Welcome, Sophomores! Counseling Services

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1 Welcome, Sophomores! Counseling Services

2 SOPHOMORE PRIDE P: positive R: respectful I: initiative D: determined E: engaged

3 The Counseling Staff: *Assigned by student s last name: Mrs. Shari Smith: A-D ssmith@portageps.org Mrs. Krista Hovestadt: E-K khovestadt@portageps.org Ms. Amy DiMaggio: L-Ri Director adimaggio@portageps.org Mrs. Cindy Figueroa: Rj-Z cfigueroa@portageps.org

4 The Counseling Staff Administrative Assistants: Mrs. Julie Clark: enrollment, appointments, transcripts, registrar, more Mrs. Kim Loiselle: college visits, scholarships, immunizations, academic awards, more

5 Counseling Services College Planning: Completing basic requirements for future college/university applications, college advising regarding academic class selection, providing college research and resources, discussing post-secondary plans and general college advising. Career Planning: Career exploration activities, interest inventories, Lunch and Learn activities, Career Cruising access, resources for local skilled trades/unions and military contact information.

6 Counseling Services Academic: Selecting your classes for all four years, monitoring required classes and graduation credits, auditing classes, access to academic help. Individual/Personal Counseling: Counselors are always here for you to help with any question or concern you might have. We are here to listen and provide support. We provide outside resources for additional help, when needed.

7 Remember: High School Counts!! Credits add up to earn required # for graduation Grades count! They build into a GPA: grade point average Half of your OVERALL HIGH SCHOOL GPA is based off of your 9th & 10th grade coursework. It all matters completing daily homework, making up missing work, preparing for a test/quiz, taking semester exams, passing a course and getting good grades. ATTENDANCE matters!! When you re absent, you miss content/material/info. It s hard to make up class discussions, teaching/instruction and learning. If you miss more than 9 days in one semester, you could lose credit in that class!! After 9 days absent, you need to earn back time (days you missed) in order to get credit. Earn back time will be on Saturday mornings at the end of the semester.

8 CREDITS Classes that are year long = 1 credit First semester =.5 Second semester =.5 Classes that are semester long =.5 credit Semester grades appear on your transcript Semester grade / credit is comprised of: Marking Period / Quarter 1 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade Marking Period / Quarter 2 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade Semester exam 20% of semester grade You must pass 2 of the 3 above AND achieve a 59.5% in order to earn the.5 semester credit. To pass a class, you need to earn 59.5% or higher D- or above E is failing.

Graduation Requirements: PPS Portage Public Schools Graduation Requirements: Students must earn 26 credits within 4 years of starting high school.

9 Graduation Requirements: PPS Portage Public Schools Graduation Requirements: Students must earn 26 credits within 4 years of starting high school. Middle School credits do not count towards the total 26 required. Those classes were pre-requisites to move to the next level. Middle School classes will appear as letter grades, but will NOT factor into your high school GPA. Students must pass certain core/required classes: Michigan Merit Curriculum (next slide)

Michigan Merit Curriculum English 4 credits Math 4 credits Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Senior year math or math-related Science 3 credits Chemistry / Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics 2,

10 Michigan Merit Curriculum English 4 credits Math 4 credits Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Senior year math or math-related Science 3 credits Chemistry / Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics 2, Earth Science Social Studies 3 credits Modern American History, Government/Economics, World History Health.5 credit Health: one semester course =.5 credit / required Health/Freshman Focus: year long course = 1 credit/recommended World Language 2 credits of same language 2 years in middle school count as the 2 year requirement 3-4 years strongly recommended for competitive colleges PE 1.5 credits Can be waived with a PNHS sport or marching band Fine Arts 1 credit Recommended in 9th or 10th: art, music, business, woodworking, other

11 PPS Graduation PPS does not allow a student to be held back or repeat a year. You still move on to the next grade level and have to take the required classes, even if you have failed previous classes. Our summer program is an online program for students who are at risk of not graduating (who have failed four or more semester classes). Students must complete the work in a computer lab during the summer. Transportation is not provided for summer school.

GPA It s important to establish a strong GPA early. When you first apply to colleges, they will only see your cumulative GPA from your 9th through 11th grade years.

12 GPA It s important to establish a strong GPA early. When you first apply to colleges, they will only see your cumulative GPA from your 9th through 11th grade years. The later in high school, the harder it is to raise your GPA. In fact, it will be easier to lower it, than raise it. If you re dreaming of college sports in your future, the NCAA requires high school student athletes to have a 2.3 minimum GPA in core classes to be eligible to play in college.

13 Thinking About College. Planning on attending a 2 year or 4 year college or university? You should: Research colleges online Visit websites to learn about college programs, size, location, admissions requirements. Start to take campus tours. Attend college rep visits here at PN this fall! Sign up in counseling office before the event. Maintain a high GPA. Take honors / AP or IB classes (in 11th and 12th) for competitive colleges. Practice online for the upcoming SAT in your junior year. Prepare for the PSAT 10 this year. Volunteer outside of school. Get involved with extracurricular activities. Start talking about college, career exploration with parents/friends/teachers.

14 Top Factors in College Admissions... Overall GPA Test scores Class rank Rigor of high school curriculum (honors/ib/core classes senior year) School activities Community activities Personal statement/essay (if applicable) Letters of recommendation (if applicable) Awards / recognitions

15 College Visits at PNHS... Representatives from area colleges & universities will visit PNHS. They ll speak about their programs, campus life, activities, scholarships and more. Meet the person who makes the admissions decisions on your application. Sign up in the counseling office 1 day prior to the event scheduled. All events are held in the counseling office conference room, unless otherwise noted. An Air Force recruiter will be in the building in the cafe during lunch on the 2nd Tuesday of every month- starting in October.

16 College Visits at PNHS... Thursday, September 20 Hope College 3rd hour Monday, September 24 Alma College 2nd hour Monday, October 1 University of Chicago 1st hour Tuesday, October 2 Michigan Tech 2nd hour Cedarville University 4th hour Wednesday, October 3 University of Toledo 1st hour University of Michigan (Comm. Rm) 3rd hour Thursday, October 4 Kalamazoo Valley Comm. College 2nd hour Monday, October 8 Grand Valley State University 1st hour U of M Dearborn 3rd hour Miami University of Ohio 4th hour Tuesday, October 9 Ball State University 2nd hour Aquinas 4th hour Monday, October 15 Olivet College 2nd hour Tuesday, October 16 Michigan State University (Comm. Rm) 3rd hour Wednesday, October 17 Saginaw Valley State University 3rd hour Thursday, October 18 Central Michigan University 1st hour Monday, October 22 Adrian College 1st hour

Thinking about Careers... Research careers online. Use Career Cruising or Google other sites. Take advantage of the interest inventories included in this packet (and research more online).

17 Thinking about Careers... Research careers online. Use Career Cruising or Google other sites. Take advantage of the interest inventories included in this packet (and research more online). Attend Lunch and Learn events here to learn about a variety of career options. Set up a job shadow opportunity. Take elective courses that might relate to your career interest. Start talking about career exploration with parents/family/teachers.

18 Career Cruising Online resource for career exploration, college research/planning, test preparation Your login is PPSD-yourfirstname.yourlastname (the system will only allow 15 characters including the. after PPSD- therefore your last name may be cut short a few letters) Your password is your student ID number

19 Career Exploration: Lunch and Learn During your lunch period. Sign up in Counseling Office 1 day prior to learn about a particular career field or area of interest. In Community Room. Free Pizza provided. Bring own beverage.

20 Career Exploration: Lunch and Learn 9/21: Mechanical Engineering: Noise Sound Vibration 10/5: Law Enforcement 10/18: Nursing 11/9: Veterinary Medicine 11/30: Medicine / Surgery Dec May: to be determined

21 Required Standardized Tests PSAT 10: practice test for SAT: April. Free at PNHS. Counselors will register you. Future Tests: 11th grade: PSAT 11 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test 11th grade: MME / SAT 12th grade: Optional to re-take SAT/ACT

22 Practice for Standardized Tests The best preparation/practice for the PSAT, SAT is online through two important websites: The College Board The Khan Academy Counselors helped you create accounts at both sites last year. You linked those accounts so that you now have individualized practice for the PSAT 10 and SAT. *Do not create new accounts at either College Board or Khan. *Use the forgot password/username prompt, if needed.

Preparing for the Future... Many academic, college & testing resources are available online. That means that you ll have many different online accounts.

23 Preparing for the Future... Many academic, college & testing resources are available online. That means that you ll have many different online accounts. START NOW AND RECORD ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS: website, username, login, password, etc. Future college applications / SAT testing and transcript info will all be handled online. Get organized and stay accurate early on! Set up a new, non-pps address for all academic accounts for now and the future. Be sure the address is appropriate.

24 What to Expect Sophomore Year: Counselors will: Sophomore check-in / interview to see how the year is going. A folder with resources will be provided. Provide scheduling presentations regarding requirements, college advising and course planning. Meet with each student individually in February to select classes for the next academic year. Provide college research and planning resources. Provide career exploration and awareness. Complete course audits to make sure you re on track to graduate. Monitor your grades weekly and meet with you to provide academic support, when needed.

25 What to Expect Sophomore Year: Students should: Ask questions in class. Participate in class. Complete homework daily. Stay on top of assignments. Study for tests/quizzes. Take responsibility for your learning: your homework, your questions, communication with teachers and attending class. Check teachers Google sites. Contact teacher FIRST if you have questions/concerns about the topic (not understanding) or about a grade or assignment. Monitor Skyward. Check your grades weekly. Ask a teacher if you have a question. Seek outside help if struggling. Ask your teacher first. ASSIST room: Mon-Thurs: 2:50-4:50. Room Academic support/help. Pay attention to announcements. Have them ed to your phone. They are printed in all offices. Follow PN on social media. Remember the PRIDE matrix.

26 Counseling Procedures If you d like to see your counselor, you should: Come into the office and ask Mrs. Clark to make an appt for you. You may also your counselor to ask a question or let her know that you d like to talk. ***Keep in mind counselors will only check/respond to s during school hours (7 am to 3:30 pm). If your counselor wants to see you, she will: Send a pass for you to one of your classes. Read the pass and report to the counseling office when requested. You ll sign in and out of the office each time. Be sure to check your school often. Counselors and teachers will communicate with you via school . We expect that you ll check it often and respond.

27 Sophomore Reminders: Mrs. Hinga is your Assistant Principal: Attendance and discipline Mrs. Clemens: 10th grade secretary: Attendance: parents call or send a note Report to 3rd floor office if you arrive late or leave school early. You ll always need a pass from grade office before you report to class. Your grade office is on the 3rd floor.

28 Good Luck Have fun. Get involved. Meet new people. Try new clubs/sports/activities. Go to events. Try out for new activities/events. Work hard to pass your classes and seek help as soon as needed. Establish a solid GPA. Advocate for yourself.

Senior Parent Meeting What s next?

Senior Parent Meeting What s next? { 2017 Agenda Introductions Graduation Plans and Requirements Mega Lunch EOC Testing Exemption Policy College Planning SAT, ACT, TSI, AP Exams Paying for College Free/Reduced