calculus AB §  AP Calculus BC §  AP Statistics

¡  SCIENCE §  Honors Biology §  Honors Chemistry §  Honors Physics §  AP Biology §  AP Chemistry §  AP Physics

¡  FOREIGN LANGUAGE §  AP French §  AP Spanish Language §  AP Spanish Literature

COLLEGE READINESS

¡  SAT PREPARATION: §  On-campus SAT and ACT preparation courses § Mock exam opportunities §  SAT/ACT Info Night for families

¡  PERSONAL STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT: §  Built into the SJUSD English Department curriculum for all 4 years of

high school §  UC Personal Statement Workshops

¡  COLLEGE RESUME: §  Clubs §  Leadership Training §  Drama Productions §  Athletics §  Community Service

COLLEGE READINESS

COLLEGE READINESS

¡ Freshmen § Get good grades § Explore WGHS activities § Explore post-high school

options

¡ Sophomores § Get good grades § Take challenging courses § Explore career interests § Start a college interest list § Get involved

¡ Juniors § Get good grades § Take challenging courses § Take SAT/ACT § Decided which colleges to

apply to § Stay involved

¡ Seniors § Get good grades § Take challenging courses § Apply to colleges § Apply for financial aid § Enjoy graduation

¡ Administrators § Principal – Kaia Hamilton § Asst Principal of Activities & 9th Grade Advisor – Lauren Maslyar § Asst Principal of Discipline & 10th Grade Advisor – Al Gallegos § Asst Principal of Instruction & 11th Grade Advisor – Randy Schmidt § Asst Principal of Guidance & 12th Grade Advisor – Liz Roselman

¡ Guidance Department § Academic Counselor – Veronica Gonzalez § College & Career Technician – Kate Moody § Destination College Academic Coach – Valerie Hernandez § Cal SOAP Academic Coaches – Maria Serna and Celine Chandler

RESOURCES

¡ College & Career Center – Room L102 § Class-based & individual college & career counseling § Family information nights § Application workshops § Admissions reps visits § Community College & CTE Fair § College resources & materials §  Information on financial aid, scholarships, etc. § Resources for AB 540 students § Work Permit applications § Credit Recovery options

¡ Naviance software for students

RESOURCES

RESOURCES

¡ Infinite Campus – ic.sjusd.org § Track grades in all classes § Monitor specific assignments § Review categories, identify strengths and weaknesses

Group Individual

QUESTIONS?