M-A 9th Grade Parent Night (Class of 2020) Hosted by the M-A Guidance Department, Counselors Jason Kubo & Megan Corazza September 20th, 2016
Session Agenda Introductions & Welcome Graduation Requirements Top 5 M-A facts Tips for Academic Success & a Positive High School Transition M-A P.R.I.D.E. Brief Questions & Answers (please utilize note cards to prepare questions for conclusion of the presentation.*)
M-A Guidance Department Counselors are assigned by Student's last name, A-Cap Megan Corazza Car-Fa Karina Escobar-Weaver* Fe-Go Silvia Torres Garza* Gr-K Laura Duran L-Mi Claudia Gonzalez* Mo-Ra Lara Sandora Re-S Francine Andrade* T-Z Jason Kubo Back row: Gonzalez, Duran, Andrade, Sandora Front row: Corazza, Escobar, Torres, Kubo
The role of a Guidance Counselor The M-A Guidance counselors strive to support your student s development of self advocacy skills, access of school supports and creation of post secondary education plans & goals. Counselors assist in coordination of parent teacher meetings, Student Study Team (SST) meetings and annual 504 meetings (if applicable). Counselors deliver small group, classroom guidance lessons and curriculum to all students addressing students academic, college & career and personal (social) development. Counselors direct students to resources, host one on one academic, college and personal meetings as necessary. Counselors are assigned 350+ students, per the Foundation s generous support of 2 additional counselors, and work diligently to support students & families needs.
Additional Resources at M-A Student Services Center (B-20) with Miki Cristerna & Lily Quinonez; M-A numerous parent information nights throughout the school year as well as opportunities for families to be involved in the community. The College & Career Center (Ms. Nguyen) hosts information events for families for post secondary planning as well provides college counseling for students. School platforms such as School Loop, Infinite Campus, MABEARS.org are web based resources that give students real time information regarding grades, attendance, academic history and have tools to assist in academic/college planning. BearNews and School Loop email communications are information circulators to keep families up to date.
School Year Timeline Semester 1 (Aug 17th-Dec 21st) Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Semester 2 (Jan 12th-June 8th) Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Progress Report - Progress grades are submitted every 6 weeks (review via School Loop or Infinite Campus (IC). Quarter Grades (2.5 Credits) - October 21st: PE, Life Skills and World Studies 1. Semester Grades (5 Credits) - December 21st. Final Exams - Last week of the semester December 15th-21st, 2 hour finals per subject.
M-A Graduation Requirements- Credits Students are required to earn at least 220 credits to grade. Students have ample opportunities to accrue credits; since most students earn 60 credits per year (6 yr long courses) X 4 = 240 credits. A failed class ( F ) does not earn credit and must be repeated until it is passed. Students will only receive credit once, if the student has earned a D or higher. Students are strongly encouraged to makeup grades of D+ and lower as to maintain A-G admission eligibility (for the public universities in California, UCs & CSUs)
M-A Graduation Requirements Students must complete the M-A graduation requirements to earn a diploma. All students are strongly encouraged to additionally meet the A-G eligibility requirements for California public universities (UCs/CSUs-4 yrs) Subject M-A Grad Requirements UC/CSU A-G Eligibility English 4 yrs 4 yrs Social Studies 3.5 yrs 2 yrs* Math 2 yrs (Alg I)* 3 yrs (Geometry & Algebra II req)* 2 yrs (Bio)* 2 yrs (2 lab sciences)* 1 yr 1 yr 2 yrs not required 1 yr 2 yrs of a world language General Elective 62.5 credits 1 yr* total # credits 220 credits not specified Science Students must enroll in a full schedule of 6 periods* Fine Arts Students are encouraged to take additional coursework beyond the graduation & A-G requirements to be well prepared for Postsecondary studies and life after high school. World Language Level 3 or CTE (Career Tech Ed.) PE
M-A Graduation Requirements-Courses English - 40 credits th 9 grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade English I English II English III English IV 10 credits 10 credits 10 credits 10 credits *AS English I, II, III, AP English Composition (11th), Creative Writing (12), & AP English Literature (12th) meet the English course requirements for graduation. Social Studies - 35 credits 9th grade -World Studies 2 5 credits 10th grade - Modern European History or AP European History 10 credits 11th grade - US History or AP US History 10 credits 12th grade - Government/Economics 5 credits each
M-A Graduation Requirements-Courses Math - 20 credits One year must be Algebra I Science - 20 credits One year must be a Lab Science (Biology) *We encourage students to exceed the graduation requirements for Math & Science and take 4 years respectively of courses aligned with ability and interest. Visual or Performing Arts 10 credits Career Technical Education (CTE) 10 credits OR World Language Level 3 or higher 10 credits
M-A Graduation Requirements-P.E. Physical Education-20 credits required 10 credits will be completed this year (9th grade). Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Students must pass 5 of 6 tests. The test is given to students in March. *Students who do not pass the test will be enrolled in PE-2 in the 10th grade (regardless of participation in sports).
M-A Graduation Requirements-P.E. continued Physical Education - 20 credits Options for completing the 2nd year of PE. Take a PE class at M-A Participation in M-A sports 10th-12th grade A student who earns all their 9th grade PE credits (10) and plays 3 seasons of a sport between grades 10-12 (10.5) will have their PE requirement met. - Participation in sports in the 9th grade do not meet the PE requirement Participation in M-A competitive cheerleading and dance PE classes at a community college Online PE See PE Options list at- http://www.mabears.org/documents/11guidancefix11/peoptions.pdf
Top 5 Facts about M-A s graduation requirements Fact # 1: A quarter class is worth 2.5 credits (PE, Life Skills, World Studies 1) - A semester class is worth 5 credits, and a year long class is worth 10 credits. *Most 9th grade students earn 30 credits at the first semester, 60 credits at the end of the academic year. Fact # 2: For 10th grade standing a student should have 60 credits. Fact # 3: Grades and courses are NEVER removed from the transcript. Fact # 4: The M-A cumulative GPA includes all semester grades in all courses for the full 4 years. (*yes, the first year-9th grade counts!) Fact # 5: To be eligible to participate in sports, students must maintain a 2.0 weighted GPA or better and have earned grade level standing in credits.
Supporting your 9th grade student s SUCCESS* Step 1Organization Step 2Utilize Step 2 School *Establish organization plan *Create long & short term planning (study) calendars *Confirm planner or alternate system to note assignments, tests (+ study time), etc. * Review subject binders, notes and reassess organizational plan. Title Resources *Review School Loop weekly to confirm progress & attendance. *Encourage your student to speak directly with teachers & utilize After School Tutoring lab/writing Center. *Utilize Infinite Campus (IC), mabears.org to review academic history and school calendars. Step 3Step 3 Get Title involved * Students should investigate their interests by joining a club or sports team; makes M-A seem smaller *Get involved in your community through volunteerism, work or internship opportunities (counts for college!) Step 4StepRe4 Title Assess *If your student is having difficulty, talk to teachers & counselor to develop a plan of action. *Develop short term & long term goals for high school and post secondary (college/career)
Additional Organization & Communication notes... M-A Planner: Students should be using it daily to note assignments + review school calendar (embedded in the pages of the planner) School Loop: Students should login at least once per week; parents should also check in on your student s progress & attendance. An app is available for mobile devices BearNotes: sign up for this PTA e-newsletter to stay informed about schedule changes, events, etc. Email teachers: if there is an issue in class, before contacting our office we recommend contacting teachers first (first initial last name@seq.org or search the mabears.org staff directory)
After School Tutoring & Writing Center Monday-Thursday 3:15 pm 4:30 pm Math: F-16 Science: F-11 English: F-17 Social Studies: F-18 Writing Center: F-9 (also available some mornings)
Miscellaneous (Important) Notes Attendance - Please be sure to call the attendance office anytime your child is not in school or is delayed due to an appointment, (650)322-5311 x 50101 (Ms. Gonzalez) Health / Injuries - Please notify the health office anytime your child has an injury documented by his or her doctor. (650)322-5311 x 50129 (Ms. Edgington) Concurrent Enrollment - Prior to taking classes outside of M-A, please discuss the concurrent enrollment process with your child's guidance counselor and review the district guidelines @ seq.org. (link to Concurrent Enrollment form)
Post Secondary Planning Beyond maintaining strong academic progress, we encourage students to have extracurricular involvement; students should be involved in SOMETHING, not EVERYTHING, sports, art, service, work, clubs, etc. All 9th grade students will visit a local college campus on the morning of Wednesday, October 19th for M-A College & Career Day to give an opportunity to see a university community; please be sure to complete a permission slip (online) for your student. In the 2nd quarter, the Counselors will introduce, Naviance (a web based college/career/personal planning platform) to your student. We will review the features of the program as well as complete a career interest inventory as well as future courses of study aligned with the results*
M-A P.R.I.D.E. P atience: Be patient with the process, yourself, and others. R espect: Your respect for others is a reflection of your strength. I ntegrity: Do the right thing, do your own work. D etermination: Dream big and work to get there. E mpathy: Treat others the way you want to be treated
M-A College & Career Day 2016 Wednesday, October 19th *Please be sure to complete the permission slip asap for your student as so they can participate in the activities. DIRECTIONS: Navigate to MABEARS.ORG > Click Permission Slip Link for College and Career Day
Questions & Answers Session Please pass your note cards forward or hand them in at the conclusion of the presentation to be addresses via email.
*A big thank you to the M-A Foundation! The Foundation has generously supported the Guidance Office by funding two of our eight counselors. Without Foundation support, our counselor to student ratio would be more than 550:1, instead of less than 400:1.