Welcome 8th Grade Parents!

Getting Ready for High School:Everything You Need to Know!

As a table, please spend a few minutes to list any questions you would like answered at today’s

meeting ~ thank you!

• More homework• Greater individual responsibility• More independent work habits expected• Self-advocacy skills are essential• Organizational skills required

What to expect academicallyin 8th grade …

How Parents Can Help:

•Encourage your child to self-advocate

•Encourage your child to join activities and get involved

•Foster independence, but still monitor

Timeline to High SchoolFall 2011

•Oct 27 & 28: Counselors reviewed transition booklet with all 8th graders to prepare for 8th Grade Family Night

•Nov. 9: South Windsor HS Orientation Program

•Nov. 10 Rockville HS Agricultural Education Program Open House

•Nov. 16 Howell Cheney Technical School Open House, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

•Nov. 17 A.I. Prince Technical School Open House, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

•Nov. 30: Cheney/Prince Tech applications due to TE counselors

Timeline to High School:December 2010 – January 2011

• December: private high school applications due to TE counselors

• January: SWHS 9th grade counselor visits all 8th grade classes to distribute and explain course selection materials

• Late January: Level recommendations for 9th grade courses go home with Trimester II Progress Reports

February - March 2012

• February 14, 15, 16 - SWHS and 8th Grade counselors meet with students in small groups to review course selections and enter into computer. These computerized course requests go home with students for parent/guardian’s signature.

• March 23rd -Last day for level change requests

April – August 2012

• April 26, 27, 28: 8th Graders Visit SWHS from 8:30-10:00 a.m., one team per day, for tours and student speakers

• May: SWHS administration hosts an informal coffee for parents of incoming 9th graders

• July: Preliminary schedules mailed home from SWHS

• August: half day orientation program for students; transportation provided

Levels at SWHSGoal is to place students where they can be most successful!

• Levels at SWHS follow New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) standards.

• Courses are divided into levels based on difficulty of curricular content, academic requirements, sophistication of analysis required, and other related educational demands.

• Honors (level 4)

• College Prep (level 3)

How Levels are Determined

• 1st trimester grades• CMTs, benchmark assessments, and teacher

generated tests• Ability to work independently• Ability to analyze information and think

abstractly • Study habits• Overall quality of work• Responsibility in meeting deadlines

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS• 24 credits minimum• 6 credits (at least) required each year• Students must pass 6 credits to become sophomores

• To graduate from SWHS, students will need: 4 credits of English 4 credits of math 3 credits of science 3 credits of social studies 1 credit of PE ½ credit of health 2 credits of career and technology 1 credit of world language 1 credit of fine arts 4 ½ credits of electives

9th Grade Course Requirements All students must take the following classes:

*1st year English *Math (Integrated Math, Algebra, or Geometry)*Physical Science*Modern World History*PE (1/2 year = .5 credits)*Computer Applications (1/2 year = .5 credits)

These classes total 5 credits. Students will need to choose 2 more credits’ worth of courses

SWHS Schedule

Learning Communities

• Names are by letters: L I N K S• In each community, all students will have a common

core subject teachers• Many of the classes will be in the same hallway• Students are notified of what Link they are on during

the summer• 9th grade counselor (Mrs. Keleher) & 9th grade

associate principal (Ms. Violette) meet regularly with Link teachers to discuss student progress and concerns

Additional questions?

Thank you for coming!Please complete the evaluation and

enjoy this exciting year with your 8th grader!

(AND the four days they are in DC!)